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Political correctness run amuk. The key is to put the weapon in a place that you can get too it, but little ones can't. I don't have children living in the house. My guns are loaded ready for action except the 870. Racking that slide is very intimidating, I want them to hear it. The magzine is loaded with 3, 00, 2 slugs. I figure if someone can get through that I deserve to have my butt whipped. Well, I won't tell them about the Glock 33 in my back pocket.

Also, if you have children in the house, gun-proof the children.  I guarantee you that you can't child-proof a gun.

If your not a hunter and want to use the shotgun for home protection, and no where else, I would suggest using a bird shot. At close range it will do the exact same as buck shot with out the over penetration. Also, it's less likely to go through the walls and hit the house next door, unless you live in the country and the next house in a pasture away....just my two cents.

KSP494 says ...

Taurus makes a good home defense gun the Judge. It shoots .357 and 410 shotgun. It's easier to keep away from little ones and it's easier for close quarter defense. Load it with 410 and just point and click, no aiming.

I thought it was a .45/.410?

Whatever you do, if you have children, make sure that they know about the weapon. Let them hold them look at them ask questions about them. Teach them about the weapon and then keep them out of their hands. I never had to put mine to far away. When my son wanted to see it I would take it out , unload it, and then let him hold it to see what it felt like. once his curiosity was satisfied he never looked at it again until he bought his own.

krab says ...

DFrost Quote;

 

Thank you, I guess the only thing I would be missing is a slip of paper asking a home intruder to please wait while I load my shotgun.

Of course there is always my glock 19 or my wife's Sig Sauer 232 for back up.  We're waiting for our CCWs to come through.

We have grown children and only my wife and I along with our minature poodle Bailey live in the house.  I tried to get a permit for bailey to carry a derringer but the latest supreme court decision didn't go far enough, they didn't think our society is going to the dogs yet!

Another question, what is the best ammo for my new shotgun, considering it's strictly for home protection and I never go hunting.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against hunting it's just not my thing.

Also, any suggestions where to keep a loaded shotgun in the home away from any person accidentally seeing it especially cleaning people?

You misunderstand about the shotgun; there are five shells in the magazine, I don't put one in the chamber because I want them to hear the shotgun being racked. It's how we carry them in the cruiser as well.

I have another question, I hear different facts from different people about poor  reliability and construction. of mossberg shotguns.  Are there any people that can give me some reliable information?

A lot of what you will hear is based on individual bias for a particular brand. I have nothing against Remington at all. My last two shotguns have both been Mossburg (500A and then 590). Never had a problem with either after many many rounds. It's all in the care and cleaning of the weapon, but that's just my opinion.

DesertOfficer7 says ...

I own a Mossberg 500, holding 7 +1 . My load is alternating 00 and slug. This is designed for multiple attackers and vehicle...Gangbangers beware!  My back up is a Glock 21 with 3 mags.

Cool! That's the same way I stack mine- 00, slug,00, slug....

Surf says ...

Every person needs to judge the best way to store the weapon, given family members such as children being present or not.  Ideally the weapon is loaded with a round in the chamber, safety off.

With all due respect, but racking the slide is a bad idea.  If you have an intruder who is intent on their actions, racking the slide isn't going to deter them.  It will give away your position and you will lose the advantage of surprise.   Or if they decide to take off, they just might throw a few rounds in the direction of the sound of the racking shotgun as they flee.   If I am in a deadly force situation in my home, the bad guy isn't gonna hear a damn thing and I am not going to gamble on him turning tail and running over giving up my advantage.

Again with all due respect, bird shot is another horrible idea.  If you only had 1 shot to gamble your life or your family members life on, it sure as hell shouldn't be birdshot.  There are too many variables.  What if he is wearing heavy clothing like a thick jacket, perhaps leather?  What if you are not in close proximity.  For the most part bird shot does not have the desired 8"-10" of penetration depth.  It can make for a grisly wound, but may not have the desired effect, which just may allow the BG to get off an accurate and fatal shot. 

Slug is another issue.  Penetration or over penetration really needs to be considered.  Even moreso than 00 buck, which still needs to be a consideration.

As mentioned earlier, if you have firearms and children in the home, it is your duty to gun proof your children as well as store them appropriately.

I agree here completely with the added point....consider for a moment that you're NOT home when an intruder shows up....should they be able to have access to such a weapon if they were unarmed coming in?

And while I own a Mossberg I have unfortunately never actually fired or even loaded it yet {long story} but for relaibility factors.... the Mossberg is the adopted shotgun for the USMC....and you KNOW they're serious about weapons...

All good suggestions, but may I add one more.  Make sure that your firearms, whatever you use for home defense, is not too accessible by you.  You want to place it in such a place where your must do a little work to get it.  By that I mean at least get up out of bed and retrieve. 

The reason I mention this is there are several cases out there where a homowner has shot and killed a family member thinking it is an intruder.  You must ensure you can't get your hands on the gun until you are fully awake.  A gun under the pillow comes immediatly to mind as a bad idea.  I have  about a dozen shotguns as I'm a hunter/collector but I  choose to keep a handgun handy.  It is on top of my chest of drawers.  I will need to get out of bed, stand up and take a step to get to the gun.  Close enough to be of use, but far enough away to let me get my wits about me.  I also keep my glasses and a spare magazine along with my cell phone there.  A good comment about when you are not home.  The same 9mm that I keep on my chest of drawers will leave the house with me whenever I go anywhere.  Just my .02.

One more thing I did to gun proof my children. While they were still little, I let them hold a pistol  SORT OF,  (along with me that is) and fire it.

They did not like the noise  or the results at all.  They did not want to shoot it again.  And I knew they would not pick up my pistol even if I accidentally left it laying around.    Which I never did, but was aware of it happening in a few unfortunate cases.  I did not have boys  which are a little more trouble  to deal with as they get bigger.   My brothers and I found my father's pistol when we were little and would check it out when he wasnt at home. He never even owned bullets for it but I never forgot the fact that we found it hidden in a drawer and would look at it.

  There are some experts that recommend using  # 1 buck or even smaller shot  for home security.  Its true that if you go too small, penetration can be an issue, but #1 is still buckshot  with plenty of penetration and the extra number of pellets gives even more hits on the target with less chance of shooting through walls.   There is a happy medium there  and with a little experimenting you can satisfy yourself and make your own mind up.

  I feel departments should allow officers to have slugs available  even though 00 buck is issued to be used in special circumstances only, like in the big shoot out in California.  Not all departments issue rifles even today.  Against someone in body armor with an AK, a slug will work where the oo did not.     JMHO

Bubbanewf says ...

There are some experts that recommend using  # 1 buck or even smaller shot  for home security.  Its true that if you go too small, penetration can be an issue, but #1 is still buckshot  with plenty of penetration and the extra number of pellets gives even more hits on the target with less chance of shooting through walls.   There is a happy medium there  and with a little experimenting you can satisfy yourself and make your own mind up.

I feel departments should allow officers to have slugs available  even though 00 buck is issued to be used in special circumstances only, like in the big shoot out in California.  Not all departments issue rifles even today.  Against someone in body armor with an AK, a slug will work where the oo did not.     JMHO 

While my preference is 00 buck, #1 is also a good choice and suitable IMO.  My choice is not to go any less than that.  The key is to be able not allow, or to significantly impact your adversaries ablility to present a lethal threat.  Often times lesser wounds or non-combat accurate wounds are not effective in doing this even if the wound turns out to be fatal in the end.

Again, my opinion.

Edit - I meant to add that I am a proponent of slug for duty use.  I do not believe in staggering rounds but having 00 loaded and slug readily accessable.  User should also be proficient with doing a combat changover of their rounds.

I use high tech when on duty, but low tech for home defense, Double-Double handed down from grandpa, double barrel shot gun oo buck.

Weasel says ...

I don't trust locked doors at all. Too easy to get in to. A lot of the burglaries I've seen are by forcing open a locked door. May have possibly had a bump key used a few weeks ago on one residential burglary, as there were no signs of forced entry, all doors and widows were still locked. If they want in, they will get in.  Thieves may be stupid, but they are also determined.

I know it sounds silly, but when I leave, my shotgun goes along for the ride. If I leave in the cruiser, it goes in the mount. If I leave POV, it goes in the trunk. I don't want to come home and find someone with my pet in their hands. I also don't want to come home and find my pet gone. Besides that, you never know  when you might need it out on the road, even when travelling POV. And you just might need it if you ever come home to find uninvited "guests" inside your house. Maybe I'm a little (OK, a lot) paranoid, but I like to think I'm being prudent. Better safe than sorry?

Mossberg....Don't leave home without it.

Do you only have 1 weapon or do you take them all with you everytime you leave?  Some people would need a few hours and a semi-truck to pack everything up when they leave home.  ;)

bmorgan says ...

OfficerBrandy says ...

I use high tech when on duty, but low tech for home defense, Double-Double handed down from grandpa, double barrel shot gun oo buck.

Sweeet.

Sweet?  What if OfcrBrandy misses once or twice, or what if there are 3 bad guys?

Not trying to be an ass, but just trying to give some food for thought, especially in regards to such a serious topic.