Tactical Shotgun

[junior varsity]

Aiming, for one.

[ducsix]

Aiming, for one.

You need to aim a shotgun just as much as any other gun at ranges needed for typical home defense scenarios.  Shot spreads at about 1" per yard (after the 1st yard traveled) so it's not like your going to spray half the room with a single shot...

[Sinister]

I'm curious about arguments against going with a carbine.  A carbine with .40S&W hollow points is going to have just as much stopping power as a shotgun, but without the weight or recoil issues.  Why would this not be a good option?

A couple reasons:

1.) I like shotguns.  You have a shotgun, with which you are comfortable (as is your wife).  Comfort is big.  I have two 12-gauges in the bedroom closet: a pump Ithaca (5 shots) and a Winchester repeater (3 shots)...even though it has two less shells, I'd pick up the Winnie in the dark everytime.  Why?  I've put hundreds of rounds through it and for me it's as simple as breathing.

2.)  Accuracy.  The shotgun pattern for 00-buckshot, at 20-odd feet is probably about 6" in diameter, depending on choke and a few other things.  The bullet from your carbine is .4" wide.  Now, given the massive adrenaline dump AND shitpot of fear in your gut AND the colon full of water, threatening to pour out your anus, which all appear when you hear the Baddie in the hall, I would prefer a bit of extra tolerance on my accuracy.  It's not much, but I'll take all I can get.

3.)  The Load.  The .40 S&W is a pistol round.  That is the purpose it was developed.  I don't know the ballistics of this load coming out of the PC-40, mainly because I can't find any info on Ruger's site.  With a shotgun, you can vary loads.  Right now, I have two 00-buck shells followed up with a slug, in both my guns.  There are other variations; if you just want to torture your housebreaker, you can put in #8 trap loads or rocksalt  .

Food for thought.  Of course, this is just my opinion; do what's right for you and yours.  Do it safely.  

Practice Mozambiques.  

[junior varsity]

You need to aim a shotgun just as much as any other gun at ranges needed for typical home defense scenarios.  Shot spreads at about 1" per yard (after the 1st yard traveled) so it's not like your going to spray half the room with a single shot...

That depends on barrel length, choke tube (if applicable), type of shot, etc.

[c_rex]

A couple reasons:

...
2.)  Accuracy.  The shotgun pattern for 00-buckshot, at 20-odd feet is probably about 6" in diameter, depending on choke and a few other things.  The bullet from your carbine is .4" wide.  Now, given the massive adrenaline dump AND shitpot of fear in your gut AND the colon full of water, threatening to pour out your anus, which all appear when you hear the Baddie in the hall, I would prefer a bit of extra tolerance on my accuracy.  It's not much, but I'll take all I can get.

3.)  The Load.  The .40 S&W is a pistol round.  That is the purpose it was developed.  I don't know the ballistics of this load coming out of the PC-40, mainly because I can't find any info on Ruger's site.
...
 

Whoa... thanks for the visual out of #2 above!   
#3 I saw some sort of relevant info on the Chuck Hawk's site not long ago while researching hunting rifles.  Maybe you could take a peek there and let us know what you think.  It was a bit above my head but I got the general gist of what I was looking for from it.

[moto]

[ducatania]

Screw all that nonsense... this is a "tactical" shotgun....

Saiga 12 ga.

[ducatiz]

That depends on barrel length, choke tube (if applicable), type of shot, etc.

right.  an 870 with a 12" barrel has a nice spread

I'm curious about arguments against going with a carbine.  A carbine with .40S&W hollow points is going to have just as much stopping power as a shotgun, but without the weight or recoil issues.  Why would this not be a good option?

over penetration is a big issue.

The Ruger PC's are great rifles, I had a PC9 (only weapon I've ever sold and I'll never do it again).  Excellent concept all around, but you still have the "wall penetration" issue when using it in your home. 

12 ga bird shot is the best in-home round.  plenty of damage to a goblin, but it leaves very tiny holes in your walls and will not penetrate standard 1/2" masonite or wallboard.

a typical .40 round will penetrate most masonite and wallboard, but will be stopped by a joist or wall frame (any 2x4). 

if you use soft points (JSP) or hollow points you can get even better non-penetration use, but they will still go thru some wallboard and fragment.

low impulse shotgun round.  bird shot.   (for in the house)

[ducsix]

Screw all that nonsense... this is a "tactical" shotgun....

Saiga 12 ga.

Dat is purdy.

Semi-auto...large capacity detachable magazine...I wonder how many states the Saiga is legal in.

[junior varsity]

plenty legal in TN. should be legal everywhere.

[ducatania]

Pretty much everywhere but CA... 

I LOVE buying guns marked "Not legal for sale in CA" on the box. 

[ducatania]

plenty legal in TN. should be legal everywhere.

:hijack:  I picked up an M1 Garand last weekend. 

On an even better note, I spoke with Nighthawk the other day and my pistol is in it's final stages. They asked me to check back next week. 

[NeufUnSix]

Anyone remember that full-auto 12 gauge with the drum magazine that fired explosive shells?

Home defence indeed. 

[rgramjet]

Street Sweeper.

[ducatania]

Street Sweeper.

No, the AA-12. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ebtj1jR7c&feature=related

[monsterRS]

JG has police trade-in Win 1300's for a good price:

Stamped with "NCSO" (Navaho County Sheriff's Office).. These rode around in squad cars and shot at people n stuff.

I just ordered on of these.  Thanks for the link.  Can't beat the price.