Some like minded folks and I have been kicking this around for a while.Let's see what you think....
Life has a lot of uncertainty. Ask the ghosts of Pompeii, Hiroshima, or Johnstown, Pa. Or those of Dachau, Guernica, or Wounded Knee.
Survival of the big disasters is more by luck or the Grace of G*d than skill and preparation. But, smaller catastrophes not only are manageable to some degree but much more common.
Hurricanes,blizzards,earthquakes,wildfires, power outages,assassinations, unpopular court decisions, etc, have all disrupted society enough in my lifetime that authority and law were broken down, chaos reigned,and good folks found themselves defenseless except for what they could provide for themselves, their families and communities.
These crises were short term,localized,and things settled down within weeks.But people had to shift for themselves temporarily,and this often demanded arms. Remember those store owners with shotguns during the King riots in LA? I do, and you can bet your paycheck the rioters do also.
Regardless of what you may hear from the gun shop commandos, Crisis Management is often best served by long arms, including shotguns. Handguns are for last ditch defense.
And like the pioneers of old with the musket kept ready and dry over the fireplace, we need to have a weapon quickly accessible, and kept with a fair amount of ammo.
While the military sends folks out with 200 rounds or more each, we'll not be using much suppressive fire in our 'hoods, or at least I hope not. And banditti, looters and others who lack regard for the rights of others will not be charging into fire like the Light Brigade.A few shots, a few casualties will send them elsewhere and/or into better behavior.
At a guess, make it 50 rounds kept on or near the weapon, more elsewhere that can be accessed in a few minutes, if not instantly.
That 50 rounds should be portable as a unit. Something that can be grabbed and run with. A 25 round shell belt is a good idea for starters. A fanny pack setup like many turkey hunters use with two of the Nam era 12 round pouches with the other box in the big pocket in back will work also, and not bend the budget much.Maybe one pouch for buck, the other for slugs.
As for the Community Defense shotgun, it can be your HD shotgun with a few minor changes.
On a HD shotgun, a sling is a detriment, a snag waiting to happen at the worst possible time.
On a "Serious" shotgun used outside the home, it's essential.Both HD and CD shotguns should have sling studs, that "Life is uncertain" thing again.
And while a bead sight is no handicap for HD, the longer ranges outside pretty much mandate some slug capability. GR or rifle style sights are a good idea.
Lights on HD shotguns are a good idea, but not on a CD shotgun.
A hand's up in the back of the lecture hall.
"Alll this is wellngood, but wouldn't a EBR and a lot of mags be a better choice?"....
Possibly,but those cost much more, have much less use outside of their quasi military niche, and are prohibited in some of our less enlightened(thus more dangerous) states. One can field three pump guns, suitably accoutured, for the price of a AR or M1A. And one can hunt or shoot clays with a shotgun, multiple usage means greater proficiency.
And, ideally your shotgun and you will be part of a 3 person fire team doing sentry duty, looter interdiction, etc, with at least one rifle among you for greater flexibility.That rifle can be a deer rifle like a 30-30 lever action, or a bolt action '06. Precision at longer ranges is more crucial than firepower for these uses.
Questions, comments? The floor is open for discussion....
Life has a lot of uncertainty. Ask the ghosts of Pompeii, Hiroshima, or Johnstown, Pa. Or those of Dachau, Guernica, or Wounded Knee.
Survival of the big disasters is more by luck or the Grace of G*d than skill and preparation. But, smaller catastrophes not only are manageable to some degree but much more common.
Hurricanes,blizzards,earthquakes,wildfires, power outages,assassinations, unpopular court decisions, etc, have all disrupted society enough in my lifetime that authority and law were broken down, chaos reigned,and good folks found themselves defenseless except for what they could provide for themselves, their families and communities.
These crises were short term,localized,and things settled down within weeks.But people had to shift for themselves temporarily,and this often demanded arms. Remember those store owners with shotguns during the King riots in LA? I do, and you can bet your paycheck the rioters do also.
Regardless of what you may hear from the gun shop commandos, Crisis Management is often best served by long arms, including shotguns. Handguns are for last ditch defense.
And like the pioneers of old with the musket kept ready and dry over the fireplace, we need to have a weapon quickly accessible, and kept with a fair amount of ammo.
While the military sends folks out with 200 rounds or more each, we'll not be using much suppressive fire in our 'hoods, or at least I hope not. And banditti, looters and others who lack regard for the rights of others will not be charging into fire like the Light Brigade.A few shots, a few casualties will send them elsewhere and/or into better behavior.
At a guess, make it 50 rounds kept on or near the weapon, more elsewhere that can be accessed in a few minutes, if not instantly.
That 50 rounds should be portable as a unit. Something that can be grabbed and run with. A 25 round shell belt is a good idea for starters. A fanny pack setup like many turkey hunters use with two of the Nam era 12 round pouches with the other box in the big pocket in back will work also, and not bend the budget much.Maybe one pouch for buck, the other for slugs.
As for the Community Defense shotgun, it can be your HD shotgun with a few minor changes.
On a HD shotgun, a sling is a detriment, a snag waiting to happen at the worst possible time.
On a "Serious" shotgun used outside the home, it's essential.Both HD and CD shotguns should have sling studs, that "Life is uncertain" thing again.
And while a bead sight is no handicap for HD, the longer ranges outside pretty much mandate some slug capability. GR or rifle style sights are a good idea.
Lights on HD shotguns are a good idea, but not on a CD shotgun.
A hand's up in the back of the lecture hall.
"Alll this is wellngood, but wouldn't a EBR and a lot of mags be a better choice?"....
Possibly,but those cost much more, have much less use outside of their quasi military niche, and are prohibited in some of our less enlightened(thus more dangerous) states. One can field three pump guns, suitably accoutured, for the price of a AR or M1A. And one can hunt or shoot clays with a shotgun, multiple usage means greater proficiency.
And, ideally your shotgun and you will be part of a 3 person fire team doing sentry duty, looter interdiction, etc, with at least one rifle among you for greater flexibility.That rifle can be a deer rifle like a 30-30 lever action, or a bolt action '06. Precision at longer ranges is more crucial than firepower for these uses.
Questions, comments? The floor is open for discussion....