Why shouild I keep my shotgun ?

D

Darxus

Inactive
My question basically comes down to: When is a 12ga shotgun better than a (semi-auto) AK-47 for home defense, when I am not concerned about over-penetration ?























The first firearm I bought was a Mossberg 590 12ga shotgun which I purchased for home defense. The last firearm I bought was an SLR95 (semi-auto AK-47). The shotgun holds 8+1 rounds, the AK-47 has 30 round detachable magazines, of which I have a few, and could stick a couple in pockets or something.





















I think that it is unlikely that I will ever need to point a gun at someone. So this is a hobby of prepairing for unlikely and unpleasant circumstances while trying to avoid them. In persuit of this hobby, I was discussing interactions between 12ga shotguns, and soft body armor - so that I might better prepair for the even less likely possibility of being attacked by a criminal wearing body armor.





















I then read up on a couple related threads in this forum. It seems that 12ga buckshot, and 12ga slugs are almost completely ineffective against soft body armor (will not penetrate). I am not sure how sabot would do, but I have yet to find sabot that are pointy (not designed to deform horribly on impact).





















The solution to the problem of being attacked by someone wearing body armor seems to be a rifle round - and for indoor close quarters use, it would be preferabe to have something short. And at least semi-auto would be good. I have one of these, in the form of an AK-47.





















So an AK-47 is better than a 12ga shotgun because it will penetrate soft body armor, and a 12ga will not. And at typical self defense ranges of 7 yards or less, I believe I can shoot my AK-47 accurately enough to make every shot lethal (the SLR95 does about 3.5MOA). And because of the differences in recoil, I expect I could put 2 rounds in each target with my AK-47 in the time it would take me to put one round in each target with my shotgun. And at 2 rounds per target with the AK-47, and one round per target with the shotgun, I can still hit about twice as many targets with the AK-47 before swapping magazines.



















I recognize that if I can make an accurate shot with an AK-47, I can probably hit important exposed soft tissue with my shotgun - say neck, groin, or arm pits.





















Also, I recognize that if over-penetration is a primary concern, the shotgun wins over the AK-47 easily. But I, personally, am more concerned with improbable problem of lack of penetration than I am with the improbable problem of over-penetration harming someone else accidentally.





















So.. in what ways is a shotgun better than an AK-47 for home defense, when I am not concerned about over-penetration ?
 
My pick was an M1 carbine because it points faster than an AK and can be fired one-handed if necessary. Prior to that, I did keep an AK because it had less kick, better penetration, larger mag capacity...and seemed effective enough with soft points vs. 20ga slugs/buck. Russian SP bullets fragment explosively and should do well on humans...load a few on top of the mag and hardball below.

The only pluses to 12ga are the overwhelming lethality (not sure if it is enough of an improvement of .30 to put up with the problems) and more instinctive pointing. Problems: nasty recoil (590 is snappy even with small shot, much less buck), slower reloading from shot to shot and from empty to full mag.

AK doesn't point as well for me but it may be lack of practice. M1 carbine, shorty Garand do point well and I'd pick them over a 12ga. Recoil is a problem because it discourages regular practice.
 
I am a newbie. However, I'm going to add my two cents anyway.

I think as far as body armor is concerned the good thing about the shotgun shot is that it spreads. So if you point at the head or legs you have a much better chance of hitting some part of the head or legs than with the AK-47.
 
Here is my problem with your argument. If someone is prepared enough to wear body armor into your house they could probably get in without you ever noticing. Unless you live in a vault which is impenetrable without you knowing, then stopping power should be the main concern. Even if someone is wearing body armor and you shoot then with a slug at 7 yards they will be on their ass. Then you can shoot them in the head while they are down. I would also consider what type of person is more likely to enter your house. Someone on drugs is very likely to be the culprit. This is another case where you want pure stopping power. The shotgun is by far the best defense for the home. I woudl rather be sure that the first round will do the trick than have 29 sitting in the mag when I am dead on the floor.
 
Shotgun shot "spreading" inside the confines of an average dwelling is a myth. Even with cylinder choke the size of the pattern will be very small. Cylinder bore spreds out to optimum at 20 yards, and this is only about a 30" diameter pattern.

Next time you go to a trap range look at the back of the trap house, severa shooters will have hit the house from the 16 yard line and the patterns will be verry small. Very few homes have a clear shot that is more than 16 yards.

Most HD situations the shot charge will be almost a solid mass hitting the perp, but making a big mess that is difficult for the medics to clean up.
 
Agreed. Spread (actually, lack of spread) at the typical in home distances would be an issue. At least, if you live in a "normal" sized home. Of course, when I buy that empty bowling ally and convert it into my new abode, then it's going to be exclusivly 12ga 00 for this citizen.

I like a 20ga with slugs. If my wife has to use it, then she might not be too shaken to take a 2nd shot (if needed) like she may with a 12. I'm guessing that at 10-15 feet (a LONG shot in my house) that a 20ga slug will at least slow down any perp, body armor or not. There's a lot to be said for mass in motion.

All that said, I've not seen what an AK can do at 10 feet to the chest of a kevlar clad slimbag. I do believe though, that my very much non shooting wife will be less confused and/or "put off" by a pump of any size rather than a combat tool.
 
1. In some jurisdictions, one cannot get a semi-auto battle rifle due to restrictive gun laws. Shotguns are less regulated and therefore easier to obtain.

2. For those who are not as financially well-off, a decent pump action shotgun is much cheaper than a semi-auto battle rifle.

3. Looks better in court. Yes I know the law of self defense states that if you are legally justified in the use of lethal force it doesn't matter whether you use a pillow or a small tactical nuke to get your target (assuming no collateral damage) but it's gonna look a lot nicer to be using a nice "hunting-style" gun like a shotgun over an AK. This is a specious premise but hey that's what I get paid to do (anticipate specious arguments).

Justin
 
That AK will zip through most any body armor----If somebody is going to be that prepared to break into your home isn't likely.
 
rugerfreak said:
That AK will zip through most any body armor
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I kind of suspected that.

rugerfreak said:
If somebody is going to be that prepared to break into your home isn't likely.
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Probably correct, imho. I only mentiond body armor myself, as it was brought up earlier in this thread. Actually, around this neck of the woods (literally), I'm more likely to see a teen that needs spanking in my house than a crazed/violent criminal. At least today.
 
A coupla things....

First, the shotgun dumps a huge amount a energy into a target. Kevlar will stop the load, but the energy still gets dumped. Few folks can function well after taking a hit in the armor. They survive, if no followups. BTW, I know a few vets with full use of their body and scars from 7.62 Russian. I've known exactly 2 survivors of shotgun wounds, and neither was good for much. IOW, the shotgun packs more certainty of stopping someone right now.

Second, firing a shotgun indoors may leave you with some shreds of hearing. Rifle rounds do not leave much, if any.

Third,as was mentioned earlier,some jurisdictions have more or less banned battle rifles for the citizens. And considering that the average US jury has zero folks on it who have better ideas on guns than Rosie O,a shotgun might seem less bloodthirsty than an FN-FAL, Kalishkinof, or AR.

Fourth, many of us on limited budgets have more use for a shotgun, other than HD. My HD gun makes a fairtomiddlin' slug gun for deer. Using an AK for hutning means toting a 9 lb plus hunk of steel through the boonies. Been there, done that, tho it was a worked over SKS. Versatility has always been an attribute of the modern shotgun.

And finally, HD needs and resources vary greatly from situation to situation. Everyone NEEDS to carefully evaluate what will work best for them and then use the best tool.

If you're more comfortable with a rifle than a shotgun, use the rifle. The confidence factor alone is a good thing...
 
Why should I keep my shotgun?

1. Never sell guns

2. If it is a praise the lord and pass the ammunition situation you may need to hand that SG over to your wife or girl friend while you are manning the AK.

3. I have always loved those "tests" of SG slugs againt soft body armor.

*I will pay money to see any man get center punched by a 12 ga slug at 7 - 15 yards and then get moving again in under 3 seconds. Trauma plate? Sure - if you really think it will help. LOL!!!
 
i think the bottom line here is that there is absolutely no better weapon for HD than the shotgun (aside from a moat and a fire-breathing dragon). it has all of the attributes of a weapon you would want.

btw if someone breaks into your house with body armor on, stick you head between your legs and kiss your @ss goodbye, because they are probably packing some serious heat as well. if someone has planned thoroughly enough to come w/armor then they have probably brought a few of their associates along.

now with that said, if you want to get rid of the shotgun then sell it. at least you have thought your situation out. most people don't think situations through enough.

stinger
 
Why shouild I keep my shotgun ?
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You shouldn't. You DEFINITELY should not.


Give it to me and I'll see that it is properly disposed of.


:D


I'm not persuaded by "a bad guy will" arugments. BGs are like real people - they sometimes do the unexpected. Therefore, it is wise to prepare for the unexepected. Assuming that any BG who has body armor will certainly have heavy artillery and buddies is not preparing for the unexpected, though it may qualify as preparing for the worst.
 
#1 reason to use a shotgun vs. a rifle for home defense :

most break-ins are at night or the wee hours of morning ie. between 12 midnight and 4 am. most home owners are sleeping at this time swo if wakened by an intruder you are apt to be groggy from sleep thus making a well aimed rifle shot is going to be difficult. just pointing the shotgun is easy as pie. also I've seen men shot with an AK stay on their feet even after 2-3 rounds entered their body, but every man I've seen hit with shot was off their feet in seconds!!!

Knock em down with the first one to the chest or legs then when on the floor go for the head if necessary
 
Let's put it real simple.

Do you like it ?

If you do, then keep it.

If you don't then all the reasons in the world don't matter.
 
Erick, don't you read gun mags? No magic wands? Oh, man, next you'll tell me I have to train. Geez.

Who the heck is shooting rifles inside their homes?!?! I hope none of my neighbors are doing this or plan to.

Come one, guys. Rifle rounds (even short Russian) zip through drywall and always seek out stationwagons full of kids. While buckshot will go through walls or a sofa, it will be slowed once it gets outside your home.

If you do shoot even a .223 off inside little Johnny's bedroom, do not expect to be good for anything for a while. See Mattix.

The advantage in the shotgun lies in its limited range and tremendous power inside that range. If you have concerned with body-armoured BGs staging a Hollywood type attack on your ranch, you should: 1. leave, 2. get an M14 and hearing protection (you should also tell the neighbors to sleep inside their gun safes).
 
just so you know.....a 30 caliber bullet has a " pattern" of about 3 tenths of an inch at 10 feet from the end of the barrel. A 20 gauge shotshell (#4 shot) has a "pattern" of approx 4.3 inches at the same distance.

now lets do the math.....human body average width is , oh, say 24 inches. which do you think will be easier to hit a target 24" wide? 3/10 " or 4.3"????
 
Big Animal,

Please check for yourself on that spread of shot for the shotgun. According to my tests, the shot stays in the shot cup for about 20-25 feet, depending on the load. Thus, at 25' all that I've tried are more in the one inch area. Check it out. After that however the shot cup sheds from around the shot and it starts to expand based on slightly different aerodynamics of each pellet and as a result of the "wind" blown from each pellet against each other pellet.

My home is not large. There is no place in my home where the shot cup will shed before contact with the target.

Just a thought NOT a sermon.
 
Ditto what RAE said.

My HD longarm for now is an SLR 100. It would be keen to have a Benelli, 870, Bushmaster bullpup or shorty, an MP5SD, AUG. Yadda yadda. For the time being, I'm going to stick with the AK because I like it. It might be replaced in the future but it won't be sold.

Unless it's a real POS, why waste the time and $ you have put into familiarizing yourself with its operation. Let your arsenal GROW!
 
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