Any practical defensive value to the coach gun ?

Scott Evans

Staff Alumnus
Just curious to you thoughts …
I picked up a Stoger 12ga side by side Coach gun the other day. Single trigger, 20” barrel. I had nothing in particular in mind when I purchased it other than I’ve just always wanted one. I am, however; pleasantly surprised; this thing points and shoots like a dream. Went through 100 rounds of #7 shot and 15 rounds of 3” 00 buck… it’s fast.
Is there anyone out there teaching a tactical manipulation for this weapon? Is there any reason to reach for this instead of my Benelli super 90?
 
Unfortunately, Stoeger makes their coach guns without external hammers. One of the great things about a typical coach gun is that you can leave it loaded and totally safe with the hammers down.
 
I only wish their nickle plated coach guns had just ONE TRIGGER.

See I don't plan on firing both barrels at once so a single trigger that works by recoil would do.

And ejectors instead of extractors. H&R make cheap shotguns with ejectors and they work perfect, so why not on a double?

To keep it loaded just open the action and place to rounds in it or on a butt cuff. Don't close the action. Just leave it like that. When needed just snap the action shut as you grab it.

Deaf
 
Doubles and singles are shorter than pumps and autos. Many times they handle better. Much better than a pump with extended mag, side saddle, ammo sling, bidet, flashlight, etc. Simplicity is good. Doubles are sort, fast, simple guns.
 
I had one similar once that I bought to defend my sign shop I operated then.

At 30 feet, . . . both triggers pulled, . . . the "pattern" of 2 3/4 inch 00 buck was something in the neighborhood of 14 inches wide and about 9 inches tall.

I am very much thankful that I never had to uncork that thing, . . . but at the same time, . . . maybe the word got around not to mess with that long haired Vietnam vet that runs the sign shop, . . . however it worked out, . . . I was in a pretty seedy part of town but never had any trouble.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
At the NTI, we did a mystery gun run with one in a shoot house. It was a hoot as you were wearing a long nightshirt to simulate getting out of bed. You had to carry extra ammo in your hands or in a box and tote it around the shoot house. We didn't have practice with the gun before hand. We had slugs and birdshot as a mix - confusion reigns.

As far as Joe Biden and two shots, I came across two targets - BOOM, BOOM and surprise there was another - so I butt stroke it with the empty gun as it was very close (OOOPS - :eek:).

Sure, it's a gun and you can run it. Joe could stop an armored division with one.
 
I actually have been trained to use a side by side short shotgun in practical situations. Like any other gun it is just a tool. My issue gun was, and is still my preference a Stevens-311 with 18" barrels. I used the gun to do room clearing during dynamic entries, and search for perps.

These are modern guns with no external hammers. They are used for anti personell, breaching, and in a pinch they make a great club. Spare rounds are carried in a pocket or a pouch. The issue ammo is 00 Buck, and 12ga Slugs.

I still keep one for home defense.
 
John Wayne...gave a few tactical moves, with his coach shotgun, in a few of his cowboy movies.:)

Roy Lee Emery...has a segment on the coach shotgun, on one of his taped video's about the evolution of the shotgun --- past and present --- on the Discovery Channel
 
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As far as Joe Biden and two shots, I came across two targets - BOOM, BOOM and surprise there was another - so I butt stroke it with the empty gun as it was very close (OOOPS - ).

Should have had one of these Glenn. :D

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Chiappa is developing two new classy-looking three-barrel shotguns called the Triple Threat and the Triple Crown. Both are break-action 12-gauge shotguns with the barrels in a triangular arrangement.
 
I have a Stoeger Coach Gun that I bought several years ago with the intention of getting active in Cowboy Action shooting someday. I have not done that yet but I keep it handy for uninvited guest. So far all of those have been in the form of bears trying to get into my "bear proof trash can", apparently they don't know what the picture of a bear with a circle and slash means. Or being bears, maybe they just don't care. Anyway my Coach Gun is fitted with one of those elastic shell holders on the stock. I have two rubber buckshot loads for the furry fellers just to put the "fear of God" in em and get them out of my yard without really hurting them, and three real buckshot loads as backup in case they get nippy, or the visitors are in the form of nasty thugs. Its easy to handle, doesn't weigh much, and it gives me the ability to drop in the right load for the task at hand, and easily unload for safe storage when the problem goes away. And, its just plain fun, everybody should have one. :)
 
I have the same gun, just had it out at the range today blasting some old shells. That gun is a tank, I bought mine used with a messed up stock for $200 painted it the same color at my car (GM silver mist), It looks ridiculous. but skeet shooting, trap shooting, slug/00 fun, This gun does it all. I wouldn't recommend it for HD due to the auto safety, I modified mine but it still poses an issue occasionally. Other reason is it only is two rounds, that Benelli is far superior. But for a truck/trunk gun(where mine lives) just a great all around shotgun!
 
I have a Stoeger double bbl coach gun in 20 ga.

It's a lightweight classic that's short enough and handy to use for home defense. While I'm not a cowboy match shooter, I've seen some amazing performances from cowboy match shooters using shotguns just like mine.

I can't recall reading about a shootout inside a home in our town in the last 20 years, or a home defense scenario anywhere, really, that went further than 4 rounds of 00 Buck. But if that should occur, there are several handguns nearby that would offer additional options.

I think a coach gun would work fine in a home defense or truck gun role. The idea is that you're not going to war or taking on the Crips, but you're facing one or two assailants who aren't going to be happy looking down the barrels of a coach gun. It's as likely as any other shotgun to remind them of urgent business they suddenly remembered they have elsewhere...
 
doubles are great for those fights that you know beforehand that you will need two or less rounds to finish the fight.
 
I think a coach would deal with "most" home defense issues very well. It is rather limiting (2 shot) and I would not be my first choice in a shotgun.
 
practical? yes, defensive? yes

why you ask?

two barrels is better then one. how many times have you been out target shooting with your pump or auto, and it jams on ya, and you know yourself. those jams take minutes to clear.

so with that double, ideally not a " recoil resetting the trigger for a follow up shot" you still have a functioning weapon. not very fast but still a weapon.

besides how many times in korea did those short little guys named charlie kick our semi and full auto armed butts while armed with bolt action rifles?
 
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