If you read this blog often, you’re probably aware that I’m a big proponent of the pump shotgun for home defense (see my top 3 recommendations here). In fact, I often counsel students that if you only own 1 firearm, and you’re by no means what you might call a “firearms enthusiast,” I believe a pump-action shotgun is the best choice going away…
Recently, I’ve received several questions about the true worthiness of a home defense shotgun. Specifically, many doubters argue that a shotgun is no better than handgun for home defense.
While it’s true that a handgun is easier to handle in confined spaces, many doubters have focused on the shotgun’s “effective range.” Their assertion is that, at close range, a shotgun offers no real advantages because its pattern doesn’t have time to fully expand… a concern worth investigating.
In order to get to the bottom of this home-defense conundrum, let’s take an objective look at what the “effective range” of a shotgun is. As you will see, it’s not the easiest thing to agree on.