What do you think of a muled eared SxS for home defense?

Texas Phil Peeno · February 8, 2010, 11:29 AM

Need a new SxS for CAS and a home defense shotgun. Can't get both per Missus. What do you think about TTN SxS as a home defense weapon using 00 buck shots? I can see having it loaded with hammers down for safety precautions. However it leaves me with only two shots versus 5+ shot pump (not to mention the racking sound of death).

oneounceload · February 8, 2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

not to mention the racking sound of death

Don't count on that being a factor in your defensive plan.

Edited: thread was on another forum

A SxS can be a viable gun for HD as long as you practice since you only have two shots immediately available

t4terrific · February 8, 2010, 01:54 PM

I keep a round in the chamber of my Mossberg 500 Persuader. The only sound is the safety, then "BANG".

t4terrific · February 8, 2010, 01:57 PM

I keep a Stoeger Coachgun, and a Kel Tec PF9, bedside. The Mossberg is in the cabinet.

I keep the Stoeger loaded with the safety catch on. A leather Galco buttstock shell holder houses 5 extra rounds of 000 Buck.

zippy13 · February 8, 2010, 02:50 PM

My prime concern is having the external hammers snag on something during HD application.

Old Grump · February 8, 2010, 04:36 PM

Good thing about the double barrel is that you are less likely to waste ammo by firing a warning shot. Get it and enjoy. Bad guys beware, this guy shoots CAS so he probably knows what to do with that gun. Racking the slide on a pump never impressed me but the sight of a muzzle does if it isn't in my hands and 2 of them could ruin my laundry.

Lee Lapin · February 8, 2010, 05:59 PM

They've been working OK in that application for a couple hundred years or more. No reason one won't do now- if YOU will do.

Chances are if you're any kind of CAS shooter, you'll do...

lpl

b.thomas · February 8, 2010, 06:58 PM

I've got a old Ithaca 20 gauge sxs and I'm sure with some double O buck it would make a bad guy have a real bad day!

apr1775 · February 9, 2010, 10:18 AM

It will make a fine HD gun. You can keep both barrels safely loaded and all you need to do is cock the hammers and it is ready for action. It will be the same gun you practice with. The overall length of a double will be shorter than a pump with the same barrel length. A pump may have that sound, but a side by side has that look when it's pointed at you. Two rounds, so what, if you compete with it, you'll be fast reloading, and keep the large bore CAS sixgun as backup.....I pity the fool who breaks into your house.

DG45 · February 9, 2010, 06:43 PM

A double blast of 00 buckshot is potent HD medicine.

mxsailor803 · February 9, 2010, 07:18 PM

a single barrel 12ga. beats a baseball bat every day!!

Dave McC · February 10, 2010, 08:05 PM

The late ,great Colonel Cooper had a short barreled, outside hammer "Lupara" as part of his home defense system. They have a lot going for them.

As with ALL firearms used for defense, complete and total familiarity with the platform is mandatory.

jrothWA · February 10, 2010, 11:15 PM

SNARLING german shepard, with its ears laid back.

I preume we're talking about current made hammer shotgun??

Be a little leary of a early manufacture shotgun, parts, reliability, etc.

bbqbob51 · February 10, 2010, 11:49 PM

In my opinion, a short barreled SxS coachgun is a VERY effective home defense gun. Extremely easy and foolproof to operate and anyone on the receiving end will have a bad day!

gyvel · February 11, 2010, 01:25 AM

As has been pointed out several times, both here and in other threads, you have only two shots. If you're comfortable with that concept and proficient with the weapon, fine.

bamaranger · February 11, 2010, 03:10 AM

that anybody that assails your castle or loved ones is in for a very bad experience. The external hammer guns are ready w/ no compressed springs 'till cocked, a mechanical advantage over a hammerless gun to me.

Consider keeping some ammo on the 'gun, as in a secure, lace on, butt 'cuff.
Also, no doubt you have a pistol somewhere about, use it to "back" the SXS.

mradam · February 13, 2010, 08:29 AM

I thin kit would make a fine HD gun. Just remember to practice, practice, practice. Load and unload it in the dark, load and unload offhanded, try loading it one handed too. Make sure you know every bit of that gun completely.

Use it often. Like someone said, make it your practice gun.

tango1niner · February 13, 2010, 12:40 PM

Even a single shot is better than nothing if you make the ONE shot count, my preference though would be a 20" barreled Ithaca 37. I keep one handy with a mix of buck shot and #2's. You could even throw a slug or 2 in the mix in case the bad guy keeps hidden on the other side of the wall.

**44 AMP** · February 13, 2010, 01:15 PM

To repel boarders.

I have one, with shells in the butt cuff. A no brand name made in China gun, but it works! And at less than $200 when I got it, if the cops decide it needs to be evidence for months/years, I won't cry too much.

Yes, the down side is only having two shots. But to balance that, you can't short stroke a SxS! Shorter than a pump (by about 6"!) they are very handy, and better than any other long gun inside the house (except possibly something you can use with the stock folded).

Remember, in a home defense situation, you are legally responsible for every shot you fire. Not having enough shots in the gun to "spray and pray" is actually better, particularly if you live in an urban situation. Most places, firing a "warning shot" is not legally a good idea.

Home defense is about driving off the attacker(s), more often than anything else. Stopping them by shooting them is done only in gravest extreme. A double barrel 12ga has proven effective and efficient since they came out, and are no less so today.

Practice, and know where your gun hits at close range (because it ain't like so many people think it is). At across the room ranges, your pattern will be somewhere between your fist and your open hand in size. You can miss, and easily, if you haven't practiced. But, just a little bit of practice can give even a complete beginner the ability to use the gun effectively at home defense distances.

My personal opinion is that every member of the household that can physically use a coach gun should be taught how, whether they are interested in shooting, or not. Once they know the basics of how to use it, if they don't care for shooting, fine. At least you know that they know, and could use it in an emegency. There is no gun that is simpler to use, or hit with at close range, and has that kind of power. There have been many times over the years where even pre-teen children have saved themselves and family members, because the gun was available, and they knew enough to use it sucessfully.

Obviously, each of us has to decide what is right for our own households, taking all factors into account. But don't dismiss the coach gun, just because you only have two shots without reloading. Having one, and being able to work it, is a lot better than having a "better" gun that could be fumbled with or is harder to hit with under stress.

gyvel · February 13, 2010, 04:59 PM

And what's the most interesting about all of this is that, even though the double is limited to two shots, they have always had a tremendous psychological effect on those having one pointed at them.

Lawyer Daggit · February 13, 2010, 06:06 PM

I would use 4 shot rather than buck- less over penetration problems and sounds a bit better when explaining yourself afterwards to a jury.

rickyjames · February 13, 2010, 06:15 PM

excellent choice. having to cock the hammers makes keeping it loaded safer than the hammerless design in my opinion. i have one and it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

tango1niner · February 14, 2010, 12:13 AM

If the sound of racking the slide or firing a warning shot (not that I would) stops the advance I think it's a good thing. And... if after doing both of those things he/they keep coming I want the Ithaca !

tango1niner · February 14, 2010, 12:21 AM

..oops

jlv08 · February 14, 2010, 09:11 AM

I bought my wife ( 5'1' 120 lbs.) a Pardner single shot for an adjunct to her snubnose 38 for HD when I work long overnite shifts. I had a 16 gauge double barrel Stevens but It just wasn't a good fit for her if she decided to go for a shotgun.

The Pardner is .410 gauge and is stoked with oo buck 3" shells. It's not loaded now but can be in a flash if need be.

My grandfathers had double barrels for farm and home protection and that was tacticool to them at the time.

Real effective for two or four legged critters!

February 8, 2010, 11:29 AM	#1
Texas Phil Peeno Member Join Date: January 13, 2008 Location: Tarrant County Texas Posts: 17	What do you think of a muled eared SxS for home defense? Need a new SxS for CAS and a home defense shotgun. Can't get both per Missus. What do you think about TTN SxS as a home defense weapon using 00 buck shots? I can see having it loaded with hammers down for safety precautions. However it leaves me with only two shots versus 5+ shot pump (not to mention the racking sound of death).

February 8, 2010, 04:36 PM	#6
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Good thing about the double barrel is that you are less likely to waste ammo by firing a warning shot. Get it and enjoy. Bad guys beware, this guy shoots CAS so he probably knows what to do with that gun. Racking the slide on a pump never impressed me but the sight of a muzzle does if it isn't in my hands and 2 of them could ruin my laundry. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

February 8, 2010, 05:59 PM	#7
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	They've been working OK in that application for a couple hundred years or more. No reason one won't do now- if YOU will do. Chances are if you're any kind of CAS shooter, you'll do... lpl __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

February 10, 2010, 11:15 PM	#13
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	It has about the same image as a.... SNARLING german shepard, with its ears laid back. I preume we're talking about current made hammer shotgun?? Be a little leary of a early manufacture shotgun, parts, reliability, etc.

February 11, 2010, 03:10 AM	#16
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	I think....... that anybody that assails your castle or loved ones is in for a very bad experience. The external hammer guns are ready w/ no compressed springs 'till cocked, a mechanical advantage over a hammerless gun to me. Consider keeping some ammo on the 'gun, as in a secure, lace on, butt 'cuff. Also, no doubt you have a pistol somewhere about, use it to "back" the SXS.

February 8, 2010, 01:54 PM	#3
t4terrific Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2009 Posts: 307	I keep a round in the chamber of my Mossberg 500 Persuader. The only sound is the safety, then "BANG".

February 8, 2010, 01:57 PM	#4
t4terrific Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2009 Posts: 307	I keep a Stoeger Coachgun, and a Kel Tec PF9, bedside. The Mossberg is in the cabinet. I keep the Stoeger loaded with the safety catch on. A leather Galco buttstock shell holder houses 5 extra rounds of 000 Buck.

February 8, 2010, 02:50 PM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	My prime concern is having the external hammers snag on something during HD application.

February 8, 2010, 06:58 PM	#8
b.thomas Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Posts: 461	I've got a old Ithaca 20 gauge sxs and I'm sure with some double O buck it would make a bad guy have a real bad day!

February 9, 2010, 10:18 AM	#9
apr1775 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 425	It will make a fine HD gun. You can keep both barrels safely loaded and all you need to do is cock the hammers and it is ready for action. It will be the same gun you practice with. The overall length of a double will be shorter than a pump with the same barrel length. A pump may have that sound, but a side by side has that look when it's pointed at you. Two rounds, so what, if you compete with it, you'll be fast reloading, and keep the large bore CAS sixgun as backup.....I pity the fool who breaks into your house.

February 9, 2010, 06:43 PM	#10
DG45 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Posts: 904	A double blast of 00 buckshot is potent HD medicine.

February 9, 2010, 07:18 PM	#11
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	a single barrel 12ga. beats a baseball bat every day!!

February 10, 2010, 08:05 PM	#12
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The late ,great Colonel Cooper had a short barreled, outside hammer "Lupara" as part of his home defense system. They have a lot going for them. As with ALL firearms used for defense, complete and total familiarity with the platform is mandatory.

February 10, 2010, 11:49 PM	#14
bbqbob51 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Posts: 775	In my opinion, a short barreled SxS coachgun is a VERY effective home defense gun. Extremely easy and foolproof to operate and anyone on the receiving end will have a bad day!

February 11, 2010, 01:25 AM	#15
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	As has been pointed out several times, both here and in other threads, you have only two shots. If you're comfortable with that concept and proficient with the weapon, fine.

February 13, 2010, 08:29 AM	#17
mradam Junior Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Posts: 9	I thin kit would make a fine HD gun. Just remember to practice, practice, practice. Load and unload it in the dark, load and unload offhanded, try loading it one handed too. Make sure you know every bit of that gun completely. Use it often. Like someone said, make it your practice gun.

February 13, 2010, 12:40 PM	#18
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	Even a single shot is better than nothing if you make the ONE shot count, my preference though would be a 20" barreled Ithaca 37. I keep one handy with a mix of buck shot and #2's. You could even throw a slug or 2 in the mix in case the bad guy keeps hidden on the other side of the wall.

February 13, 2010, 01:15 PM	#19
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Its what they were invented for.... To repel boarders. I have one, with shells in the butt cuff. A no brand name made in China gun, but it works! And at less than $200 when I got it, if the cops decide it needs to be evidence for months/years, I won't cry too much. Yes, the down side is only having two shots. But to balance that, you can't short stroke a SxS! Shorter than a pump (by about 6"!) they are very handy, and better than any other long gun inside the house (except possibly something you can use with the stock folded). Remember, in a home defense situation, you are legally responsible for every shot you fire. Not having enough shots in the gun to "spray and pray" is actually better, particularly if you live in an urban situation. Most places, firing a "warning shot" is not legally a good idea. Home defense is about driving off the attacker(s), more often than anything else. Stopping them by shooting them is done only in gravest extreme. A double barrel 12ga has proven effective and efficient since they came out, and are no less so today. Practice, and know where your gun hits at close range (because it ain't like so many people think it is). At across the room ranges, your pattern will be somewhere between your fist and your open hand in size. You can miss, and easily, if you haven't practiced. But, just a little bit of practice can give even a complete beginner the ability to use the gun effectively at home defense distances. My personal opinion is that every member of the household that can physically use a coach gun should be taught how, whether they are interested in shooting, or not. Once they know the basics of how to use it, if they don't care for shooting, fine. At least you know that they know, and could use it in an emegency. There is no gun that is simpler to use, or hit with at close range, and has that kind of power. There have been many times over the years where even pre-teen children have saved themselves and family members, because the gun was available, and they knew enough to use it sucessfully. Obviously, each of us has to decide what is right for our own households, taking all factors into account. But don't dismiss the coach gun, just because you only have two shots without reloading. Having one, and being able to work it, is a lot better than having a "better" gun that could be fumbled with or is harder to hit with under stress. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 13, 2010, 04:59 PM	#20
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	And what's the most interesting about all of this is that, even though the double is limited to two shots, they have always had a tremendous psychological effect on those having one pointed at them.

February 13, 2010, 06:06 PM	#21
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	I would use 4 shot rather than buck- less over penetration problems and sounds a bit better when explaining yourself afterwards to a jury.

February 13, 2010, 06:15 PM	#22
rickyjames Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 558	excellent choice. having to cock the hammers makes keeping it loaded safer than the hammerless design in my opinion. i have one and it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling __________________ ya only got 1 arm and ya carry 3 guns for Christs sake. Well I don't want to get killed for lack of shooting back.

February 14, 2010, 12:13 AM	#23
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	If the sound of racking the slide or firing a warning shot (not that I would) stops the advance I think it's a good thing. And... if after doing both of those things he/they keep coming I want the Ithaca !

February 14, 2010, 12:21 AM	#24
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	..oops

February 14, 2010, 09:11 AM	#25
jlv08 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Posts: 122	I bought my wife ( 5'1' 120 lbs.) a Pardner single shot for an adjunct to her snubnose 38 for HD when I work long overnite shifts. I had a 16 gauge double barrel Stevens but It just wasn't a good fit for her if she decided to go for a shotgun. The Pardner is .410 gauge and is stoked with oo buck 3" shells. It's not loaded now but can be in a flash if need be. My grandfathers had double barrels for farm and home protection and that was tacticool to them at the time. Real effective for two or four legged critters!