My First Shotgun

[Mister Andersen]

In many cases, dead folk are kinda sub-optimal.

[MilitiaJim]

In many cases, dead folk are kinda sub-optimal.

Only many.  And there are quite a few who will improve the planet by dying.

[Gentry]

And I'm given to understand that one of the unwritten rules of gun-based self defense is: If you're going to shoot someone, kill them. It makes it way easier for the cops if your story is the only story.

[TheTSKoala]

And I'm given to understand that one of the unwritten rules of gun-based self defense is: If you're going to shoot someone, kill them. It makes it way easier for the cops if your story is the only story.

Unless it's a kid.. then it's a squishy zone.

[Golden Dragon]

Congrats on the shotgun!

For some reason, that is a class of firearms that does not interest me. I likes me pistol and me rifle.

[MilitiaJim]

For some reason, that is a class of firearms that does not interest me. I likes me pistol and me rifle.

Fear not friend!  Purchase a large 15lb+ melon or squash and a box of 12 gauge slugs.  Borrow a shotgun.  Blast the vegetation to chunks. 

[TheTSKoala]

For some reason, that is a class of firearms that does not interest me. I likes me pistol and me rifle.

Fear not friend!  Purchase a large 15lb+ melon or squash and a box of 12 gauge slugs.  Borrow a shotgun.  Blast the vegetation to chunks. 

Or!  Have a daughter... have her have a boy in her room.. ..and have the door locked.  Breach that sucker and make everyone mess themselves.  Okay.. that may be a bit much.. but I loved breaching doors with the 12 gauge.  Who needs a pick?!

[Gentry]

I did get out shooting last week. Boy, a 12g slug sure puts a mean-looking hole in the side of an old breadmaker. 

How often do you shotgunners clean the thing?

[OverNinja]

You should clean it after every time, especially if you will have a long/unknown time between the times you shoot.

Cleaning your gun will prolong it's lifespan.

[TheTSKoala]

You should clean it after every time, especially if you will have a long/unknown time between the times you shoot.

Cleaning your gun will prolong it's lifespan.

^ This.  Yes.  Clean guns = happy guns.  Dirty guns = Guns that will try to blow up in your hands.  (That's rather extreme.. but.. you get what I mean.)

Plus.. cleaning it helps you know it.  You'll pick up on any weird feels or jiggles alot easier.

[Tegyrius]

Gentry, congratulations on your purchase!

Apologies in advance if any of this covers ground you've already gone over.  My belated two rounds cents:

Get training.  Find a reputable professional instructor and reserve a weekend and a few hundred bucks.

Know your state's laws on the use of lethal force.

Understand your weapon's terminal ballistics (the effect the projectile has on the guy you want to make terminal).  Also understand that if you have to use a firearm defensively, you will want to remove the threat by immediately incapacitating him.  I suggest the writings of Dr. G.K. Roberts, who moderates the terminal ballistics forum on M4carbine.net.  Go read some of his sticky posts at the top of that forum, starting with Basic Wound Ballistic Terminal Performance Facts.  Then you will understand why I write the next two things:

Never use birdshot as a defensive round.  It will not consistently penetrate enough tissue to produce incapacitation.

Never rely on the sound of racking the slide as a deterrent.  The effect of this is highly dependent on your aggressor's mindset and may be more of a liability than an advantage.  If you need a gun, the time for reasoned discourse and persuasion has passed.

Don't screw around with less-lethal rounds.  They are not intended for your situation (as described and implied thus far).  They are intended for use by cops who have the equipment and training to restrain a suspect after he's temporarily subdued - and who have backup with lethal firearms on scene and ready to engage if necessary.

Birdshot is fine for practice.  You'll still learn how to manipulate the weapon and - this is a subjective observation - its recoil is less fatiguing over a range session or class of a few hundred rounds.  For defensive use, do a bunch of research and make your own decision.  The general opinion in the tacticool forums in which I lurk seems to be that #4 and #00 buckshot are optimal for most civilian defensive use, while slugs are best reserved for the occasional longer shot or for turning cover into concealment.

Become comfortable with the weapon.  Learn how to run it under stress (again, training) to minimize the chance of an operator-induced malfunction and to develop the muscle memory for manipulation when adrenaline turns your hands to flippers.

Understand that you still need to aim.  The rule of thumb for buckshot's spread is 1" of pattern per 36" of range.  In my house, my longest shot allowed by architecture is just over 30', which gives me a 10" pattern.  That's some room for imprecise marksmanship but not a lot.  Test your intended defensive load at your maximum likely engagement range so you know how it patterns in your gun.  I got a nasty surprise when I tried out Federal's FliteControl load and got a pattern at 40' that was only slightly larger than a single slug hit.

Have fun!  Be safe!  And if you can't be safe, be dangerous to the right people.

- C.

[OverNinja]

^ This

I would recommend that you also take your wife to the training.

Consider getting ghost ring sights (with tritium inserts).
These will make the aiming easier than with the ones the gun comes from the factory.
The basic sights are all but useless in low-light conditions.

[TheTSKoala]

While I'm completely in agreement with Teg on most parts, I will dissent from the Racking of the slide as a deterrent.  Now every scenario needs its own analysis.. example.  Guy kicks in your door wielding a cleaver and saying that he's going to paint your home with your entrails.. yes.  The Escalation of Force model is well within the lethal force boundary.  In contrast, you're sleeping in bed and you hear something downstairs.  You draw out your 12G, walk downstairs and notice a gentleman rummaging through your drawers.  You have his back.  You rack the slide and tell him if he moves and he dies, you PROBABLY have disarmed the situation.  (Most B&Es aren't going to challenge a shotgun at a distance they can't see...)

[Tegyrius]

Y'know, if the sound does scare off a potential threat, great.  It'll save you carpet cleaning bills and attorney fees.  But thinking a ka-click sound is a magic intruder-repelling wand has the potentially to be a terminally ignorant mindset.

If you think you need to investigate something with a gun, why are you heading out in your tactical bunny slippers at felony o'clock to investigate while you're holding a gun that's not ready for immediate use?  Get that round in the chamber as soon as you feel the need to pick up the weapon.  If it's a false alarm, you can clear the gun later.  Are you worried about walking around with a hot weapon?  Train until you are comfortable doing so, then keep your booger-picker off the bang-switch and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

You do not know an intruder's mindset, training, sanity, or level of willingness and preparedness to do harm to you and yours.  Racking the slide so he can hear it gives him a few pieces of useful information.  First, it tells him what you're armed with.  Second, it tells him your approximate location.  Third, it tells him that you're threatening to use lethal force, and if he decides to escalate to the actual use of lethal force while you're still playing dominance games and hoping he runs away, you are going to have a problem.

- C.

[TheTSKoala]

I'm going to let this debate slide as we are clearly on two very distinct sides of the escalation of force theory.