GUN STUFF

[cokey]

The shot gun for home defense convo has come up a few time.. I was wondering if anyone uses or thinks loading the first 2-3 with non lethal bean bags is a good idea?  For safety of your family members on the other side of the wall..

[Mother]

The shot gun for home defense convo has come up a few time.. I was wondering if anyone uses or thinks loading the first 2-3 with non lethal bean bags is a good idea?  For safety of your family members on the other side of the wall..

the way I figure it

bean bags defeat the reason for using a shotgun

and

you run the risk of leaving the bad guy alive

which defeats the reason for shooting him

over penetration issues would be better served with something like mag safe ammo in a pistol

imo

[WarrenJ]

I run the top two rounds with Winchester Heavy Sporting Clays 1 1/8 of 7 1/2's   then I go to 3" Magnum Heavishot Dead Coyote.  I don't have any kids and the nearest neighbor is over a quarter mile away. 

The Sporting Clays loads will not overpenetrate excessively and if they don't handle the problem, if I'm still alive, that Dead Coyote is some ugly stuff out to 80 or 90 yards if necessary.  Slugs are on the sidesaddle.

[ducatiz]

But then again, this is a Ducati motorcycle forum so you can do whatever you want with your shotgun.

I put carbon fibre handgrips and a Termi muzzle device on my 870.

[ducatiz]

The shot gun for home defense convo has come up a few time.. I was wondering if anyone uses or thinks loading the first 2-3 with non lethal bean bags is a good idea?  For safety of your family members on the other side of the wall..

absolute nonsense.

if you're concerned about overpenetration, use bird shot.  will not go thru a sheetrock wall, and cleanup is easier.  ricochet is a problem if you have brick around.

[cokey]

Got ya.. 

[Monsterlover]

I need a shotgun.

All this talk. . .

made me remember that.

[the_Journeyman]

I like the Kel-Tec shooter.

JM

[WarrenJ]

The simpler and more natural pointing the better - bullpups and extra gadgets detract from the immediate usefullness of a shotgun.  That Keltek sure looks cool though.

One of my little theorys is that if you can't hit skeet or sporting clays targets with your defensive shotgun, you probably need to rethink your choice.  If you can flip your gun up and crush a clay whipping through the trees on a sporting course, an intruder in the house is in big trouble.

[Mother]

it's interesting how natural and agile the feel of a standard shotgun is when the trigger hand position seems so unnatural

pistol grips make them feel clumsy and top heavy

[ducatiz]

it's interesting how natural and agile the feel of a standard shotgun is when the trigger hand position seems so unnatural

pistol grips make them feel clumsy and top heavy

it depends on how you are shooting it for me.  a pistol grip with a rifle butt works very well.  the wrist angle when at chin level is much more naturally in the pistol position rather than the rifle style. 

firing lower than chin level or offhand, i agree 100%

[BoDiddley]

People completely overlook #7-#8 birdshot as a defense round. In a typical apartment or house environment and given the room size and hallway length your shots will not be very long.

By the way, birdshot will go through sheetrock. Just not with as much horsepower as buck or slugs.

Remember the reason you are shooting your attacker.  To put him down so he will not attack you.  Bird shot is for birds and has no place in self defense at all, you might upset the surgeon  who has to take the time to pick out all the #8.  But as far as reaching a vital organ to stop the flow of blood to the brain in most cases bird shot will not.  Especially if it is winter and he has a normal or heavy jacket on.  You cannot even bring down a goose if you shoot him square in the chest with 7 or 8's.  Buck is the only stopping load, IMHO of course.  I bet this argument has gone round and round many times before but it drives me nuts to think someone is using number 8's for defense.  In my humble opinion of course.

[ducatiz]

Remember the reason you are shooting your attacker.  To put him down so he will not attack you.  Bird shot is for birds and has no place in self defense at all, you might upset the surgeon  who has to take the time to pick out all the #8.  But as far as reaching a vital organ to stop the flow of blood to the brain in most cases bird shot will not.  Especially if it is winter and he has a normal or heavy jacket on.  You cannot even bring down a goose if you shoot him square in the chest with 7 or 8's.  Buck is the only stopping load, IMHO of course.  I bet this argument has gone round and round many times before but it drives me nuts to think someone is using number 8's for defense.  In my humble opinion of course.

it's a matter of training.  some people train for center mass, i train for head shots.  you can have all the heavy jacket on you want, but a face full of bird shot at "social work" distances is going to take you down.

[BoDiddley]

it's a matter of training.  some people train for center mass, i train for head shots.  you can have all the heavy jacket on you want, but a face full of bird shot at "social work" distances is going to take you down.

That is good!  But  we can train 24/7 for ten years and run through every situational scenario possible and the one you face will never be the one thought of.  Head shots?  Hmmmmm,  that is another can of worms? I like to look at it as you would be taking a shot in a game, any game.  The one you want to use is the highest percentage shot and forget all the rest.  Boy, one could ramble on about the obvious for hours.   

Here is to never running into the wrong scenario!

[ducatiz]

That is good!  But  we can train 24/7 for ten years and run through every situational scenario possible and the one you face will never be the one thought of.  Head shots?  Hmmmmm,  that is another can of worms? I like to look at it as you would be taking a shot in a game, any game.  The one you want to use is the highest percentage shot and forget all the rest.  Boy, one could ramble on about the obvious for hours.   

Here is to never running into the wrong scenario!

I understand that, which is why it's good practice to keep multiple "options" at hand.  Those fingerprint safes are great for mounting in a hidden place such as a bathroom closet, above the door or in a kitchen cabinet. 

I train for headshots because those are the ones that I did the best with -- as far as dropping the target.  At least, with the hez'b'allah folks...