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From: jkh@ucbjade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns
Subject: Re: home defense
Message-ID: <144@ucbjade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 23:43:11 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbjade.144
Posted: Tue Nov  5 23:43:11 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 05:04:04 EST
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 17
Approved: jkh@ucbjade
Author: Unknown. (No Signature!)


Article: 11:2

Someone commented that a shotgun is a clumsy weapon for self 
defense, and that it doesn't obviate aiming well at close range 
as commonly supposed. Both points are true.  But a shotgun does 
offer an advantage: it won't penetrate walls etc. and/or ricochet 
to the extent a handgun or assault rifle will.  #4 buckshot is 
relatively safe in that respect, yet destructive enough to do the 
job at close range. (27 lead balls each .24 inch at 1200 fps). 

As far as the pattern being insufficiently wide, I believe it's 
best to tighten the pattern as much as possible.  I use super full 
choke (custom fitted) on my police shotgun. This gives a deadly 
pattern (about 2-3 inches) at in-house ranges and an adequate 
pattern out to 35 yards or so (#00 is more suitable at long range). 
If you get shot at from beyond that distance you have no excuse to 
do anything but hide!