I always wondered if I was being overly cautious by leaving the chamber empty, as I don't do that with handguns. The responses on this thread bring me comfort I'm not alone.On the "tactical scale", that's at DEFCON 1
Home Defense Shotguns
- Thread starter Glenn R. McMannly
- Start date
Squib_Load
Member
I have a Stoeger 12 ga coach gun beside the bed. My load is 12 pellets of 00 buck, Blue Dot, 209 primers, brass hulls.
I bought the milled hulls from Rocky Mountain Cartridge. They also sell a small, brass hull reloading kit.
The 12 GA hulls are not like Magtech's thin, balloon head cases that use pistol primers.
I bought the milled hulls from Rocky Mountain Cartridge. They also sell a small, brass hull reloading kit.
The 12 GA hulls are not like Magtech's thin, balloon head cases that use pistol primers.
Doug M.
Member
Take a look at the research. The smaller shot tends to not have sufficiently reliable penetration especially when the offender is wearing heavier clothing (cooler weather). There is a reason that the ballistic gurus tend toward #1 buck, and the most LE agencies go with 00 or slugs. "Over penetration" is largely a non issue - the best way to prevent that is putting rounds on target. A human chest will slow down most ammo enough to really reduce the risk.
As I have said before though, the best defense is prevention: flood lights, aggressive fencing with padlocked gates (no one uninvited should be able to get to your door); and big protective dogs (which are also good company). Never tolerate an uninvited person. Tell them they are trespassing and if they do not immediately turn and leave as rapidly as physically possible, call 911.
If you are really good with dog training, the Malinois or Dutch Shepherd is a decent choice; a good choice for some is one of the more obscure Mastiff breeds (Cane Corso, Presa, etc.); I have had mostly rotts and like them, and depending on how I recover from this surgery might look seriously at a Boerboel. The deep barks of the 100+ pound dogs are likely to discourage most, and if it does not, you now know just how much of a threat that person is. My avatar/photo is Bozo, a RottXFila. He took after the Fila and although great with us and our Tervuren, he was VILE with strangers to an extent one had to experience to understand, hence the muzzle.
As I have said before though, the best defense is prevention: flood lights, aggressive fencing with padlocked gates (no one uninvited should be able to get to your door); and big protective dogs (which are also good company). Never tolerate an uninvited person. Tell them they are trespassing and if they do not immediately turn and leave as rapidly as physically possible, call 911.
If you are really good with dog training, the Malinois or Dutch Shepherd is a decent choice; a good choice for some is one of the more obscure Mastiff breeds (Cane Corso, Presa, etc.); I have had mostly rotts and like them, and depending on how I recover from this surgery might look seriously at a Boerboel. The deep barks of the 100+ pound dogs are likely to discourage most, and if it does not, you now know just how much of a threat that person is. My avatar/photo is Bozo, a RottXFila. He took after the Fila and although great with us and our Tervuren, he was VILE with strangers to an extent one had to experience to understand, hence the muzzle.
RonMor
Member
mckenney99
Member
In my training you are not being overly cautious, keeping the chamber empty on a shotgun that is not actively in use. Shotguns do not incorporate drop safeties into their trigger mechanisms like handguns and as a result there is the possibility of the hammer/striker being jarred off the sear with the shotgun being knocked over or dropped.
jbenedetto2
US Veteran
HARLEY0
Member
Ithaca Stake Out - Pistol grip 12ga (AOW)
I inherited a Winchester Defender with the Pachmayr pistol grip that I felt was unmanageable so I switched to a ATI adjustable stock for better control. Remember: shot pattern rule of thumb is Golf ball, Baseball, Softball. You still have to aim even with a shotgun.
fatcat3
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inspcalahan
Member
That's the route we took. Couldn't be happier, in spite of the frustration at times as well. They can be a handful but, if you put in the time, energy and effort...every day...they are so, so worth it. Nothing, and I mean nothing, occurs in or around the house without him knowing about it, as well as letting you know he knows about it.
As for shotguns, I'm a huge fan. If it were just self protection from two legged creeps, the light equipped suppressed AR nearby would be preferred, second only to always having a handgun on your person.
That said, where we live, the four legged threats are real also, whether it's to us, our animals, ducks or the neighbors goats and chickens. Enter the shotgun, slugs mostly. Between the 870 and the Remington/Russian side by side, we've had to skin out three bears in the past few years. The AR would not have been up to that task nearly as well. The shotgun does well filling double duty for all the various threats poking around. For threats around the home, I'll always be a fan of the scatterguns.
Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge - another example of everything you need, nothing you don't! The only "appendage" is the shell holder.
He's better than any AI technology!
What we humans hear at 100 feet, dogs can hear at 1,000 feet.
Dogs can make over 100 different sounds.
By being observant over the life of our two dogs of 15 years, I could tell what they were saying by the sound in the bark or growl.
They used their body language to tell me something.
I could determine in a few seconds if they thought the issue was a DEFCON 5 or a DEFCON1, and it was obvious.
No security system or technology yet, can convey the amount of information a dog can "transmit" in few seconds in the dark of night.
I miss our two dogs more than anything I have ever missed.
I'm pretty sure that CZ doesn't build any coach guns on Greener actions. Do you instead mean that the action has a Greener style cross-bolt?
Thank you for that information. To be honest I did not know the difference between the safety mechanisms. This shotgun gets moved into and out of a safe daily so there is a generous probability it could be bumped or dropped.
fiasconva
US Veteran
Thanks, Mule Packer. I have one shipped in 1920 that was my grandfather's.
absolutevil
Member
I have several shotguns for hunting but when my son out grew his 870 youth model 20ga that became my bedside gun. I think it's loaded with #3 or 4 buckshot, but it's short and lite and already paid for.
inspcalahan
Member
Yes, I never recommend having a round chambered until it's in your hands and you are in control of it. Even if you trip or drop, always ensure it's pointed in a safe direction. We had the occasional lazy cop that would chamber a round on a call and then "forget" or just decide not to download it before putting them back in the vehicle rack. It was always amusing having them walk into the Sergeants office explaining why their squad car had a new air vent in the roof or the floor, usually while yelling some, as the ringing in their ears was still strong. A good speedbump or pot hole reminded them why you download a shotgun when not in use.
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Seeing a couple of photos, gotta ask, is a brace "all ok" on a Tac 14 or similar "firearm?"
Seeing the examples have me thinking it might be a good idea for the current truck gun.
Seeing the examples have me thinking it might be a good idea for the current truck gun.
Mine is just a plain old 870, with a full stock, short barrel and long magazine loaded with #1 buck. It sleeps right beside me, with a magnet holding it to the wall.
