Double for home defense?

I shot, today, with a guy that had a different ou. It was a Maverick with short barrels, a synthetic stock, a front rifle type sight and a picattiny type rail on the receiver that had a wedge in it for a rear sight. He added a stick on flexible comb pad. I didin't watch how he was doing and he admitted he didn't know where he was shooting with it. He also had a single shot Harrison and Richardson 12 gauge and I believe a BR-99. Anyway that ou is marketed for home defense.
 
Tyler, my HD shotguns are well used 870s. But like the 1911( another familiar platform to me) I recognise that expertise with a pump requires a bit or bunch more training because of the more complicated MOA.

Compare a GM to a Model 13 S&W, For someone who knows the 1911, that may be the better choice. For Jane or Joe Average, the simple DA revolver is way easier to learn without having to run a few thousand rounds through it.

Doubles are easier to learn, the downside, just two shots.

However, often two is enough.

HD shotguns are not one size or style fits all. An arthritic senior may be better served with a simple to operate break action 410 than a customized Saiga 12 with belt feed and lazer.
 
A double should work very well. You don't need a 8 shot 12 ga. to defend against burglars.
After 2 shots? Reload if necessary.
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Sorry to disagree, William, but neither you nor I nor a home owner knows how many shots will be necessary in a violent home invasion robbery.

If you have to reload, it means you didn't get the job done with the two shots you'd be limited to. Trying to reload while standing there in your shorts (if that:D) when things are happening fast could be problematic.

Even with a side saddle on the double. I'd rather carry my spare rounds in the magazine. And yes, a double would be much better than nothing an would handle some situations just fine.
 
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Thanks for all your input.
44AMP- I definitely intended to get a butt cuff and train on reloading.
Gerhard- I did not rule out getting a 20 ga., I know most like a 12 for home defense, but what gave me this idea was trying out my Ruger Red Label with #3 Buck for coyotes. (Don't worry I'm not going to butcher my O/U!)

There is a gun show coming to my area in Aug. that should give me enough time to mull over the options and squirrel away some cash.

Keep the ideas coming.
 
The pump usually holds at least 3 more shells and just pump it, it will never fail unless something goes seriously wrong.
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Unless you short stroke it. And with the OP stating that his wife is not really interested, I think simple is better.

Even trained professional have been known to short stroke a pump gun under stress, and while they know what to do when something goes wrong, a non-enthusiast like the OP's wife won't. Two shots for sure is nothing to sneeze at.

Don't get me wrong, I like the pump gun. But a double is nothing to sneer at. It might not be your weapon of choice to repel boarders, and its two round capacity does limit its usefulness for offensive action, for home defense, it is as effective as anything twice fast. Its just slower on shot #3 than a pump. And it is simpler than a pump.

I wouldn't choose a double for house clearing, but the wife isn't going to be doing that, now is she? She's going to barricade herself (and kids) and wait for the cops, with the double handy if they try to get to her.

Pump if the wife is ok with it, but double if she isn't. Better to have an "inferior" gun that can be used, than a "superior" one that can't.
 
why not

I have a Russian coach gun in the bedroom for the very purpose, w/ an on board ammo cuff. HOwever, it is a 12 and will loosen your fillings w/ full power ammo, so I load it w/ reduced recoil ammo, 00B. It is noticably shorter than a comparable barrel length pump.

It is often backed by a handgun of assorted type, as it is not unusal for me to have a carry handgun in proximity on many occasions. (though how to carry it in my underwear is another issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Makes a good case for a shoulder or chest rig.
 
I have no problem with a double. Just make sure it is a double if for defense(in my opinion). Then again you use what you have+make it work, but I would want at least two
 
"Unless you short stroke it. And with the OP stating that his wife is not really interested, I think simple is better.

Even trained professional have been known to short stroke a pump gun under stress, and while they know what to do when something goes wrong, a non-enthusiast like the OP's wife won't."

May I suggest this is a consideration to avoid buying an 870 without someone yelling at me?

Great, thanks.
 
Not meaning to yell at you...
But there's no reason to avoid buying an 870, especially one of the older ones before they went to plastic parts.

Just be aware that with a pump gun (as with any manually operated repeater), you have to work the mechanism correctly or it can malfunction.

A double does not have that potential problem. IT does have its own drawbacks, everything does. But a double barrel is about as simple as it gets for a shotgun, and for the non-enthusiast, that can be more important than magazine capacity or other features.

And for those of us who are entusiasts, simple hurts nothing, either.
 
20 gauge!

If the gun is for your wife, and your concerned that she might not be able to handle a heavier gun, GET A 20 GAUGE!

I've seen a lot lately that shows the 20 gauge to be very close to the 12 gauge in energy and destruction down range, especially up close. But the 20 gauge has much less recoil, and is always going to be a lighter and easier gun to shoot. Pump shotguns like the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 in 20 gauge have very real advantages over the 12 gauge in a home defense roll. They are physically smaller and lighter guns, but still maintain fire power that is very close to the 12 gauge. Same can go for a double.

I've even considered switching to a 20 gauge.

I've also considered buying a double for home defense. I'd like the CZ Coah Gun, http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/hammer-coach-ss-case-hardened/ Although I think it's only available in 12 gauge. I like that it can be stored safely with the hammers down and chambers loaded. The hammers sit back from the firing pins while down. It's a bit expensive for a HD gun, but I think I'd be happy enough with it to pay for it. I've read a good review of it in a gun magazine as well. If it is for HD, make sure you have extra shells available, preferably on the gun in a shell carrier. You would hope that 2 will do, but if not, your gona need a reload. An empty gun is a less effective deffensive tool than a baseball bat!
 
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The double is easier to operate for novices. But in an adrenaline fueled situation what if you shoot off one at the target and miss because of some stupid reason. 1 round of 12G left before a reload is bad. I could see carrying a double and a pistol and dump the double after two shots. I still rather have a pump action shotgun, the ultimate HD gun would be a H&K MP5K Full Auto with 2 30rounders jungle taped ;). Then an extra 2 plus my pistol.
 
I wouldn't say a 20 has less recoil then a 12 just because it's smaller. Generally, the guns themselves are smaller as well. I've shot 20s that would felt like they would break your shoulder if you kept shooting them. But a 20 has more than enough killing power. I wouldn't worry about that aspect of it. Load it with some no 4 buck and don't think twice.
 
Per:

http://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Shot...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310007270&sr=1-1

1) Majority encounters are ended in 1 shot with a shotgun. The next majority after this was two shots. So this supports two is good enough...assuming you have only one attacker.

2) You can put a pump in cruiser ready status (safety off mag loaded nothing in chamber). Because your adrenaline will be out of control, you'll only have gross motor actions. Gross motor actions is great on a cruiser-reader pump shotgun, you'll have no problem shucking that juiced up (assuming you remember because you practiced this scenario). Non-pump you're going to fiddle with a safety switch, which will be harder due to finer motor control you will have a lack of...or you left the safety off, and even without kids in the home, I wouldn't do that.

Lotta worst-case survival books talk about gross motor actions, trying to make stuff simple and easy vs fine motor control of your muscles to light a fire. Ludin in the book 98.6 degrees even says a shotgun is a great idea for weird survival scenarios. Another great book BTW, but I'm straying off topic...
 
I wonder myself

I have always thought a short barrel double was a pretty good choice. I do like the added capacity of a pump or auto. I wonder how much added capacity a person really needs? I can see if your home was invaded, or you were assaulted by more than three people at once, a double could leave you in harms way. But my point is this: there must be some FBI data that spells out what the typical encounter is, and how many rounds were needed to finish the job. Is it typical the criminal is alone and a double is fine? I bet that is the case. To be honest, I had a double but sold it. My go to gun is a pump. But in the back of my mind I've always liked a short double. And whenever I'm in a gun shop I always look them over wondering if I can spend the money to get one. I guess I can't justify it since I already have a pretty good pump. The Stoeger Double Defense is pretty neat. I sort of like the way the rail has been added. In one way it kind of looks gaudy and dumb. In another way it might be all business and capable of providing all the defense one may need. If it breaks down like my old coach gun, then it travels well and that can be good.
 
Or, since you said your wife was a small woman, you could ditch the 2 shot 12 ga option and get your wife a nice carbine chambered for a handgun round.

Ruger and Marlin make them (among others) - something in .45 ACP or .357 Magnum would offer more than 2 rounds, be controllable for a small woman, and might just fit the bill.

Just a thought.
 
Actually, what is more important that what specific gun you wind up with, is taking the wife shooting it at across the room and down the hall range.

So she can see, and feel, where it hits, how big the pattern and what the kick is. Won't take much, but she has to know the lie about "can't miss witha shotgun", and the kick from personal experience.

She has got to know & experience what happens when it goes off. Beyond that , its all up to her. But less than that is not protecting her, its the opposite really.

good luck, what ever you choose.
 
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