Home Defense

The MasterPiece Arms MPA Defender 930DMG is an Ingram-style firearm with a machined alloy grip contoured to accept easy-to-find Glock magazines.

The word shotgun covers a lot of ground. You can pay six-figures for an engraved Italian masterpiece, or you can buy an old single shot break-action in decent working order for less than the cost of a date night (with dinner and a movie). We’ll be looking at the most practical and reliable shotguns–and there are unlimited options under the $300 mark.

We’re beginning a new series here at GunsAmerica that examines the best options for home defense. But there’s a twist. In order to make our list, these guns and tools have to be reliable, capable, and (most importantly) affordable. There’s a lot to talk about–from gun design to caliber considerations–but these guns will get the job done without breaking the bank.

Choosing a gun for home defense can be tricky. Few people choose to wear their home defense pistols concealed, so guns chambered in .45 ACP are a popular choice. We’ll take a look at 5 of the most popular choices for full-sized .45s, and look at what makes each a solid choice for home defense.

Shotguns have been a favorite choice for many years when it comes to personal protection as they provides firepower and versatility with options to fit any budget. There are a lot of myths about what makes a good shotgun for home defense. The basics are easy–it should be a 12 gauge, possess a sturdy and reliable action, have an 18-20 inch barrel, and an easy to see sighting system. Here are five scatter guns that would make excellent choices for defensive shotguns when things go bump in the night.

We all love to dicker about what kind of gun is right for home defense. The truth of the matter is that much of what is “right” is determined by individual circumstances. What kind of home are you trying to defend? What is in this house? What is outside of it? This is where we typically begin. But there’s more. I think one of the most important considerations has to be who will be relying on the firearm in question? And to that end, we’ll be looking at some alternatives to the traditional 12 gauge. Today, we’ve got a Mossberg 500 Special Purpose 20 gauge.