Affordable home defense: it doesn't need to cost as much as you think

Guns Magazine, July, 2008 by Clint Smith

In talking with the general public or (heaven forbid!) reading an Internet forum discussion, there is often an inference the firearm manufacturers and the gun magazine people are in cahoots with each other to market products or concepts that might be self serving. Well, in all candor and in fact they are after a fashion as both are running businesses and a profit is required to stay in business. Whether or not the products marketed are good, bad or useful is always a point we can argue.

Another perception is gun writers always get stuff free from the manufacturers--in some cases they might--but again in all candor the manufacturers often have limits as to what they will provide to the writers. The point of this is a lot of you think a lot of us get stuff for free and we don't. Also, even though this may come as a shock to you, the reader, there are writers who actually have a job and for them the idea of purchasing a $3,000 AR-15 or 1911 is quite a shock ... even as much as it is for you. Just so you know, every firearm mentioned below I bought at a retail price, just like you.

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How Many $$?

Over the years, the price continues to climb on products and the talk of the tactical this or that to defend your family has gotten to the point of being somewhat out of hand if not out of wallets reach for you and I both. So, I thought to address the idea of setting up some home defense weapons at what might be more affordable prices for those of us who have not won the lotto yet. Before we start I should point out saving money may or may not be a good idea when it comes to defending your family, then again moderate investments of money and time for practice and skills development might be money well spent.

I am in fact a strong proponent of rifles and yet each time I write that in an article somebody from 'Tm stuck in California" writes me a hate letter, so I thought to address the home defense issue with a shotgun as almost everyone can still have one ... at least until after the next election.

For the idea of acquiring a home defense weapon, I set a nominal $500 as the price range for the equipment. So now all the firearms and the set ups following fall below that.

Harrington & Richardson is an old and well-respected name in the firearms industry and makes quality firearms. The first selection is based on the single barrel, external hammer 12 gauge. The model 88 has several strong points, one being an automatic ejector to launch the empty hull clear of the action upon opening the system. This particular shotgun has a 19" barrel with a cylinder bore choke and a bead front sight. Overall length is 34" making the piece relatively compact and easily allowing it to past thru a standard 3' doorway.

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I have $90 in my base gun and found many examples for sale on Guns America for around the $100 to $125 price range. Extra ammunition can be carried in a Sparks Side Saddle also about $100 making the spare ammo carrier as expensive as the shotgun so another alternative is to mount an M1 Carbine magazine pouch on the stock which allows four additional rounds to be attached to the shotgun. A flashlight could be added using heavy rubber bands onto the barrel so the whole thing falls into the nominal $200-plus-price range.

Do not under estimate this gun for home defense. With a moderate amount of practice the gun and shooter can maintain a pretty steady rate of fire down a hallway. Ammunition wise, 00 Buck may be very effective but a load of high-base No. 6 shot in the crotch or face of the threat at the length of your hallway will alter the direction the situation is going.

Remington 870 Youth

This is a strong choice for people of smaller stature or the recoil sensitive. The youth gun I purchased at the local Ace hardware at a retail price of $380. This shotgun is a 20 gauge and has a 13" length of pull, a 21" barrel and comes in at 40" in overall length. It is a pretty small and lightweight shotgun and one major advantage is of course is it holds four rounds in the magazine allowing for more shooting before loading is required over the other two models mentioned.

I put an M1 Carbine pouch on the side of the stock to allow for additional rounds on the gun if I pick it up for use. Some may balk at the 20 gauge, but I think it will be very effective inside the in-home ranges where it may be used. This system winds up coming in with a price tag just over the $400 mark as is. With the addition of a light system the price starts to punch a hole in $500.

Stoeger Coach Gun

The Stoeger, in my opinion, is a strong contender for the gun everyone in America ought to have. Varying in price I saw several selling for just over the $300 mark. Mine is a side-by-side 12 gauge with the twin tubes measuring 20" and an overall length of 36", again making for a short compact easy-to-move-about piece of home defense gear.

Having two barrels of course allows for the two shots to be fired before the gun is in need of a reload. Without auto ejectors the fired cases need to be pulled from the chamber or just take a quick look at a cowboy match and you'll see a developed technique leaving the shotgun mounted to the shoulder while the action is opened and a jerking rearward motion flings the empties from the chambers ... trust me it works.