Category: Self Defense

Self Defense Essentials and the Combat Triad
When it comes to personal protection your mindset is more important than the gun and ammo you carry

Imagine you’re new to firearms and want to be armed for self-defense. You’re probably wondering which gun to buy, what type of holster you need, and what kind of ammunition would be best. Some will argue the gun is the most important element because it must work every time. Others will insist the holster matters most because if you’re uncomfortable carrying, you won’t carry. And then there are those who maintain that ammunition is paramount because ultimately, it’s the bullet that does all the work. Without question, all these items are important and can contribute to your survival, but what is most important?

The Combat Triad

Former Marine Jeff Cooper founded what is now known as Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, in 1976. It is the oldest and largest civilian firearms training school in the world. In an effort to codify the basics of using a firearm to survive a lethal confrontation, Cooper established what he called the Combat Triad. This triangle of guidance consists of mindset, gun handling, and marksmanship. Though the three sides of the triangle are considered equilateral, the base or foundation of the Triad is mindset, for without the combat mindset, your skills and abilities with weaponry and tactics are of little value.

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The Texas Legislature Reaches an Agreement on Constitutional Carry

AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Texas House and Senate conferees reached an agreement on House Bill 1927, better known as constitutional carry.

The measure would do away with the need to have a license to carry a gun in Texas.

“By working together, the House and Senate will send Governor Abbott the strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history, and protect the right of law-abiding Texans to carry a handgun as they exercise their God-given right to self defense and the defense of their families,” said the bill’s author, Rep. Matt Schaefer Speaker Dade Phelan has been rock-solid every step of the way as House Bill 1927 has progressed, and I am grateful for his leadership and the bipartisan coalition who supported House Bill 1927.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulated Rep. Matt Schaefer and Sen. Charles Schwertner for reaching a full agreement on permitless carry.

“This legislation restores our Second Amendment rights and upholds every Texan’s right to self-defense,” Patrick told WBAP on Friday. “HB 1927 is a historic bill and a national model. It includes the thinking of national gun rights advocates and many in Texas law enforcement and affirms our commitment to protect the rights of gun owners and the safety of those in law enforcement.”

According to Lt. Gov. Patrick, the bill will become eligible for a final vote early next week.

“Those who said HB 1927 would never pass and who perpetuated stories of a ‘poison pill’ and other conspiracies willfully misled many Second Amendment supporters in Texas,” said Patrick. “They also underestimated how hard members of the House and Senate were working to pass this bill.”

Governor Abbott told WBAP earlier this month that he will sign the bill into law when it makes it to his desk.

Cathedral City (California) Homeowner Shoots Intruder in Self Defense

A suspect who was allegedly shot by an 85-year-old Cathedral City homeowner in self-defense remained hospitalized Monday, police reported.

The shooting occurred about 6:15 p.m. Sunday in the 38200 block of Chuperosa Lane, according to Cathedral City police Sgt. Albert Ruiz. Patrol officers responded to the house following a 911 call reporting a male intruder had entered the home and threatened the residents, he said.

The suspect, whose name was not released, allegedly “made threats against their lives,” spurring the 85-year-old homeowner to grab his gun and shoot the suspect once in the upper body, Ruiz said.

The homeowners, who were not hurt, did not know the man, police said.

First responders transported the suspect to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit.

Man shot to death by passerby was harassing, beating up strangers in Snohomish County

The word is that Wolf brand 9mm fmj was used to TCOB, which to me literally adds insult to injury. I mean, getting sent to the morgue by someone using cheap Russian hardball, instead of Federal HST, Hornady Critical Duty or any one of the other top of the line self defense rounds is  humiliating.

The 3 Golden Rules of Defensive Carry

What’s the best defensive handgun? There’s no easy answer to this question, but if you had to shoot to save your life while being attacked, you’d probably like to have the biggest handgun you could find. I know I would. Of course, there are some problems with big and powerful handguns for defensive carry: They’re hard to carry and hard to conceal, and they recoil with enough force to twist your own wrists into submission. There’s a reason nearly every .44 Magnum revolver that’s for sale on the used market comes with half a box of ammunition.

Robert Ruark made the “use enough gun” phrase famous. In fact, it was the title of one of his books, published in 1965 after his death. Ruark’s reference to enough gun was about hunting dangerous game, and he did a good bit of it. He shot lots of buffalo, several elephants, two lions, and multiple tigers. He was even mauled by an Asian leopard. So Ruark had some experience to back up his advice, advice which has since been applied to hunting all sorts of big game and even to defensive carry.

Rule No. 1: Defensive Carry Means Having a Gun

When it comes to the self-defense handgun, the question naturally follows: What is enough gun? Can you have too much gun? Handguns effectively stop attacks in several ways. The first and most common is just their mere presence. Countless assaults are thwarted every year just because the good guy had a gun. Will it work for you? Maybe. There’s no way to know.

Another way handguns save lives is when they’re used to shoot the bad guy. This can result in a superficial wound so painful or terrifying to the attacker that they change their mind about doing bad things. A wound from a handgun can also cause voluntary collapse due to the attacker realizing they’re shot and succumbing to the fear of what the wound might ultimately cause. And then there’s involuntary collapse. This occurs about from a wound that breaks support structure, induces unconsciousness, and on rare occasions, causes near-instant death. In almost every case where the attacker is wounded, shot placement plays a huge role in the outcome. Maybe Ruark’s advice should have been “Hit ’em in the right spot.”

Rule No. 2: Nothing Is Certain

The problem with shot placement is that little is guaranteed. While being assaulted and fearing for your life, it’s extremely difficult to shoot with assured accuracy. To compound the problem, unless the bullet strikes and sufficiently damages the central nervous system, the reaction to getting shot is mostly a dice roll. The mental state of the attacker and whether they’re under the influence of any substances also plays a role in the outcome.

The armed civilian must make a choice regarding the gun they will carry. Without question, a .44 Magnum, or some similar very powerful large-bore handgun, can inflict a very nasty and painful wound, even in a location that does not have a high potential of lethality or inducing collapse. On the other hand, as we mentioned, handguns in this power range are extremely unwieldy, difficult to conceal, and difficult to control during recoil.

Rule No. 3: Carry Whenever Possible

After having a gun, the next requirement for defensive carry is having a gun that’s compact and light enough you’ll actually have it with you all the time, because none of us know when a deadly assault might occur. Beyond that, the handgun needs to be compatible with your abilities. In other words, you need to be able to manage the handgun during recoil and quickly shoot it with a competent level of precision.

What cartridge should it be chambered for? We never really know what enough gun will be. Bad guys have been stopped with .22s and have also continued to fight after being center-punched with a .357 Magnum. The most powerful cartridge that will allow you to still do all those things well is the correct answer. Anything beyond that is too much gun. Worry about having a gun and being able to use it effectively before you worry about what kind of gun will be enough.

Using a gun for hunting is entirely different than carrying a handgun for self-defense. When hunting, you control the outcome and only shoot when the situation is right, and then only because you want to. With self-defense, you have no control of when, where, and how the event will unravel. All you can do is react with what you have with you. If you have too much gun, you might have left it at home or you might shoot it poorly.

Man dies after alleged burglary in Frankfort

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — One man has died after being shot after allegedly breaking into a home in Frankfort on Tuesday.

According to Frankfort police, dispatch responded to a burglary in progress at 358 Wallace Avenue at around 9:35 a.m. The caller mentioned that he shot the alleged intruder, later identified as 35-year-old Stephen Smallwood.

Smallwood was taken to Frankfort Regional Medical Center before being transferred to UK Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries just after 5 p.m.

Frankfort Police say an investigation is underway.

How to Maximize Your Training During the Ammo Shortage.

A few rounds of ammunition, your EDC handgun and a simple target can be enough to help you incrementally improve your skills.

Visiting a couple of local firearm emporiums, the startling lack of ammunition for sale was really driven home. While I was in one shop, a couple stuck their heads in the door and asked if there was any 9 mm or shotgun ammunition for sale. Nope. I knew that the demand for guns and ammo has stripped shelves bare, but seeing the extent of the demand-driven shortages in person was nevertheless shocking.

Ammunition shortages impact your ability to practice and, I fear, will harmfully impact the training business in a big way. After all, how can you go to a shooting class if you have no ammunition, or the trainer can’t provide it?

While I have no idea when the current situation will improve, I’m going to assume it isn’t much better by the time you read this, so let’s resolve to make every shot count. Dry practice can help keep your skills up. I’ve covered that in my last couple of columns, so now let’s talk about making our range time as meaningful as possible.

While doing a mag dump is great fun, you’re missing an opportunity to learn something by carefully firing each shot. Work on precision and accuracy first, then increase the distance. Next, work on doing all that right, but quicker. Talk yourself through every shot: “Front sight, presssssss, front sight.” You can also perform this drill with micro-red-dot-equipped handguns.

Here’s the Drill
A sample pistol drill you might try using a 5-inch circle for a target, starting from a low-ready, muzzle-depressed position:

3 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. If your shot is in the circle, move back. If not, repeat.

7 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Move back or repeat as necessary.

10 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Move back or repeat as necessary.

15 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Repeat if necessary.

Now repeat the entire sequence, 3 to 15 yards, shooting as quickly as you can, but as slowly as you must. As we like to say, take your time, fast.

Once you have mastered this drill you can challenge yourself further by going to a smaller target.

There you have it: An eight-shot (maybe) drill that you can utilize when ammo is in short supply. Concentrate on a perfect sight picture, focusing on the front sight, carefully pressing the trigger straight to the rear and following through. And, keep up your dry practice.

Woman choked by ex-boyfriend shoots him to death in N. Harris Co.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A woman shot and killed a man at a home in north Harris County Saturday afternoon, according to Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

It happened in the 2700 block of Donella Drive around 12:15 p.m.

Deputies said the 29-year-old woman called saying the man was at the home picking up his belongings when he got aggressive with her. She said he started head butting and choking her.

She managed to get away from the 29-year-old man and grabbed a handgun that was inside the home. That’s when she shot and killed him, according to deputies.

Deputies also said there were two small children in the house, but they were in a different room from where the shooting occurred. The children were reported to be OK.

It was unknown if the children belonged to the man and woman. Deputies were still investigating at the scene.

Teen shoots man who tried to break into house

A domestic disturbance ended when a man was shot in the leg in the front yard of a mid-town Billings neighborhood on Thursday morning.

According to Billings Police Chief Rich St. John, a teenage boy shot a man in the leg after the man reportedly tried to punch his way into the residence at 1438 Avenue B.

St John said the incident began at a nearby restaurant as a disturbance involving a man and a woman. The woman retreated to the house on Avenue B where the man followed her. The man then punched through the glass window of the screen door.

St. John said after the man punched the window, the teen confronted the man outside and shot several rounds from a handgun into the ground.

The man then retreated to his car but came back a second time, and the teen once again shot several rounds toward the ground, hitting the man in the leg.

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injury.

 

Wife shoots man with knife running toward husband in Madera parking lot

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Madera Police investigators say surveillance video taken outside the Walmart on Cleveland Avenue is helping them make sense of the moments that led to a woman firing a gun for protection.

“In this case, the surveillance video really helps tell the story,” says Madera Police Commander Gino Chiaramonte.

It happened in a matter of seconds.

You can see a man approaching a couple in a dark sedan, which quickly leads to a confrontation.

The woman’s unarmed husband gets out of the car and the man begins to charge at him with a sharp object.

The husband backs up several yards, trying to get away.

“The wife stepped out of the vehicle and shot one round, striking the suspect/victim in the throat,” Chiaramonte said.

The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

“I don’t know what the arguing was about,” says AJ.

AJ saw it all happen and tells Action News he was just a couple of parking spots away when he heard the gunfire.

“It all happened pretty quick,” he said. “It was really scary because the shot was really loud. It was just one shot. It was one shot. That’s it.”

Madera police say the couple has been cooperative with the investigation.

They were released last night after going to the police station for questioning. Officials say there are no plans to pursue charges for the shooting.

“It’s not a defense of her but it’s in defense of her husband,” Chiaramonte said. “There was a lethal threat and the aggressive nature of him trying to swing and stab, and you’ll see that in the video.”

Police say they don’t believe the two parties had contact prior to the altercation but the investigation doesn’t stop here.

“It’s not case closed yet,” Chiaramonte said. “We are doing a lengthy investigation into the histories and trying to figure out what could’ve caused this in the beginning.”

Right now, the man who was shot is still in critical condition at CRMC.

Police are hoping speaking to him will provide more answers about the initial confrontation. It’s still unclear at this point if he could face charges in the case.

Laser Eye Protection: Protecting Your Eyes from the Emerging Domestic Laser Threat.

As if cops in the U.S. don’t have enough to worry about, 2020 came along and added laser beams to the mix. We’ve seen protesters in Portland wielding handheld lasers against police officers during nightly street clashes. The social unrest surrounding George Floyd’s death has led to more than 130 consecutive days of violent protests in Portland, with other high-intensity, shorter duration demonstrations popping off in cities around the country.

Lasers will only become more popular among street protestors, so it’s worth a few minutes to learn how they work and how to protect yourself from them.

BOUND TO HAPPEN HERE

While lasers are a new threat to American LEOs, the first notable use of handheld lasers in civil unrest was overseas in 2013. Demonstrators packed Cairo’s Tahrir Square calling for Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to step down. The crowd focused their cat toys on an Egyptian military helicopter flying over the demonstration, menacing the protestors. Images of the laser-painted helo transmitted from the scene were eye-catching, and the media coverage helped focus the world’s attention on Egyptian politics.

Later, in 2019, sophisticated protesters in Hong Kong used cheap, handheld lasers to fry the CCDs in surveillance equipment used by the state to collect evidence against agitators during anti-Chinese government protests.

Taking it a third step, South American protestors watching the Hong Kong protests realized shining $30 novelty lasers directly at riot control officers were effective tools to distract, disorient, and possibly injure them during street protests.

This brings us to America in 2020, where all three of these tactics melded into the threat facing law enforcement officers working protest details in Portland, Seattle, and other areas of unrest around the country.

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ND: Burgum designates North Dakota as a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary State,’ signs bills protecting gun rights

Gov. Doug Burgum on April 26, signed a proclamation designating North Dakota as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” reinforcing the state’s support for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Burgum signed the proclamation during a ceremonial signing with legislators for several bills approved this session to protect the rights of North Dakotans to possess and carry firearms.

“Both the U.S. Constitution and North Dakota Constitution recognize our citizens’ inalienable right to keep and bear arms, and designating North Dakota as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State sends a strong message to Congress and the White House that we will firmly resist any attempts to infringe on those rights,” Burgum said. “We are deeply grateful to all of the legislators who sponsored and supported these bills and worked to strengthen North Dakota’s commitment to the Second Amendment.”

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Paper carrier acted in self-defense in Waterfront Vancouver shooting

The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has declined to file criminal charges against a contract newspaper carrier who fatally shot a man last month at The Waterfront Vancouver.

The man who was killed, identified as 29-year-old Kin K. Bossy, had been attempting to steal the carrier’s car April 17 when he was shot multiple times, according to investigative documents related to the case.

The independent contractor newspaper carrier for The Columbian, identified by police as 35-year-old Justyn Vallandingham, fired at Bossy after finding him inside his vehicle.

In a letter Thursday to a Vancouver police detective, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jeff McCarty wrote that Bossy appeared to be committing a felony offense against Vallandingham, who feared imminent danger or death.

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I figure shooting lots of holes as fast as possible in a bad guy qualifies.

Why Doing the Unexpected Aids in Self Defense

One of our patrolmen, on night shift, was checking the business houses in his district when he spotted a burglar inside an auto parts store at about the same time that the burglar spotted him. The immediate problem was to somehow cover the front door and the back door until backup could arrive. So our enterprising police officer simply turned on his red lights & siren and drove around and around the building just as fast as he could.

Later, when the burglar was asked why he didn’t make a run for it before reinforcements arrived, he said, “Are you kidding? That maniac might have run over me!”

In another incident, a ranch woman was fixing breakfast long before daylight when a home invader kicked in the kitchen door and made his entry. The woman just grabbed a big old coffee pot off the top of the stove and threw it in his face, hot coffee and all. The crook left so fast that he may have set the record for the all-time shortest home invasion.

The thing to remember is that crooks tend to visualize what is going to happen much like we have encouraged armed citizens to do. The only trouble is that the crook’s visualization tends to take the form of fantasy. They see themselves as super tough and they see you, the citizen, as standing there with your mouth open and your hands up.

We can often turn the tables on the criminal by doing the unexpected. Instead of freezing, we jump right in their face. We throw something at them. We shove furniture in their way. We run at them instead of away from them. In short we do anything that will throw them off balance and give us time to get our defensive firearm into action.

The real key is to not only do the unexpected, but to do it quickly. And don’t hesitate. It is a good idea to keep in mind that the crook has started the ball rolling, and it is OK for you to get as aggressive as you need to.  “Cloud up and rain on him” is an old saying that seems particularly fitting. Just like the bobcat that jumped on the porcupine…he needs to realize that he has taken on more of a task than he ever expected. Think outside the box and turn his day into the worst one he’s ever had.

Be aware of your surroundings and all of the defensive tools that may be at hand. True personal defense comes from between the ears, not from the gun on the hip. Do the unexpected and wreck his day!

Intruder shot by homeowner in Gardnerville

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect who was shot early Wednesday morning after authorities said he broke into a home on Alicia Circle and Tilman Lane in Gardnerville.

The sheriff’s office said the homeowner confronted Christian Gorham around 4 a.m. and shot him. The homeowner detained Gorham until authorities arrived. Gorham was taken to Carson Valley Medical Center and treated and released.

He was booked into the Minden Jail for Burglary.

The sheriff’s office said they do not believe the incident is related to a trespassing shooting that happened Tuesday, May 4 in Wellington.

Intruder shot, killed after kicking in door, charging occupant with a knife

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — On May 4 just after 5 p.m., Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 8400-block of James Taylor Lane in reference to a disturbance complaint where someone had been shot.

Once on scene, deputies found a 54-year old male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The residents inside the home told investigators the man kicked in the front door, and once inside, he armed himself with a knife, yelling he was there to harm his children’s mother. He went room to room searching and threatening the occupants who had retreated to a bedroom in the rear of the house. He then confronted a woman in the rear bedroom, who, fearing for her life, shot the man twice.

At the time of the incident, the suspect had an active domestic violence injunction filed on him. He was also reportedly on his way to anger management treatment when the incident took place.

***WARNING: This video contains extremely graphic language, profanity and violence.***

Since the deadhead took a sizeable amount of time kicking the door in, I actually expected the video to show the guy getting whacked by the lady cutting loose on him just as he entered the house.

NW OKC Business Owner Shoots At Suspect After Armed Robbery, Pistol Whipped

KLAHOMA CITY – A good Samaritan helped Oklahoma City police track down a suspected armed robber. Police said Christopher Parker, 19, was arrested shortly after he held up a business near Northwest 63rd Street and Meridian Avenue last week. Investigators continued to look for Parker’s accomplice.
The owner of the auto shop that is tucked behind a northwest Oklahoma City strip mall was still shaken up days after the robbery. He came face-to-face with the armed and masked suspect.

Near the end of the day last Friday, the owner of Flash Auto Repair and his employee were confronted by an unwelcome guest. Parker was caught on a security camera approaching the business from a neighborhood to the west.

He ran into the garage and allegedly demanded money and pistol whipped the owner.

“The victim’s actually thought it wasn’t a real gun and while they complied with the demands, the suspect shot multiple times into the air,” said Sgt. Megan Morgan, Oklahoma City Police Department.

Scared for his life, the employee ran to another business for help. The owner went for his gun and ran after Parker. The owner said he fired back at Parker but missed the teen as he sprinted back to the neighborhood where his getaway driver was parked.

People in the area heard the gunshots and called 911………

The witness was able to get their tag information that later led police to Parker.

“He was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on multiple counts to include armed robbery,” said Morgan.

Police investigating home invasion and fatal shooting

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) – Police are investigating a home invasion that turned into a deadly shooting.

At 1:17 a.m. on Thursday, Kentucky State Police in Morehead received a call from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department about a home invasion on Dawson Way.

Troopers say detectives learned Cody Elliott, 27, from Hillsboro, and another man went inside a residence. Elliott and other people inside fired several shots.

Elliott was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Donavan Kilburn, 21, from Clearfield, was also hurt in the shooting incident. He was taken to the hospital. Kilburn lives at the home where the shooting happened.

Rowan County EMS and the Morehead Police Department also responded.

Learn to Think like Someone who Chose to be Unarmed

People in the gun culture often express amazement about people who want them disarmed. They ascribe the desire to hostility and malice. It may be true for a minority of those who actively wish for a disarmed population.  A significant number, likely a majority, have made a voluntary decision to be unarmed.

It is important to know your opponent and to understand their motives.

Three years ago, this correspondent wrote an essay on how to understand people who want a disarmed population. It was popular, but did not appear on AmmoLand.

I have updated the essay for current conditions.

There is an easy way to understand people who wish you to be unarmed.

It takes a little discipline. You may have  a little mental discomfort. It is not particularly difficult.  For the ability to understand the other, assume you have deliberately chosen to be unarmed.

Choosing to be armed is more difficult. It requires action. It requires training. It requires an investment in money and time. You think about unpleasant realities and plan for unpleasant possibilities. You devote time and money to be armed. A higher level of responsibility is required.

Once you internalize the decision to be unarmed, arguments on the other side become understandable. The voluntarily unarmed people we are attempting to understand are those who have moved from the decision to be unarmed, to the policy statement “guns are bad”.

Armed people have a power advantage over unarmed people. People do not want others to have a power advantage over them. It makes them uncomfortable. To prevent this, the voluntarily unarmed often want everyone else to be unarmed.

It is why many who are voluntarily unarmed dislike concealed carry, but violently abhor open carry. Open carry presents them with a reality they cannot easily ignore. It destroys their comfortable fantasy.

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Gun Standoff Ensues During Protest Between BLM Activists And Restaurant Patrons Who Just Weren’t Having It

Black Lives Matter activists and patrons brandished guns at each other after a demonstration entered a restaurant’s dining area Saturday evening in Louisville, Kentucky, according to police.

Approximately 50 protesters stopped at La Chasse restaurant and began to harass restaurant patrons, according to a Twitter video. Video footage captured a man pointing his gun at the protestors from the outdoor dining area, the Courier Journal reported.

An unidentified woman was filmed as she physically moved protesters away and shooed them from the restaurant tables. Several protesters took videos on their phones as she repeatedly shouted “keep going” and gestured them to move away from an armed man.

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) arrived at the restaurant at about 8:35 p.m., five minutes after the protesters arrived, the Courier Journal reported. La Chasse restaurant is about five miles northeast of Churchill Downs, according to TheBlaze.

LMPD said to Daily Caller that they received a call from a restaurant employee about a group of protesters. The employee also told police “that multiple armed protesters entered the … outdoor dining space. During the encounter both patrons and protesters brandished firearms.”

About 20 minutes prior to the confrontation at La Chasse, police officers arrested at least three protesters for refusing to leave the roadway, Courier Journal reported.

7 REASONS WHY SHOTGUNS ARE GREAT FOR HOME DEFENSE

Shotguns – versatile, easy to operate, and powerful. They just may be the perfect home defense firearm. Some shotguns are specifically designed for home defense purposes, while others can pull double duty as a hunting gun or sporting clay gun. Further, there are plenty of affordable shotguns for home defense, making them an ideal choice for someone on a budget. You just need to pick the one that’s right for you and practical for your needs.

For instance, it’s easy to fall in love with the classic look of double-barrel shotguns, but they have some serious drawbacks. The over/under or side-by-side shotguns generally hold only two shells at a time, whereas a semiautomatic shotgun can hold upwards of six or more at a time, depending on the model and design. Double barrels can still be effective, but you need to train to overcome these limitations.

Mossberg 500 Home Defense
For home defense, you may want to explore shotguns that offer higher capacities like this Mossberg 500. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Since shotguns are also very common, you may already own one that’s just sitting in your safe waiting for hunting season, so let’s explore some reason why these guns are good for home defense.

Here are seven great reasons why shotguns are good for home defense:

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