Search Results for: shotgun

No Ammo, No Primers, No Problem! – Part 2, by M.B.

…will be used in a .45 Colt lever action rifle or in a revolver. Loading data for rifle and pistol cartridges in reloading manuals does not specify primer brand, but just the size/type of primer (Large Rifle, Small Pistol, etc.). Some loads call for a Magnum primer, however. Note that manuals from some companies will always show their primers being used in the loading data, but other brands of primers may be used in rifle or pistol loads. Shotgun loading manuals, on the other hand, call for specific brands and models of hulls (cases), as well as specific primer brands. For this reason, I strongly advise against using recharged shotgun primers in smokeless shotgun shell reloads. In my experiments, I’ve used recharged shotgun primers in black powder shotgun shells, as well as with musket-type (muzzleloading) paper cartridges for use in modern, break-open shotguns. Boxer Primer Components The four primer sizes…


Letter from “Doug Carlton” Re: Welding and Shotguns

…have a background with the shotty in the military. Most people that have been in the Army/USMC can handle a semi-auto rifle decently, but unless they’ve used a shotgun in their service, it’s a whole new thing. As with anything, training is far more important than which shotgun, or what you have mounted on it. If you can afford a cheap shotgun and a combat shotgun class, you’ll be far better armed than buying an expensive shotgun and no training. There isn’t a three-gun match I go to that pumpgun users will short stroke [the action], or have various other problems. The auto guys rarely have a problem. In classes, it’s the same thing. One class a buddy of mine went to had to divide the scoring between autos and pumps because all the pump guys were scoring so low. There was a visible dividing line between the performance of…


Letter Re: New High Performance .410 Shotgun Slugs for Self Defense?

…pest shooting tasks. If readers want to use a shotgun for self defense, I still generally recommend that they use a 12 gauge, or a 20 gauge for smaller-statured shooters. The Brenneke 12 gauge (3″ shell) 1 ounce (437 grain) sabot slug has a muzzle velocity of 1,673 fps, and a muzzle energy of 2,686 ft. lbs. That is more than four times the energy of the standard .410 slug. The Hoening .410 slug heavy load (with a whompin’ 1,873 ft. lbs muzzle energy) is captivating, but unfortunately because of its non-standard overall length it cannot be cycled through pump or semi-auto shotguns. Unless someone were to practice extensively for rapid reloading with a .410 short-barrel double-barreled ejector shotgun (coach gun style), then this limits the Hoening heavy slugs to use as a hunting load, rather than a self-defense load. The less powerful standard length Hoening roll-crimped .410 slug load…


Learning How To Be a Marksman – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

…did not grow up shooting, meeting a basic requirement to qualify with a rifle may not be so simple. We also had to qualify with a 12 gauge shotgun by shooting trap. Shooting trap or skeet is excellent training for developing the necessary eye and hand coordination to hit a fast-moving target. It is essentially ‘snap’ shooting at close range, and that is the kind of shooting style that best describes combat inside of 100 yards. Most combat will occur inside of 50 yards because most people can not hit a moving human target at more distant ranges with a shotgun. If I were shooting a shotgun inside of 25 yards, then I would likely hit a fast-moving target even if it is only 4 inches in diameter or the size of a clay pigeon. The problem with shotguns is that they do not penetrate cover well and ammunition management…


Field Intelligence Collection – Part 5, by J.M.

…up the device. If you want the ability to record sounds like conversations at a distance there are a couple of options. The simplest option is a directional microphone, also known as a shotgun microphone, which is basically a long tube with slots cut on the sides and a sensitive microphone on one end. The slots on the sides create what’s called an interference pattern, significantly reducing the noise coming from the sides and only allowing sound from the direction the microphone is pointing. It’s important to note that a shotgun microphone doesn’t amplify sound, it only minimizes stray sounds around you to focus on just what it’s pointed at, so if you couldn’t hear something to begin with a shotgun microphone won’t do you any good. Note that shotgun mics behave somewhat like telephoto camera lenses – the longer the microphone the narrower the cone of sound it’s going…


No Ammo, No Primers, No Problem! – Part 3, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 2.) FOR SHOTGUN PRIMERS ONLY You will need the following to recharge shotgun shell primers: Large (3/8-inch or larger) hex nut – Depriming stand for shotgun shells and assembly holder for shotgun primers. A 1/4-inch hole is drilled in one of the flats for the primer body. Used with the C-clamp for pressing the primer cup into the body, the open space in the middle of the nut allows gases to vent if the primer “pops” during assembly. 8mm Nylock nut – Supports a fired shotgun primer to aid disassembly. Small nail with point cut off flat – Inserted through flash hole to disassemble primer. Small fine file – Press the anvil flat against the file and swipe it to clean. One quick pass on each side is usually enough. Small needle-nose pliers – Used to press the anvil into the primer body. Black powder – A…


Black Powder for Self-Reliance – Part 1, by M.B.

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…from the time of powder and patched ball are limited to one or two shots, although a few guns, like the revolving carbines, offer more firepower. The lever actions designed in the era of black powder in cartridges are very capable defensive rifles that are still among the go-to choices in places where semi-auto rifles are banned. These include the strong, handy Winchester 1892 or the fast and smooth Winchester 1873. Double barrel, break-open shotguns were originally made for black powder. Whether side-by-side or over/under, they work very well with black powder shells and are fairly easy to clean as most of the fouling goes down the barrels. Modern, pump-action shotguns are simple and easy to clean, and their robust actions can handle black powder fouling fairly well. Shotgun performance is not significantly degraded when using black powder, as black powder velocities are similar to typical shotgun velocities, and good…


A Survival Battery and Gear For a Prepper Family of Four, by Irish-7

…over/under .22 LR/20 gauge combination rifle/shotgun. She also has a Walther PPK .380 handgun. She purchased one of those tactical vests that the SWAT teams use. We hooked the vest on a civilian fanny pack, the kind with the Nalgene water bottles on both sides of the zippered pouch. The vest / fanny pack combination is also a complete survival kit. Combining the sling on the rifle/shotgun and a sleeve on the buttstock, there is 20 rounds of mixed shotgun slugs and numbers 3, 4 & 6 shot. I inserted a prescription pill bottle in one of the shotgun shell loops on the sling. It holds 27 rounds of 22 Long Rifle. She can carry about 40 rounds total for the shotgun, 200 rounds for the .22 rifle and 74 pistol cartridges (3 x 8 round magazines for the PPK .380, plus a spare box of 50 cartridges.) Granted, the…


Letter Re: Best Shotgun Pellet Size for Home Defense?

Hello. This morning I read the recent SurvivalBlog letter asking about buckshot, bird shot, and slugs for shotguns. Since this was a question of home-defense and you had mentioned The Box O’ Truth web site, I wanted to direct you to this article. Apart from my feeling that a rifle is a better tool for home-defense, what I really wanted to point out was the collection of links from The Box O’ Truth, especially their articles #20 and #42. If you are going to use a shotgun, it’s not enough to say “Okay, I’ve got such-and-such Buck in there, I’m good.” Make sure that you know your weapon. Take it to the range and use your preferred load (and take the time to research various loads from various manufacturers to find the one that works best for you and your shotgun [and your home and/or retreat defense situation]). Make sure…


Letter Re: Advice of Shotgun Shells and Shot Sizes

…27 pellets at 1,325 FPS. 3 inch number 4 BK has 41 pellets at 1,210 FPS. These velocities may very a little from one brand to another. The 3 inch Magnums offer more pellets per load, but they recoil very heavily and reduce the magazine capacity. If I lived in an apartment, a mobile home or my exterior walls were thin or if I had other people living in my home, I would consider using no. 4 or no. 6 bird shot to reduce over penetration. You could always have the first and second shot to be bird shot and the last two or three shells buckshot. If I lived in a rural area and thought I might need more range and penetration then use OO BK or OOO BK and possibly shotgun slugs. Use the shotgun with buckshot at 30 yards and under, use shotgun slugs at 50 yards…


Homesteading or Prepping with Very Little Money- Part 2, by M.C.

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Wise Girl Thank you for the reference regarding Noah; I had never considered that angle! Roadkill If you are a slight framed woman and believe a shatgun isn’t your best defense get a 20 gauge. I will disagree with the shotgun as best home defense though. Shotgun may be good for normal times intruder, but in a grid down situation you need to up your game Go with a quality AR15. This platform has more range, more rounds, easier to reload, and easy for even a slightly built woman to run. Like with all your other preps get professional training with your AR, you’ll be glad you did. Roadkill If you are a slight framed woman and believe a shotgun is your best defense get a 20 gauge. I will disagree with the shotgun as best home defense though. Shotgun may be good for normal times intruder, but in a…


From “Dr. Sidney Zweibel” — Review of a Front Sight Shotgun Course

Dear Jim: Well, I’m back from my trip to Front Sight and I believe that it was very informative. Some of the things I learned I would like to share with you and your readers:. 1. There were several policemen in the class and they, along with the instructor, do NOT recommend using a sling on a shotgun for home defense. 2. One cop was using Federal Tactical buckshot and was getting the best groupings and patterns on his targets. 3. The lecture on the color-code of awareness is vital to understand. 4. They really stress being able to load your shotgun WITHOUT looking at either your shotshells or your weapon. 5. They also emphasize doing “tactical reloads” as frequently as possible. (That is, if you shoot two, reload two if you shoot one then reload one.) 6. The simulator scenario at “Shotgun Canyon” was very revealing as to learning…


Letter Re: Choosing Between a Shotgun and a Rifle for Retreat Defense

…a rifle versus a shotgun involves your expected range of engagements. If you live in densely wooded country or an urban environment, the versatility of a shotgun makes sense. Otherwise, a .308 or .30-06 is more appropriate. As your budget allows, you will probably want to own both a large caliber rifle and a riot shotgun. Most likely in the interim between those two purchases you will want to get a major caliber handgun–at least a .40 S&W, but preferably a .45 ACP. Since you have been training with a Ruger .22/45, a M1911 probably makes sense. (The Ruger has its safety, slide release, and magazine release in the same locations as found on the venerable M1911.) Logically think through the rest of what you might need in the event of a full scale collapse. Water storage and purification should be at the top of your list. For fixed site…


Letter Re: A Reader Comments on the Mossberg 590A Riot Shotgun

Jim; I recently purchased a Mossberg Model 590A [12 gauge] riot shotgun. They are a lot cheaper than the Remington tactical or other brands and I feel more reliable–also the opinion of many in the military Here are the specification differences from a standard Mossberg Model 500: – A steel receiver as opposed to aluminum alloy – Extra thick walled heavy barrel – Metal trigger guard versus polymer – Metal safety [button] versus polymer – Ghost ring sights – All matte finish – Has 8+1 versus 7+1 capacity The shotgun performed as expected–flawless, digest all ammo, good handling/target acquisition,and lots of aftermarket stock options available. The only down side is Mossberg will not port these barrels–must be sent off for that upgrade to someone else,. the price is right, around $440 out the door versus. a lot more for Remington. I like the tang-mounted safety on these, as its easier…


Get Me Home Gear for Commuters, by Jeff J.

…more of a problem than good if I were wearing this in public during a mass exodus or other societal dilemma. When the vest was made the outer carrier was sewn with Velcro so that the patches could be removed quickly. Aside from the obvious ballistic abilities, the vest also carries my spare pistol magazines, a taser, handcuffs, and a hidden holster for my alternate carry. I also carry another piece of gear that is important for my personal safety and for use at work. I carry a personal Remington 870P police shotgun. This shotgun is the standard shotgun issued to department personnel. Mine is personally owned and carried with department permission. As with any good police style/defense style shotgun, it is outfitted with the necessary gear and ammunition. Since the shotgun is mine, I carry it to and from work with me in my vehicle. When I am at…