We talked about the AR-15 rifle previously. Now, we’re going to talk about the 12-gauge shotgun. Let’s continue on with our discussion about the Patriot Arsenal.
The 12-gauge Shotgun
What I have in my hands here is the Mossberg Model 590 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Now, many of you might be thinking, “Well, Paul, you have a semi-automatic rifle. So you should have a semi-automatic shotgun.”
The reason that I decided to go with a slide-action, or a pump-action,12-gauge is because one of the greatest attributes of the shotgun is the fact that it is very, very versatile. You can obviously load this with really light-weight – super light – birdshot, trap loads and so forth. You can load it with heavier weight buckshot, or slugs. You can put in specialty flares, or emergency rounds, or whathaveyou.
The problem with semi-automatic, or gas-operated, shotguns is that many of them are finicky when it comes to ammunition. Now, if this is a gun that I am going to use in the poop-hits-the-fan/zombie apocalypse/end of the world as we know it, I do not want a gun that is a finicky eater. I want a gun that is going to chamber and cycle every single 12-gauge round I put in it.
With heavier loads, like slugs and double-ought buck, is the felt recoil more? Yes. It is greater than with birdshot, or trap load, or whathaveyou.
For Hunting
Could you load this with trap load for light-weight things such as, “I just wanna shoot small game or birds,”? Yes. Do that. Go ahead.
For Defense
If it’s going to be a defensive tool, load it with buckshot or slugs.
They are really simple to learn how to operate. They’re not that difficult, and the great thing about the 12-gauge is that 12-gauge ammunition is available pretty much everywhere you go. Even if you can’t find handgun ammo, even if you can’t find rifle ammo, if there is a store – a hardware store – and it sells ammunition, chances are really good that it’s going to have 12-gauge. If you’re ever in a situation where there’s no 12-gauge ammunition left in the world, you’re gonna have to start fashioning spears out of flint and sticks, and so forth.
Conclusion
The second gun that I highly recommend for the Patriot Arsenal is some type of slide-action, or pump-action, 12-gauge shotgun, and the one that I have in my hands, here, is the Mossberg Model 590.
Professor Paul Markel

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