So here it is... I live in a rural area and there are only a few houses nearby but One i'm sure is being used for a Marijuana grow op. Due to limited resources and what not the RCMP can't really take action on an empty house and not get any charges. Boils down to this. My wife is scared that something bad may happed, though I feel her fear is unfounded, she would be more comfortable with a defence gun available. She is petite and has previous back and neck injuries so a .12 guage is out. Is a .410 or .20 suitable for home defence? Smaller the better, what would you recomend on the cheap?
Home defence For my Wife
- Thread starter Comil_1983
- Start date
Mike Oxbig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Scarborough Ontario
If it's to save her life then there's no need to worry about her back problems and being comfortable when she lets a shot go at a threat. Whatever stops em DEAD FAST will do! A short 12g with 00?
BTW a 20g kicks almost as much as a 12. Same load exiting at said velocity = same recoil.
Do you own pistols?
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
870 Express Jr. Compact.
20gauge, 12" LOP, 5.5lbs, comes with a decent recoil pad, and it even comes in pink (though not with the 18" barrel).
$380
the big problem, however, is that there are no (or at least there werent when i looked a while ago) commercial reduced recoil buckshot loads for the 20ga. so, a five and a half pound 20 gauge would give you nearly the same recoil as a heavier 12 gauge firing full power loads. you might be better off with a 12 gauge with managed recoil loads - it would be less recoil.
i believe there are managed recoil slugs for the 20 gauge though.
20gauge, 12" LOP, 5.5lbs, comes with a decent recoil pad, and it even comes in pink (though not with the 18" barrel).
$380
the big problem, however, is that there are no (or at least there werent when i looked a while ago) commercial reduced recoil buckshot loads for the 20ga. so, a five and a half pound 20 gauge would give you nearly the same recoil as a heavier 12 gauge firing full power loads. you might be better off with a 12 gauge with managed recoil loads - it would be less recoil.
i believe there are managed recoil slugs for the 20 gauge though.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
here you go:
but those are slugs - im in the buckshot camp.
personally, i would go with the 12 and just get her a heavier Express or a DA Grizzly, a dozen boxes of managed recoil 12ga. buckshot, and have her practiiiiiiiiice and familiarize herself with it so shes not fumbling under pressure.
once she familiarizes herself with it, its not like shes going to be shooting trap all day with it. its going to sit in the corner of the room or in the closet and hopefully never used. if she does use it, i doubt the amount of recoil will matter.
but those are slugs - im in the buckshot camp.
personally, i would go with the 12 and just get her a heavier Express or a DA Grizzly, a dozen boxes of managed recoil 12ga. buckshot, and have her practiiiiiiiiice and familiarize herself with it so shes not fumbling under pressure.
once she familiarizes herself with it, its not like shes going to be shooting trap all day with it. its going to sit in the corner of the room or in the closet and hopefully never used. if she does use it, i doubt the amount of recoil will matter.
Well I agree that the recoil doesn't matter if it saves her life but I think the real purpose to the gun is to make her comfortable and I would rather have something she is comfortable handling and gives her confidence that is why I am leaning toward the .410.
I recently sold her .243 because that was uncomfortable for her to shoot
I recently sold her .243 because that was uncomfortable for her to shoot
whatever you pick - go with the 00 buck loads. Personally I think you should try a 20 or maybe 28 ? but I agree with above comments - she needs to practice so she is comfortable under pressure. A pump is the most reliable in my op.
Consider a pistol, too
A 20g shotgun is great, but I suggest that you suggest that she take up target shooting and purchase a pistol.
A quick-access safe can keep a pistol (and a loaded magazine) at the ready.
And, if she so desires, she can elect - whenever the mood strikes her - to practice wearing the unloaded pistol and a loaded magazine, holstered, on her person, while within her home.
A 20g shotgun is great, but I suggest that you suggest that she take up target shooting and purchase a pistol.
A quick-access safe can keep a pistol (and a loaded magazine) at the ready.
And, if she so desires, she can elect - whenever the mood strikes her - to practice wearing the unloaded pistol and a loaded magazine, holstered, on her person, while within her home.
Have you given any thoughts at getting a good dog?
I know you're not really interested in a 12 gauge, but did you try the new reduced recoil? And maybe a good pad, knoxx stock, mesa tactical Leo stock with an Enidine tube. That might make the recoil quite bearable.
I know you're not really interested in a 12 gauge, but did you try the new reduced recoil? And maybe a good pad, knoxx stock, mesa tactical Leo stock with an Enidine tube. That might make the recoil quite bearable.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
a .410 is better than nothing, but would you rather hit someone with nine 8.4mm projectiles or just three? depending on where she hits them, is three going to stop them for sure?
a 12ga. with managed recoil loads and a quality recoil pad is very low recoil, and pretty much guaranteed to drop someone with one shot. she could also do most of her practice with super light recoiling birdshot to get comfortable with the gun, but use buck for HD when recoil doesnt matter.
as for the .243 - theres a big difference between centerfire recoil and shotgun recoil.
a 12ga. with managed recoil loads and a quality recoil pad is very low recoil, and pretty much guaranteed to drop someone with one shot. she could also do most of her practice with super light recoiling birdshot to get comfortable with the gun, but use buck for HD when recoil doesnt matter.
as for the .243 - theres a big difference between centerfire recoil and shotgun recoil.
Using that same reasoning then one could reason that in the event of a car accident, the driver who was wearing his/her seatbelt is at fault because they were expecting a crash where the other driver who didn't buckle up or bother to get insurance is the innocent party since they obviously weren't expecting to get into an accident.
If she is really that scared - then Alex has a good idea - a big dog with some bark. And that's also what I would use for s shotgun - big, with some bark. If you are really that concerned.......and believe me - when the day comes if the dope heads come around and they are looking down the business end of a 12 gauge - they will quickly change their minds....
BIG DOG, the cops have found there is somthing written into our hard drives when it comes to dogs. 200 cops in full riot gear have trouble clearing an area , 1 cop with with a land shark and people part like its moses and the red sea. after that a 12 gauge pump , seems everyone alive knows the sound of that slide action .
