I don’t know where you’re at but in CA there’s definitely a shortage on all the popular calibers like 9mm and 45 in my area. My best recommendation for a new gun owner here is to get a reliable caliber that’s not either of those alongside any other guns you may get because they have .357 and all that regularly still. Having a variety of calibers also gives you options for different situations in addition to ammo versatility. 45 for home defense, 9mm for practice and carry despite carry not really being an option in CA, etc.
Out local gun shops are quite literally almost out of handguns at this point. Even high end is mostly gone. Don’t bother with a shotgun for self defense if you live in a city in a small space because you’re going to kill everyone in the room and have lots of collateral damage in a state that already hates you for having a gun.
To my knowledge they now spread about 1” for every 2-3 feet depending on the round and barrel length and grace of god. That’s still a really wide spread for potential ricochets and other things if you’re not at point blank range, and massive property damage potential. If you are at point blank range, handguns win the day for self defense there too, though that’s less ideal for home defense. A 45 with hollow points is my pick, but everyone’s welcome to their own mix. It’s their house and stuff and loved ones. Seems to be Colion Noir’s pick too. Love shotguns, but I wouldn’t use one for home defense indoors. Or in a neighborhood.
I don’t know where you’re at but in CA there’s definitely a shortage on all the popular calibers like 9mm and 45 in my area. My best recommendation for a new gun owner here is to get a reliable caliber that’s not either of those alongside any other guns you may get because they have .357 and all that regularly still. Having a variety of calibers also gives you options for different situations in addition to ammo versatility. 45 for home defense, 9mm for practice and carry despite carry not really being an option in CA, etc.
Out local gun shops are quite literally almost out of handguns at this point. Even high end is mostly gone. Don’t bother with a shotgun for self defense if you live in a city in a small space because you’re going to kill everyone in the room and have lots of collateral damage in a state that already hates you for having a gun.
Go watch a video about spread. Shotguns don’t spread like a garden hose on low.
To my knowledge they now spread about 1” for every 2-3 feet depending on the round and barrel length and grace of god. That’s still a really wide spread for potential ricochets and other things if you’re not at point blank range, and massive property damage potential. If you are at point blank range, handguns win the day for self defense there too, though that’s less ideal for home defense. A 45 with hollow points is my pick, but everyone’s welcome to their own mix. It’s their house and stuff and loved ones. Seems to be Colion Noir’s pick too. Love shotguns, but I wouldn’t use one for home defense indoors. Or in a neighborhood.