Shotgun Resurgence?

JayFramer · Apr 2, 2020

LGS near me reports shotguns, especially pump actions, have flown off the shelves in recent weeks due to the events. I heard online from a very large gun shop in Utah (Gunnies Gun Shop in Orem) shotguns have been a number one seller. They have said AR15s are not selling as fast as the shotguns.

That and tactical/defensive 12 gauge ammo has sold just as fast. Online, it just isn’t available. Even Ammoseek is reporting almost every shop is out of great loads like the Federal Tactical 00 buckshot. I’ve read the factories are ramping up production of specifically 12 gauge defense oriented loads, among the usual .22, 9mm, etc.

Seems the home defense shotgun is FAR from dead, as some have proposed in recent years. All the new gun buyers wanting to protect their castles and toilet paper. I’m cool with it. Seems we may very well be entering a new resurgence of the popularity of the defensive shotgun.

Just interesting. Here’s mine:

No wonder local PDs are reporting all-time lows in home invasions?

-Jay

crazyphil · Apr 2, 2020

My daughter is considering a Shockwave or TAC 14 for home defense.
Do you have opinions on them? There seems to be plusses and Minusses
on both of them.

6518John · Apr 2, 2020

Phil—I don’t know how much experience your daughter has with guns but those shotguns are a handful. I think the regular stocked Remington 870 youth model 20 gauge is hard to beat.

This is one of the best gun articles I have ever read and by one of our Fourm members to boot.

Consider the 20-gauge shotgun - Backwoods Home Magazine

shocker · Apr 2, 2020

crazyphil said:
My daughter is considering a Shockwave or TAC 14 for home defense.
Do you have opinions on them? There seems to be plusses and Minusses
on both of them.

Birdshot loads spread to 18" at 10 yds. Up to you to decide how long a range you figure it's good for.
12 G recoil is stout even with Skeet loads. I've shot mine with slugs and it's doable but you notice for sure.
20 G is nicer to shoot, still devastating at close range.
Hip shooting is not at all intuitive. My first try I missed an 18" square at 10 yds with birdshot. I put lasers on mine. You need some arm strength to keep the guns out of your face if you use the bead sight.
I put a TAC brace on the 12, decided it was more comfortable to
shoot with the birdshead, so switched back.
Unless you practice, practice, practice with these for proficiency I'd recommend a regular shotgun.

BAM-BAM · Apr 2, 2020

Understandable....... panic buyers

Shotguns don't need magazines, optics or added sights ..... not to mention sighted in even if just iron sights..... most panic buyers probably don't have access to a range...............

Do the shops have 5.56 to sell with the AR's....... or are the shelves bare??

Shotgun pretty much get by with the gun and 2 5rd boxes of shells

Also a lot of folks still believe the urban/movie/TV myth that a shotgun will pattern to clear a hallway at 10 ft

BAM-BAM · Apr 2, 2020

crazyphil said:
My daughter is considering a Shockwave or TAC 14 for home defense.
Do you have opinions on them? There seems to be plusses and Minusses
on both of them.

Mossburg makes a nice 20 gauge youth model 510......18 inch barrel, 35 OAL 3+1........ short LOP 10-11" IIRC...... put a sleeve on the stock for 5 or 6 extra shells

Mrnurse · Apr 2, 2020

Folks... The Gun Industry has for years pushed Tact Cool laser optic Bla Bla, its Foolish. Things have not changed in 140 years from the frontier days, that is, Gun fights at home are fast violent affair that the first on trigger normally lives. Folks who have No experience with weapons needs something simple and effective. 12 Ga shells in 7 or 8 shot is Perfect to Kill a Human out to 25 Yds or so, 100 Yds it will welt the skin. I Know first hand as Ive treated Several folks with 12 ga Bird shot Blasts fired Close...it Blew a 3 Inch Hole through the Mans Chest. For MOST home gun fights the 20/12 Ga with 7 shot is fine.

GerSan69 · Apr 2, 2020

I picked up a Charles Daly "Honcho" 20 ga. not too long ago when one of the online dealers had them for $240. After popping a few shells out back to see what it would do, I put the 870 in the safe and set the Daly in the rack. Not a bad little gun at all. They're made in Turkey, but they are nicely finished, only weigh around 6 or 6.5 pounds and handle as well or better than my AR pistol.

stansdds · Apr 2, 2020

I would steer clear of magnum loads for self defense, but standard loads of #4 buckshot down to #7 birdshot should be pretty good for home defense. As for pistol grip stocks on shotguns, ok if you are proficient with them, but I think most people are better off with a full stock.

Chief Wiggums · Apr 2, 2020

crazyphil said:
My daughter is considering a Shockwave or TAC 14 for home defense.
Do you have opinions on them? There seems to be plusses and Minusses
on both of them.

Hello CrazyPhil
SW 20G owner here...I absolutely love it.
In my case it is not a SD firearm , this is one of my "fun-guns"
For the purpose of HD , this would play a great protective role if required.

I view only 1 negative w this firearm.

The manor in which you hold this gun and put it on target is very precise...and obviously you will not "shoulder" this as you would a normal shotgun.

Clint Smith (Thunder Ranch) loves this gun
Chris Baker (The Lucky Gunner) calls this gun "useless"

white cloud · Apr 2, 2020

6518John said:
Phil—I don’t know how much experience your daughter has with guns but those shotguns are a handful. I think the regular stocked Remington 870 youth model 20 gauge is hard to beat.

This is one of the best gun articles I have ever read and by one of our Fourm members to boot.

Consider the 20-gauge shotgun - Backwoods Home Magazine

I would definitely not suggest a Shockwave and certainly not to my wife or sister.

Eski · Apr 2, 2020

crazyphil said:
My daughter is considering a Shockwave or TAC 14 for home defense.
Do you have opinions on them? There seems to be plusses and Minusses
on both of them.

I’d go with a standard shotgun or even a traditional pistol grip over the shockwave.

My wife has a 410 bore Mossberg 500 pistol grip. She’s had it for a few years and shoots it very well. I mounted a green laser on it and she can run our shotgun soda can course very quickly. Handling, target acquisition (with or without the laser) is very easy for her. We stay away from the “Judge” ammo and stick with real 410 buckshot.

We tried my brother in laws shockwave and it wasn’t for either of us. Both of us prefer a standard shotgun or a traditional pistol grip. My wife is able to handle a pistol grip and shoot it high enough (not just from the hip) to be able to get a bead on target. The shockwave, not so much.

I’d say the best thing for your daughter is to try the different setups (standard stock, pistol grip, shockwave) and see what she likes best. If she can’t shoot them all, at least handle each one. Everybody is different and has their own preferences.

Breakaway500 · Apr 2, 2020

Shotguns you do not shoulder are about as useful as a draw and fire from the hip with a handgun. Yes,I own one (tac-14) but just because I LOVE shotguns and goofy toys.

However...for anyone wanting to buy a shotgun for home self defense,I would suggest an autoloader in most any brand. I really like the Mossberg 930 for quality and price. Why an autoloader?? All you need to do is watch a few people struggle with a pump action.
Let's face it..most people do NOT practice actually shooting very much,and for them I suggest an autoloader. Less felt recoil and most hold 5 rounds,so even if they don't practice much..it's pretty straightforward. Load it,(including chamber) put the safety on. Need it: safety off,pull trigger.Repeat till empty or threat is neutralized.

Hollywood loves the pump..and that menacing RACK ONE IN..but such foolishness is only meant for Hollywood drama...

Oldfrt · Apr 2, 2020

A couple months ago I got a Charles Daly Honcho in 410, it has the spring return (which you can remove the spring and it will function just fine) and is easy for small people to operate. It doesn't kick very much and can use all the new handgun 410 self defense loads that have come out lately. The bad thing is that apparently everybody is out except for 2 on Gun Broker for about $1000.00. Another bad point is that it is fun to shoot, I went threw a box of 000 buck before I realized it.

jimmyj · Apr 2, 2020

Patrol Officers saying:
" one might survive a handgun round at close range, but not a shotgun round"

hkcavalier · Apr 2, 2020

I prefer the Mossy 500 myself.

Echo40 · Apr 2, 2020

Well, Pump Shotguns are cheap, reliable, and extremely powerful, ergo when folks suddenly feel the urge to purchase a firearm fuelled by paranoia, then reach for what they know, and Pump Shotguns have a long history of use in the Military, Law Enforcement, and perhaps most importantly, Hollywood.

They're easily recognized even by a complete novice as firearms carried by Soldiers, Police, and their favorite Action Hero on the silver screen as reliable workhorse firearms that pack a serious punch.

Sure, the AR-15 has a similar reputation, but it's significantly more expensive, is constantly demonized by the media as an evil weapon used only by criminals, and has less dramatic/decisive effects when fired in movies.
Seriously, in the movies the guy with the shotgun almost always hits his mark and with devastating results , whereas the guys with ARs are either constantly missing or shooting at something like a Tank or a Monster which obviously takes no damage from it.

Even I use a Pump Shotgun for Home Defense, albeit a less conventional one.

ContinentalOp · Apr 2, 2020

JayFramer said:
Seems the home defense shotgun is FAR from dead, as some have proposed in recent years.

I'm not a shotgun guy, but that's news to me. I've never heard anyone say the home defense shotgun is dead. It's popularity may have waned compared to rifles/carbines, but considering new self-defense oriented shotguns have been introduced in the last few years, like LTT's Beretta semi-auto shotgun or Stoeger's "tactical" SxS, not to mention the rise of Shockwave and Tac-14 guns, I would never have considered the shotgun dead.

WR Moore · Apr 2, 2020

Up till 1982 the shotgun was the most commonly owned/admitted owning firearm. It got replaced by the rifle at that point. Don't know what the percentages are today.

A couple of years ago the local paper published the views on firearms of a wide variety of local folks. The general opinion for home defense was "Git you a shotgun".

Not necessarily a bad choice, but might not be the best choice. OTOH, as noted above, the price can be right and a shotgun beats a stern look and a harsh word. There's the myth and legend thing too. That might make actual use unnecessary. But, the user cannot count on the myths & legends. I'm aware of a few documented tragic incidents resulting from the use of shotguns.

KSDeputy · Apr 2, 2020

My favorite shotgun, I have several, is the Remington V3 Tac 13. It is short, easy to deploy and shoot, and I have a bandoleer full of reduced recoil shells for it. I have always liked shotguns as Dad gave me my first one at age 10, a .410 Winchester pump.

Shotgun Resurgence?

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