Why shotguns are not the best for home defense?

I’ve seen a lot of debate about shotguns being great for home defense, but there are some real drawbacks too. What do you all think?

“Terminal ballistics: pistols put holes in people, rifles put holes through people, and shotguns, at the right range with the right load, will physically remove a chunk of your opponent.”

  • Clint Smith

@Jamie
That’s why I’d probably grab my pistol first. Less mess to clean up.

Jae said:
@Jamie
That’s why I’d probably grab my pistol first. Less mess to clean up.

I think you need one gun ready at all times—whatever it is. My Mossberg 940 with 8 shells is always my go-to.

Jae said:
@Jamie
That’s why I’d probably grab my pistol first. Less mess to clean up.

You use the pistol to get to your rifle. Always have a backup plan.

Hollis said:

Jae said:
@Jamie
That’s why I’d probably grab my pistol first. Less mess to clean up.

You use the pistol to get to your rifle. Always have a backup plan.

That’s classic Jeff Cooper advice.

Jae said:
@Jamie
That’s why I’d probably grab my pistol first. Less mess to clean up.

Depends on your layout, but I think reliability is king, so use what you trust most.

@Jamie
Good ol’ Clint Smith knows how to keep it real.

The pendulum has swung too far against shotguns. Statistically, they have the best one-shot stopping power. Sure, capacity and recoil are challenges, but training can fix that.

Parker said:
The pendulum has swung too far against shotguns. Statistically, they have the best one-shot stopping power. Sure, capacity and recoil are challenges, but training can fix that.

I’m tired of people making recoil sound unmanageable. I’m 5 feet tall and handle a 12-gauge just fine.

@Jean
Right? The best tool is the one you have, and a shotgun beats a baseball bat any day.

Xen said:
@Jean
Right? The best tool is the one you have, and a shotgun beats a baseball bat any day.

Exactly. Most defensive situations are about mindset and readiness, not the perfect gun.

@Jean
A lot of people are just scared because they’ve never trained with it properly.

@Jean
Recoil is manageable with training, but we need to educate people instead of scaring them.

Parker said:
@Jean
Recoil is manageable with training, but we need to educate people instead of scaring them.

Agreed, the fear is often worse than the actual problem.

Parker said:
The pendulum has swung too far against shotguns. Statistically, they have the best one-shot stopping power. Sure, capacity and recoil are challenges, but training can fix that.

Shotguns work for a reason—they’re devastatingly effective at close range.

Parker said:
The pendulum has swung too far against shotguns. Statistically, they have the best one-shot stopping power. Sure, capacity and recoil are challenges, but training can fix that.

Cleanup is a concern, though. I’d rather deal with 5.56 cleanup than buckshot trauma.

@Shai
Honestly, in a life-or-death situation, cleanup would be the last thing on my mind.

My $200 Maverick 88 is my go-to. Affordable and versatile.

Hollis said:
My $200 Maverick 88 is my go-to. Affordable and versatile.

Same here. It’s simple, reliable, and my whole family can use it.