A lot of us being concealed carry advocates spend a lot of time contemplating the best ways to carry out in public. What additional tools we should have on our person from maybe a carry, flashlight, and even medical implements like a tourniquet. All of these elements are great considerations when out in public, but we should dedicate an equal amount of thought to what we easily have at our disposal to defend ourselves when we are home. This can be a lot of things from handguns to carbines to shotguns. The most popular and useful choice for home defense is a shotgun which we will discuss.
One of the first misnomers of using a shotgun for defense in your home is that you do not need to aim; that you can simply point down a hallway and hit that zombie that is charging you. To be completely blunt, that is flatly false. Aiming is absolutely required. When you are shooting short distances with a shotgun of 10 – 15 yards maximum inside your home for defense the pattern does not open up much so you can absolutely miss a zombie or a drugged-up, ski-mask robber if you do not aim. So, if you go the way of a shotgun, it is important to practice with it and be judicious with your aim like any firearm.
Another reason why a shotgun is a solid choice for home defense is that the payload it sends has dozens of projectiles compared to just one coming from a handgun. This almost “volley” fire pattern ejected from a shotgun could mean more is less. You get more payload down a hallway with fewer shots fired.
Another reason why shotguns are a good choice for home defense is that they are just as compatible with accessories as any other firearm platform. You can add lasers, flashlights, red dots, and even a sling if you like. With the right M-LOK furniture on your shotgun – similar to an AR-15 – the sky is the limit.
Also, recoil should not be a deterrent because, during the heat of the moment or that one-in-a-million, an adrenaline-filled scenario where you have deemed using a firearm is appropriate to defend your life, you will not notice the recoil. You will instinctually shoot to save your life or that of your family and loved ones.
Finally, which we already alluded to, you should still practice and become familiar with the shotgun platform. While they are simple to use, you should still know how to manipulate the safety, load it, and clear a potential malfunction. This is standard fare for any firearm you might want to use for defense in any setting. Get used to it, practice with it, and you will be better for it. Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
