There is a range of different options in terms of home and personal defense weapons available on the market, and it can be difficult to choose because of that fact. You’ve got handguns, carbines, AR-15s and shotguns as the main groups, so which is the best? Obviously, each person’s needs are going to vary, but as far as we’re concerned, there’s something different about the power of shotgun ammo.
If you’d like to know more about this subject because you’re having to make this important decision for yourself, stay with us as we examine things to provide some clarification.
The Sheer Noise & Punch Offered by Shotgun Ammo
Shotgun ammo is widely seen as a great option for anyone wanting to protect their home and what’s important to them. Compared to other choices like 9mm and .556s, shotgun rounds offer unique qualities – shock, awe and power. Able to knock a person backwards off their feet, you don’t have to be majorly accurate with shotgun rounds, as the rough direction is enough.
What’s known as the pellet spread means that when shot leaves the barrel, it spreads out in a fan shape, shredding everything it comes into contact with. Multiple wound channels are likely, too, meaning that an intruder is not likely to get up after you clip them.
Other Shotgun Pellet Benefits
Whether you’re using buckshot or birdshot, anyone using a shotgun gets a substantial amount of stopping power at close range. Even birdshot – which is less likely to be lethal – can provide enough of a deterrent (combined with the noise) to turn home intruders around back where they came from.
The energy transfer with shotgun rounds is what gives it this stopping power, and there’s an undoubted amount of psychological impact provided to criminals. Other benefits include:
- Reduced over-penetration – As someone simply trying to keep your home safe, you only want to hit what’s in front of you – rather than the person next door who’s innocently going about their business. Compared to high-velocity rifle rounds, pellets fired from a shotgun are far less likely to over-penetrate and pose a risk to anyone but the burglar.
- Ease of Use – Something else that makes shotguns so appealing across the board is that they’re so simple to operate. While handguns are not overly complicated, shotguns just need to be loaded, pointed and fired. That’s it.
- Cost Effective – Shotguns might not be the cheapest type of firearms on the market, but you have to remember that you’re not usually going to use them until a crisis occurs.
Of course, you might get out and do a little practice to familiarize yourself, but you don’t need the same amount of training as you would with a pistol to become proficient. Don’t believe what you see in the movies – handguns can be tricky to hit the target.
Shotgun Ammo – A Choice Well Worth Your Consideration
To sum things up, shotguns represent a noisy, hard-hitting option to keep yourself and your family safe should the worst happen. With a big spread, high energy transfer and the ability to hit what you’re aiming at with a minimum of effort, it’s easy to see why some people choose regular and pump-action shotguns for home protection.
The choice you make is ultimately based on your own needs, but with all these benefits on offer, there are not many other options that make you feel quite as safe as a shotgun.
