Home defense shotgun for seniors?

Question

I am interested in acquiring a shotgun for my father for home defense. My father is not old (60), but I want him to have an easy to use weapon as he gets older.

He currently has a Ruger p89 9mm and a long and very old 12 gauge double-barrel. The long double barrel was my grandfathers home defense and hunting gun and served him very well for years. It is just very long and hard to manevuer in the house.

I know that pump shotguns are generally considered the best home defense weapon. Yet, I worry about the ease of operating a pump as my father gets older. I am considering getting him a coach gun. This is a short double barrel shotgun in 12 or 20 gauge.

Advantages: It's easy to tell if the gun is loaded/unloaded, it is short and easy to manage, and it can easily be loaded in the dark. The disadvantage is only having 2 shots.

Does anyone have thoughts on this issue? The other option might be a revolver, but I would prefer a shotgun.

Thanks,

Answer 1

I think it is a wise choice to go with a shot gun. One it is easy to use , two has a wide spread pattern so aim is not and issue. since you will be scared and nervous if any one enters your home with a hand gun your chances of a hit are slim. three you have to worry about the bullet going through the walls and harming another person in the home. Many deaths accrue each year from this. Drywall does not stop a 9 mm but is sure does buck shot. I keep a mooseburg pump by my bed I will say one thing for a pump if you think you hear someone then just pump the gun a few times if an intruder is there they will run like the wind. That is one sound that they all know and fear. I also have a coach it is nice since you can carry it so easily. I keep it in my truck easy to hide easy to pull out and just seems to impress more than a hand gun. Something about looking down those 2 big barrels that cause folks to stop in their tracks. But like you said only 2 shots but if good that might be enough and really a gun is like a security blanket you don't need it but it provides comfort knowing it is there. My moosburg has interchangeable barrels a 28 inch 26 an 24. The 24 is like a cops shotgun not good for hunting, except the bad guy. Your dad should have no problems with a pump if it is a good quality gun and well maintained. My dad just turned 80 and still hunts with his and my grandmoter kept my grand faters old 12ga Browning pump by her bed till she died at 97 and she would use it every few month for scaring the deer from her garden so I know if she could use it your 60 year old dad can use one.


So I say get a pump and relax.

Answer 2

The main advantage of a coachgun is it's length, making it a great cqb gun, the main disadvantage is you're limited to 2 shots, why not look into a 18" barrelled 20 gauge semi auto shotgun, the reason i say 20 gauge is the mans age, with a lot of seniors as they get older arthritis kicks in, a 20 gauge would be much more forgiving in recoil v/s a 12 gauge, for a home defensive situation a 20 gauge is ample to stop any intruder without worry of over penetration or excess recoil. My mother (77 yrs old) has a 20 gauge she uses for home defense, and to rid her garden of snakes, she has terrible arthritis in both hands and has very little issue with firing the 20 gauge shotgun. If you're set on getting a 12 gauge, look into reduced recoil and/or police defensive loads for it, this will remove a lot of the felt recoil and provide a great defensive round at the same time.

The reason I mentioned getting a semi auto is it gives the shooter more than 2 rounds, and the shooter also wouldn't have to cycle the action after each shot, just point and squeeze till the shotgun stops making noise.

Answer 3

Depends on the threat. If it is a determined individual that won't stop until killed (less than 5% of home invaders most likely if even that high), it probably won't stop someone until after they have done harm to her unless she gets lucky and hits CNS. If she ends up with a .410, Buckshot is a must, birdshot will not do. If a 20 gauge pump is tearing her up, a .410 in single shot or lighter is not going to be much better. She might be better off with a 22 revolver or maybe a 38 special with a 4 or 5 inch barrel and some light loads with a laser grips. A 22 semi-auto might work too, but it doens't sound like a semi-auto would be a good match. I am not sure that clearing weapons malfunctions in the middle of a home invasion sounds like this lady's talent. Whatever she has, it is more the threat of death or injury that is being used here. Not that she won't be able to inflict a fatal wound, but I am not confident it would be fatal prior to damage being done. Most crooks will flee when being shot at or wounded though, so anything she can effectively fire will put her ahead of the game.

Answer 4

Have you ever shot a semi auto shotgun.
If not go to the range and explain your situation and ask if you could just feel the recoil.
Why I ask is a semi auto uses up some of the power to work the bolt and there for has noticeably
Less kick to a pump of the same gauge.
With that said a 20 gauge semi auto is even more agreeable to older shooters.
Have it fitted with an 18 ½ inch barrel and a good quality recoil pad and you have a working combo.
Just one peace of advice that a lot of people that shoot semi auto rifles and shotguns found out the hard way, Don’t let any one use WD 40 in it in any way.
Most Quality semi auto rifles and shotguns have very close tolerances on the gas piston that works the bolt, and WD 40 evaporates leaving a film that will build up and gum up the works so it don’t work when needed.
When you clean it do so with good quality gun solvent and then use quality gun oil for lubrication.
I use to help a friend who was a gunsmith and we cleaned a lot of semi autos rifles and shotgun that were jammed up from WD 40.
hope that helps you out.

D58

Answer 5

You are right on the money! The 12 gauge double in a short barrel coach gun is the easiest to operate for a senior and is probably one of the most fearsome home defense weapons going. that is exactly what I chose for my wife who didn't want a bunch of contraptions to deal with (levers, buttons, clips, etc.) Just having that thing pointed in your direction and seeing those big black holes staring at you would make the baddest mother around run for the hills. Great choice! 20ga and .410 are OK too if he has Arthritis.

Answer 6

Pump actions are the best, mostly because you dont have to really load the gun. The sound of the pumping action is enough to scare anyone.

Break action shotguns are nice, easy to handle easy to use. Problem with them is they are difficult to manuever around.

Remington and Beneli make home defense models already. Beneli came out with with a new semi-auto shotgun. Its called the M4. Its a military grade shotgun, but still reliable. Remington has a tactical form of the Model 870 and 1100, both nice version.

Theres a lot to choose from

Answer 7

Just a couple of thoughts... Stoeger makes good doubles in up to 12 gauge. They are reasonably priced, too. And... Have you considered having a competent gunsmith perhaps shortening the old 12 gauge double to say 18 or 20 inches?

Finally, the Ruger P-89 is a good defensive handgun. You can have it fitted with nightsight and loaded with quality defensive ammo in hi cap magazines you're good to go.

H

Answer 8

The cheapest break action 12 ga. with exposed hammer would be a great choice for that application. You can cut the barrel as desired, just keep it > 18". to be legal.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

The Judge by Taurus -45 & 410. There's a video at Taurus's web site . Also maybe.1187 with a short barrel. just a couple of idea that came to mind . Good luck.