Many will argue that the best gun for home defense is the shotgun. Shotguns have many benefits, such as their maneuverability and the ease at which they typically operate. Plus, nothing will strike fear in the heart of a home intruder more than the sound of a shotgun being racked. In terms of reliability, there are no firearm options that will perform better in an emergency than the shotgun.
The Benefits of a Shotgun for Home Defense
Shotguns are often intended for outdoor sports such as hunting or skeet shooting. The shotgun is a great firearm to have within the home mainly because of its reliability and performance. The spray effect of a shotgun allows the shooter to not necessarily have perfect aim, but still hit the intended target.
Shotguns are often used in duck and pheasant hunting because of the ability to hit objects without aiming perfectly. Overall, shotguns are great options for those who do not feel they will be able to keep a steady aim in a high pressure, home intrusion situation.
The Downside of a Shotgun for Home Defense
Using a shotgun for home defense does have some downside. If your body frame is smaller in stature, the recoil of a shotgun may be more than one can handle. The 12-guage shotgun is much more powerful than the 20-guage shotgun, and the 20-guage is the best low-recoil option for those with a smaller build.
Also, shotguns typically have much lower ammo capacity (typically 3-5 shells), which can become an issue if you have more than one home intruder. Finally, with a shotgun, you run the risk of collateral damage to others within your home from the spray effect created by a shotgun shot.
