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3/30/2012 4:33:40 PM
 
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Section 5: Shotguns Subject: Maverick HS-12 Shotgun Msg# 827158
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That is the only shotgun I own that I've never patterned because I'll never shoot it at anything more than 30 feet away, and I doubt that's far enough for shot to begin to spread out into a pattern.
You know, I've always literally preached patterning defensive shotguns, and my reasoning is, I think, sound--different loads shoot to different POA/POI. Nevertheless in your case I don't have an issue with your approach. first of all you live well outside of town in a very rural area. There are just the two of you and if you are shooting south your wife is going to be standing north of you. You will in all likelihood not be shooting beyond your stated ten yards/30 feet, and like all seasoned shotgunners you know that a shot column is in fact more like a single projectile than a spread at that range. You newer shooters can take a message from this exchange. And I mean that with no disrespect to anyone, please believe me. I disagree with the senior shooters on a variety of things here, and they with me; heck, I have my share of wacky ideas and then some, without a doubt. But in general, when it comes down to the brass tacks of self-defense guns and tactics, I rarely have issues with men like Allan or Stu or Jerry or Harvey G or Kim any number of others here because they have been doing this stuff for a long time and they've learned the ins and outs of the self-defense business one way or another. So while I will continue to pattern my shotguns--because I do not live in a rural area, and because my household numbers larger, and because I am perhaps just curious--and while I will continue to strongly recommend to beginning defensive shotgunners that they do the same, I have no disagreement here with Allan's approach. Just sayin', as folks often comment these days.... |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: If an old double was all I had, it could be a life saver. But to go out and buy a double specifically for self defense is silly. That money is better spent on a modern defense piece, and there are numerous practical options in that price range that would work better for home defense and carry. I feel the same way - I would rather have a cheap, used pump than any double gun for defense. But, in every case where I've investigated something going bump in the night indoors, I have picked up my carry gun and flashlight to do the job. The only time I recall choosing the shotgun was when going outside to see what all the noise around the chicken coop was about. That said, I think in Troy's case where his family is upstairs and he is defending a large open stairwell, I think a shotgun would be an okay choice. My 30-plus year old home defense pump gun is a Smith & Wesson NATO Game Bird 12-gauge that S&W imported from somewhere back in the 70's. I bought it new on sale for about $89. I took it to the station and quizzed a cop who stopped by on how to properly measure barrel length and then a fireman who did plumbing off duty cut the barrel off. In Dallas, officers carried a wooden dowel with a colored ring around it to measure shotgun barrel length. They'd close the action and drop the dowel down the barrel until it contacted the bolt face. If any of the colored ring showed outside of the barrel the gun was illegal. We figured out the measurement, added an inch just in case, and shortened the barrel with a pipe cutter. That is the only shotgun I own that I've never patterned because I'll never shoot it at anything more than 30 feet away, and I doubt that's far enough for shot to begin to spread out into a pattern. |
