Chuck R.

This isn't exactly true, at HD distances the pattern hasn't really opened up yet. Across a room, it's like aiming a rifle. My Benelli M1S90 is my primary HD gun, all of the Buck loads I've patterned put about a 3-6" pattern at 7 yards, Hornady TAP pretty much makes one large single hole at that distance. At 25 meters I can keep a pattern on a silhouette. Since I "own" every pellet that exits the muzzle I've done quite a bit of patterning with mine to see what gives me the tightest pattern at the distances in my house.

A shotgun might be more intimidating, but I choose it because of the 2400 lbs of energy at the muzzle. Compared to that, most handguns pale in comparison, and you've got to go up to .308 or larger to surpass with a rifle.

I've taken a couple tactical shotgun classes, with some training the shotgun really is a formidable weapon.

Chuck

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retsupt99

I believe that if something happens around my home, my Kimber will probably be the first to appear...because it's usually on me or right next to me...

But if shotguns LOOK bigger, then my 'reworked' double barrel 12 ga nickel coach gun looks pretty BIG when you looking at the business end

OMO...the BG's may vary...

Stay armed...stay safe!

ret

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"Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks."


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MD_Willington

How about releasing the charging handle on a Saiga 12 with a 10 round magazine, now that would be pretty freaking scary... a 12 gage Kalashnikov

Macattack

I feel that a shottie is definatly more intimidating than a handgun. Possibly from the movies where a shotgun will blow a watermelon sized hole in a BG or send him through a wall. (physically impossible by the way)
I'd take a shot from a pistol over a shot from a scattergun any day(assuming its loaded with buck or slugs etc..)

Also I can't help but feel it is easier to aim a shotgun than a pistol in a scary situation.
Shoot straight
-mac

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"Every man has a right to risk his own life for the preservation of it."
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular."

Lochinver

Intimidation factor?

The sound alone of racking the slide would raise my neck hair. Having someone point one at me with bad intentions would make me seriously rethink career choices if I were a BG.

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General Geoff

I would imagine that most BGs, being a relatively superstitious lot, are more afraid of a shotgun than a handgun. However, this would most likely apply to any long gun. Got an EBR? Yeah, that'll probably make the BG soil himself as well.
You have to imagine, the average BG probably sees pistols on a daily basis. He might even see shotguns on a daily basis, as those tend to be relatively common crime tools as well. But how often does he see an AR-15? And out of that many times, how often was it on TV or in a movie, with mythic attributes and capabilities?

Shotgun or EBR, the BG is probably more likely to stop in his tracks *before* administering the hot lead injection. :)

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Squawker

The Personal Defence TV show recently had a great episode which covered this topic. At most gunfight distances, the buckshot acts as a single bullet, as the pattern doesn't open up much. If I remember correctly, it was something on the order of 25 yards or so before the pattern really opened up, and then the amount of energy loss was considerable. So, Chuck, you're absolutely right. Aiming is essential with shotguns, as with rifles and handguns.

kd5nrh

Where's that guy that was building a 2-bore? I wanna do some testing with stunbags and rubber slugs.

glock21guy

Unless the BG is so screwed up they are incapable of recognizing the sight or sound of a shotgun. Or just bent on killing you, I think it has an enormous amount of intimidation.

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Aaron

If you don't protect your self, who will?

ccw9mm

A 1" barrel makes a bigger impression. So do a dozen lead balls spread in a pattern. While a longer gun's a big of a pile to move around, it can be more accurate, be more likely to strike the target, deliver more punch. All in all, I feel far more comfortable with my pistol, but wouldn't feel undergunned with a decent shorty shotgun. If anyone on the receiving end feels any safer with a shotgun pointed at him, I'd bet he's either on something or "a half bevel off of plumb."

At ranges with "shoot houses" you can often see teams of LEO's go in to clear the house. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a couple/three shotguns. By comparison, even twice the number of guys with pistols doesn't "feel" nearly to intimidating. YMMV.

LEO's: anyone got pics of raids or actions where big-bore was the deciding factor?

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Reports: CZ P01 pt1, pt2.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense.
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
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