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Shotgun or Rifle ? Best home defense

4821 Views 40 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  RossO
So i was wondering, what is the opinion of the forums what would be a better home defense option ? Its typical that the movies and TV shows portray shotguns as the best home defense, but I was wondering with my current holding.

I have a 20 gauge and .270 winchester. I was considering the .270 winchester to be better overall, but maybe 20 gauge buckshot better for closed quarters ?

What are your thoughts ?
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20 gauge with buckshot for home defence.
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One shoots one shot with a single trigger pull, the other 10-15. No contest that if you want to put a man down you use a shotgun. Rifles are fine in their regards, but shotguns leave bigger holes in bad guys.
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Home defense weaponry has been discussed ad nauseum:

http://www.survivalistboards.com/search.php?searchid=12717180
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12 ga with OO Buck and 19" barrel wide open. Gonna be ugly if someone takes it at 15 feet.
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does your rifle have a scope on it?ever try aiming at 10-15 feet through a scope?only thing better then a 20 ga for stopping man up close is a 12 ga,aside from personal skills with certain weapons ofc.00 buck at short distance keeps the pellets in a small pattern,pretty devastating.
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Depends.


...on location, population density, home size and construction etc etc


  • Shack in the mountains?
  • Brick home in a quiet rural area?
  • "Regular" paper house in the 'burbs?
  • McMansion on a square mile of land?
  • Tiny apartment in 30 unit building with 8 other buildings close by?
  • Loft in a highrise of a downtown?
  • Castle?
  • What State? Local Laws? Weather? Animal type and population near by?
  • Situation? Bump in the night? Local social unrest? Zombies?

I have a 9mm handgun on the nightstand, as well as a 12 gauge and AR-15 on the "ready rack." Because...it depends.




Can't possibly just say "Use [This gun] for home defense."

-------------------------------------------------------
Edit: But it looks like many can...
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Shotgun for up-close and personal. Save the rile for hunting, IMO.
shotgun in close quarters, rifle for long range
With the Given Info I would say a shotgun overall better spread, it wont penetrate walls to the same extent rifles would, maybe a handgun would work better in some situations but the OP said rifle or 20 ga. shotgun. A shotgun is without a doubt the go to, unless people are flipping desks and you are in a shoot out.

Depends.


...on location, population density, home size and construction etc etc


  • Shack in the mountains?
  • Brick home in a quiet rural area?
  • "Regular" paper house in the 'burbs?
  • McMansion on a square mile of land?
  • Tiny apartment in 30 unit building with 8 other buildings close by?
  • Loft in a highrise of a downtown?
  • Castle?
  • What State? Local Laws? Weather? Animal type and population near by?
  • Situation? Bump in the night? Local social unrest? Zombies?

I have a 9mm handgun on the nightstand, as well as a 12 gauge and AR-15 on the "ready rack." Because...it depends.


Can't possibly just say "Use [This gun] for home defense."


Edit: But it looks like many can...
  • Like
Reactions: 1
So i was wondering, what is the opinion of the forums what would be a better home defense option ? Its typical that the movies and TV shows portray shotguns as the best home defense, but I was wondering with my current holding.

I have a 20 gauge and .270 winchester. I was considering the .270 winchester to be better overall, but maybe 20 gauge buckshot better for closed quarters ?

What are your thoughts ?
Hey OP:

If you really live in Brat... Brata...

...where you live, Southern Greenland.


I say 100% - keep them both loaded and at the ready. Why not? Defending yourself from inside the house - shotgun. Outside around your house - rifle. (If those are your only two options)

By the way, keep all you firearms cleaned, oiled, and loaded. All magazines in the house loaded. Only one way to learn that lesson - the hard way.
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I have an AR-15 pistol loaded with 30 rounds of hollow point, as well as my 1911 on my night stand for home defense. I live in a concrete building, no neighbors, and no kids in their bedrooms to worry about, though.

If the above are concerns, shotgun all the way.
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20ga is plenty for inside.. High brass 3inch in just about anything even steel shot BBs will make a mess out of whatever it hits..

270 inside puts other folks at risk even if in another house.

20ga are killing machines..

Make sure you're 20ga will shoot 3inch shells tho.
With your choices specified I'd say the shotgun would be best. I assume the 270 is a bolt gun and those can be tricky to manipulate indoors.
Hey OP:

If you really live in Brat... Brata...

...where you live, Southern Greenland.


I say 100% - keep them both loaded and at the ready. Why not? Defending yourself from inside the house - shotgun. Outside around your house - rifle. (If those are your only two options)

By the way, keep all you firearms cleaned, oiled, and loaded. All magazines in the house loaded. Only one way to learn that lesson - the hard way.
Well actually its a Rossi firearm so i have to choose between the shotgun or rifle barrel. Its break barrel single shot, pretty damn easy to load on short notice. Looks like ill be putting on the shotgun and going with buckshot. I do have 3 people and 2 dogs living in this house. I also have a .22. In all honesty my actual plan is if i had to and possible i would hop out the window of my room with the firearm and take advantage of my knowledge of the pitch black territory.
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So i was wondering, what is the opinion of the forums what would be a better home defense option ? Its typical that the movies and TV shows portray shotguns as the best home defense, but I was wondering with my current holding.

I have a 20 gauge and .270 winchester. I was considering the .270 winchester to be better overall, but maybe 20 gauge buckshot better for closed quarters ?

What are your thoughts ?
Final answer.... Which do you shoot better with??? That is the only answer in my opinion. Id tale the firearm that I know inside and out anyday. I would at least know that X hits low and to the right over the other firearm that everyone tells me should be the "best". Your skills and level of comfort dictates which is best.
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Well actually its a Rossi firearm so i have to choose between the shotgun or rifle barrel. Its break barrel single shot, pretty damn easy to load on short notice. Looks like ill be putting on the shotgun and going with buckshot. I do have 3 people and 2 dogs living in this house. I also have a .22. In all honesty my actual plan is if i had to and possible i would hop out the window of my room with the firearm and take advantage of my knowledge of the pitch black territory.
Yup. Buckshot for the win.

Maybe you can work on a side saddle or sling with extra shells. You're gonna want quick reloads.

Train up someone on the inside to grab the .22

100% agree that you always must use any advantage. It's your house- your "castle." And your backyard. :thumb:
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Yup. Buckshot for the win.

Maybe you can work on a side saddle or sling with extra shells. You're gonna want quick reloads.

Train up someone on the inside to grab the .22

100% agree that you always must use any advantage. It's your house- your "castle." And your backyard. :thumb:
Yeah i was actually thinking of making a belt to go around my shoulder that can hold extra round. Then again im also in the market for a fully automatic. Im not sure id want to fire a fully automatic indoors with people and dogs. More for fighting off the french canadians up north.
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