Shotgun or pistol? There are as many opinions as there are guns on the market. Gun enthusiasts often have as many gun options as they do pairs of pants, each firearm analyzed and selected for it’s perfect use case. Gun ownership is as American as apple pie, and gun owners collect guns for self-protection, or sport use such as hunting and target shooting. If you needed to choose only one gun for home protection, a shotgun could make an excellent choice. Zerust offers a comprehensive section of rust and corrosion prevention products meant to preserve your shotgun or other firearm investment. If you are considering your first firearm, and are on a budget, here are some reasons a shotgun can be a great choice for home defense.

Affordability

If you simply want a basic home defense option without a huge cash outlay, pump-action shotguns can be found for less than $200 compared to bolt-action or semi-automatic rifles which can cost $400 or more. While many people prefer a pistol for home defense, it’s hard to deny the intimidation factor of a shotgun being pointed at an intruder.

Accuracy

Accuracy, or perhaps lack of accuracy is hallmark to the shotgun. The shells used in shotguns contain pellets that spray over a larger area compared to a single slug. There is much debate over what ammunition is best for home defense. Birdshot, buckshot, slugs, even rock salt–the options for types of ammunition are numerous. Birdshot is comprised of small pellets and buckshot contains larger, more lethal pellets.  As most pellets or slugs have the ability to shoot through drywall easily, the choice of ammunition comes down to personal preference and who and what is within close proximity to you. One thing that is certain is that a target is easier to hit with the spray pattern of shotgun shells.

Legality

In general, a shotgun may have more lax requirements compared to a pistol that may require a permit and background check to own. For example, in New York state, pistols and semi-automatic rifles are legal with restrictions, but hunting-style rifles that fire a single shot at a time and only hold up to 7 shells are generally legal without a permit if they do not possess military characteristics such as a telescoping stock, detachable magazine, or second handgrip.

Versatility

Shotguns are great for home defense and a versatile companion for hunting game animals for food or sport. From birds, to rabbits, turkeys, deer and more, by changing the ammo used, you can hunt almost any game animal. Skeet or sporting clay shooting are popular activities for many shooters, helping to building skills in firing accuracy and handling safety. For shooting ranges, there are probably restrictions on certain types of ammo such as birdshot due to the scattering nature of the projectile in close quarters. Be sure to check the rules before you go.

Storage

This is a weak point for the shotgun, needing a safe or lockable area large enough for a shotgun, compared to a pistol which can be hidden or locked away in a smaller space.  If there are children in the home, ensuring that a gun can be locked away safely is a requirement. For cleaning and storage of the gun, as our previous article about gun storage explains, corrosion can happen more rapidly when stored in a safe.

Zerust Offers Innovative Storage Options that Prevent Corrosion

Zerust uses patented vapor corrosion inhibiting technology to form an invisible, non-toxic, odorless layer of protection around metal components. Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors, or VCI for short, have a wide range of applications, but specific to the prevention of gun rust and corrosion, Zerust offers:

• Magic VCI Bullet: Custom made to fit 12 and 20 gauge shotguns, Magic VCI Bullet emits an invisible vapor that forms a corrosion and rust resistant barrier on the inside of your barrel. One Zerust Magic VCI Bullet protects your barrel for up to 3 years.
• Vapor capsules for ammo and weapons. These provide stored guns and firearms with up to two years of protection. They’re an excellent alternative to WD-40 and gun oil. We have different sizes depending on the space of your storage unit and the amount of time for which you want to protect your items. Simply place a capsule inside the closed storage space, and your firearms will be shielded from corrosion.
• Multipurpose VCI Poly Bags or Guns, Ammo, Weapons. VCI multipurpose bags are simple, effective forms of rust prevention. Just put your clean, cooled item into a poly bag and close it. Each bag is made with anti-corrosion protection that will keep any ferrous metals (iron, steel and cast iron) safe for up to five years. Another upside to bags is that because they keep your firearm dry, you can store, ship and transport without constantly having to apply oil and grease.
• VCI Weapon Protection Bags. Similar to the multipurpose bags, these inexpensive VCI protected bags come in larger sizes and are either close tie or zip tie.

If you have questions about any of our materials intended for ammo and gun rust prevention, feel free to reach out to us.