The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Rifle/Carbine vs Shotgun vs Handgun for HD POLL

Enoy21 · April 15, 2009, 12:18 PM

I once read an article that mentioned a study of Prison inmates... it went something like this ...

" What is the one thing that would stop you dead in your tracks if you were doing something you shouldn't be doing ? "

The resounding answer was " The sound of a 12 Gauge pump action "

Most of what I've read has said that for "purely" home defense a Short barreled (18" ) tactical shotgun ( No stock but pistol grip for maneuverability ) with Buck shot or bird shot ( to avoid over penetration) is the best Home Defense weapon there is. The sound alone is enough to scare an attacker off. Also the fact that in a high stress situation and a moving Attacker , a shotgun gives a bit more room for error.

If I had wanted one for STRICTLY that , I would not have gotten my Glock. I would have bought a shortgun. But I wanted a CCW/Target Pistol as well to serve as both.

I have often though considered trading in my .22 Magnum for a Mossberg 500 ( interchangeable barrel lengths for home defense or Hunting ) and adding a tactical Pistol Grip to it.

Mossberg 500 Cruiser

More review info:
http://www.firearmsfirst.com/?p=11

April 15, 2009, 12:18 PM	#39
Enoy21 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2009 Posts: 240	I once read an article that mentioned a study of Prison inmates... it went something like this ... " What is the one thing that would stop you dead in your tracks if you were doing something you shouldn't be doing ? " The resounding answer was " The sound of a 12 Gauge pump action " Most of what I've read has said that for "purely" home defense a Short barreled (18" ) tactical shotgun ( No stock but pistol grip for maneuverability ) with Buck shot or bird shot ( to avoid over penetration) is the best Home Defense weapon there is. The sound alone is enough to scare an attacker off. Also the fact that in a high stress situation and a moving Attacker , a shotgun gives a bit more room for error. If I had wanted one for STRICTLY that , I would not have gotten my Glock. I would have bought a shortgun. But I wanted a CCW/Target Pistol as well to serve as both. I have often though considered trading in my .22 Magnum for a Mossberg 500 ( interchangeable barrel lengths for home defense or Hunting ) and adding a tactical Pistol Grip to it. Mossberg 500 Cruiser More review info: http://www.firearmsfirst.com/?p=11 Last edited by Enoy21; April 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM.