Shotgun: What's it for?

TheRoland

TheRoland

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So I'm starting to plan out some IDPA-style multigun stages for side-matches next year, and I'm having a little trouble with shotguns. I haven't spent alot of time shooting shotguns for any reason, and I'm having a difficult time coming up with shots or stages that I'd rather do with a shotgun than a rifle. I've watched alot of shotgun 3-gun videos, and it seems like mostly everyone has people using shotguns for shots that would be much nicer with a rifle.

The only thing I can come up with is that Texas Stars and other similar small moving targets seem like they're suited to the shotgun, but access to small moving targets in an action-shooting stage is limited.

Similarly, I think the more basic issue is that I'm not sure what the shotgun's role in modern self-defense really is. It doesn't seem to have radically better ballistics than a rifle (external or terminal), is slower, has greater recoil, has a lower range with shot and over-penetration issues with slugs. It seems like the cost of a good shotgun is lower, but get into fancy tactical shotguns (which look cool) or fancy competition shotguns and this advantage goes away quick.

So, help me out. Besides the fact that competition requires one, why do I need a shotgun?
 
I'm a gamer through and through, so I won't get in to the defense issues much. I will say that I think the terminal ballistics of a shotgun are far superior to a 5.56 rifle. 9 50gr pellets or a 400gr slug at ~1200fps is nothing to sneeze at. The big advantage of shotguns for home defense is the firepower per dollar. You can buy a used pump gun for about $200. Try to find a serviceable pistol or rifle for that.

Moving to the competition side: You can shoot steel at close distance with shot, which you can't do with a rifle without wrecking the steel or dangerous ricochets. Of the limited shotgun stages I've shot, the ones with a bunch of steel at 10-15 yards are the most fun. The other thing you can do is shoot aeriel targets. I haven't shot a stage with clay flippers yet, but it looks like a lot of fun. The occasional slug stage with paper targets is fun just because slugs make big freakin' holes.
 
jar said:
I'm a gamer through and through, so I won't get in to the defense issues much. I will say that I think the terminal ballistics of a shotgun are far superior to a 5.56 rifle. 9 50gr pellets or a 400gr slug at ~1200fps is nothing to sneeze at. The big advantage of shotguns for home defense is the firepower per dollar. You can buy a used pump gun for about $200. Try to find a serviceable pistol or rifle for that.
Click to expand...

Your $200 pump gun will also, with another $100 in a spare barrel, can be adequate for deer, turkey, waterfowl, and most other things you can hunt. I know of no rifle which is versatile enough to be serviceable for deer, ducks and home invaders. The shotgun is hence very much the jack of all trades in the firearms world.
 
TheRoland said:
So I'm starting to plan out some IDPA-style multigun stages for side-matches next year, and I'm having a little trouble with shotguns. I haven't spent alot of time shooting shotguns for any reason, and I'm having a difficult time coming up with shots or stages that I'd rather do with a shotgun than a rifle. I've watched alot of shotgun 3-gun videos, and it seems like mostly everyone has people using shotguns for shots that would be much nicer with a rifle.

The only thing I can come up with is that Texas Stars and other similar small moving targets seem like they're suited to the shotgun, but access to small moving targets in an action-shooting stage is limited.

Similarly, I think the more basic issue is that I'm not sure what the shotgun's role in modern self-defense really is. It doesn't seem to have radically better ballistics than a rifle (external or terminal), is slower, has greater recoil, has a lower range with shot and over-penetration issues with slugs. It seems like the cost of a good shotgun is lower, but get into fancy tactical shotguns (which look cool) or fancy competition shotguns and this advantage goes away quick.

So, help me out. Besides the fact that competition requires one, why do I need a shotgun?
Click to expand...

versatility, you can do a lot with a shotgun. Try shooting trap or skeet with a rifle... Its hard and the neighbors get pissed
shotgun is a lot of fun, I actually like it more than rifle

 
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Nothing beats a shotgun for blowing stuff up.. [rofl]


 
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Supermoto said:
versatility, you can do a lot with a shotgun. Try shooting trap or skeet with a rifle... Its hard and the neighbors get pissed
shotgun is a lot of fun, I actually like it more than rifle

Click to expand...


Trap, skeet, and hunting, sure. And that looks pretty cool on a stage, but how much of that coolness is a cool Saiga with pre-staged slugs and how much would apply to a normal shotgun?


jar said:
Moving to the competition side: You can shoot steel at close distance with shot, which you can't do with a rifle without wrecking the steel or dangerous ricochets. Of the limited shotgun stages I've shot, the ones with a bunch of steel at 10-15 yards are the most fun. The other thing you can do is shoot aeriel targets. I haven't shot a stage with clay flippers yet, but it looks like a lot of fun. The occasional slug stage with paper targets is fun just because slugs make big freakin' holes.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks. Close steel is a possibility. I don't think I'm getting to put airborn targets anywhere at HSC's pits, though.
 
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Within its usable range, nothing else really comes close to putting as much lead and kinetic energy on a target with one shot as a shotgun does. With shot, you either get a single, massive wound channel, or multiple simultaneous hits. Both are extremely difficult for the human body to deal with.


Also, I'd be more than happy to let you borrow the few shotgunning books I have, if you wanted to come pick them up from my house. I have Tactical Shotgun/Suarez, SF2 Shotgun for Police/Ayoob and Farnam Method of Rifle and Shotgun/Farnam. All three are interesting reads.
 
TheRoland said:
Cool, thanks. Close steel is a possibility. I don't think I'm getting to put airborn targets anywhere at HSC's pits, though.
Click to expand...

I haven't really thought about whether you can do that safely, but my gut feel is if you keep them well below the top of the berm, it would be perfectly safe.

Another thing I've seen in videos that looked cool was clay targets attached to the sticks of a standard swinger.
 
Now what in the wild world of sports is that thing you are using to load the shotgun that fast? That thing is awesome.

-Mike
 
Thanks for the vid Mike. That's exactly the kind of thing I'm thinking of when making a shotgun stage different from a rifle or pistol stage.
 
atmay said:
Within its usable range, nothing else really comes close to putting as much lead and kinetic energy on a target with one shot as a shotgun does.
Also, I'd be more than happy to let you borrow the few shotgunning books I have
Click to expand...

If I recall, it's about a .308's energy at the muzzle, and at 75 yards, it's down around 5.56 numbers. Might take you up on the book offer!

jar said:
Thanks for the vid Mike. That's exactly the kind of thing I'm thinking of when making a shotgun stage different from a rifle or pistol stage.
Click to expand...

It looks cool, but for some reason, it's just not clicking with me. I think it's probably best for me to find someone else to takeover the shotgun stuff.
 
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TheRoland said:
It looks cool, but for some reason, it's just not clicking with me. I think it's probably best for me to find someone else to takeover the shotgun stuff.
Click to expand...

I'm happy to help. If I hadn't had a conflict with the meeting, I would've volunteered then. I'll PM contact info.
 
Just one 3" shell of #4 buckshot can direct 41 .24 caliber pellets traveling at at 1225 FPS at an assailant. There is NOTHING else that can match the effectiveness of a shotgun for close quarters self defense.
 
I would try to work it in as a pickup gun out of a car trunk, or the like (wait for it in the spring at LSA). Then again blasting through a stage can be quite fun!

The shotgun is the jack of all trades and master of none in the firearms world. It is inexpensive, highly versatile, cheap and has a low rate of failure. I think most tend to have this as a fall back gun stashed in vehichles, closets, and other handy (yet leagally stored) locations. Would you keep a $1k rifle in your trunk or a $250 shotgun with a side saddle and full tube?
 
Thanks, I have a 930 that has sat in the closet for a while, I have decided to put a little work into. I just need to find a match. Although I heard that there is a Shotgun/pistol match in the plans for early spring out in Nauset.
 

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