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All 74 articles from Defense Guns, newest first. Search, filter by topic, or sort to find the one you need.
Remington 870: How a 1950 Pump Became America's Shotgun
From a cheaper replacement for the Model 31 to more than ten million made: the Remington 870 story, its police years, two bankruptcies and the RemArms era.
Remington 870: How a 1950 Pump Became America's Shotgun
From a cheaper replacement for the Model 31 to more than ten million made: the Remington 870 story, its police years, two bankruptcies and the RemArms era.
Red Dot vs Night Sights on a Home-Defense Pistol
Red dot or tritium night sights on a nightstand pistol? How each works with a weapon light, auto-on dots, battery checks and tritium aging, and who needs which.
Do You Need a Permit to Keep a Gun at Home?
Most states need no license to keep a lawfully owned gun at home, but a few do. How owner-ID, purchase-permit and handgun-license states differ.
How to Teach Your Partner the Home-Defense Gun Without a Fight
A calm, step-by-step plan for teaching a partner the household home-defense gun: safety rules, storage access, manual of arms, a .22 first range trip, practice.
Mossberg's Story: A Swedish Immigrant and a Four-Shot .22 Pistol
How Oscar F. Mossberg went from Swedish immigrant to founding O.F. Mossberg & Sons in 1919, from the Brownie pistol to the 500 and 590 shotguns in many homes.
Mossberg 590 vs 590A1: Is the Mil-Spec Upgrade Worth It at Home?
The 590A1 adds a heavy-walled barrel and a metal trigger guard and safety to the Mossberg 590. What those changes do, what they cost you, and who needs them.
Full-Size vs Compact Nightstand Pistol: Does Size Matter at Home?
Full-size or compact pistol for the nightstand? Sight radius, capacity, lights, grip and using one gun for carry and home, with Glock and Walther examples.
What Is "Cruiser Ready"? Staging a Home-Defense Shotgun
Cruiser ready means a loaded magazine tube, an empty chamber and the action closed. How it works on pumps, why semi-autos differ, and how to store it safely.
Castle Doctrine vs Stand Your Ground: What's the Difference?
Castle doctrine covers your home; stand-your-ground removes the duty to retreat in other places too. A plain-English explainer of both and how states differ.
Will Buckshot Go Through Walls? What the Testing Shows
Does buckshot go through interior walls? What published drywall and gel tests found for 00 buck, #4 buck and birdshot, and how to plan your home around it.
Best Home-Defense Shotguns for Smaller Shooters (Short Length of Pull)
For smaller-framed shooters, length of pull matters more than any spec. Home-defense shotguns with 13-inch, Bantam and adjustable stocks, with who each fits.
Best Low-Recoil Buckshot for Home Defense
Reduced-recoil 00 buckshot picks for a home-defense 12 gauge: Federal FLITECONTROL, Remington, Hornady, how they compare, and when a semi-auto needs a test run.
Best 9mm Ammo for a Pistol-Caliber Carbine at Home
What a 16-inch barrel does to 9mm hollow points, why heavier standard-pressure loads suit a carbine, and the loads worth testing in a home-defense PCC.
Best 5.56 and .223 Home-Defense Loads: Bonded, Soft Point, Varmint
Which AR-15 loads make sense indoors? Bonded soft points, all-copper, plain soft points and varmint bullets compared for home defense, with picks by type.
Benelli's Story: Motorcycles, the Inertia Action and the M4
How a Pesaro motorcycle family spun off Benelli Armi in 1967, how Bruno Civolani's inertia action defined it, and how the gas-driven M4 became the M1014.
00 Buck vs #4 Buck for Home Defense: Which Shot Size Makes Sense?
00 buck vs #4 buck for a home-defense shotgun: pellet size and count, published gel and wall tests, pattern spread, recoil, and which one most homes should use.
Why Is It Called 12 Gauge? (And Why .410 Isn't a Gauge at All)
Twelve lead balls, one pound, and a naming system borrowed from cannons. The odd history of shotgun gauge, why bigger numbers mean smaller bores, and the .410.
"Riding Shotgun": The Stagecoach Origin of the Home-Defense Shotgun
From Wells Fargo messengers and their stubby doubles to the Winchester 1897 riot gun and today's 18.5-inch pump: the real history behind riding shotgun.
Pump vs Semi-Auto Shotgun for Home Defense: Reliability vs Recoil
Pump shotguns forgive cheap ammo; semi-autos forgive tired arms. How short-stroking, ammo sensitivity, recoil and cost decide your home-defense pick.
Pistol-Caliber Carbine vs AR-15 for Home Defense
A 9mm carbine and an AR-15 look alike, but they behave differently indoors. Compare noise, walls, recoil, magazine sharing and storage, then pick.
How Far Does Buckshot Travel? Max Range vs Effective Range
Buckshot's effective range is short, but its maximum range is far longer than most people think. Published figures, why they differ, and what it means at home.
How to Set Up a Shotgun for Home Defense: Light, Sling, Shells
A step-by-step setup for a home-defense pump or semi-auto: fit, light, sling, spare shells, ammo testing, staging and locked storage, in the right order.
Handgun or Shotgun for Home Defense? Let Your Floor Plan Decide
Walk your own house with a tape measure, then pick. A household-by-household guide to choosing a handgun or a shotgun for home defense, storage included.
Best Home-Defense Shotgun Lights: Forend, Rail and Scout Picks
Shotgun lights have a problem pistol lights don't: the forend moves. Here are the best forend, rail and scout-style lights for a home-defense shotgun.
Best Handheld Flashlights for Home Defense
The flashlight is the tool you'll use on every bump in the night, gun or no gun. Tail switches, lumens vs candela, CR123 vs rechargeable, and picks.
Beretta 1301 Tactical vs Benelli M4: The Semi-Auto Shotgun Fight
Gas vs gas, light vs heavy, newcomer vs Marine Corps veteran. How the Beretta 1301 Tactical and Benelli M4 differ for home defense, and who should buy which.
Stevens 320 Security Lineup: Thumbhole, Pistol Grip, Rail, 20 Gauge
A map of four Stevens 320 Security configurations for home defense: what changes between thumbhole, pistol grip, rail and 20 gauge, and who each suits.
Slugs for Home Defense: Almost Always No
Why a 12-gauge slug is rarely the right defensive load inside a house, the narrow rural cases where owners think differently, and how to decide.
Ruger PC Carbine: Fluted Threaded vs Standard for Home Defense
Two Ruger PC Carbine 9mm listings compared for home defense: the fluted, hard-coat threaded model versus the standard one, and what suppressor-ready means.
Ruger AR-556 vs AR-556 MPR for Home Defense
Two Ruger AR-15s, 16-inch and 18-inch barrels: how length, handguard and setup choices affect an indoor home-defense rifle, and which to pick.
Remington 870 Express Tactical Review (RemArms Era)
The Remington 870 Express Tactical for home defense after the brand changed hands: what the design offers, how to inspect one, and how it compares with the 590.
Federal Power-Shok vs FLITECONTROL 00 Buck: Pattern It Yourself
Federal Power-Shok vs Tactical FLITECONTROL 00 buckshot for home defense: what the wad design is meant to do and how to pattern both in your own shotgun.
Sig P365-XMACRO TACOPS: Nightstand Gun or Carry Gun?
Can one compact 17+1 9mm do both jobs? A practical look at the Sig P365-XMACRO TACOPS as a bedside pistol and a carry gun, and what to check before choosing.
Spare Mags for the Nightstand: PMAG GL9 and Window PMAGs
Spare magazines for home defense: the Magpul PMAG 21 GL9 and PMAG M3 Window 30, loaded-magazine spring myths, rotation, labeling and secure storage.
Mounted Light vs Handheld: TLR-1 HP vs ProTac HL at Home
Why home-defense setups need both a weapon-mounted light and a handheld flashlight, and how the Streamlight TLR-1 HP and ProTac HL fit each job.
Mossberg 590 Shockwave JIC Review: What It Is, Who It Fits
A neutral look at the Mossberg 590 Shockwave JIC for home defense: how it is classified, how it differs from the standard Shockwave, and why recoil matters.
Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Review for Home Defense
The Mossberg 500 Special Purpose as a home-defense pump: what the configuration offers, how it compares with the 590 Tactical, and who should skip it.
Maverick 88 Security 18.5-inch vs 20-inch: Is Two Extra Rounds Worth It?
Comparing the 5+1 Maverick 88 Security (18.5-inch barrel) with the 7+1 version (20-inch): capacity, hallway handling, and what actually matters for a home.
Kel-Tec P15 for Home Defense: Thin Isn't the Point
The Kel-Tec P15 judged as a bedside pistol rather than a carry gun: 15+1 capacity, sights, light options, magazine supply, and who it suits at home.
Kel-Tec KSG 18.5-inch vs 30.5-inch: 14+1 or 20+1?
Choosing between the short and long Kel-Tec KSG bullpup pumps for a house: capacity, hallway handling, storage, and why the colors barely matter.
Federal HST 124gr in a Nightstand Pistol: One Load for Carry and Home
Why a well-regarded 9mm carry load like Federal HST 124-grain also makes sense in a bedside pistol, what changes indoors, and how to test and store it.
Home Defense in a Rental: Landlords, Leases and Storage
How leases, state law and housing type affect keeping a firearm in a rented home, with Tennessee's 2026 change as an example and a practical storage checklist.
Henry Homesteader 9mm for Home Defense: The Walnut Carbine
The Henry Homesteader 9mm as a quiet-looking home-defense carbine: walnut stock, 16.37-inch barrel, pistol-magazine compatibility, and where it falls short.
Family Plan: Who Does What When the Alarm Goes Off
A household plan for a nighttime break-in or alarm: phone first, a safe room, roles by age, family code words and drills that never involve a firearm.
Canik Mete SFT Review: 20 Rounds for the Nightstand
The Canik Mete SFT from a bedside perspective: 20+1 capacity, light and optic considerations, spare magazines, and how to store it so only adults can reach it.
After a Home Defense Incident: The First Hour
A neutral overview of the first hour after a firearm incident at home: safety, medical aid, the 911 call, meeting police and why a qualified attorney matters.
Winter Travel, Full Cars and Secure Storage: Plan Before the Luggage Tetris
Holiday travel makes every vehicle more crowded and every routine less routine.
Spooktober: Home-Defense Myths That Sound Better in the Dark
Fear makes simple stories attractive. Good planning is usually less cinematic.
New Year, New Codes: When to Revisit Household Access and Storage
Access control is a living system, especially after moves, guests, repairs or household changes.
Low Light Does Not Make Eye Protection Optional
Home-defense planning becomes more useful when it stops pretending the home is an empty floor plan. Real homes have guests, children, cleaners, relatives, pets, repairs and changing…
Home Firearm Storage and Unauthorized Access: Design for the Household You Actually Have
Secure storage has to survive normal life, not just look good in an empty room.
Holiday Guest-Proofing: Secure Storage Before the Spare Bedroom Fills Up
Home-defense planning becomes more useful when it stops pretending the home is an empty floor plan. Real homes have guests, children, cleaners, relatives, pets, repairs and changing…
Hearing Protection Belongs in the Training Plan, Not the Emergency Fantasy
Protect your hearing during practice so you can actually keep practicing.
Halloween Means the Door Opens 50 Times: Do the Home Storage Check First
Costumes, kids, neighbors, packages and an unusually chaotic entryway change the household pattern for one night.
Practical Gifts for the Home-Safety Person Who Already Bought All the Flashy Stuff
Home-defense planning becomes more useful when it stops pretending the home is an empty floor plan. Real homes have guests, children, cleaners, relatives, pets, repairs and changing…
The Fall Home-Safety Inventory: Locks, Keys, Codes and Who Actually Has Access
The weakness in a system is often an assumption nobody has checked lately.
What to Get Dad for the Range Without Guessing His Ammo, Gun or Setup
A universal safety upgrade beats a confident but incompatible guess.
The Least Cinematic Home-Defense Advice Is Often the Most Useful
Good lighting, communication, secure storage and planning rarely make movie posters.
Weapon Lights Compared: Streamlight TLR-1, TLR-8, TLR-6 and SureFire X300
Which weapon light fits your home-defense gun? Lumens vs candela, light-laser combos, pistol vs long gun, and how the common Streamlight and SureFire models compare.
Pistol-Caliber Carbines Beyond the Ruger PC: Four Other Options
The Ruger PC Carbine is not the only pistol-caliber carbine for home defense. How the Henry Homesteader, Kel-Tec SUB2000, CMMG Banshee and Saint Victor 9mm compare.
The Nightstand Pistol: How to Set Up a Handgun for Home Defense
A nightstand handgun needs a light, a proven load and storage you can open fast in the dark. How to set one up, with four high-capacity pistols to consider.
Kel-Tec KSG for Home Defense: Capacity, Length, and the Learning Curve
The Kel-Tec KSG packs two magazine tubes into a short bullpup pump shotgun. What that buys you for home defense, and what it asks of you in training.
Setting Up an AR-15 for Home Defense: A Practical Checklist
How to configure an AR-15 for home defense: red dot, weapon light, sling, magazines and ammunition. A step-by-step setup around the Ruger AR-556.
9mm Home-Defense Ammo and Your Walls: Choosing a Load for a Household
Which 9mm defensive load for home defense, what expansion does and doesn't do, and why no round is wall-safe. Federal HST, Ranger T, Gold Dot and Critical Duty compared.
Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 vs Mossberg 590: Which Classic Pump for Home Defense?
Three pump shotguns have dominated home defense for decades. How the Remington 870, Mossberg 500 and Mossberg 590 differ in controls, build and parts support.
Home Defense in an Apartment: Thin Walls, Neighbors, and Smarter Choices
In an apartment, a missed shot can go through walls into a neighbor's home. How to think about overpenetration, and which guns and loads fit shared buildings.
Weapon-Mounted Lights for Home Defense: Why a Light Isn't Optional
Why every home-defense long gun needs a weapon light, how to use one safely without pointing at family, and how the Streamlight TLR-1 HL fits a shotgun or carbine.
Pistol-Caliber Carbines for Home Defense: The Ruger PC Carbine Case
Why a 9mm carbine like the Ruger PC Carbine makes sense for home defense: low recoil, capacity, shared ammo with your handgun, suppressor-ready threading.
The Mossberg Shockwave, Explained: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Who It's For
Why the 14-inch Mossberg 590 Shockwave is a 'firearm' and not a shotgun under federal law, what you can't add to it, and whether it's a good home-defense choice.
Mossberg 590 Tactical: 6+1 vs 9-Shot — Which One for Home Defense?
Mossberg 590 Tactical 18.5" 6+1 vs 20" 8+1 (9-shot) compared for home defense: handling, capacity, length and who each suits.
Buckshot Buyer's Guide: FLITECONTROL vs Power-Shok vs Slugs for Home Defense
How to choose home-defense shotgun ammo: 00 buck, FLITECONTROL wads, value buckshot, slugs, why birdshot falls short, and how to pattern your gun.
Best Budget Home-Defense Shotguns: Maverick 88 vs Stevens 320
An honest comparison of the Maverick 88 Security (18.5" and 20") and Stevens 320 Security for home defense — capacity, controls, reliability reputation and who each fits.
AR-15 vs Shotgun for Home Defense in 2026: An Honest Comparison
AR-15 or pump shotgun for home defense? Capacity, recoil, penetration through walls, practice cost and ease of use compared, with the Ruger AR-556 and Mossberg 590.
20 Gauge for Home Defense: The Lower-Recoil Shotgun Option
Is a 20 gauge enough for home defense? Recoil, ammunition and two practical guns — the Stevens 320 Security 20ga and Maverick 88 20ga.