When it comes to a home invasion, you are dealing with a situation that calls for close quarters combat. As such, you need to act quick and neutralize your opponent as fast as you can. That’s why I think that the shotgun is head and shoulders above a handgun.

The shotgun rules because it covers more ground and packs more of a whollip. When it comes to an indoor firefight, that’s the bottom line. Get ‘er done and get ‘er done fast!

TOP NOTCH TACTICAL SHOTGUNS: THE BEST OF THE BEST

When it comes to selecting a shotgun, you only want the best of the best and there can be only one top contender.

Here are my 3 favorite home defense shotguns:

1. Benelli M4 [Top-the-line-Option]

2. Mossberg Maverick 88 [Budget Option]

3. Remington 870 [Trusted, Long Time Favorite]

Let’s take a look at what makes each of these shotguns special.

1. BENELLI M4

As far as I’m concerned, the Benelli M4 holds that spot, hands down!

At $1,700 plus, it’s a pricey option, but it’s also a piece of craftsmanship that’s worthy of respect. The build quality and design integrity is clear as soon as you unwrap it.

The Benelli M4 has an extended magazine and an ARGO (Auto Regulating Gas Operated)system. This one’s got a pistol grip, but it’s also known for its no-fail reliability, and it can be modified to have a collapsible stock which can be great for maneuvering.

When I was in the market for a semi-auto, this was the first choice on my list and I was glad that I picked one up. It fires like a dream and I haven’t had any problems with it since the day it arrived.

2. MOSSBERG MAVERICK 88

Times are tough and not everyone can afford a top of the line Benelli shotgun. For those who are in the market for something less expensive, I always recommend the Mossberg Maverick 88. It sells for $189.99 to $205.99 on average and I like to think of it as one of the best pump action shotguns for beginners.

The Mossberg Maverick has a durable synthetic stock and a cylinder bore choke. Another thing I like about it is that it comes with an interchangeable barrel. In my family, we like to modify our guns by hand so I always look for features like that one.

3. REMINGTON 870

As I mentioned earlier, my go-to gun for home defense is my trusty Remington 870. It’s a middle-of-the-road shotgun in terms of price (I got mine for $344.99 from SportsmanGuide.com) and I find it to be lightweight and easy to handle.

It has all the features I’ve come to look for in a tactical shotgun including an 18.5-inch barrel and a 3-inch chamber. As far as pump action shotguns go, this is the one for me.

Of course, there are other, cheaper defense shotguns on the market, one of them being the Stevens 320 Security Shotgun, but I can’t say I’m crazy about the shape of that one and I don’t trust the Stevens name the way I trust the Remington name.

Remingtons have been in my family for decades upon decades and it’s clear from how long they’ve been around that they must be doing something right.

TACTICAL SHOTGUN DRAWBACKS & EASY FIXES

As with almost anything, there are cons that go along with the pros. Shotguns have some innate weaknesses I guess you could say.

If you are buying a shotgun for home defense, it is imperative that you ascertain these weaknesses and learn how to prevent such drawbacks from affecting your intentions.

The best way to counteract a shotgun’s weak spots is to thoroughly train.

Here are the three most common drawbacks to tactical shotguns:

LOWER AMMUNITION CAPACITY

The average combat shotgun can only contain a maximum of 8 rounds at one time. A lot of people prefer a gun with a magazine, but most combat shotguns are tube fed models.

The pro to this con is that you aren’t fumbling around with a full magazine which makes the gun less bulky and more dependable.

If you want to make lemonade outta lemons, that’s the best way to look at it. The other way is to acknowledge that a feeding system can often be more reliable than a magazine which can jam.

In a home defense situation, it is ideal to fire once and fire accurately, but if you find yourself in an extended firefight where you’ve blown your entire load, you want to be able to top yourself off in a timely manner.

This is why it is important to train when you first pick up your combat shotgun. It is a good practice to ensure that your gone will never go dry in the face of danger.

A simple tactic for ensuring that you stay loaded is to fire two shells and then load two more. This establishes a rhythm which keeps your gun constantly replenished. Always keep extra ammo on hand for this purpose.

In my case, I keep two boxes at my feet between my bed and my bedside table. In the event of a home invasion, I know that I’m covered because I have two in the chamber that I can fire immediately before rolling on to the floor and grabbing up my reserves.

The number one thing I tell all shotgun beginners is this: Keep your weapon loaded! In a home defense situation, you want to maintain the element of surprise. The last thing you want a would-be intruder to hear is you pumping your shotgun.

The only time he or she should hear you pumping your gun is after you’ve already fired off a round in their ass. The first shot is what counts.

SHORT RANGE

Shotguns have a shorter range than rifles with buckshot usually traveling no further than 30 to 35 yards.

Slugs aren’t much better in terms of range either. With a slug, you’ll be lucky if it can reach 100 yards in a defensive situation.

For this reason, it is integral that you make every yard count. This is another area in which training will get the most out of your shotgun. Every shotgunner should practice controlled breathing and using their sights.

Don’t be fooled by that old chestnut about it being impossible to miss with a shotgun.

Remember: People are as unpredictable as your aim.

One false shot and your intruder can be out the door or up in your face with a Bowie knife or a gun of their own.

Another way to adjust for the shotgun’s short range is by testing different loads to determine which one is tightest out of your gun. Patterning a shotgun is integral to controlling the distance the pellets can cover.

Sights can also significantly help when dealing with a short range weapon. That’s why I always use a Trijicon MRO red dot. It’s kind of a fool proof way of training your shotgun on its target. When you’ve got the red bead on them, you know exactly where and when to fire.

RECOIL

As anyone who has ever used a firearm can tell you, the blowback can be startling and pretty fierce. This is true of handguns and hunting rifles, of course, but it’s even more true of combat shotguns.

I like to joke that for every box of ammo I buy, I buy twice as many bottles of Icy Hot. That’s because the recoil from a tactical shotgun can do a real number on your shoulder. The recoil from a 12-gauge can be intense, to say the least.

Fortunately, there are options that can minimize this problem. Proper stance is a key factor in minimization of the blowback effect.

The appropriate way to stand when firing a shotgun is erect with your weight balanced slightly forward and with your shoulders relaxed.

That last part may be hard to master in the moment (you’ve got a stranger invading your home) which is why training is vital. Practice makes perfect and, in this case, it will make for muscle memory that could save your life or the lives of your loved ones.

With your feet six to nine inches apart, one leg back and one forward, you should point your front foot at your target. Your neck should be slightly craned forward and your shotgun should be between your shoulder and your face. This stance coupled with a twisting of your waist should make for a clean, accurate shot. If you’re actively practicing for more effective shooting, always remember to use the best ear protection possible.

CONCLUSION

The combat shotgun is the king when it comes to protecting your home from invasion. A tactical shotgun is the first line of defense when a situation calls for serious fire power.

With appropriate training and proper stance, you can utilize one of the tactical shotguns I’ve listed here to achieve effective results in home defense.

This article by Chris Browning originally appeared at Gun News Daily in 2018.

Image: Pexels.