I don't recall seeing anyone name calling? Just giving their opinions or disagreeing with someone else's. I don't think anything said was meant to be mean.
That pistol might be ok if loaded with the pistol cartridge, if you can shoot it well. I don't think I could shoot that cartridge well in that gun though. However with a .410 load I wouldn't suggest it. They are not worth much in a long gun, let alone a pistol. At least not for self defense anyway.
It is pretty much a proven fact that long guns are easier to learn to shoot than a handgun is. Handling and shooting a handgun takes a bit more skill and practice than a shotgun or rifle. And shooting a semi auto adds another factor to it as far as knowing the weapon and how it works. If you want to use a handgun I suggest getting plenty of practice with it.
I think you could teach her to shoot a shotgun effectively in a matter of a few weeks if she is that good with a handgun. Shotguns are pretty simple for the most part. My girlfriend took one lesson at a trap range and by the end could hit about half the clays. And she had never shot a gun before. I think she could handle a shotgun on a human sized target 10 yards away.
I do agree though, go with what YOU feel comfortable with and are proficient with. I would feel at home with either and used a Browning HI Power for years as a defense weapon. As I got older and played more though I just feel a shotgun with the correct load is a superior weapon for this sort of thing. I have seen the damage both will do to targets and live game and the shotgun is by far the winner to me.
ORIGINAL: DannyD
Hi Jeff,
IMO, most shooting in a home invasion or burglary situation is done at 10 feet or less. When speaking of accuracy how is the shotgun more accurate than the pistol? What is the diameter of the pellet spread at 10 feet?
A longer barrel is normally more accurate in a pointing situation than a shorter barrel is. It would be easier and quicker to hit with a longer shotgun barrel than it would with a shorter pistol barrel. I can hit center mass on a target pretty much every time with a shotgun by snapping it up and pulling the trigger. This is a bit harder to do with a pistol.
As far as spread goes, depends on the load you use and the choke. My tests showed an average of around 3-4 inches. The thing to keep in mind is this is not a 3 to 4 inch group of 6 bullets. But basically a solid column of shot 3 inches in diameter. Which means if your close enough with the right load and right choke you could blow a hole up to 3 inches in diameter through someone. That is a pretty devastating wound compared to a 9mm or 45 cal.
ORIGINAL: SJAdventures
ORIGINAL: nchawkeye
Because you don't carry a pistol to a gun fight.
You are kidding right
That little pistol will blow a hole through you while your still trying to figure out which end is which with your long-gun in close quarters. that pistol; is a Bad Man
Your kidding right? Why do people think its that difficult to shoot a shotgun? Shoulder it (if you want to) point and pull the trigger. Not extremely tricky to figure out. If it's not loaded, pull the pump back and push it back up, then point and pull the trigger. Not much different than racking the slide on an auto (except it's easier to pump a shotgun for most women or small people), or picking up a revolver, aiming it and pulling through a long double action trigger accurately.
Here are a few pictures of what three different 12 gauges did to an old speaker box with various loads and chokes.
front view
top view
back view
Here is a link to a post I made a while ago in another forum. It's the last one on that page. The links to the pictures don't work anymore though, I use a different host now.
Bird shot test
Your are right though, they are only my opinions and nothing more.
Paul