Shotguns come up now and then.  There is nothing wrong with the shotgun except it excels at two rather mundane things these days; ballistic breaching and less-lethal munitions.  It is no longer the CQB champ it once was (just ask all those guys with shorty carbines with 30 in the mag running around).  There is nothing wrong with using a shotgun for CQB, you just need to be good.  You need to not suck at aiming, you need to not suck at reloading, and not suck at ammo selection.  And definitely not suck at setting up your rig.

So why would you want a shotgun if they're not so good at CQB anymore, and really only good for breaching and less-lethal?  They are an order of magnitude cheaper than a carbine.  You can get a good shotgun setup and running for a tenth the cost some carbine rigs run.  When they do connect, it's devastating, especially at short range.  Sometimes you have to go with the gun you have rather than the gun you want.  And you also now have a ballistic breaching platform! 

Shotguns should be as short as legally possible.  If you can afford to do a 14", do it.  You will only be losing yards on the back end, and unless you're turkey or deer hunting, outside is a scary place to be with a shotgun.  Otherwise get an 18.5" barrel and a 5 round magazine.  Do not get a folding stock or a pistol grip stock; stick to a normal stock but get one with a short length of pull.  Houge make an excellent 12" LOP stock that is very short but very solid and only requires you to change your grip slightly from a crossed over to straight thumb.  I've been shooting with a straight thumb grip for years with no ill affect to performance.  Adjustable stocks are finicky and can break or be uncomfortable to shoot.  Pistol grips are good close in, but you limit yourself by removing the sights from your eyes.  For breaching a pistol grip is a great setup; saves space, you do not need to aim with the sights, good to go.  Otherwise, stick with a stock where you can use the sights.  Pistol grip stocks can work for some people, but not with some guns (Mossberg with their tang safeties.)

What kind of sights do you need on your shotgun?  I personally never see a need for anything but a bronze bead.  I shot a lot of trap and skeet growing up and the format clicks with me.  Rifle sights do not make sense to me because it's a shotgun, not a rifle.  Speed is going to be the primary focus.  Accuracy is going to be prep-work you do patterning your gun with different loads at different yardages.  Once you know how your gun patterns, accuracy will be second nature, but there will be a huge difference between rifle/pistol accuracy.  The question you will ask yourself is not "can I make the shot" but "can I make the shot with buckshot?"  You are responsible for the pellets you send down range and if one leaves the target area and does something you didn't intend, you're still liable.  Once you've reached the cone of no return for buckshot (around 40 yards, maybe less), you will need to select slug.  Rifle sights might come in handy for slugs, but again the distance here are not huge.  Max range is going to be 60-80 yards.  With enough practice you should be at 100% for center of mass at max range.

You need a place on the gun to put extra shells.  For Mossbergs I prefer on the stock, a tech a Mossberg told me sidesaddles were a no-go with the aluminum receiver of the M500 series.  For Remington, I still resist sidesaddles, but they're more do-able.  Make sure you use loctite and witness marks so your pins don't walk out.  But no matter what, keep extra rounds on the gun.  You need to be able to pick up a gun and not fumble for extra rounds, just have them.

Invest in some dummy rounds and get proficient in reloading from the on-gun positions.  Index the shells by feel using the rim of the shell and push them into the tub or open chamber if completely dry.  Make sure you know how to reload your gun, you can do it in the dark, by feel.  You know which rounds are what loads and you can select slug if you need to in low light.

You will also want a light on the gun.  SureFire makes the best in the business, but expect to pay.  The dedicated forends just work.  If you are planning to go Mossberg this is another reason to avoid the 590, the bayonet lug will need to be removed before you can use a SF forend.  The LED ones are outstanding and work great for CQB.  And you will never have to worry about battry or bulb again.

The shotgun is a viable fighting tool, a bit outdated, but the gun you have is better than the gun you want.  I am completely comfortable with the trusty M500 in the corner and the black rifles locked up.  In my area I can dominate with my setup, but it's a format I'm used to and have invested rounds and training into.  I think you might see a theme forming.  If you have a format you're comfortable with, have invested the training rounds with, and know the area, you can be the dominant force in the situation.  It's better to not go looking for trouble, but if you have no choice, the gun you have better be the one you're prepared to use.

SMASHY

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