Mom wants a home defense shotgun

OP- why not a Remington Tac-13? I found my Shockwave to much milder to shoot than I expected 'n would imagine a gas gun would have to be mo' betta in that regard? Handy, light, easy to use. TLR-1 on it & done.
Tac-13 with a brace, or pay the man and put a stock on it.

My youth/compact 870 in 20ga with a 12.5” barrel is real handy and easily maneuverable.
 
Get her a Ruger 9mm PC carbine. Affordable, lightweight, low recoil, high capacity, effective up close or at range.
Just get her a braced Scorpion pistol and call it done. :D
 
Remington makes an 11-87 that is short LOP in 20ga and my 15 year old handles it like a charm. But pulling the bolt back loading it and then loading the mag tube is something that takes finesse. Only you know your grandmother but the $350 Yildiz 20ga over under is looking good verses a pump or auto loader with a stiff magazine spring
 
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I know very little about rifles, and nothing at all about shotguns, and a little about handguns.

But my advice is: take her to the range, let her try many types/styles of guns, and let her make the call. It might be an expensive day or two, but in the end, she can choose what works for her at the moment.

Later on, she can revise her gun choice if necessary, as her hand and/or arm strength either improves or lessens.

I learned the very hard and painful way not to have anyone tell me what I "needed," and to try before buying ANY gun!
Just 2 cents' worth from an old-ish lady shooter.
 
KSG, fully loaded with 3" magnum 15 pellet 00 buck! Lol naw, I was in the gun store when someone came in with a similar question, the 20ga shockwave was recommended as well as the 410. Considering they kick backwards more than up.
 
870 20ga, and a jumbo size can of hornet/wasp spray. Take her to the range and teach her to shoot from the hip (point and shoot) and how to literally spray the hornets spray.

Also a good idea to install and oversized safety on the 870
 
What kind of shot gun do you guys recommend for a small stature lady that is 71 years old and has some, but not extensive firearm training.
If I might ask, how did it come to the determination that a shotgun is the tool for this job? Did she specifically ask for a shotgun?
I have a bunch of shotguns. I love the format. A shotgun was the very first gun I bought in a store with my own money. A Taurus Judge is my nightstand companion.
From info provided though..small, older, lady, limited exposure to firearms..a shotgun, of really any kind, would not be my first choice. More like 5th choice.
Some of the guys have mentioned wheel guns, but so far I think @BatteryOaksBilly has the best suggestion and it's one I would mirror.
S&W Model 10.
Easily found for around $300, virtually maintenance free, ammo from mild to wild including shot shells, trigger like melted butter, might be the most reliable handgun ever made, and you point the barrel thingy at the bad guy and pull the trigger (if you have to). Highly effective, and it just doesn't get any easier. A big part of this easy thing is, she'll like it. That's important. Confidence.
If you consider the wheelgun route, she doesn't need any big-ass magnums, and no snubbies! No snubbies! You want to be in the 4 to 5" barrel range and 38 special is the perfect caliber here.
 
The loud " Click clack" of a pump shot gun being loaded is usually a good deterrent for bad guys entering your household.
 
The loud " Click clack" of a pump shot gun being loaded is usually a good deterrent for bad guys entering your household.

I will never understand this. If you don't have a round chambered, you're carrying a club, not a gun. And why give away your position?
 
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The loud " Click clack" of a pump shot gun being loaded is usually a good deterrent for bad guys entering your household.
And the "CLICK" when it doesn't fire because you short-stroked it due to being nervous is just as loud.

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Get her a big ole can of bear spray or a nice fire extinguisher (it can pull double duty) and she will be gtg.
Also a can or few of Hornet & Wasp spray ... it even says HOME DEFENSE right on the label ...
0686423A-220D-48C2-A7DB-A1EB3660ACD2.jpeg
... it’s $4-$5 and the maker says a stream up to 20 feet. I know several people who carry it in their vehicles in places where guns, knives, pepper spray, etc aren’t allowed because “they are deathly allergic to bee stings”. Push and hold that button and you get 10+ seconds of spraying time.
 
I will never understand this. If you don't have a round chambered, you're carrying a club, not a gun. And why give away your position?
Well because the average person really does not want to kill someone, they would rather make them just go away. Im guessing a yelled warning along with a slide being racked would be enough for most bad guys. Or, you could lay quiet in a well planned out defensive position, hope they enter the household and then waste them. I prefer option one. Im guessing it would all depend on the situation,, sometimes you would want to be quiet and sometimes you want to loudly convey your response if they continue their bad behavior..
 
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I would believe that the sound of a shotgun racking alone would be all the deterrent necessary for most criminals.

Unfortunately, they don't think like we do!
 
I don't keep a shotgun chamber hot here. See Button Pusher's post above.

Nothing to do with clickity clak theatrics. If I need to chamber it quiet like I can.
 
I often keep an AR with the bcg back and safety on. I can trigger both of those while shouldering an SBR, or bracing a pistol as the case may be.
Added bonus, my alarm's glass break sensor gets tripped by an AR BCG, so my "go hot" button is also a "panic" button
 
Well because the average person really does not want to kill someone, they would rather make them just go away. Im guessing a yelled warning along with a slide being racked would be enough for most bad guys. Or, you could lay quiet in a well planned out defensive position, hope they enter the household and then waste them. I prefer option one. Im guessing it would all depend on the situation,, sometimes you would want to be quiet and sometimes you want to loudly convey your response if they continue their bad behavior..

So should I rack the slide of my G34 as a warning as well, in the event I grab that first?
 
Most low recoil 12 gauge I've shot is lighter and easier on you than the regular 20 gauge buck. And likely more stopping power. However that makes a semi challenging because of cycling.

In all seriousness, I might consider a shockwave, add the brace and a forearm with a loop, and run low recoil 00 in 12 gauge as others have suggested.
 
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@Conraq , Please don't take offence, there is no way on earth I would buy a small 71 year old lady a shotgun...of any kind.
... Remember I'm That age.

So, @BatteryOaksBilly, that's why you're sellin' shotguns...

Remember, small 71 year old man, I will pay more for that purty double barrel hangin' above yer desk than Curt!


...
Added bonus, my alarm's glass break sensor gets tripped by an AR BCG, so my "go hot" button is also a "panic" button
That is most useful information!
 
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So should I rack the slide of my G34 as a warning as well, in the event I grab that first?
No. They'll be able to tell it's a 9mm and laugh.
If you did the same thing with a 45, that would work. :rolleyes:

The thing with the Judge, just pointing the hoss at someone will make them crap their doody. Obviously it ain't a 22.

Best call yet. Thanks BP for keeping us up to date with the Kings deals.

Also a can or few of Hornet & Wasp spray ... it even says HOME DEFENSE right on the label ...
... it’s $4-$5 and the maker says a stream up to 20 feet. Push and hold that button and you get 10+ seconds of spraying time.
The stuff is also intently flammable. I'm told that if you ignite the stream, it becomes a 20' flame thrower with the consistency of napalm.
Or so I'm told.
 
In the same boat with my mom. Not going to get her a pump or auto, for manual of arms difficulty noted. Seen many experienced shooters bumble shotguns at every 3gun match I have ever been to. And almost every shotgun is different. Done it myself many times under the clock, so don't have any faith that mom will do well under threat of violence.
I am looking at these now.


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Well because the average person really does not want to kill someone, they would rather make them just go away. Im guessing a yelled warning along with a slide being racked would be enough for most bad guys. Or, you could lay quiet in a well planned out defensive position, hope they enter the household and then waste them. I prefer option one. Im guessing it would all depend on the situation,, sometimes you would want to be quiet and sometimes you want to loudly convey your response if they continue their bad behavior..

Defending yourself and family has nothing to do with wanting to kill someone. Get a rape whistle if you are unwilling to end a threat.
 
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