Many people (even crazy Joe Biden) think that having a shotgun on hand is the ideal self-defense weapon. And, certainly, there are some reasons to consider having a shotgun. The spread of the shot makes precise aiming less critical to do damage (especially useful in a high stress self-defense situation). The use of shot helps to minimize accidental injury of people that you aren’t intending to hit because the shot is less likely to penetrate walls and injure someone else.
So, with these benefits in mind, the next question is to decide which one to get. Fortunately, Evan Brune gives us eight choices of shotguns whose average prices fall below $200 USD. They are:
- Mossberg Maverick 88
- Interstate Arms Hawk Model 982
- Iver Johnson PAS12 Pump
- Savage-Stevens 320 Security Pump
- ATI S-Beam MB3-R Pump
- LSI Escort AimGuard
- Harrington & Richardson Pardner Pump Protector
- Dickinson XX3B-2 Commando Pump
Now, to be up front (and this will matter to some of you), not all of these shotguns are manufactured in the U.S. That’s just one of the unfortunate side effects of other countries who are willing to pay their labor much lower wages than U.S. manufacturers. So, if this is an issue for you, be prepared to pay more.
However, for those of you who are not concerned about in which country your shotgun is manufactured, all of these firearms are worth considering. All of these shotguns are chambered in 12-gauge, so ammunition will be relatively easy to find wherever you happen to be.
Then, there is the benefit of the pump action itself which, for many people, is the consistency and reliability. Simply put, they aren’t likely to jam.
And there is the fact that the sound of racking the shotgun is unmistakable to everyone. If someone attacks you, they don’t have to see you to know that you are armed. The sound of racking that shotgun will make it crystal clear to them that you are dangerous, and this will discourage many encounters.
All-in-all, a shotgun can be a great choice for self-defense especially for home defense, so, in that light, one of these eight models may be worth your consideration.