Now I prefer pistols and rifles to self-defense, over shotguns. Still the big issues I have with shotgun is ammo capacity, reloading, and how to store it for home defense.
With a standard tube-fed shotgun you either need to store it with the tube full and the chamber empty, or the gun completely empty (or fully loaded in a safe). If you tuck a shotgun under the bed or in the closet, that seems a bit easy for somebody to accidentally chamber a round and get the gun to fire.
With pistols and rifles you can keep the gun empty, but a full magazine nearby for quick loading. Most of the box-fed shotguns have other issues…this one solves most of them:
Love the safety and the new magazine well! You can top that gun off really quick and without error. Also a bolt hold-open is really a must, and its a shame some gun makers don’t bother with them.
They’re probably hard to find these days, but it would be worth looking into if you want a home-defense scatter-gun without a tube-mag!
I could DEFINITELY go for one of those. Been wanting something like a Saiga 12, but I have a feeling it’ll be pretty impossible to find one of those for a long time.
Stupid Question, but why would I not store my shotgun with a round in the chamber and the tube full? Will it damage the gun?
Scott
Nope (Tho I read that many modern shotguns aren’t drop safe…I find that hard to belive), but if your shotgun is fully-loaded, but not in your direct control, you better be sure nobody who shouldn’t get their hands on it.
Thanks. I have no kids and the gun is stored in a bedroom, so probably safe I would think….
Dear Santa,
One of these (in 20 gauge if the elves have time) with a pile ‘o 8 round mags, please. And cash for the SBS fee.
I’ve never had a problem keeping a shotgun stored “cruiser ready”, that is with a loaded mag tube and an empty chamber. To quote some Russian I once heard opine:
“Is gun. Is supposed to be dangerous!”
Nothing wrong with Cruiser Ready. I just have reservations of house guns (where you won’t be in the same room all the time). Cocked and Locked, for obvious reasons.
Still if you have kids, or guests, it only takes an extra second to slap in a box magazine.
I used to lust after a Saiga, not anymore. I have seen them fail and they lack the flexibility a pump has to switch ammo depending on the need of the moment. I keep mine cruiser ready loaded with buck and a stock cuff with slugs. I figure that should pretty much cover any use of a defensive shotgun.
PS: Also installed a red dot. damn thing is amazingly helpful.
This still does not address the issue of soft shotgun shells in box magazines.
These style rifles are having issues in 3 gun because of this. You cannot leave a large cap magazine loaded for a few days without having the shells deform enough to effect feeding.
Some of the drum mags address this, but I would not trust a mag larger than five rounds that had been left loaded for days, unless if was loaded with something very rigid, like slugs, or full brass cases.