The fighting shotgun is certainly not the stately fowling piece of blued steel and walnut from days gone by. It is a tool for stopping bad people from doing bad things. Choosing a self-defense shotgun can be just as confusing as choosing a handgun.
There are currently so many options that making a selection can be dizzying. Action type, stock style and sight options are all very personal. What works for me might not work for you. The gun your Great Uncle carried on duty with Detroit PD in 1967 might not be perfect for use in your house. Then again, it might.
Shotguns are great weapons, but you must remember that shotguns have limitations. The shotgun is not the one-size-fits-all problem-solver of the self-defense world. Chief among the downsides are the limited ammunition capacity and difficulty in reloading the shotgun. Even with an extended magazine tube, you will have fewer than 10 rounds. Yes, they are big, powerful rounds, but you still need to put them on target, which can be difficult if you don’t train to deal with the stout recoil and strong report. A shotgun, like every other defensive tool, will work well only if you take the time to get proper training and then practice what you have learned.
There is also an element of trial and error involved. Putting a pistol grip on the Mossberg 500 makes the safety really difficult to operate. Those little elements need to be thought through but sometimes don’t come to light until you equip the gun and take it to the range. Don’t buy a shotgun thinking it will keep you safe just because it is a shotgun. Work with it. Train with it.
Does Size Matter?
Should you shoulder a 12-gauge or a 20-gauge? Does it matter? A 20-gauge gives you fewer options when it comes to choosing buckshot loads, but other than that, I can’t say that a bad guy would be able to tell the difference when the lead starts flying. Buy what you can afford and what works well for you.
