Shotguns

Franchi’s Affinity Sporting shotgun is now available in 20 gauge.

If you are in a situation in which the firearm need not be concealed, such as on a big boat, in a home, or if the piece is carried behind the truck seat, you should use a long gun instead of a handgun. For home defense, a single-barrel shotgun, a double barrel, or a self-loader are all viable, providing the user is familiar with each. But for most of us, the humble slide-action shotgun is the best choice. Simple to use and reliable with a variety of shells, the pump-action shotgun has a long history of efficiency. A sporting shotgun is useful and has been used many times in home defense. But for dedicated personal-defense duty, the 28-inch-barrel bird gun is a bit long. An 18- to 22-inch barrel is faster handling in close quarters. And though the single-shot design is a viable home defender against one burglar or intruder, the pump action, when properly designed and used, may move up a niche to the combat shotgun designation. No, the humble pump isnt a SPAS 12, but it is a very good defensive weapon, with some qualifications.You could fertilize a pasture with half-truths concerning the shotgun. Although the shotgun is a great defensive firearm and is effective in trained hands, it is not a problem solver that will work in untrained hands - far from it. But for self defense, we are willing to admit that a cheap shotgun usually works better than a cheap rifle or cheap handgun. But weve got to agree the shotgun cannot cover a house with shot - there isnt enough payload, so you must aim the shotgun just as carefully as a rifle at personal-defense ranges. And not having the power of a crane, they cannot knock a felon off his feet. You can miss, and you will miss, if you have not practiced enough to become used to the recoil of a shotgun.The difference in sporting performance and personal defense is profound. A sporting shotgun must deliver a few pellets to drop a bird, rabbit, or squirrel, or even a large goose. In personal defense, we wish to hit with the whole payload. Though an argument may be made for the smaller gauges and the larger 10 gauge as well, we feel that the 12 gauge chambering is an ideal choice, in part because more readily available loads in 12 gauge. And because we want to save Gun Tests readers money wherever possible, we wanted to focus on scatterguns that we could buy for less than $300. Guns in this price range do not incorporate a light rail or a means of mounting a red dot scope.So with a tight budget in mind, we put on our Bargain Hunter hats and chose two shotguns to test due to their similarity in price, location of the safety, and other features. The question was, for the money, should you choose a name-brand used shotgun or a modern economy shotgun? To answer that question, we bought a used 12-gauge Winchester 1300 Slug Gun for $250 and pitted it against a Rock Island Armory M5 Matte Nickel Shotgun #51329, $242.

The 36th edition of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) is ongoing through Friday at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Here are some of the more interesting shotgun introductions we’ve seen so far:

Here are some of the 2104 SHOT Show videos added to the GunReports.com YouTube channel this week.

The fixed, or "built-in," choke is found in many of today's shotgun barrels, and it is found in almost all shotgun barrels over ten years of age. It generally consists of a tapered entry (choke forcing cone) followed by a parallel section. Without a doubt, the most frequent alteration that the shotgun bore mechanic is asked to do is to make an adjustment in a choke exit diameter.

Here are new videos added to GunReports.com the week of December 26: World Champion Jerry Miculek speed-shoots the 500 Magnum, the JM Mossberg 930 12 gauge, and a Smith & Wesson M&P-15.

Gun Tests Magazine has named the Benelli Ultralight 12 Gauge as the publication’s “Best in Class Shotgun” for 2013.

Weatherby has expanded its popular WBY-X line with new rifle and shotgun models. The new models feature unconventional camouflage patterns such as Kryptek Typhon, Kryptek Highlander, Proveil Reaper Black and Boneyard Camo Legends Blaze. A new semi-auto shotgun model, the SA-08 GH2 (Girls Hunt 2), is designed for women and young shooters.

Here are new videos added to GunReports.com the week of October 31: see a bullet’s trace and how it can help you connect with more targets; a few upland hunting safety reminders will help ensure your next day in the field is a safe and enjoyable experience; Gil Ash of OSP Shooting Schools shoots right-to-left crossers and how a right-handed shooter must look across the shotgun barrel to see the target.

Gun Tests magazine tested four high-capacity 12-gauge shotguns in the November 2012 issue. Heres an excerpt of that report, used with permission: The test guns were the Akdal Arms MKA 1919 3-inch 12 Gauge, $799; the Kel-Tec KSG 3-inch 12 Gauge, $1075; the Saiga IZ-107 12 Gauge, $640; and a Red Jacket Saiga RTS-SBS-12 Short-Barrel 12 Gauge, $1939.

At a reader's request, the Gun Tests San Antonio test team obtained several new models of self-defense shotguns that carry low to moderate price tags and compared them in the October 2013 issue to see how they would perform. The 12-gauge pumpguns in the test included the Benelli Super Nova Tactical No. 29155 pump-action 12 Gauge, $559; the recently introduced Stevens Model 320 Home Defense No. 19495, $270; the CZ Model 612 Home Defense No. 06520, $290; and the CZ Model 612 HC-P No. 06510, $349.

Gun Tests magazine tested two high-dollar 12-gauge shotguns, the Benelli Ultralight Model No. 10802 12 Gauge, $1649; and Remington Model 1100 Sporting No. 25315, $1211, in the February 2013 issue. Here's an excerpt of that report, used with permission: