I'd like to get into something more wife proof than a hand gun for home defense when I am not home. I think a 12 gauge is in order. What would you recommend in a pump action shorter barrel, that is cheap. Hope to only have to use it one time. Teach my wife how to use it in case there is ever a need.
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Home Shotgun
- Thread starter Richwon4
- Start date
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Just an FYI, I have a 12 gauge Rem 870 for HD. I also have a 20 gauge shotgun.
My wife can't shoot either one. Too much recoil for her.
But she shoots the hell out of my Glock 19.
Just sayin'.
heisenberg
Plinker
- Dec 25, 2011
- 7
- 1
I second the Mossberg 500A. I have one rack-mounted on the back of my headboard and I have every confidence that if i need it, it'll be there and working.
We have had a 870 Remington since I was on nights. 00 buck it is a point and shoot weapon. I would also suggest a dead bolt on the bedroom door and a phone. Our plan was always to have her get the kids in the room dead bolt the door push bed against and call the police and let them know where you are and that you are armed. Anyones comes to the door that does not identify themselvs as a police officer shoot chest level on the door.
Kirk Freeman
Grandmaster
Have you asked her? What has she shot? What does she like? Does she like guns? Has she shot a 12 gauge?
Thoughts in no particular order:
1. Is she a big girl? (height) How long are her forearms and hands? You want a short LOP.
The goofy shotguns that Billy Ray and Merle buy in the gun shop do you see where they put them? Right, up, like they are shooting ducks, as they usually are.
Billy and Merle want longer LOP (cause I'm a big man. No, Merle, you're just a fat slob) cause they point their guns up and do not practice loading them.
For social purposes you will be pointing up or down and will need to practice loading. Short LOP.
2. Can she handle the weight of the weapon? Remember if this is for home defense she may have to hold the weapon at ready for a looong time until Deputy Jasper and Officer Cledus get there and a shotgun will be heavy loaded and with extra ammo on it.
Will she train with the weapon to increase forearm and hand strength?
3. Why does it have to be a slide action?
The single shot is lighter and handier.
A double barrel is two single shots and almost as light.
4. Why a 12 gauge? Nothing wrong with a 20 gauge.
Remington makes the outstanding 870 in a youth model. In a couple of decades this very well may be my shotgun.
5. The key to shotguns is loading. How dedicated is she to drilling this? Can she get her 12,000 to 15,000 reps in?
6. What DVDs have you shown her?
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdW2TAfN3mQ[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgwHQCJwWw[/ame]
7. Get a sling.
8. Get a light.
9. Get some way to carry ammo on the gun. (Pop quiz: what is the key to shotguns?)
10. Above all, get a class for her, you go too.
Very good arguments for a 20 gauge over the 12 gauge. Don't quote me on the numbers but it is something like 80% of the power at 50% of the recoil. (92.1% of all percentages are made up on the spot.)
Nothing wrong with a Maverick 88... made by Mossberg. H&R Pardners are inexpensive 870 clones but folks that have abused them say they're tanks. 870s (also the clones and, I think, Mavericks) have a safety at the trigger guard making them more suited for a pistol-grip/full-stock. The Mossberg an ambidextrous safety on the upper tang, making them more suitable for lefties and a traditional fixed stock.
Single shot and double barrels. A double barrel coach gun, particularly in 20 gauge, might be a good idea. A warning about single-shots: I've got an 18.5", single-shot 12 gauge. They are light and kick like a mule. You want the gun to be light enough for her to handle but not so light that recoil makes it unmanageable.
I just got a good deal on a Mossberg 930 SPX and it has quickly become one of the final guns to keep if I had to liquidate or go mobile. My gawd, how I love that shotgun.
Nothing wrong with a Maverick 88... made by Mossberg. H&R Pardners are inexpensive 870 clones but folks that have abused them say they're tanks. 870s (also the clones and, I think, Mavericks) have a safety at the trigger guard making them more suited for a pistol-grip/full-stock. The Mossberg an ambidextrous safety on the upper tang, making them more suitable for lefties and a traditional fixed stock.
Single shot and double barrels. A double barrel coach gun, particularly in 20 gauge, might be a good idea. A warning about single-shots: I've got an 18.5", single-shot 12 gauge. They are light and kick like a mule. You want the gun to be light enough for her to handle but not so light that recoil makes it unmanageable.
I just got a good deal on a Mossberg 930 SPX and it has quickly become one of the final guns to keep if I had to liquidate or go mobile. My gawd, how I love that shotgun.
How on earth is a pump shotgun more wife proof than a revolver? Nothing is more "anything proof" than a revolver. If the person in question has the mechanical apptitude of Paris Hilton, will not practice or god knows what else, get a revolver. Keep it loaded, pull the trigger.
Having trained many shotgunners, both male and female, gauge will not matter if the gun does not fit her. Three shots and she will be done for life. Even with a .410. I will reinforce the short LOP suggestion.
My 5'10" GF prefers a Beretta 20 gauge. My 5'6" daughter prefers a Benelli M2 12 gauge. I use 12 gauge 870's and have a Benelli M2 20 gauge on the back burner due to a shoulder injury. Everyone here uses AR's and Glocks. Revolvers are stashed in certain places as well.
Handing a person a shoulder mounted bazooka does not guarantee any form of success. That aside, if a person can run a pump than frankly they can run a semi auto too and a novice will have more succes with it over a pump. Is the goal to buy a cheap gun or save a life?
People who know me, know I am a huge fan of shotguns but then again I am 48 and have 42 years invested in using them. When my Dad died, I handed my Mom a revolver.
Having trained many shotgunners, both male and female, gauge will not matter if the gun does not fit her. Three shots and she will be done for life. Even with a .410. I will reinforce the short LOP suggestion.
My 5'10" GF prefers a Beretta 20 gauge. My 5'6" daughter prefers a Benelli M2 12 gauge. I use 12 gauge 870's and have a Benelli M2 20 gauge on the back burner due to a shoulder injury. Everyone here uses AR's and Glocks. Revolvers are stashed in certain places as well.
Handing a person a shoulder mounted bazooka does not guarantee any form of success. That aside, if a person can run a pump than frankly they can run a semi auto too and a novice will have more succes with it over a pump. Is the goal to buy a cheap gun or save a life?
People who know me, know I am a huge fan of shotguns but then again I am 48 and have 42 years invested in using them. When my Dad died, I handed my Mom a revolver.
wildcatfan.62
Sharpshooter
Went thru the same exercise a year or so ago. Settled on a Mossberg Bantam 20 guage due to the size needed. It came with a short youth stock and a coupon to have a full sized stock mailed to us. Also had a slug barrel.
The gun goes bang every time, is light enough, but not a heavy recoil. Added a Limbsaver just to make sure my wife trained enough to react.
Just my
. It worked for us.
The gun goes bang every time, is light enough, but not a heavy recoil. Added a Limbsaver just to make sure my wife trained enough to react.
Just my
. It worked for us.
i too am in the market for a female a shotty. the gf (4'11", 110 lbs) needs a home defense weapon, and likes long guns, esp shotguns (she hates the very idea of a handgun, grew up around a rough crowd, always saw them in a bad light, thats starting to come around seeing me with mine all the time, but besides the point). i rock a 930 spx and LOVE it. im 5'6" 160lbs (and dropping), 29 years old. it has a little more kick than i like, however, it is manageable. we were talking about possibilities and i had her pick it up loaded with snap caps, she shouldered it, and immediately said "no, too heavy" taking her to the 1500 this weekend so we can get an idea of what she likes and go from there. good luck to OP on your search.
I have a stoeger black double barrel which I keep in the bedroom (for the GF) and am currently in the market for a Mossberg 590a1 (for myself).
I wanted something "wife/gf proof" as well which is why I settled on the double barrel. All she has to do is push forward on the safety and she has two rounds of 00 buck which should clear the hallway and she knows how to reload it, push the lever, pops open, put rounds in. Pretty simple. Probably the simplest of all shotguns which is what I was going for short of a handgun (of which I recommend a revolver for it's simplicity and reliability).
I wanted something "wife/gf proof" as well which is why I settled on the double barrel. All she has to do is push forward on the safety and she has two rounds of 00 buck which should clear the hallway and she knows how to reload it, push the lever, pops open, put rounds in. Pretty simple. Probably the simplest of all shotguns which is what I was going for short of a handgun (of which I recommend a revolver for it's simplicity and reliability).
Go by Tacticalshotgunner's booth and ask them about 20 gauges with the Knoxx stock. One of the owners, Patti, has an 870 20 gauge with one for her own gun. A female in our family is 4'11" and she also likes using the Knoxx. I call them Knoxx, but they are now owned by Blackhawk.
SpecOps Adjustable Shotgun Stock - BLACKHAWK!
Adjustable LOP and recoil reduction in a 20 gauge are good things for smaller shooters or recoil sensitive shooters.
Holey Moley, Kirk--that's an awful lot. 12,000 to 15,000 reps of loading before "qualifying?"
I like Clint's blanket suggestion, "Get an 870." That said, just about any relaible shotgun in 12 or 20 gauge works well with large buck.
For training, recoil is, definitely, a factor. However, for an "encounter," recoil is not really a factor; it is the last thing anyone would notice. As 3-star Gen. Thomas Kelley once said, "A sledgehammer is a delightful way to kill a fly."
I second the "Get a revolver" response. Six rounds of .38 +p is going to discourage any BG from coming through the door and is much easier to handle in the close quarters of inside a house or hallway. Get behind a locked door and wait for the police.
This is what my wife prefers. She said she wanted something as simple as possible. That's what she got.
I have the 12 gauge on my side of the bedroom. Filled with reduced recoil 00 buck that isn't bad at all recoil wise. My wife didn't even mind shooting that load. She's 5'3", 120.
