Shotgun vs AR for HD (inside the house).

**The Dumb Gun Collector** · 01-28-24, 15:44

I have slowly transitioned back to a shotgun for home defense. I used to keep my AR out for that purpose mainly due to theoretical concerns about 75 plus yard shots. I still have my ARs, but when I hear something in my yard I grab my Benelli M4 (most of the time in the house I grab my Beretta M92G. I keep 7 rounds of Flite Control in the gun and 3 spares and 2 slugs on a side saddle. I have an Airdus RMR setup and the gun rocks.You can shoot a person in the face with absolutel precision out to 15 yards simply by dropping the dot on their nose). The amazing transitions this gun can do are really sobering. While, in theory, the AR is faster the odds of a miss are considerably greater and the per shot payload of the 9 pellet flite control is amazing. . Even the fist sized group that flite control patterns at 15 yards is just a lot easier to hit with than an AR. I have done casino style drills and modified El Prez drills with the benelli vs the AR and the shotgun is just more reliable at hitting small targets. If you had 6 dudes coming through your door you could absolutely dispatch them quick with the flite control. Armored? Shoot low or high. It just makes a shitload of sense to me. Mind you, I run 120 rounds a week through my AR (200 yard/100 yard/El Prez/Bill drills). I know my way around my AR, but the shotgun is gloriously useful outside of battlefield stuff. Just my personal take.

**C-grunt** · 01-29-24, 12:24

Originally Posted by The Dumb Gun Collector

I have slowly transitioned back to a shotgun for home defense. I used to keep my AR out for that purpose mainly due to theoretical concerns about 75 plus yard shots. I still have my ARs, but when I hear something in my yard I grab my Benelli M4 (most of the time in the house I grab my Beretta M92G. I keep 7 rounds of Flite Control in the gun and 3 spares and 2 slugs on a side saddle. I have an Airdus RMR setup and the gun rocks.You can shoot a person in the face with absolutel precision out to 15 yards simply by dropping the dot on their nose). The amazing transitions this gun can do are really sobering. While, in theory, the AR is faster the odds of a miss are considerably greater and the per shot payload of the 9 pellet flite control is amazing. . Even the fist sized group that flite control patterns at 15 yards is just a lot easier to hit with than an AR. I have done casino style drills and modified El Prez drills with the benelli vs the AR and the shotgun is just more reliable at hitting small targets. If you had 6 dudes coming through your door you could absolutely dispatch them quick with the flite control. Armored? Shoot low or high. It just makes a shitload of sense to me. Mind you, I run 120 rounds a week through my AR (200 yard/100 yard/El Prez/Bill drills). I know my way around my AR, but the shotgun is gloriously useful outside of battlefield stuff. Just my personal take.

My department switched to semi auto shotguns only about 18 months ago. Since then we have seen a big rise in officers using the shotgun again. It still has the reputation it had back in it's hey day of being a very quick fight stopper.

**WillBrink** · 01-29-24, 12:57

Originally Posted by C-grunt

My department switched to semi auto shotguns only about 18 months ago. Since then we have seen a big rise in officers using the shotgun again. It still has the reputation it had back in it's hey day of being a very quick fight stopper.

If/when I get back to a shot gun, I'd get a SA. What are they using? I feel like these discussions are gun guy nit picking, in that if you can run it well, and that's what you have trained on, an AR or shotty will do its intended job fine if you do yours. Many will still grab a pistol for bumps in the night as that's what they know well and best trained on. There's a pro/con to each, all effective in the hands of a competent person.

**C-grunt** · 01-30-24, 14:26

Originally Posted by WillBrink

If/when I get back to a shot gun, I'd get a SA. What are they using? I feel like these discussions are gun guy nit picking, in that if you can run it well, and that's what you have trained on, an AR or shotty will do its intended job fine if you do yours. Many will still grab a pistol for bumps in the night as that's what they know well and best trained on. There's a pro/con to each, all effective in the hands of a competent person.

Initially it was Beretta 1301s and Benelli M4s. Only ammo now is a Winchester segmented slug.

We actually had some issues with the Berettas and they've been pulled off the streets. A couple had light primer strikes, including one during an OIS.

**WillBrink** · 01-30-24, 14:35

Originally Posted by C-grunt

Initially it was Beretta 1301s and Benelli M4s. Only ammo now is a Winchester segmented slug.

We actually had some issues with the Berettas and they've been pulled off the streets. A couple had light primer strikes, including one during an OIS.

Interesting. Supposed to act like a slug with hard objects and segment when it hits soft targets as I understand it.

**C-grunt** · 01-30-24, 21:06

Originally Posted by WillBrink

Interesting. Supposed to act like a slug with hard objects and segment when it hits soft targets as I understand it.

That's the theory. Hasn't worked that way every time. Seems like it doesn't always fragment in the soft targets. But it's still a full powered 12 gauge slug, so it's still been very effective.

**WS6** · 01-31-24, 03:09

Originally Posted by The Dumb Gun Collector

I have slowly transitioned back to a shotgun for home defense. I used to keep my AR out for that purpose mainly due to theoretical concerns about 75 plus yard shots. I still have my ARs, but when I hear something in my yard I grab my Benelli M4 (most of the time in the house I grab my Beretta M92G. I keep 7 rounds of Flite Control in the gun and 3 spares and 2 slugs on a side saddle. I have an Airdus RMR setup and the gun rocks.You can shoot a person in the face with absolutel precision out to 15 yards simply by dropping the dot on their nose). The amazing transitions this gun can do are really sobering. While, in theory, the AR is faster the odds of a miss are considerably greater and the per shot payload of the 9 pellet flite control is amazing. . Even the fist sized group that flite control patterns at 15 yards is just a lot easier to hit with than an AR. I have done casino style drills and modified El Prez drills with the benelli vs the AR and the shotgun is just more reliable at hitting small targets. If you had 6 dudes coming through your door you could absolutely dispatch them quick with the flite control. Armored? Shoot low or high. It just makes a shitload of sense to me. Mind you, I run 120 rounds a week through my AR (200 yard/100 yard/El Prez/Bill drills). I know my way around my AR, but the shotgun is gloriously useful outside of battlefield stuff. Just my personal take.

I've switched back to suppressed SBR's. For me, a 150 yard shot is a reality, and the SBR allows that much easier than my M4 Entry. Terminally, both work just fine. The added benefit to the suppressed SBR is that my ears won't suffer nearly as much.

**Nanuk** · 02-11-24, 20:13

Between a .410 and a .223 there is no comparison, the .223 wins every time. If I am using a shotgun for defensive uses it is a 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck. A good man with a 12 gauge will dominate a handgun distance gun fight. That being said there are few things that are man portable and as devastating as a close range shotgun wound.

It comes down to what do you have available and what do you run the best.

I have put aside my 870 and replaced it with a Wilkinson Tactical CR-12.