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m590_1989
A properly equipped and set up shotgun can be a very viable and versatile tool.
Over the past decade or so, shotguns have taken a back seat to patrol rifles. While patrol rifles undoubtedly have their place, the shotgun, when properly configured, is still a viable and effective tool.
Does it replace a patrol rifle? Not necessarily. Does having a patrol rifle mean you shouldn’t also carry a shotgun? We will dig into that.
What are the pros and cons of a shotgun versus a patrol rifle?
Shell cards are extremely versatile and make carrying spare shells very easy.
Starting with the Cons
– Harder to reload.
Shotguns can be more difficult to keep fed. Without a detachable box magazine, you must load one shell at a time. With practice, this is not insurmountable, but something to consider. The ammo is bulky and heavy as well, but the shells are easy to manipulate since they are larger than typical handgun or rifle rounds.
– Recoil
Yes, shotguns do have a recoil impulse. If you are not teaching shooters how to mitigate that recoil impulse, shotguns can be unpleasant to shoot and train with. If your agency doesn’t allocate sufficient time and ammunition to get people properly trained on their shotguns, this can be an uphill battle. But it can be managed.
Improved sights such as these from Beretta and an Aimpoint Acro P2 vastly improve the effectiveness and accuracy of a shotgun.
– Weight
Shotguns can be heavy with an extended magazine tube or a sidesaddle of ammunition. While a good sling can help with this, it is something to consider.
Now, the Pros
Enlarged safety buttons on this Mossberg 590A1 from Vang Comp Systems are easier to use.
– Effectiveness
You will be hard-pressed to argue that shotgun rounds won’t have an impact. Whether you use buckshot or slugs, well-placed hits can be extremely effective. Even marginal hits will have an effect. Most shotgun loads are not affected by barriers (auto glass, heavy clothing, door panels, etc.).
– Ammunition
With the improvements in buckshot loads in recent times, buckshot remains an excellent choice. The Federal Tactical load with the Flite Control shot cup routinely keeps the entire pattern inside a torso at out to 25 yards. With most police shootings being much closer than that, this makes that load an excellent choice for police.
Federal’s Flite Control buckshot and low recoil slugs are both excellent choices.
– Versatility
Shotgun slugs are effective against people, animals (large wildlife especially), and intermediate barriers, such as vehicles. By switching from buckshot to slugs to breaching rounds, you have a very versatile platform. A “select-slug” drill is not difficult to master. That drill involves getting a slug into the chamber of a shotgun loaded with double aught buck to take a shot that requires a single projectile.
Larger and easy-to-operate safety buttons are a significant improvement over the smaller buttons of the past.
– Appearance
For agencies and politicians, the appearance of their weapons is a consideration. The scary black rifle that turns off some policymakers is a real concern. Especially in a ban state where the average citizen cannot possess one. The shotgun, for whatever reason, does not have the same aura about it being deployed. And there are almost no bans on anyone owning one.
– Cost
Shotguns are usually cheaper than a patrol rifle. If you could issue everyone a shotgun to everyone or issue half of your people a patrol rifle, what would you decide?
Improved sling mounting options have made it easier to carry and sling a shotgun. This one from Vang Comp adds another shell to the magazine.
Effectiveness
Improvements in shotguns and accessories have also greatly increased their effectiveness and ease of use. Gone are the days of just bead sights and maybe a carry strap. Forearm-mounted lights, enlarged safety buttons, improved ghost ring or rifle sights, and better sling and sling mounting options all increase the benefits and ease of deploying a shotgun.
Forearm-mounted lights are extremely effective and easy to use. These options from Surefire provide plenty of light.
The development of better ways to carry additional ammunition has helped. Improvements to sidesaddle shell carriers, including by mounting them with hook-and-loop tape on the receiver, have helped tremendously. These shell holders allow you to keep the shotgun topped off with the extra ammunition that is carried on the shotgun. These carriers also fit in pocket pockets and AR magazine pouches.
Semi-Autos
The Beretta A300 Patrol is a popular choice. With excellent sights, easy mounting options for a sling and light, and a non-finicky operating system, it is a solid semi-auto patrol shotgun.
Semi-auto shotguns are also seeing a resurgence. The Benelli M4 and Beretta’s 1301 and A300 Patrol models are effective and affordable. These models have mitigated the reliability concerns and issues with previous models. Across the board, the feedback is that they are solidly reliable and not ammunition-dependent.
Final Thought
Do you carry a shotgun in addition to a patrol rifle or as a standalone long gun? Please let us know.
