Shotgun for Home Defense
Posted by boopdoop03@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I recently picked up a Winchester SXP Black Shadow
as a home defense option. I’ve got a solid amount of experience running handguns—Glocks, Berettas, Rugers, Smith & Wessons—but I’m newer to shotguns and still dialing in how different setups serve different roles. From what I understand, the SXP line is more of a general-purpose platform, so I’m trying to figure out if this was a solid choice for home defense or if I would’ve been better off going with something more purpose-built.
sirbassist83@reddit
IMO a semi auto 5.56 is a better option for HD. less recoil, less over penetration, much higher capacity, more reliable.
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
Honestly, given the current price and quality of PCCs right now, they’re hard to beat for home defense. They’re lightweight, easy to handle in tight spaces, simple to aim, and you’ve got plenty of capacity if things go sideways. Compared to a shotgun, they usually have much less recoil, are easier for most people to control and train with, and you’re not dealing with a long barrel or heavy kick every time you pull the trigger.
VanillaIce315@reddit
Exactly how I feel. Plus the ease of suppressing a PCC, and the already lower concussion/noise compared to a rifle or shotgun, makes it a no brainer.
I’ve got 33 rounds of 124gr HST at my disposal through a suppressed setup that’s under 30” in length. With a red dot and light that easily mounts with no extra aftermarket parts necessary. That’s hard to beat.
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
My Kuna has been my go-to for a while now, but I just picked up a PS90, and once I SBR that thing, it'll be hard to beat for home defense. 50-round mag of 5.7? Check. Compact? Check. Low recoil? Check. It's the definition of a PDW.
palmetto_stroke@reddit
18.5 auto loading (non Turkish) shotty with a great light, an auto adjust red dot, mag tube extension, match saver with a slug, Esstac cards filled fed flights and Velcroed to the side is the perfect HD tool. Maybe a sling if you feel a twitch in your pants.
SightAtTheMoon@reddit
What are you gonna do with a red dot in a hallway? Miss?
palmetto_stroke@reddit
Get your wife wet.
Struck_Primer@reddit
Tbh I am also pretty cost conscious when it comes firearms, trust, go purpose built. Trying to get one gun to do everything makes it excel at nothing
If you want an unbeatable pump shotgun for home defense, the only answer is the Mossberg 590 (any model under 18”)
If you have some money to burn on a semi auto, look at the beretta 1301 or A300. Super reliable, quick cycling, and cuts down the recoil a bit.
If you have neighbors in the next room, for home defense, I’d recommend #4 buckshot to limit over penetration
NumerousFootball@reddit
You can swap sxp barrels, e.g. you can get an 18” sxp barrel which will make the gun lighter & more maneuverable for home defense
gunmedic15@reddit
The handgun is infantry. Light and mobile. You can have it with you if you're out and about on your property. If you have to answer an unexpected knock at the door, it's not an issue to have a handgun in your back pocket. You can'tjust sling up the shotgun every time. That odd knock is probably nothing, but it's prudent to be armed. A shotgun is artillery. It excells at destroying a fixed point with overwhelming firepower. If the situation becomes more than an unexpected knock or an unidentified sound, like the dogs are barking and your door is being kicked in, a shotgun laid across your bed covering the door to your safe room is what you need. It covers that pre selected point and will blow pieces off of whoever enters that doorway. If you have to move to your kids room, call 911, and herd them to the safe room, a pistol is maneuverable and keeps your hands free. Sitting at the end of your hallway or at the top of the stairs getting ready to demonstrate why it's called the "Fatal Funnel", shotgun.
With that in mind, the exact configuration of your shotgun is less important. Make sure you can see your target and get ready to put pieces of them on the floor.
Outrageous_Lion8966@reddit
Never understood the appeal of a shotgun or even an AR for home defense. A suppressed 9mm PCC is my choice and would be my choice 100 times over.
HeloRising@reddit
You would have been better off going with another type of firearm entirely.
If you have other options, a shotgun is not a good choice for home protection.
For starters, buckshot is the go-to recommendation to make people violating your personal space go away. The problem is that buckshot can "throw" a pellet out of the cloud of concern heading towards the intruder and that pellet, "called a ninth pellet flyer," can go basically anywhere. None other than the venerable Paul Harrell tested that idea out. Reminder that you are liable for any material you put into the air and if it hits someone or something else, that's on you.
Shotguns are also...dicey on reliability. Semi-autos can hiccup when cycling owing to the variability inherent in shotgun shell manufacture and it's very easy to short-stroke a pump under stress even if you practice shooting it.
You're also limited on ammunition capacity and reloading is a slow process. The SXP looks like it has a maximum of four which is...cutting it close. I will freely admit that most defensive situations that involve a firearm involve an average of two to three shots. That's not me just guessing, statistically speaking the average number of shots fired in a civilian defensive situation is two. But my question is "Why limit yourself if there's no downside to more ammunition?"
I would rather have thirty rounds and only need three rather than a situation where I have four rounds and run out.
The SXP Shadow specifically is also looooooong. Unless you got one that was modified, the shortest they come is 24". That is...sub-optimal for use in a home with hallways. You're not going to be room clearing (at least you shouldn't be if you're smart) but having a three foot long shotgun is going to be unwieldy as all hell. What's worse is that extra barrel length is buying you exactly nothing. It's purely there to get in your way and be heavy.
TL;DR - Unless there is some legal situation where you live that heavily restricts what you can employ for self-defense, a shotgun is not a good option for that task. There are worse, but there are far better.
cleveraccountname13@reddit
Excellent points all the way. I hadn't heard about the flyer pellots. A stray chunk of lead that big is scary as hell.
-Minos-@reddit
At HD range having a ninth pellet is a non issue. You can also just buy eight pellet buckshot
At close range nothing beats a shotgun
cleveraccountname13@reddit
As someone with a lot of defensive focused practice with a handgun I would 1000% take my Glock 19 over any shotgun for home defense.
I have very little experience shooting a shotgun. I have a Maverick 88 12 gauge, but unless I have the opportunity to train with defensive shooting scenarios, combat reloading, etc., I am a big nope for using one for self defense.
I know muh stopping power and all that. But I can put 5 five rounds in center mass at indoor ranges way faster than most people could rack the shotgun and fire it once.
I truly don't get the shotgun for home defense hype.
I will sit back and read all the reasons I am dumb and and wrong.
IKIR115@reddit
I had a Benelli M1 for several years, but eventually sold it. Similar to you, I am more comfortable with a glock. I’d be comfortable with an AR too.
The Benelli was a great shotgun, but I didn’t practice with it as much as I would have liked to. I probably put way more birdshot through it shooting skeet than I did practicing with buck and slugs.
Weird-Passage155@reddit
Higher stopping power and more forgiving for people not willing or able to train to the high standard of skill needed for pistol or rifle shooting. One shell or slug center mass will put someone down for the count. You basically get a combination of a baseball bat and a cloud of bullets at close ranges. 9mm isn’t doing that.
You can pull off five accurate shots with a pistol when you’re prepared on a flat range. Now do it at 3am when you were in a dead sleep a minute ago, you’re groggy and being charged by a confused bear or desperate person. How much training did it take you to get to that point? How much ongoing training do you need to keep that skill level?
Not saying the shotgun is the better choice. The right answer is always the gun you’re most comfortable with. But the shotgun is the best choice if you’re not going to put in the time for training
ServoIIV@reddit
The shotgun is better on paper, but if you don't have the training to effectively use it none of that does you any good. There was an interesting experiment done a while back where a mix of law enforcement and military combat veterans were run through a home defense scenario. They had a pistol holstered on their person and a rifle staged nearby and easily accessible. Police immediately reached for their handgun while military grabbed the rifle. When asked about it afterward each went for the firearm that they had more training on.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit
You ask us this question, but tell us nothing about your house, its layout, size, environment, construction, etc.
boopdoop03@reddit (OP)
It’s a 1 bedroom apartment
You walk in the front door and there’s the living room and the kitchen to the left. Take like 15 steps from the front door and the bedroom is on right and half bath on left
youkilledkenny3211@reddit
Not everyone’s cup of tea but one of my home defense weapon is a Keltec ksg short easy to maneuver in tight shots with 15 rounds Will take care of the job, I own mossbergs but their so damn long not saying you can’t use that, I’m a big fan of PCC’s as well
boopdoop03@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the advice
Ultrasuperbro2@reddit
Nice choice. Your choice of ammunition is important here. Shotgun defense in the suburbs is different than in the countryside. I strongly recommend at least a class or two on running that rig, and practice. It's a way underrated platform.
lundah@reddit
Wouldn’t be my first choice but it will work. Most HD shotguns will have a shorter barrel and a longer mag tube. That’s more of a hunting/all purpose model, but it can still be effective. Put a light and sling on it, get some low recoil buckshot shells, and train with it.
Delicious_Peach5602@reddit
Only you can answer what works best for you.
That being said; a hunting shotgun is one option but probably not your best option. A combat shotgun - one with better sight options and a light mount would be better if you can…
Otherwise an AR or PCC could also be good options depending on your situation.