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TPAW

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Lots of house's being broken into at night where I live. WHILE THE PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING!!!!! Aside from moving, what's the best 12 guage I can buy to protect myself. I need something as small as possible that can hold at least 5 or more rounds. What shot gun cartridge do you suggest. I'm talking room to room, no more than 15 to 20 feet from the intruder!
 
any modern pump shotgun will work well Remington 870 is my favorite but there is a lot of other good choices, as for the load I just use field loads, inside a room #6s will group so close as to not matter and they don't tend to overpenetrate thru walls as bad as larger shot like 00 buck or slugs. A face or chest full of any 12 gauge at 10 to 20 feet is going to at least slow them down and give you another shot. I have 3 children, 2 dogs and a wife in the house, I dont want bullets shooting thru the house.
 
Bankroll is the only limiting factor, there's just so many options to choose from. If money is no object, something like an FN Police special sure would be nice. Remington 870 seems to be a real reliable choice. Mossbergs are inexpensive, and get mixed reviews. There must be some threads on that. I would guess for HD, a shorter barrel would be best. 18" or so. I prefer a pump action, simply because there is less to go wrong. As for loads, I don't want to start a broo-ha ha, but some of the tests by boxoftruth and others have furnished some surprising results in regards to how much 00 buck can penetrate walls and such. Really anything will, but the 12 gauge loads are scooting along pretty good. I would avoid magnum loads. They compromise your capacity anyway. From what I have read, something as small as #1 or smaller is adequate for close range and lessens the likelihood of overpenetration. Thing is, I have searched high and low and can't seem to find anything 1-3. 0 or #4 is all I seem to run across. Whatever you decide on, I would make sure it performs adequately in your firearm before settling on it. Not trying to talk down to you, but in addition to a decent HD weapon, I would make sure my house was secure, and have an early warning system (i.e. dog) in place, to let you know if someone is creeping around. Best of luck to you. Be safe.
 
870 Marine Magnum

I can personally reccomend the 870 Marine Magnum. It is an excellent weapon 100 percent reliable. The 870 platform is IMO the best pump-shotgun. In addition the MM has several great features including a 7 shot capacity, 3in shell capabillity(you want the 3in 00 Buck here, thats 15 .38 pellets PER SHOT!), shortest allowed by law 18in barrel, and of course it is pratically impervious to the elements. A top notch firearm. Also I would reccomend an ATI heatshield/Rifle sight be installed as well as a surefire foregrip if you can afford it. Also you can get one used in good condition for under $450 on gunbroker.com
 
410 is best

Sounds silly, but take a second to think about it! You can shoot the crap out of someone with a 410, and not have to worry about your kid in the next room! Sheetrock and 2X4's usually stop #6's, but clothes on the bad guy don't!
Intruders dead, kids in next room still complaining! Hmmmm.....let's rethink this............
 
Think about the fact that while you are shooting the crap out of him he may not be to incapacitated to shoot YOU. Would you hunt a deer with .410? How about a 250LB deer with a gun?
 
410 is still by my bed

Do some testing....I did. Your right a 12 gauge will definitely kill the bad guy, but what about the pass thru shot or missed pellets (about 38 caliber from OO buck) flying around the house. If you don't have kids....yes the 12 is the way to go, but if you do...and you still like the little tax deduction use the 410. I wholeheartly hope to never have someone in my home at night, but I feel better knowing that I won't kill my kid protecting my family....just my opinion, and we know what the big "O" is like.
Buy a big dog....not a dog person. Buy a Maine Coon Cat, and don't feed it.
 
I have a 16 ga Ithaca pump I use as another nice compromise (as you might guess, less than a 12 but more than a 20), but another ditto for the .410. Blackwater, neither would you (I hope) use a 12 on a deer unless it's a slug and fairly close range--and we're not talking slugs here. All you have to do is lay out a 4x8 piece of plywood to see what damage the .410 does to that: still devastating - case settled. If kids in the other room or folks closeby next door (through poor construction) are not an issue, by all means go for it with a 12 (or 16 or 20), but the .410's a fine HD weapon.
 
Used pump shotguns abound and are great values. Mossberg 500's, 870's or Winchester 1300's are all acceptable in my book.....Essex
 
i'm with op's

i'm going to agree on a12 ga in my (House) anyway,how many of you
use a 9mm or a 40 or even a 45 in the house or apt.I have dogs and a
wife i keep to my 6.
 
Keep it simple. A Moss, Rem, or Win pump, conventional stock, and loaded with Federal Tactical or Low Recoil 00Buck loads.
 
My main living area is thirty-three feet long. That's eleven yards. SFAIK, having had a one-shot kill on a bobcat at 25 yards with 7-1/2 shot, you don't need big shot or a large gauge when you're at indoor distances.

There is no magic with any shotgun. You can easily miss, if you haven't practiced in home-defense scenarios. Whether pump, auto or two-tube, you gotta practice.

I dunno. I'd go with whatever known-reliable shotgun that would hold five or so rounds, and with a barrel of some 20". Nothing wrong with a .410, but I'd be happier with a 20- or 12-gauge. I'd stay with smaller-shot loads if over-penetration is an issue.

As usual, there's no "One size fits all."

:), Art
 
I wasn't thinking that deeply on it before, but since, I remembered that a 20 ga. youth model exists, I read on it some time ago. I believe it is Remington but don't quote me. It is something the wife might be able to handle as well-- in case you are away, and not as overpowering as a 12 ga. Also smaller stock, so a little more handy in close quarters. Just an idea.
 
Brand, load or gauge is relatively unimportant.

Expertise is what counts!! Learn your weapon, learn your ammo's limits and know your neighborhood just got safer.....
 
870 pump

You could always have someone load you up some ground up glass then some dimes. Mines loaded 3inch #6 then slug back to back fulltube one chambered and i know were she's at and agree on practicing simulated home intusion scenario's.
 
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