by Joel Johnson
Although there is quite a bit of debate among experts about how many times guns are used in self-defense situations every year, a conservative estimate is about 100,000 occurrences, according to Business Week. As a study at the University of Northwestern School of Law highlights, a more accurate estimate is probably between 250,000 and 375,000 per year. This means that every day, around 700-1,000 people in the United States use a gun to protect themselves or stop a crime.
Short-Range Self-Defense
Now imagine how many more of these incidences would occur in any given doomsday scenario, and you can see why having a gun that is effective at short range is critical. When you think of a short-range gun, a handgun is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Handguns are very effective for self-defense at close range and should be at the top of your list if you don’t have one. However, shotguns have also been used successfully for self-defense for a number of years and have a few advantages over handguns.
While handguns are obviously lighter, take up less space, and are easier to handle, shotguns are more effective at engaging multiple targets in a shorter amount of time due to the spread they produce when the shot pellets leave the chamber. Additionally, shotguns are generally more powerful than handguns and are therefore capable of inflicting more damage. For these reasons alone, a shotgun is a good weapon to have for protection in situations such as civil unrest.
Other Advantages
Besides their power and ability to engage multiple targets, shotguns have other advantages:
- Ammo: From beanbags that won’t cause serious harm and birdshot for small game, to powerful buckshot for large mobs or animals, there is a wide range of loads for various situations.
- Price: New 12- and 20-gauge shotguns can cost a few hundred dollars and as much as several thousand dollars. Price depends on a number of factors, but you can find reliable, inexpensive models at gun shows and through listing services like Backpage.com or Craigslist. Before you buy a used shotgun, educate yourself on what to look for and how to inspect it.
- Modular: Shotguns are modular, which means they can be easily altered to suit the user’s purposes. For example, for self defense, a shorter barrel is better because it sends a wider pattern at close range. Bird hunters, however, will use longer barrels that have further reach and tighter patterns.
- Intimidation: Shotguns, especially pump-action ones, are intimidating because of their size and the sound they make.
- Reliability: They’re made to last and are also easy to clean and maintain. Depending on your frequency of use and purpose, you’ll have to know certain levels of maintenance and upkeep from the basics to the more specialized. Know your gun and know its needs. For example, this video guide can show you how to inspect, maintain and replace semi-auto o-rings, but older shotguns don’t have the same parts and would need a different type of care.
Of course, with all these advantages, keep in mind that a shotgun has limited range as well as limited capacity.
Choosing Your Shotgun
The most common types of shotguns are 12- and 20-gauge. Shotguns come in several varieties. The most common types are pump-action, over/under double barrel, side-by-side double barrel and semi-automatic. Your best bet for choosing the model that’s right for you is to visit a gun shop and talk with an expert. When people talk about shotguns, they often refer to the “kick,” which is the gun’s recoil, which is affected by the type of ammunition, and the size and type of the gun. Your preference depends on what you can tolerate and the purpose for which you will use the gun. A 20-gauge shotgun generally has less kick than a 12-gauge. A gun’s kick can be reduced by adding a recoil reducer to the stock–part of that modularity we refer to above.
If you live in a state where gun laws allow public shooting ranges to rent guns, you might try different makes and models before settling on a purchase.
Joel is a military veteran with 8 years of service and spent over 39 months deployed to Iraq. He used the skills that he learned in the infantry to prepare for any situation. He is a father with a love for football and his children. If he is not at work he is probably in the mountains hunting or fishing.
[…] Expanding Your Doomsday Arsenal with a Survival Shotgun (ncrenegade.com) […]