Shotguns are, and always have been, a popular choice for self defense and hunting, but not necessarily for the right reasons. There are many myths around shotguns, and it is these myths that drive sales, however the real reasons also make it a good idea as well. Lets look at the shotgun and why you should consider having one.
There are many types of shotgun actions, from single shot and double barrel break-opens, to pumps and semi automatics. They all have their pros and cons….lets quickly review:
Single barrel and double barrel break-open models (called farm guns and coach guns) are simple, however reloading is very slow. Some people may say “I only need one shot…it spreads out and I can take out everyone in the room”, but that would be one of the myths. The spread of the shot across a room is maybe 3 inches. You can miss with a shotgun just like any gun. You want something you can reload easily, or keep “topped off” quickly if you are using it for home defense, Chances are you want to have more than 1 or 2 shots when your life is on the line.
Pump Action shotguns are the most common. They are very reliable and are easy to use, and are not picky about ammo, But No, the sound of you working the slide will Not scare away the bad guys…thats pure Hollywood. If you are waiting until a bad guy is in your home before loading your shotgun, chances are you are behind on the home defense curve and need a new plan anyway.
Semi automatics are a great choice. They have less felt recoil, and enable quick followup shots. Some semi automatics, depending on the purpose they are built for, may require certain strength shells to cycle reliably. Not a problem, just something to be aware of when selecting shells (ammo).
What is a gauge you ask? It describes the diameter of your barrel and your shell. Without getting into painful detail, a 12 gauge is bigger than a 20 gauge. These are currently the most popular and universal sizes. A 12 gauge generally fires more pellets (shotguns fire pellets of different sizes) per shot, and as a result tend to have more recoil (kick). A 20 gauge has about 75% of the amount of pellets as a 12 gauge, but considerably less recoil, and is easier to manage. In a semi automatic version, recoil is even further reduced making the 20 gauge a shotgun that is actually fun to shoot! Will they both work for home defense?…absolutely, like the Hammer of Thor!
Aside from home defense, shotguns can be used for clay sports and are Great for hunting! Everything from the smallest game and birds up to the largest Bears have been taken with shotguns. It is truly a 1 gun does it all firearm.
If you are considering a shotgun, consider training as well. Its not as fool-proof as people like to talk, and it does have noticeable recoil. If you dont hold it correctly you can, in fact, injur yourself. If you take the time to understand it, and use it properly, it can be fun to shoot as well as meet many needs you may have.
Femme Fatale ARMS & Training is a woman-owned business that provides education and support to an over victimized and underserved segment of our population. We have programs to build confidence and skill without the intimidating aspects that tend to exist elsewhere in this industry. Our goal is customer satisfaction and loyalty. We’d appreciate an opportunity to show you how we are different, yet still, help you to accomplish your education and safety goals.
Anyone can shoot a gun, we train you to defend yourself!
Femme Fatale Arms & Training is located at 160 Malabar Road, Palm Bay, Fl. We are open Mon-Wed 10 to 5, Thurs and Fri10 to 6, and Saturday 12 to 4
