Hey everyone, I'm new to the site. Looking at getting a revolver for home defense. I live in a house and have 2 little kids. I use to be in the military and used an M16 and carried a 9MM as a medic, I also personally had a .357 and .38 Special. It has been 20 years since I have handled a weapon, so I'm just looking into what's the best. I went into a shop where I live and checked out some S&W .357s, a 3" and 4". Both seemed great. The clerk said the accuracy could be a bit better on the 4". I do remember back in the day I always heard that the shorter barrels were better for home protection, cause they are harder for someone to snatch out of your hand. Anyway, that's the deal. Just wanted to get some input into what you guys think as far as model, barrel length, ammo type etc...
Thanks

Thanks you for your service from a Vietnam Vet. I think a revolvers is a good choice and I would go with a 357 magnum. If it's not going to be a carry gun I would get a Model 28-2 in 4 inch as they are accurate, heavy duty, and reasonably priced for a N frame. They are heavy enough to deaden the recoil of the 357 full house loads and are great revolvers.

That said if you are only going to get one handgun for home defense get a semi auto 9mm like the one the military carries now or a Glock 9mm. I say that and I hate Glocks from the staindpoint of beauty but they require little maintenance and not as much as other brands and like an AK 47 they go bang every time.

Shotgun. Less likely to be fussed with by kids and will give the best blast radius for intruders. Probably cheaper than a handgun too. Good luck with your search and thanks for your service, Sir!

Welcome! It is difficult to say, only IMO go with what you are comfortable with and works best for you. Like you, I was in the Army. 15 years went by between the time I got out and the time I bought a gun for home defense, and I have little kids. I was familiar with semi-auto pistols so I bought a Ruger 9mm. Then after awhile I also bought a pump shotgun because I was concerned with overtravel of rounds in the event that I had to deal with an intruder. In that situation, I'd rather use my shotgun, but because of my home layout, where the intrusion is (more than 1 door, window, etc) that may not be feasible and I may have to open the safe and grab the pistol.

I agree with a shotgun as the go to home protection gun. wouldn't hurt to have a 4 inch 686 though.

For stictly home defense I'd have to say shotgun too. A handgun's only real advantage is portability, as in CCW. But, when push comes to shove, a decent long gun trumps it every time when it comes to stopping power and the ability to make good hits. To paraphrase Clint Smith, my handgun is what I use to fight my way to my long gun. My primary is a Mossberg 590A, and I vary between a .40 Glock M23 and my S&W 625 as my nightstand handgun. For the short ranges found inside a home, the shotgun is a devastating and decisive fight stopper. Even the best handguns are marginal when it comes to quickly incapacitating a foe. And then of course there is the often cited sound of a racking slide serving as a deterrent in some situations of a house break-in. I can't say that this is really a consideration, and I don't count on it of course, but I have read numerous reports of it having a good effect in certain situations. Of course this choice is part of my "hunker down and defend" philosophy, and it can have certain mobility constraints in tight quarters. But, I know that I feel much better armed with my shotty in my hand than any handgun I have at my disposal.

With that said, for home defense I would recommend something that the wife can manage as well. She can learn to use a shotgun too, and with Federal's low recoil ammo, it's pretty manageable even for those of slighter stature.

BUT, if you still want a HG, then I'd recommend the revolver due to the simplicity of operation (think wife again) and their inherent reliability. I'd probably go with with a 4" L frame in .357, like a 686, or an N frame like a 627. As noted above, the larger guns will manage recoil better and the 4" is a good compromise between sight radius, velocity, and balance, IMO. But, then again, as I said, my current nightstand gun is an N frame 4" .45 caliber M625. While, after many years and many thousands of rounds through my various Glocks, I do trust them, under the wrong circumstances reliability still favors the revolver. Also, while my ex could shoot my Glocks, she didn't have the strength to rack the slide. If you can't manipulate a gun it isn't a good choice, IMO.

Good luck in finding what works best for you and your situation. But, whatever you do, with small children in the house, do EVERYTHING possible to secure your weapons and don't take it for granted that your admonishments will suffice in keeping their curiosity at bay. Whatever you do, don't risk them in your bid to protect them.

Whatever you get don't forget to get a safe for it.

Welcome to the forum.

Your question is both important and worthwhile, terribly involved, and ultimately quite personal.

Set aside a chunk of change and go to one or several ranges and spend time behind shotguns, rifles, pistols and revolvers -- different types, different calibers.

Each one has it's inherent strengths as a home defense weapon, and limitations, too.

Learn the strengths and weaknesses, the platform and caliber that works best for you, make your purchase(s) and spend time at the range.

Take a couple courses specializing in defensive use of whatever you choose.

Conceive a plan for home defense with your family and practice.

Invest in a good home security system and -- if practical -- a good dog.

As for your specific question: what particular models are you experienced with and what do you like?

The answer to those two questions can go a long way to making an informed suggestion.

Service calibers -- .38 Special to .45ACP and everything in between -- share more ballistically than not; in terms of what each can do with a quality defensive round it doesn't really matter which you choose, so choose what you like in the weapon you feel most comfortable with and will practice with.

Of the calibers you mentioned for home defense, in 9mm I do like Glock 17s or 19s. They're relatively simple, low cost and maintenance, high capacity, very reliable and combat accurate -- all out of the box.

For a revolver in .38, I'd suggest a well-preserved old Smith&Wesson K-frame in a two, three, or four inch barrel -- I find three inch to be ideal.

I'm not a fan of .357 for home use, but that's a contentious debate unto itself.

If a shotgun, Remington 870s are tried and true. I think there are some real limitations to shotguns for defense inside the home, specifically related to their low capacity, the need to run and reload them with two hands, and large size making them unwieldy in tight corners, but it can be done and you do get heavy-hitter in return.

Commit to due diligence, enjoy, and be safe.

Welcome from a Navy Corpsman who served in Nam w/the Marines. As to your question if you decide on a .357 I'd load it w/.38 +P for home defense. It will be easier to control under stress and will serve you well when and if you ever need it. I know b/c I used my service .38 during my LEO days and can say w/o reservation that it works just fine.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

My favorite home defense revolver is a 4" Model 67 circa 1974, which I bought in the early 1990s as a police trade-in. It handles and functions beautifully, it will not over penetrate in my close in urban home, and I'm extremely comfortable with it.

All very good points, and I wholeheartedly agree with most of it! But, my Mossberg has an 8 round capacity, and while that isn't exactly high, and anything can happen, statistically I have a very low probability of needing more than that in any real world home defense encounter I can imagine. As far as reloads, with practice I believe that the shotgun is easier to load under duress, and completely by feel without taking your eyes off the threat zone, than a revolver. Of course if you compare that to my Glock M17 then all bets are off. It has twice the capacity, and is quick and easy to reload. But, as I mentioned earlier choosing an auto for a basic HD weapon carries it's own set of considerations. I feel confident in my ability with any of them, but the auto does have a much more complex manual of arms, and I feel more comfortable with my wife's ability to handle the simpler weapons with less chance of malfunction. No mag buttons to inadvertently hit. No concerns of limp wristing. No trouble with the slide. No clearance drills to practice, and practice, and practice.

Of course another subject for debate, run and gun tactics are good to train in, and while I did mention the mobility issue with any long gun, my primary goal in the real word home break-in situation is to hunker down in my "safe-room" stronghold, protect myself and mine, and not to engage in house clearing exercises. Then again, my shotty isn't exactly unwieldy either, and I am practiced at using it in a tactical situation..

Welcome to the forum!

My 2 cents;

You said you were thinking about a revolver for HD. Good for you. If that's what you want, my recommendation is to buy an inexpensive Model 10 4". They are relatively cheap, and, as you practice with it, you'll decide what you like and don't like about revolvers. When the time comes, you can sell it and get all your cash back out it with no prob. That's what I did (well, with a 686 and a 64).

For HD, I bought an inexpensive H&R 20 gauge (single shot) to go with my revolvers. It's not a great (some might say 'bad') choice for HD with only one shot, but it was only $70 and you didn't say what your budget was. I just sold a m10 HB for $275...some are less expensive than that. Don't be afraid to look in pawn shops or local boards for good deals.

Of course if you have adequate finances, you'll be able to pick something better/nicer - as described above.

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But then, what do I know?

If I were buying a revolver for home defense I would look no further than a 686. With kids I would buy one with a lock and use it. But a revolver is not the best home defense weapon. A 12 ga. shotgun is by far a better choice if you want a one shot stop. I've seen plenty of 20" pump guns for sale for $200 that were police trade ins. Jim.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Get a Governer, the best of both worlds the portability of a handgun for home defense, the ability to take advantage of shotshell spread, anything from 00 to smaller shot sizes.....lots of variety in .410 loads and you can load it with .45 ACP if you choose.

The suggestions for a shotgun actually address the self & home defense issue better than a lot of options.
Get a decent inexpensive 12 0r 20 ga. pump and trick it out for ease of handling.
While you're doin' that , check out some revolvers in .38 special or.357 mgnum.
The idea is to cover your security needs while you go about figuring out which hand gun you will be using. Who knows? You might just become a pistol & revolver tradin' fool before you get where you're goin' with it. Actually, the run-down is half the fun. You will know when you have something that sorta harmonizes with ya.
Thanks for your contribution to the security of our Republic and the American way.
Hang out here and you will find lots of good information.

For me, the two little kids makes a big difference. I would want a gun that is locked up all of the time except when I am in bed at night. Then, I want it in a bedside table, fanny pack on bedpost, or something like that. Last thing before sleep, get it out and load it. First thing in the morning, unload and lock up. That was my approach when my daughter was younger.

A .45 ACP revolver (Model 625 or 25) may be a good choice for a couple of reasons. First, a .357 bullet can go through several walls. Not great if there are little ones and you don't know exactly where they are. .45 ACP is bigger, slower and doesn't penetrate barriers as well. Second, using moonclips would make loading and unloading very quick, easy and simple. Third, IME women understand how a revolver works more easily than they understand other firearms. Plus a heavy .45 ACP revolver actually is fairly easy to handle unless you load it with fire-breathing +P ammo.

FWIW I always have a flashlight with my nightstand gun. I do NOT want to point a gun at anything until I know it's a threat. Especially with little kids around. Takes some practice to use the flashlight in your weak hand and work with the handgun, but it does work.

This is a very personal decision, so think it through and figure out what will work best for you.

I like the idea of a shotgun for HD but I found it's not practical for me. I have a Glock 19 for my go to gun if the SHTF. Mounted on it is a Surefire X300 weapon light and a Lazermax laser sight. This is in arm's length on my night stand. A couple BUG are laid out strategically around the house - a Glock 30 and a S&W Model 638.

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

A 2"-4" Model 10, or it's SS sibling - the 64, is a great 'home defender'. Most 10's - and all 64's - can handle the Remington R38S12 .38 Special +P in 158gr LHPSWC. This is an effective round, but won't have the velocity or construction to penetrate many layers of wallboard, like a typical .357 Magnum will. With children you must be responsible in their safety - and education. Store your firearms appropriately - they are your responsibility.

My wife has a 2" 10 on her side of the bed - I have a 4" 64 - and my 642 pocket protector/CCW - all loaded with the aforementioned Remingtons - within arm's length. Also - easily accessed, if needed, albeit secured by a key - is a Governor, S&W's least expensive .45 ACP capable revolver, loaded with .45 ACP ball ammo, and a PC627 UDR also loaded with eight of the aforementioned .38 +P's. If my grandkids, who all live out of state, or even my teenage nephew & niece are on the way over, all firearms, save the 642 - which stays in my pocket, are unloaded and locked away. Firearm 'safety', in my mind, includes the 24/7 availability of a loaded firearm for my - and my family's - safety. There was a home breakin and shooting across the street 7/11... "We aren't in Kansas anymore!".

Merry Christmas!

Stainz

I'm a shotgun fan, so worry not, we're on the same page on virtually all counts.

In a hunker down situation -- which is how virtually all home defense situations should go barring extenuating circumstances -- you bet, a shotgun trained on the door and waiting is an excellent option. Reasonably fast reloads with practice are doable, but we need to divide our dexterity by about half when it comes to training versus actual self defense situation.

I'd say the shotgun and the revolver are perhaps comparable for reloads, round-for-round, but home defense revolvers should have speed loaders at the ready -- which will always be faster than reloading the shotgun.

The one potential reloading advantage the shotgun has here is you can load one in the pipe and come onto target one-handed, using the free hand to continue loading; hence you can be reloading and ready to fire at once, but that takes a fair amount of fine motor skills in the face of a direct threat.

My real issue is that both hands are taken by it, and God forbid should I need to be hot-stepping around my house armed I'd rather something smaller, more maneuverable, less grabable, that leaves me a hand free for anything from calling the police to carrying a loved one. Just a personal preference.

Again, all platforms have strengths and weaknesses; what really matters is that we know them and choose consciously based on them and our particular needs.

There are arguments for various configurations. If I were moving toward replacing my various fighting pistols at this time, I would be looking very hard at one with a rail mounted light (The Surefire X300U, without question; there is nothing close in quality and performance), likely the Smith M&P autos, with an Aimpoint mounted on the slide. In addition to a firearm mounted light, a hand carried one is critical since the one on the gun should not be used for general lighting. Again Surefire, this time the Fury as sold by Bravo Company. With others in the house, you need to be able to ID your target completely.

I like shotguns, and have for a long time. I do plan to replace my stolen M590 with another similar one from VangComp. It too would have the latest Surefire updated foreend light (again 500 lumens like the ones specified above). I also like ARs now that I have gotten real training (the course at my old agency was too close to the military stuff and did not work as well). Of course, long guns are the better choice if you have to use one against an assailant; pistols in all calibers just are not as good in terms of both ergonomics and ballistics. Most would say they suck.

With kids in the house, I would advocate for a handgun of some configuration in spite of the other shortcomings, for one simple reason. Security. You can and should have a way of securing the guns away from kids until they are shown to be responsible enough to have reasonably unlimited access to them. Although not impossible, it is very hard to have reasonable security AND adequately rapid access to the firearm under those conditions. The only way I have found that would work for that is to carry it on your person. That's a bit tricky with a long gun.

Remember that the firearm is only PART of the system. Locked doors and windows, alarms, dog(s), response plans, etc are also very very important. Having a phone you can easily use hands free while using the firearm is a heck of a good choice. I know of two events in the past 10 years or less in the Spokane area where the recorded 911 call made it clear from the start that the shooter was doing everything right when he dumped the offender. Priceless.

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NHI, 10-8.

Aside from a firearm, let's not forget something most of us already have: a cellphone AND the car alarm. Calling 911 should not be forgotten if you still have the opportunity and the car alarm may be triggered from your bed and has a good chance of deterring the intruder. It's already installed and could be called upon even when the car is in the garage. Both items should be close at hand at night.

In order for a revolver to be effective for HD you have to keep it loaded, not good for toddlers. Also a 357 will penetrate lots of sheetrock.
I used to have a loaded 12ga in the bedroom closet. I agree that's the best HD firearm. Lot's of intimidation, firepower and not much over travel. But loaded guns and toddlers don't mix well.
When my oldest became a toddler, I bought a M39. I could keep the clip and pistol separate and be able to load in the dark. I bought the single stack because I thought it would fit my wife's hand better (that was the first wife who didn't like guns, I've since upgraded to a later model).

19-586-686-28-27-They will go off every time and never go out of style or loose value. 1000 kinds of bullets available.

Hello
A lot of good ground has been covered in this thread. I would add only a couple of comments.
1. If you do end up buying a .357 Magnum revolver, I strongly recommend that you keep it loaded with a good .38 Special defense round - like the HydraShock from Federal. You will get plenty of human-stopping umph from it without the .357 Magnum recoil and potential for over-penetration.
2. Practice enough to be proficient, and have your wife do the same. The beauty of a double action revolver is the ability to put it into action quickly without worrying over things like jacking the slide, wondering if there is one in the chamber or if the safety is on (Glock and Glock-like pistols also resolve most of this). I'm certified by the NRA to teach the Basic Handgun course and Personal Defense. I often tell my students that the less they are likely to practice, the more they need to use a DA revolver for defensive purposes.
3. Don't hide guns from your children. Instead, teach them about guns - about the use of them and the danger of handling them inappropriately. Teach them also that until they are older, they are to leave them alone unless they are with you! Kids that grow up with an appropriate appreciation for guns will tend to grow up to responsible gun ownership. But it takes work and patience; instilling not fear but healthy respect. I have 5 children, all of whom grew up to be responsible gun owners. I also have 18 grandchildren, some of whom are now proficient shooters (some are still too young).
Regards,
JP

Added for clarification: By "not hiding" them, I mean don't try to pretend they don't exist. By all means, yes, keep them out of sight and away from easy reach by small children. But do make sure the children are familiar with them and understand their proper use.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

19-586-686-28-27-They will go off every time and never go out of style or loose value. 1000 kinds of bullets available. Light 38 to full charge 357 & you don't worry about the safety at a reflex moment. You are the only one who knows where it is with kids. Kick it around and make your on choice. Wife or you can shoot this when you are not around.

How about a 627 Pro? Load it up with 38sp defense rounds. 8 shots, 4", and moonclips not totally needed to load.

While I understand the theory behind the stopping power of big bullets, I have to disagree with the use of a shotgun or any big magnums in the home. If an intruder enters my home with criminal intent, I will stop him. That doesn't mean that I'll blow his head off, or transform him into a sticky mural on the living-room walls and ceiling. I don't want to kill him. I want him to hurt. I want him to realize, quickly, that he needs to get out ASAP. I've felt the burning pain of a .22lr. A little more tissue-tearing burning from a .22 magnum would, I think, suffice. He'll know he's been shot. If he doesn't retreat immediately, he'll be shot again...and again. I would rather have an intruder screaming in anguish for me to let him go, and stop shooting, than have a dead body draining on my carpet. Afterwards, I can apologize to a thiefs mother for shooting her son, but, neither a mother, nor a little brother will ever understand why a home owner felt the need to blast her little baby to kingdom come.
Another consideration is my own family's safety. My interior walls are sheet-rock. Bullets don't even slow down as they zip through the walls. I don't want to inadvertently shoot my own kids.
Some folks may say that I'm in denial, but I don't expect intruders to be wearing body armor. I don't expect them to be primed for a real live fire fight. I don't expect them to be very smart.
Next to my bed is a walker. Hanging from it is a canvas tote bag. Inside the bag is a bore-store gun sock containing a loaded model 48 with .22 magnum hollow-points and 1 speed-loader.
Not enough, you say? Well, I guess I'm betting the farm that it is.
Lastly, some of you have seen rooms that were crime scenes for shot-gun deaths. Somebody has to clean all that mess up. Might as well toss a hand-grenade

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Why, I aughta.....

Shotgun, a pump action, if anyone with 1/2 a brain hears the sound of a round of 00 buckshot being chambered in a 12ga. pump, he will want to leave your home ASAP... even if you don't have to shoot him you may have some "liquid" residue to clean up..

To each their own. But, the goal isn't to kill, it is to incapacitate and stop your attacker from doing you and your family harm. Many that break into an occupied home are desperate and likely under the influence of drugs. Small caliber guns such as .22LR, while may prove fatal, often take a long time to have any effect at all. There are many reports of people being shot with them, and large calibers as well of course too, and continuing to fight very aggressively for a long time. Often killing their victim before succumbing to their own wounds. If you're counting on pain to stop them then keep in mind that a great number of people that are shot in the heat of battle don't even realize it until the fight is over. The goal is to stop them and stop them as quickly and decisively as possible before they can harm or kill.

Violent encounters happen very quickly. You may only have time for one shot. Best to, as much as possible, make it count.
If I have to clean up blood, I'd much rather it be that of some scumbag than that of my wife, or her having to clean up mine, or someone cleaning up both of ours.

I would suggest that prior to getting a firearm you might consider a dog (puppie) and raise it with your children. This would give you more time to decide what fits your needs. If you just need one now you should look at the Tarus "Judge". Aint nut'n smarts like a blast fron a 45 or .410.
Good luck

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Timothy L Parker

My choice is a sawed off (to minimum legal length) 20 gauge pump shotgun with a tactical grip/stock and self defense rounds (#3 or #4 buck). It is short enough to be handled in close quarters, has a minimal recoil, relatively good stopping power and that "pump shotgun rack" sound. I would back that up with a handgun such as a 38 special revolver with speed loaders or 9mm and use +p defense rounds like Hornady critical defense or critical duty.

Cool, thanks for your service. For home protection, I have a very versatile 686 plus with a 3" barrel (very accurate) . I have a couple of HKS 7-shot speedloaders (loaded with 38+P hollowpoints) hidden but within reach. I have practiced many many times loading them into the gun with my eyes closed by feel so it's second nature should a dark night come along with an intruder. I save the .357s for plinking outdoors. Not only will magnums cut through drywall with ease, but they can sure light up a dark house and possibly blind me as well as the intruder. I do have a Winchester trap pump shotgun but I keep that hidden away in case of robbery/theft because I don't have a safe. I still think maybe it would be the better of the two but right now it's the revolver. Oh, and I have a dog with a healthy bark which would be extremely helpful should an intruder visit. I have kids that are older but I still think of their safety as well. Good luck with your decision. Be safe and I hope you never have to put the protection into practice.

Man thanks guys for all the great posts. I spent the afternoon gun shopping, man every shop I went to was packed! Good business to be in. Checked out a S&W .38 Sp Airlight (I think that was the name), no hammer. Seemed nice but felt small in my hand and oddly uncomfortable. Is that common? The S&W .357 felt much better, even though it was bigger and heavier I felt more at ease handling it.

Question: I am getting gun licenses from the state of North Carolina, are they good for shotguns? What are good shotguns for what I need?

MM

The gun stores are packed at present because of the assault weapon/high capacity magazine ban panic. It's actually a fine time to buy a revolver because no one's worried about losing access to them.

Sounds like you palmed a J-frame, S&W's smallest current frame. Can't say what you checked out in .357 -- there are a lot of models that handle that round -- but it was perhaps an L or N-frame. Find out which model and we can comment on them, if you wish.

The gun that speaks to you is an important factor in selection. An advantage to a .357 is it will also shoot .38 Special, so you expand your ammo options.

Can't speak to NC gun laws, but as for shotguns, I'd recommend a Remington 870 with an 18.5" barrel. Take a look at this guy's site -- has a lot of info on the platform for various defense uses, and he sells new 870s with basic, purposeful upgrades: AIP Tactical Combat Shotguns.

You probably looked at a J frame. Probably a 642 or 442 Airweight, or possibly one of the Scandium alloy framed equivalents. Now you see why most people recommended a K frame or larger (L or N) for home defense. The J frames only real advantage is that they are smaller and lighter. This can be an advantage for CCW purposes obviously. But the downside is that the light weight, while comfortable to carry all day, means that they have a much more pronounced recoil. Their small size, short sight radius, and to some degree lack of stabilizing weight also means that they are generally more difficult to shoot well, and hard to master. A lot of first time gun owners (especially women it seems) tend to gravitate to them because they seem somehow less intimidating and easier to handle. I've had to explain that to several women over the years. But for a gun for a dedicated home defense weapon their small size and light weight offers no advantages, but do come with the penalties. A good K frame, like a .357 M66, M65, or .38 M10, M15 M64, M67 etc, or an L frame like a 686 offer a really good balance of size and weight for many. They are generally accepted as being easier to shoot well for several reasons. So it sounds like you are on track to discover for yourself what many before you have learned by trial and error and experience.



Being from GA I can't speak to NC gun laws, but in GA, a Firearms License is a carry permit and allows for the owner to carry concealed about his person, within the restrictions of the state and federal laws that govern that right. It isn't a license required to buy or possess a firearm however, and doesn't really have much of any effect on shotguns, unless of course you plan to try to conceal one. ;-) In GA at least ( as well as other states with which I am familiar) you can buy any legal firearm without any license of any type. NFA weapons excepted of course. Again, in GA, the only advantage, outside of CCW, that the license gives is that it gives you a pass on the mandatory background check before buying a firearm from a dealer. In other words, here in GA, if you want to buy a gun you have to have a background check which in most cases doesn't take long but you usually have to pay a nominal fee for it. If you present your firearms license you don't have to do this. Again, this only pertains to my home state. I'm sure someone from NC will come along with better info. But, it's really best if you look into your own state and local laws though, rather than one day finding yourself relying on the excuse, "but, officer (or Your Honor), a guy on the internet said...".


ETA: Oh yeah, forgot about the shotgun question. I could only recommend the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500, or 590 series. Both are good guns with reputations for reliability. My personal choice is the Mossberg 590A1 with an 18.5" barrel and a mag. extension. I chose it over the 870 for a few differences that are important to me. But as with most things, it is a personal thing so I won't bore you with my reasons. To learn more about the world of HD shotguns, Shotgunworld.com is a great resource: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=7

I bought the governor for my home gun.

Like this:
Remington 870 12G 5077 Tactical 18 12 NIB for sale (917102644)

Does it load 2 shots?

Not sure I understand the question, but that particular gun has a 7 round magazine tube, plus one in the chamber, for a total capacity of 8 rounds. Same as my Mossy. It is a pump action so that after each shot you manually cycle the action by "pumping" the forend once. The rearward motion ejects the spent round, and drops a fresh one from the mag tube onto the elevator. Then, the forward stroke lifts the elevator and new cartridge up into position for the closing bolt to load it into the chamber. At the end of this relatively rapid "pump" the gun is ready to be fired again.

Pump shotguns, being manually operated, are highly reliable, but they are not infallible. If you don't properly understand they way they function, it is relatively easy to make mistakes in their operation and cause malfunctions. Some of which can be slow and rather difficult to clear. Operating one smoothly and well, is an art to itself and takes time and training to master.

And no offense meant, but from your questions I'd highly recommend you seek a little basic firearms training at the least. While it is a valuable resource, the internet really isn't the best place, or way, to learn the basic operations of the various types of firearms. Seeing it in person as someone knowledgeable explains the functions to you will make much more sense.

That would be a viable option, yes, though not necessarily my first choice.

I too am confused by the "two shots" question. Are you mistaking the 870 for an over/under shotgun, where there are two barrels one atop the other and each has a single shell in it?

Regardless, Imaposer gave a fine answer; I'll second the suggestion that you take a couple firearms courses focusing on handling, shooting and maintaining whichever weapons you choose -- it's something we should all do more of.

If you choose a shotgun and it's going to be a dedicated home defense weapon -- rather than, say, used for hunting or clay games, too -- there's a more recent version of the 870 Tactical than the one you linked that is compelling.

It has an integrated, one-piece magazine tube rather than the two-piece extended design; in theory a one piece might be more reliable. It also has a Speed Feed LE forend and stock, which I like better compared to the sporting-style forend and stock. Capacity is 6+1

Otherwise similar to what you linked. The only major difference is the barrels on the new Tactical aren't swappable with other Remington barrels; not an issue if it's dedicated home defense, where an 18.5" cylinder bore bead sight barrel I think is optimum.

AI&P Tactical sells a version with the few upgrades of value to me: they hone and polish the barrel bore, chamber, and magazine tube; replace the standard carrier dog spring with the heavy duty one from the 870 Police model; replace the MIM extractor with a forged steel one; and parkerize the entire weapon -- a better, more durable finish than the factory matte the Tactical and all 870 Express models (on which the Tactical is built) ship with.

Basic I

But honestly, most any 870, new or used but well-maintained, will do with just a few swapped parts.

Thanks guys. Yeah I definitely need some in person help and one on one training. There's something a little intimidating and somewhat unfriendly about all the gun shops I've been to. Could be I'm just a little uptight about the whole thing and don't know s@@t. Lol.

As far as the '2 shots' question I meant can you fire it more then once before reloading. Which I was reading about later tonight and actually was watching some videos of people firing the shotguns. One of them from the video looked like the gun was fired by pulling back the pump.

Anyway tomorrow I am going to hit a couple of other places and look into getting some lessons or something.

44 Magnum with 300 grain bear ammo.

One of these kept in one of these,
loaded with these.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=108

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Id have yo say hour on the right track. By my bed lays a m66 no dash 357 and beside that is a Remington 870 police mag . If you hear something supsicous I'd want yo check it out with this pistol but for the sound of a door kicked in I'd Grab the shotgun. If you want a 9 go with Ruger p89 or P85 or the Smith 3rd or 2nd gen pistols there is a ton of info on here.

Spent the afternoon at the shop here and had a long time to talk with the guy and try a bunch of different guns and bought:

S&W 686 4" .357
Remington 887 18" Shotgun

They felt the most comfortable to me. The shotgun is f'n badass. Wow. I signed up for a beginner class too. Took a lot of advice from you guys thanks. I also found a shop I like and it has a range. Really cool place.

12 Gauge pump shotgun. Prefer the Mossberg model 590A1. Holds 8 rounds. Load the tube as follows, #1 in the magazine 1 Oz slug. This will be your last round. #2, 3, 4 000 Buckshot, #5, 5, 7 #4 Buck. Last round in magazine, first to go in the chamber #6 birdshot. First shot is likely the only one you'll need and is very unlikely to go through walls and injure someone else. The next three are larger pellets in case the first one didn't do the job. The next three even larger, suspect may be hiding behind something. Last one in the tube is your slug. It will go through every wall in your house, use as last resort. That's how I keep mine loaded. YMMV.

Be familiar with your weapon and train with it whatever you decide on. Shotgun ammo is not going to be as difficult to obtain in the near future either. Something to consider. This is for a HOME defense situation only obviously. If you plan to have a concealed carry gun, then obviously something else is for you.

__________________
Still got the shovel

They gave me the name and number of the local gun instructor.

Home protection comes in four different levels;

1. Home security alarm
2. One or two dogs these are the best warning i have.
3. Mickey Mantle home run slugger, baseball bat silent but deadly.
4. a shot gun with 00 buck/slugs or a handgun with frag bullets.

I would suggest them all.

My shotgun is loaded 00 buck, 400gr slug, 00 buck, 400gr slug, 00 buck ect.

I would teach the kids to dive under there beds on a signal too.

As has been said here, this is a very complicated and personal decision. Cost, safety, population density, home construction/layout, arms experience, etc. are all important and only you can answer them.

In your case, the #1 consideration is, without any question, securing your choice from your children and their friends. That being said, the gun can NOT be made immediately available to pick up and fire. That isn't a bad thing...envision being awakened from a deep sleep and making that decision to shoot...not a pretty outcome! Very, very rarely would any situation arise when time to properly charge a firearm wouldn't be available. If that happens, your perimeter needed better security. The options for security are a safe or a trigger/action lock, and in both case having the firearm UNLOADED.

The easiest and most effective would probably be a pump shotgun and two of the best are the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500 in 12 ga. Neither are too expensive and both are very reliable. In the category of pistols, the Glock and the Ruger (both in 9mm) are excellent choices that won't break the bank. Finally, and far from least, in the revolver category I would suggest a .38 Spl. Military & Police (Model 10). All of these that I have suggested are frequently available as police trade-ins and each of them can be kept unloaded and safely secured.

Good luck and be SAFE!

Bob

Thanks Bob. Will do.

I personally prefer the 38spl for HD, powerful enough to do the job, but not blinding or overly loud to disorient the shooter. It is also less likely to penetrate several walls. A K frame or L frame is the perfect platform for most people. Good luck and be safe!