AR vs. Tactical Shotgun: Who Wins?

The tactical shotgun has plenty of fight left in it – and plenty of versatility, for law enforcement, military and home defense/civilian use.

With the release of his new book, Gun Digest Book of the Tactical Shotgun, just around the corner, author Scott Wagner responded with the following when asked what he wants readers to know:

“The tactical shotgun is not dead. I thought it was, until I wrote the upcoming Gun Digest Book of the Tactical Shotgun. Up until that point, I was in the AR corner all the way, especially for law enforcement use. In fact, at the rural Sheriff's Department I work for, I was attempting to get my agency to pull the shotguns from the cruiser and relegate the shotgun to use as a less-lethal launcher only. Okay, I was wrong. The tactical shotgun has plenty of fight left in it – and plenty of versatility, for law enforcement, military and civilian use.

“One thing I hadn't considered until doing this work was the sheer affordability of the shotgun for use for home, perimeter and personal defense. While you might not be able to afford the newest top-of-the-line piston-driven ultra AR-15, you sure can afford a nice tactical pump gun! It's time we all take another look at one of the oldest and best CQB weapons and give it some new consideration, and respect.”

Gun Digest Book of the Tactical Shotgun is the essential buyer's guide to the modern home defense and combat shotgun. Wagner reviews many makes and models of currently available tactical shotguns, ammunition and accessories. He also reviews some fun specialty ammo (find out which exotic load promised quite a show, but ultimately fizzled), and performs a little backyard ballistics testing (picture fresh, whole chickens that were on sale 2-for-1 . . . ).