To illustrate this, I conducted a shooting experiment. Utilizing my home defense shotgun with a 20-inch barrel/ improved cylinder choke, 9 pellet 00 Buckshot and proper aiming/trigger control, I engaged targets at typical home defense ranges.

At three yards, the shot pattern was approximately 1.5 inches.

At seven yards, the shot pattern was approximately 3 inches.

On close to what I believe is the maximum likely home defense distance of twelve yards, the shot pattern was approximately 4 inches.

With those minimal shot patterns, there is a good chance that the home defense minded firearms owner would miss the threat. Prior patterning, aiming, trigger control and training with your shotgun is critically important.

To make aiming easier and to give me the ability to identify a threat during low light, I equipped my home defense shotgun with a red dot sight and weapon mount light. To keep my skills up, in addition to regular range training, I routinely conduct dry fire and movement training.

Now let’s go over some of the reasons I prefer a shotgun for home defense.

1. Stopping Power – The shotshells I used above have nine 00 buckshot pellets, which translate to approximate .33 caliber for each pellet. That shot load has a muzzle velocity of 1325 feet per second. Compare that to a common 9mm home defense round. 9mm Luger translates to approximately .35 caliber. That common 9mm home defense round has a muzzle velocity of 1135 feet per second. With a higher velocity and with a single shotgun shell deploying multiple projectiles, I think it’s hard to argue that the home defense shotgun is not very effective.
2. Ease of Accuracy – By design, long guns, like shotguns are easier to become and maintain accuracy than handguns. Once a home defense minded firearms owner obtains the skills and knowledge of shotgun use, he/she is a formidable force against home invaders.
3. Wide Range of Ammunition Available – With a shotgun, you can tailor your round to the threat or your personal situation. From small birdshot to 1-ounce slugs to less lethal rounds, there is round for every home defense situation.

A downside of shotguns is their limited range. However, home defense is generally, if not exclusively a close-range affair. Close range, it’s hard to beat a shotgun in the hands of a properly trained home defense minded firearms owner. TTC offers comprehensive defensive shotgun training from beginner to advanced levels.  Check out our calendar for the next available course.

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THE TRANSITION
Intermediate to advanced tactics include being able to transition from a long-arm to a handgun. There are several instances where this is a necessary skill set for the tactical operator. The most common reason is because the long-arm has stopped working or when the long-arm may not be practical to use. In this video, we see the transition from a pump-action tactical shotgun to a handgun.
In order to accomplish this safely and effectively there’s a couple of foundational concepts that must be understood for the effectiveness of this tactic. First, the operator should be skilled enough so that they can feel that the firearm has stopped working and they must immediately take corrective action. If the operator hasn’t noticed that the firearm has stopped working (a stoppage), he will likely repeat an ineffective action. For example, if the firearm stops working and the operator hasn’t noticed but continually tries pressing the trigger on the firearm, valuable time is wasted. In a real gun-fight this could cost you your life. The problem is compounded when the operator hasn’t had enough experience in stoppages and he has to confirm the stoppage by looking at the firearm to figure out his next step! Time is better spent by getting a firearm back in operation and on target, moving out of harm’s way, or preferably BOTH! Another foundational concept is the availability of cover and the distance from the threat area. The closer the threat, the more immediacy for getting a firearm back up and on target. The operator must make a decision; do I clear the stoppage or do I transition to my handgun? The answer will be predicated on variables such as the proximity to the threat, the type of threat, the availability of cover, the skill level of the operator and the complexity of the stoppage. This is exactly what the operator should be thinking about, not why isn’t the gun working? Keep in mind some of the following examples of detecting a stoppage: There is a distinct difference in felt recoil when a shotgun goes “click” and not “bang”, a distinct feeling when the slide of a handgun locks back rather then moving forward to chamber a new cartridge, and a distinct noise transmitted through the buffer tube of an AR15 type when the bolt chambers a new cartridge and says “ping” rather than when the bolt locks back and says, “pong”. Get to the know the feeling of a stoppage.
In this drill, the shotgun operator fires his shotgun until it is dry and then immediately transitions over to the handgun. The technique for the transition is such that the safety on the shotgun is engaged and the muzzle is placed in a safe direction. Yes, the safety goes “On”. This happens simultaneously as the operator uses his support hand to lower and secure the long-arm to his belt line, wasting no time. That’s exactly what is occurring in the image. If operator is really proficient, they’ll reach for the handgun and locate it through felt muscle memory in order to allow for an efficient draw while finishing the transition. In the video, the operator chooses to draw and adopt a two-handed grip on the handgun, mostly due to the distance from the target. Another option, depending upon the skill set of the operator, that may expedite the presentation process and minimize the “pendulum” effect (the long arm tugging the operators neck from momentum) is to draw one-handed. If you also notice, the use of a tactical sling facilitates a safe muzzle position when it’s not held. This also allows the operator easy access in order to reacquire the grip and firearms controls. Finally, it places the long-arm within arm’s reach. This is one piece of equipment that can help immensely.
The last foundational concept is that the best transition is one that doesn’t occur. So maintain good operational skills by keeping the chamber loaded, the firearm fed with ammo and in good working order so that stoppages and thus transitions are limited.
This is a skill set that we practice routinely in our Advanced classes. We utilize and repeat a variety of drills to simulate real-world situations so that the operator makes safe and tactical decisions, and how to best work through a stoppage.

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