[ScotchMan]

This question has come up for me a couple times on here, and I've never really gotten a solid answer. Given the priorities of survival...

1. Mindset
2. Tactics
3. Skill
4. Gear

...I would conclude that choice of weapon is the least important thing. However, its accepted that a long arm, say a 12 gauge shotgun is a more effective manstopper than a handgun.

So what happens if one has all of their training, tactical knowledge, practice and experience with a handgun? Obviously that will be what they carry, but if someone kicks in the door in the middle of the night, what should they go for? The 12 gauge they have very little skill with, or the handgun they fire regularly, and have professional instruction on the effective defensive use of?

In a perfect world the answer is to seek the same competence with the long arm, but assuming that isn't an option, what do you recommend?

 

[ScotchMan]

Also what is closer to you and how much time do you have before needing to employ weapon?

In my particular case, they are just about even. I would need to open a safe to access the pistol, and I'd need to chamber a round in the shotgun, which is not in a safe. Either way a couple seconds to fully operational.

Also even if you know both are reliable which could you get back into the fight quicker should it go down?

Well, I train in clearing malfunctions with handguns. I have never experienced, induced or otherwise, a malfunction with a shotgun, and I don't know how one would clear it other than repeatedly working the action.

But like you say in a perfect world they would be equally proficient in both in which case I would say shotgun with the handgun for backup.

I do intend on getting training with shotguns (and hopefully rifles) eventually, but it will probably be a ways off. Time and money are limited resources, and I'm set up to produce handgun ammunition inexpensively. I can't say the same for shotgun ammunition.

 

[ScotchMan]

I suspect the OP already knew the answer to his question but opinions were asked for so…..

I'm an IDPA Master shooter with the Glock pistol.

I earned the Handgun Combat Master title from Chuck Taylor's American Small Arms Academy using handguns?

I keep a Remington M870 next to the bed loaded with 'OO' buckshot for things that go bump in the night.

I didn't know the answer, and I appreciate your post. You seem to be the first one in the thread thus far to argue against using the weapon one is more proficient with (assuming you aren't equally qualified with the shotgun).

Can I ask you to describe why you made the decision you did, given your obvious expertise with handguns?

 

[ScotchMan]

Chris, I interpret that article to say they will spend 1-2 minutes searching your master bedroom, not that they will take 1-2 minutes to get there. So you really have a matter of seconds if they are heading directly there like the article says.

In this case, the time it takes to grab the shotgun vs. opening the safe might be significant. I appreciate the replies. I'm still unsure how much 'carry over' skill there is from handguns to long arms, especially a pump action shotgun.

With an AR-15 or other semi-automatic rifle I think that argument holds more weight, but with a pump-action shotgun, I worry about things like a slow rate of fire, assuming multiple targets, and short-stroking the action and causing a misfeed.

Since originally posting this question, my girlfriend, who I'd like to have a weapon available to when I'm not home, but does not have a pistol permit, got to fire an AR-15. She refuses to try the 12 gauge as she is very sensitive to recoil. But she liked the AR, and says she would shoot it with me regularly if I got one. So I think the benefits of that particular platform outweigh some of the other concerns. I will probably get an AR and consider that the primary HD choice.