The Shotgun as a Truck Gun: Ammo, Range & the Guns I Trust
Tim Sundles - Buffalo Bore Ammunition
48,898 views
Can a shotgun still be a practical truck gun? Tim breaks down the strengths and limitations of the 12 gauge, including effective range, recoil, capacity, barrel length, and the differences between buckshot and slugs.
He also walks through several shotguns he has relied on over the years—from the Ithaca Model 37 and Remington 870 to the Mossberg 590, Beretta 1301, and multiple Benelli models. Along the way, Tim explains proper ammunition selection, why shotgun patterning matters, and which setup he considers the best for home defense and serious use.
A shotgun can be extremely effective—but only when it’s loaded correctly, practiced with, and understood.
What shotgun would you trust in your truck or home? Let us know in the comments.
20 Comments
But anyway, we had a huge ammunition dump at the rear of our Kaserne, and when we pulled guard duty we were issued 12 gauge pump riot guns and carried bayonets mounted on belts for emergencies and/or in event of protesters breeching perimeter fences. Yes, our shotguns were also loaded, and we had additional ammo with us, and more in reserve with NCOIC/OIC of the gyard. But the presumption was in case of demonstrations and/or riots the bayonets were preferable "for persuasion without the need for firing the weapon. Plus it was physically useful for fending as well. Most of our guns at the time if memory serves was the steel framed 870's. With perhaps a sprinkling of other models and makes as well. I distinctly remember 5he Model 12's, the few we had available, and I usually finaggled my way into getting one. I had grown up hunting and using my Father's Model 12, from the point my younger brothers started, and they'd carry my 20 gauge. So my Dad used his Father's double, and I his Winchester Md 12, 12 gauge. (Now my youngest brother has our Dad's Md 12, I have his Rem Md 141 pump in .35 Remington and our middle brother has his Marlin 336 in .32 Winchester Special. Our other brother passed away at 48 from a stroke. I personally gave him both a rifle, a Glenfield Md. 30 I had given my brother at the time for his children when hunting, and a .38 S&W that I had provided for him replacing a cheap .32 ACP derringer he was carrying as his CCW. He had a propensity for the "less than usual objects, which the older .38 S&W suited his fancy. And regardless of its shortcomings, was leaps ahead of what he had previously. And loaded with flat nosed bullets at sedate velocities of cartridge and gun, still were better than the 146 grain typical factory loads running at about 600 fps. So live with what you've chosen I suppose, and make the best of it, became my mantra for dealing with his quirks.😉
But anyway, great guns.
The Shotgun as a Truck Gun: Ammo, Range & the Guns I Trust
Tim Sundles - Buffalo Bore Ammunition
48,898 views
Can a shotgun still be a practical truck gun? Tim breaks down the strengths and limitations of the 12 gauge, including effective range, recoil, capacity, barrel length, and the differences between buckshot and slugs.
He also walks through several shotguns he has relied on over the years—from the Ithaca Model 37 and Remington 870 to the Mossberg 590, Beretta 1301, and multiple Benelli models. Along the way, Tim explains proper ammunition selection, why shotgun patterning matters, and which setup he considers the best for home defense and serious use.
A shotgun can be extremely effective—but only when it’s loaded correctly, practiced with, and understood.
What shotgun would you trust in your truck or home? Let us know in the comments.