A shotgun is one of the better home defense weapons even the tiny 410 bore. Paranoia is not a way of life for me however living in a world of outlaws and human narcotic incinerators that is rural Louisiana, not to mention a large array of nasty critters tell the home owner to be ready.
Now remember the 410 is the smallest shotgun so anything larger is much worse on the bad guy. Also remember I needed a good excuse to go out in the back yard and touch off that really beautiful Yeltiz Double 410.
Remembering all those nasty images of the effectiveness of the shotgun at close range as a criminal investigator one term comes serious to mind; the rat hole. At the close range of 7 yards, the accepted Combat Range of a deadly encounter, any shotgun with any shell becomes a formidable weapon.
This simple demonstration of a 410 with a 3 inch shell and 11/16th ounce of #4 shot which is my standard squirrel load at 25 yards. At 7 yards however it turns into a formidable combat gun for the home and the smallest responsible individual can handle it.
The rat hole is caused when the shot string at close range tears into the target without scattering causing one massive wound, seldom survivable. With the 410 in this case, the entire load of #4’s landed in a 3 inch circle with a rat hole in the middle. Imagine if you will what that would do with a head or chest shot.
Buckshot and slugs are available in all shotguns including the 410 so if you choose a shotgun do your home work as the internet has many examples to show you how it can be used….Pass it on.