Home defense suggestions

C

Comcon

Inactive
Hello Folks,

I just registered today and this is my first post.

I'm looking for some opinions/suggestions on a home defense shotgun. My girlfriend lives alone on a secluded ranch. She has little experience with firearms, but is interested in purchasing one for home protection. I have debated over which would be best, a pistol, rifle or shotgun. Considering her limited experience, I think a shotgun would be best suited for her.

We've been looking at the Remington 870 Express, the Winchester 1300 Defender and the Mossberg 500 Persuader and Cruiser. Does anyone recommend any of these or have any other suggestions? Regardless, I will be training her on the use of what ever she chooses. Thanks for your help.
 
All you named would be just fine.
Many folks here lean toward the 870.

Need to get the lady involved in the selection tho. Fit of the gun to her would be the most important.

The better the fit, the less the perceived recoil, the more fun to shoot, the more she will shoot it, the better she will get and thus the safer she will be.

Suggest you go easy on the loads too. Bout anything is good for in house defence. Don't need window whumpin shoulder whackin stout loads.

Sam...darn, had a comma , left over.
 
I'm new to shotgunning, but not new to firearms. What you asked was actually a very complicated question. Living on a ranch by herself, overpenetration of her target isn't as much of an issue as it is with many other people asking a question of this nature. However, this said, I still wouldn't recommend a rifle. Rifles are great at long range. But at short range and in tight quarters, shotguns and handguns are king, with the nod going to the shotgun for power. But as someone said previously, she needs to be integral to this decision. It is recommended that she shoot shotguns and handguns prior to making a decision.
 
Welcome aboard,Comcon. Like the guys say, get her involved in the selection.

Any of the Big Four will do fine for HD. I prefer the 870. But, what SHE wants will be much more crucial than my picks.

She should get some lessons from someone who knows both shotguns and teaching. Second choice, the Archives here are a cornucopia of good info.

Also,I suggest both a handgun and shotgun, perhaps a rifle also. Always have a Plan B....
 
Hi, Comcon. Good recommendations so far. My $0.02 worth - don't forget that women often have problems using a standard full-length stock, as their body size and shape is just not right for this. Also, they sometimes have trouble with the recoil from a 12ga., which is magnified by poor fit. I'd suggest looking at a Youth Model shotgun, which is usually stocked shorter than standard models, and often has a modified fore-end as well for easier reach with shorter arms. I've put the Remington 870 Youth model in several ladies' hands, and they've promptly fallen in love and bought their own. Also, consider 20ga. in this shotgun: you can get very effective buckshot and slug rounds, reasonably priced (I bought 10 boxes of Remington 20ga. slugs just last night at Wal-Mart for $2.77 per box), and the recoil is more manageable for someone not used to a full-house shoulder-charge!
 
Amen Preacherman!

Don't discount a Youth model, which, being a bit smaller and a 20 gauge, will fit the bill nicely. My wife used to shoot a little trap with my 12 gauge semi-auto and do fairly well. When I bought my son a Youth 870 for hunting this year, my wife picked it up and safely threw it up to her shoulder a few times and I almost had a wrestling match on my hands. Santa may have to bring her one of her own this year. :D I'm going to try this baby out for myself, it certainly handles and balances well, kicks less, and is lighter to carry.
 
Thanks All

I appreciate you all taking the time to post suggestions. Yes, in the end, SHE will make the final decision. Given her size, we have discussed trying the fit of a youth model as well. Cheers ya’ll, Tuesday will be shopping day.
 
Comcon,

I just wanted to clarify. I think its important that she shoot them before purchasing. 12 gauge feels nice and light in the store. But shooting it is a whole different story.
 
One thing to consider....

many woman I have met simply do not enjoy the recoil of even 20 gauges. This of course hinders their ability to shoot well and makes them not practice.

Make sure she is willing to practice and can take the recoil. A good rubber butt pad will help. Also make sure she knows that a shotgun is not an automatic hit and kill without any aiming. She needs to practice and aim. Did I mention practice?

I am by no means a shotgun guru but that is my two cents from what I have encountered.

For a ranch wouldn't a nice light weight rifle, such as an AR carbine, Mini-14, SKS, M1 carbine etc. and so forth make more sense? This is more of a question then a suggestion.

Oh yeah any Winchester, Remington, Mossberg etc. should do just fine. It really comes down to personal preference more than anything.

Chris
 
Just read my post and....

it sounds kind of sexist. I am not trying to be sexist and I know woman can shoot shotguns just as good and probably better then most men if my experiences with other firearms can be relied on.

I was only bringing up personal experience with woman and shotguns and in no way am I belittling their skill or abilities.

Heck I know a lot of guys who can't handle a 20 gauge.

Anyway, please don't take anything I have said in a negative way.

Chris
 
No prob

No worries Chris,

Yes, we will be doing a lot of practice. She is preparing for the expected discomfort of recoil. It's rather ironic as well. Her mother was a very successful competition shooter, but never really spent anytime with her daughter teaching the finer points of firearm use. Tragic I tell ya!
 
PS

Yeh, I thought about a Mini-14 for her, it would have multiple uses on the ranch. But, I want to get one myself. What the heck, I’ll probably be moving in with her in the future, (she has hinted at the "M" word stuff.) and we’ll have my modest collection of firearms. Cheers.
 
Yeah, yeah, this is the shotgun forum and all, and I like my 870 for HD, but if overpenetration is basically a non-issue, I would lean toward an AR w/ a red-dot sight and a telescoping stock (useful when used by people of different size and reach.) Lighter recoil than a shotgun, versatile (yeah, I know people that shoot out to 100 yards w/ a shotgun - but I can't), holds more rounds....
 
I second the suggestion for an 870 20ga -- possibly in youth size depending on her size and what fits her well. #4 or bigger shot should do the trick.

Have you considered also getting her a .22lr rifle? A nice little Ruger, Marlin or Remington (around $120) and cheap .22 ammo is a lot easier, cheaper and quieter to put a lot of rounds through. Shooting plastic bottles, cans, and clay pigeons on the ranch (with a good backdrop) is fun and will get her more accustom to handling a firearm.

Also -- a .22 is great out in the country to handle problem varmints. A .22 shotshell (like a little tiny shotgun shell) can give an unwanted mongrel dog or cat quite the memorable sting in the behind.

I'll bet the .22 and 20ga combo is one of the more common sets of firearms tools used on American farms and ranches. 20ga in the bedroom closet and .22 by the back door.
 
If it was me I would get her a Saiga .410 or maybe a 20 gauge. A bulletproof AK receiver for $150 or so. After the awb goes away, my first purchase will be a pistol gripped Saiga 12.
 
Matthew Courtney has it right. A Remington 1100 in 20 ga is the perfect gun for youngsters and women who are not shooters.

The youth model is perfect and will probably be more comfortable for her.
Check at the local Trap and Skeet club for used guns, they are popular first guns for youngsters.

And they are soft shooting and will not turn off a new shooter.
 
Like others have said, she should try out a few options to see what she likes. Like cslinger suggested, I would lean towards a carbine (M4, SAR-1) for low recoil, handiness, cheap to shoot (and practice), OK for indoors, great around the ranch... In addition, I'd recommend either a 22 Magnum or .38 spcl revolver, which could be carried everywhere and only used "up close and personal".

Jacob
 
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