is a 12 GA to much 4 a apartment?

Answer 1

This depends on how well you can use the shotgun. A 12 gauge shotgun will produce a group roughly 4" wide at the other end of the typical ten or twelve foot wide room, and any load powerful enough to stop an intruder (0, 00, and 000 buckshot) will typically have the ability to penetrate several walls (drywall is exceptionally flimsy stuff, and so is the sort of insulation usually found in apartment walls,) if you miss the B.G. And slugs . . . the less said about 12 gauge slugs and flimsy apartment walls, the better.

Even birdshot will typically blow through one wall and be stopped by the second (and will be effective at leaving horrific looking, but ineffective and shallow wounds, except at extremely close ranges.)

And the buck and blast of a 12 gauge shotgun in such close-quarters may actually serve to temporarily paralyze you (as will the blast of any handgun of reasonable caliber,) unless you've trained to fight through that freezing instinct (it may also cause your intruder to freeze, but that's of little comfort if you freeze too and he recovers first!)

If you can consistently hit a man-sized target under stress from under ten feet away, can handle the buck and blast of a 12 gauge, and have a good pump-action or semi-auto, then a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot may work for you. For most apartment dwellers, a 20 gauge may be a better choice, as far as shotguns for home defense go.

Answer 2

Even birdshot will go through drywall and a 12 gauge packs a punch. Certainly don't load slugs in it for apartment home defense.

Probably best for your situation is a .380 acp to .357 Mag. with pre-fragmented rounds which will not penetrate dry wall. Look into this before going out and purchasing a 12 gauge. If you have to get a shotgun strictly for home appartment defense consider a 20 gauge or even a .410 with nothing bigger than #6 shot. If you do get a 12 use low base shells with #6 shot. Be sure of your target and don't point any gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.

H

Answer 3

a 12 gauge is an exellent choice. If you have never shot one before, make sure you go practice with it. If you ever had to use it, and didnt have any expirence, im sure the recoil and sound would scare you as much as the intruder. also i suggest maybe purchasing some "non-lethal" shells for it. there are some that either are loaded with rubber shot, or a rubber slug. it would be best to load one or two non-lethal rounds, and then some buckshot, or turkey shells. by first shooting with the rubber shot, it would most likely stop the person, if not you still have the opportunity to kill. this would look alot more like self defence when the police get there.

I personally would just use buckshot because i live fairly far away from other houses. as far as killing, i would rather them not have a second chance to kill me after their 6 month jail sentence is up.

Answer 4

I live in an apartment in Washington, DC and, while my particular neighborhood is relatively safe, it serves as one of the "buffer" neighborhoods between the crime ridden SW quadrant of DC and the crime free communities in Georgetown. Thus, I must worry about criminals who drift in from other parts of the city.

I therefore always keep my properly registered Winchester M-97 "Trench-Gun" loaded and fitted with a 1917 bayonet. In order to ensure that I an able to hit an individual who has entered the confined space of the apartment, the round in the chamber is a round of Remington bird-shot which is followed by two rounds of low-recoil OO 9 Pellet Buck in the magazine.

Roughly a year ago, an individual who was clearly intoxicated and high, attempted to break into my apartment using a sledge hammer. Additionally, this individual was also carrying a kitchen knife in his belt. I called the police, grabbed the shotgun, and waited in my kitchen. The individual managed to break through the door before the police arrived and yelled at him to halt as I drew a bead on the center of his chest. Upon seeing the shotgun, this individual attempted to retreat, backwards out of the door and tripped over the wreckage of the door, falling and striking his head on the opposite wall. I then used the shotgun to secure the individual until the police arrived, at which time I was asked to produce proof of the fact that the firearm was properly registered.

Had I not had this firearm, I don't know if I would have faired as well.

Answer 5

Not at all. One of the advantages of shotguns is the ability to select the best load for your specific purpose - you can use slugs, buckshot & birdshot in the same gun.

I would not recommend birdshot as a defensive round, but you may want to consider #2-#4 buck if overpenetration through thin walls is your concern.

Note that a shotgun is not necessarily the best home defense weapon for everyone. The best choice of weapon in your particular situation is the one you are most comfortable with and shoot best (within reason, it needs to be an effective weapon after all). All other considerations are secondary concerns.

Answer 6

12 gauge with #6 birds shot. A lot better than a handgun or rifle. If awoken in the middle of the night to an intruder, I would rather have a shotgun than a pistol anyday. All of you that handgun on a regular basis knows how difiicult it is to put rounds on a fast action course, let alone make it in the middle of the night, pitch black and startled awake.
Go with the twelve!
Goodluck and Godspeed

Answer 7

A shotgun is the best home defense weapon. Good solid knockdown power with minimum wall penetration. Even with 00 buck. The pellets will penetrate most walls but will have expended 90% of their energy doing so making for an effective and safe defensive weapon. Most any caliber handgun (even a .22) will penetrate the average wall with enough velocity left to cause harm.

Answer 8

Depends on your state and local laws, as well as your neighbors proximity and the construction of the apartment. I would say that you probably don't want to use slugs or 00 buck, but #6 or #4 birdshot wont penetrate concrete block, and will stop an intruder cold.

Answer 9

just make sure you are using the correct shotgun shell. if you use a 00 buckshot or bigger pellet size, it's going to penetrate the walls too much. I would go with #4 or smaller pellet size.
Pistols and rifles will penetrate more than a shotgun most times.

Answer 10

I wouldn't use buckshot due to the penetration thing, but turkey #4 or #2 turkey shot should work great. If the shotgun has interchangable chokes, go with the improved cylinder choke. It has the most spread.