Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbjade.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!decvax!tektronix!teklds!cae780!amdcad!lll-crg!ucdavis!ucbvax!ucbjade!jkh 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!