[tappedandtagged]

^ I too was debating on a second barrel for my Win 1300. I opted for a JIC Mossberg 500 that comes w/ the 18.5" barrel. The Mossberg only cost me around $250 new in box (well tube for the JIC series). For an extra 50 bucks, yeah, I'll opt for two guns.

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

For Home Defense I think some one is a fool if they dont use either a 12 gauge or a choice of a .45 or .357.

[nathangdad]

will handle my alternating rounds of buckshot and slug.

I feel this is the way to go and I trust my home/family to this solution if, God forbid, some day I have to defend us.

[sniper1958]

Quote:       Originally Posted by larmus

12g... with 00buck or #4 buck...

+1 - with a shorter barrel for HD. You can get a Mossy or 870 18.5" (18" for the 870) for $125 from cheaperthandirt.com and swap away to your heart's content.

[Maudite]

No choice at all. Shotgun.

Quote:      

the .460 would not be a good choice either unless you are in big bear country

The .460s can fire .45 colt, like .38 in a .357

Quote:      

For Home Defense I think some one is a fool if they dont use either a 12 gauge or a choice of a .45 or .357.

That's silly. You think a person is a fool for using .44sp, or .40S&W, or .41?

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Maudite

That's silly. You think a person is a fool for using .44sp, or .40S&W, or .41?

Yes I do!

[SightNSqueeze]

Any decent shotgun; pump action or double will do the job. Regular load 00 buck (9 lead .33 caliber projectiles @ 1200 fps) is what I use in my house gun. I’ve been known to use #7½ bird shot to kill the occasional rattler or copperhead, but 00 buck goes back in the weapon when the yard work is done. That house gun just happens to be one of my hunting shotguns; the one with the shortest barrel and the easiest safety. It is a Browning BPS with a 26" Browning Invector choke w/ full choke installed. It is the only long arm kept out of the vault. We keep a .38 spl S&W 3" revolver handy too.

[tommy]

i had a 44sp and i would put that round up against a .45 anyday.the 44sp mushrooms out very nicely to the size of a quarter on impact both the .45 and the .44sp are to me about the same round. i done hit paper plates out to 100 yards with my old 44 and i would say that a 44sp for home defense would be a good gun in the summer or all year round in the south but for the north where they wear layers of cloths plus a heavy jacket you might wanna go with the shotgun or a 357. i vote for the shotgun.

[SightNSqueeze]

Just about everything mentioned so far is adequate. If I lived in an aparment with only interior walls seperating me from other residences, I would go with a light load buck & ball like that marketed by Centurion and avoid centerfire handguns and rifles all together in that same apartment shooting scenario. Everybody else just needs to assess their environment and possible shooting scenarios before they decide. JMHO

[Metronome]

Quote:       Originally Posted by SightNSqueeze

Just about everything mentioned so far is adequate. If I lived in an aparment with only interior walls seperating me from other residences, I would go with a light load buck & ball like that marketed by Centurion and avoid centerfire handguns and rifles all together in that same apartment shooting scenario. Everybody else just needs to assess their environment and possible shooting scenarios before they decide. JMHO

I am in that situation. Thin walls and three other neighbors (not to mention another 4 plex in three directions). I am starting to think #4 buck in a 12 gauge would be a smart option, but I have never seen it locally.

[SightNSqueeze]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Metronome

I am in that situation. Thin walls and three other neighbors (not to mention another 4 plex in three directions). I am starting to think #4 buck in a 12 gauge would be a smart option, but I have never seen it locally.

#4 buck is still a pretty devastating load and it might still penetrate drywall material. Some hunters in my area actually shoot running deer with #4 buck because it approximates 00 buck in penetration at closer ranges. However, don't discount lighter loads. Any 12 gauge shotgun blast at close range will stop an assailant short of the assailant wearing full body armor, head and face protection. Look into #5 or #6 perhaps and save the 00 buck for when you are travelling or in the woods. For what it is worth, I responded to and participated in putting down a major riot and takeover attempt at a South Carolina prison in 1996. Most of the officers were using #7 birdshot, which forced the rioting inmates to abandon their attempt to take the operations building, and flee back into their cell blocks. It was a long ordeal, but #7 was the primary ammunition used to take back the prison over the course of the day and the ranges were certainly longer than ranges encountered within the confines of an apartment, or even a large house for that matter. Granted, OO or #4 buck are better man stoppers, and when the situation allows, preferable to lighter loads like #5, #6 or #7, however, the latter have proven effective in actual shootings too.

[larmus]

FINALY!!!! someone else provides some sort of credability of the use of birdshot! ive done my own testing of #7 up against plywood... in my 870 with factory choke i was blowing holes through 3/4inch ply at 25 feet a standard distance in a home... dont get me wrong i like 00 and #4 but just hate the nay-sayers about the other rounds uses...

[Lobo0311]

12 ga.... As I've said in other threads I love my Win. 1200. Plus the fact that I have an M4 style collapsible stock I can shorten it for HD applications, or extend it for use in the field. I prefer 00 buck with at least 15 pellets for HD just for the sole fact there's more lead on target, however If I was living in an apt or other multi family dwelling i may use a squirrel/rabbit load due to the reduced power ( I'd prefer not to shoot into my neighbors domicile). Some ppl say just the sound of the slide racking will deter intruders.... While that may be true, would you really want to bet your life on it?

[LexiconDevil]

I've got 2 Remington 870s' that I did a "custom" job on,I had to pad the stock on one for my wife;but this is an easy answer for sure.

[scroamer65]

SightNsqueeze & larmus are putting real uses to the question as to what
does happen when you squeeze the tragger of the shotgun. The rest
are quoteing theroy ! I do have slugs & #4 buck in 12ga, but after
looking at dry wall and plaster I'm changing to 5 or 6 birdshot and
making plans go to an outside gun range to test these loads out at
25 feet. I'm going looking at loacl indoor ranges to get silowhit(sp)
tarrgets to see the affect of a hit. II I'm going to depend on
a round for HD let's see what it will do. At 25 feet I aim my shotgun.

[hay1]

personally, i have a ruger .357 magnum revolver at the bedside and a double barrel 20 gauge side hammer shotgun in the front room.


Keep both barrels loaded!

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Ok so what happens if the badguy has a knife to the throat of your little girl or boy or favorite dog sparky? Are you going to blast away with the #7 in that shotgun you're holding? I would rather have a slug and take my chances shooting a badguy with that than a #7 bird shot.

[don5544]

I vote shotgun bacause that is what works.

Not lets not badmouth a 44 cap and ball. Once I worked mine over it goes boom every time I pull the trigger. Thousands of dead will testify that a 44 will kill.

[Rambo]

Since most home defense situations are inside the home, a shotgun with birdshot is most effective. Birdshot at 15 feet will put a hole through anybody.

[waterdog]

A shotgun is my second choise , carbine first but in tight quarters any handgun is a no brainer , If you've practiced with it like you're LIFE depended on it after all , If you don't practice with your newfangled handgun you're just as undergunned as a person who's got a pocketknife, slingshot or leftist view on crime. ..........Waterdog.