Mom wants a home defense shotgun

Conraq

Conraq

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What kind of shot gun do you guys recommend for a small stature lady that is 71 years old and has some, but not extensive firearm training. I know some frown on autos for this purpose but I do think my mom would rather just pull the trigger than have to cock every time, but of course this is not a deal breaker. Any info you guys have as to brand, caliber, and shot will really be appreciated. I am more of a rifle guy and really don’t have much knowledge except for the shotgun I use to hunt birds, rabbits and coyotes. Thank you and Happy New Year


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I'm not up to speed on all the different models available right now, but I'd consider a semi auto 410 or 20ga youth model. You might could find a Remington 1100 or 1187 at a local shop. the 410's seem like they're more pricey when you find them because they're less common.

For something that will be loaded and stored behind the door, but not shot often, Mossberg's Maverick line has pump action SD shotguns in 410, 20, and 12ga, and they're very affordable.
 
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*Insert: take her to the range and let her shoot advice*

My father bought my 9 year old daughter a 20ga Mossberg Bantam 500 for her to take duck hunting and the thing is pretty awesome. Loaded with buck it would make a great home defense shooter if that was what she wanted.
 
I know 3 women that keep Mossberg 20g youth pump shotguns for defense.
Many years ago, my father was in a boating accident that injured his right arm reducing his ability to hold a pistol. We got him a .410 Snake Charmer that he really liked.
 
I have a persistant shoulder injury and cant handle 12 gauge recoil, so I have a Mossberg SA20 (#75780) and it is a great little shotgun.
I run #3 Buck in it and the recoil is very manageable. With low recoil shells, it is positively a pussycat.
I patterned it at 20 yds with the #3 and got 95% on a silhouette target right out of the box. At home defense ranges, it should be 100%. Group center was a little low, but rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation and fixed that right up. Winged AR style orange fiber up front.
Tac rail at rear sight for an optic of some sort if yall decide to go that way, tri rail on the tube cap for lights or whatever.
This little gun is packed with features that will give you guys multiple options.
 
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Ammoholic said:
To lessen the possibility of an accidental/negligent discharge, I would consider a good ole single shot 12g.

Easy to use and must be cocked to go boom.
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...and increase the possibility of not being able to finish a job you started. No way in the world I’d recommend a single shot anything for home defense.
 
Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 youth model. Make sure she is comfortable with the manual of arms for whichever.

Rio Royal makes a 9 pellet 00 load for 20 ga. You don't see that much anymore. It's un buffered and not in a shot cup so patterns don't hold well at long range. It's effective though. My oldest son took his first and second deer with that load in an 870 youth when he was nine. His first and second deer with the same shot. As in one shotshell two deer DRT....

If you and your mom want to try out an 870 youth let me know. You can try ours out as my guest at my club. I'm in Alamance Co.
 
I feel for the robber who visits her house
574c4e2085cea1e03c1176e65bbf4bf5.jpg



When guns become outlawed,I will become an outlaw!
The fact that the government would even consider repealing the second amendment is the very reason for which it was written.
 
BigWaylon said:
...and increase the possibility of not being able to finish a job you started. No way in the world I’d recommend a single shot anything for home defense.
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guess I was thinking of my own mom at 71. No way could she safely handle much of any other shotgun.
 
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My 74 year old mother in law still push mows a good part of her 4 acre spread (and insists on doing so). She could out work most 30 year old dudes and would handily dispatch an intruder with a 12 ga.

Not all old folks are the same....
 
I got a Maverick 88 pump for my mom. She is the same age and although she can cycle it i would definitely get her a youth model (I did not) and prob opt for semi auto if I was going to do it again. I also loaded it with low recoil shells.
 
Mossberg makes an 18” .410 pump.

Maybe remington does?

Depending on load. There is no real recoil, 4 00 holes on first shot, or even a #6 shot load at room distance will be devestating. If able to rack another... win, win
 
Ammoholic said:
Granny Clampett seemed to do just fine.....looks like she preferred a double barrel.

View attachment 179156
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She was a pretty woman in her day.

granny3.png

OP- why not a Remington Tac-13? I found my Shockwave to much milder to shoot than I expected 'n would imagine a gas gun would have to be mo' betta in that regard? Handy, light, easy to use. TLR-1 on it & done.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
@Conraq , Please don't take offence, there is no way on earth I would buy a small 71 year old lady a shotgun...of any kind.
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Fully agree.
A shotgun pump or auto is the most complicated firearm to operate in the best of situations.

A 10/22 with a red dot is better then nothing....
 
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bigfelipe said:
A shotgun is a terrible manual of arms for an untrained person, regardless of gauge.

Get her a Ruger 9mm PC carbine. Affordable, lightweight, low recoil, high capacity, effective up close or at range.
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You ruined the surprise I was planning to bring along with the 870....
 
.410 Saiga with 30 a round drum. :)

Truly, she is a prime candidate for the S333 Thunderstruck, a pistol that was literally built for this situation where strength will lessen over the next 10 years.
 
An AR pistol with a cheap suppressor. They have almost no kick, they're much quieter indoors than a shotgun, they don't have muzzle flash, and you don't have to pump them to make them work.
no biden around here...
 
InvisibleOne said:
I know 3 women that keep Mossberg 20g youth pump shotguns for defense.
Many years ago, my father was in a boating accident that injured his right arm reducing his ability to hold a pistol. We got him a .410 Snake Charmer that he really liked.
Click to expand...

My grandfather lost the fingers on his dominant hand in a farming accident. While his hand was healing he bought a single shot 410, full sized but still light. He hunt pheasant with it, swinging it one handed and shot his limit.


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You gotta see what's right for her. If she still has the strength to wield a shotgun that's great, but does she?

When my mom was that age I brought her a half dozen guns and she picked a S&W 66 out of the pile for herself. She couldn't rack a slide and didn't like the heft of a long gun, but the Model 66 loaded with 38SPL+P fit her perfectly.

And what works this year may not work next year. Keep checking on her as time goes by.
 
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