I have very little shotgun experience.

I fired a Saiga 12 gauge before. I don't know what the ammo load was but they were slugs.

I found the recoil "tolerable" but not loving it. Got bruises on my shoulder.

If I get one with no shoulder stock (just the pistol grip) is that totally stupid and impossible to wield?

I am not expecting to shoot it much actually. Just something to scare bad guys away with a fearsome muzzle.

(No I do not want double barreled).

It will either be pump (most likely) or semi.

Pumping a pistol grip only isn't super easy.   Gonns take practice to be able to do and return the gun quickly to point of aim
  The traditional models with stocks much easier to pump and aim.  Go to sports authority and try pump the pistol mossy 500

Need a butt stock for sure...unless you just are trying to look cool. 

They make stocks that will take some of the recoil. You could always look for a 20 gauge or even a .410, less recoil but for HD it would do the trick!

Agree on stock; I just wanted one that is easier to grab and move around indoors. As I said, this is home defense.

But OK, I will probably go with stock. That is what I guessed anyway, the pistol grip is for Hollywood.

Just needed to come here to double check with you guys.

Are there 12 gauge loads that have less recoil?

Since I might go with pump, that should not be a problem right? Cycling the action with less powerful loads.

So, let me check, do you guys ALSO get bruised shoulders on a 12 gauge if the stock is not particularly comfy?

I don't recall the Saiga being comfy at all on the shoulder.

low recoil 00 buck is available
low recoil is relative, though
it's not no recoil

a semi-auto will have less recoil than a pump
some of the kinetic energy is channeled into cycling the action
you don't get the scary sound of pumping the action, though

Agree on stock; I just wanted one that is easier to grab and move around indoors. As I said, this is home defense.

But OK, I will probably go with stock. That is what I guessed anyway, the pistol grip is for Hollywood.

Just needed to come here to double check with you guys.

Are there 12 gauge loads that have less recoil?

Since I might go with pump, that should not be a problem right? Cycling the action with less powerful loads.

yes, pump is more reliable on low power loads than semi-auto

Agree on stock; I just wanted one that is easier to grab and move around indoors. As I said, this is home defense.

But OK, I will probably go with stock. That is what I guessed anyway, the pistol grip is for Hollywood.

Just needed to come here to double check with you guys.

Are there 12 gauge loads that have less recoil?

Since I might go with pump, that should not be a problem right? Cycling the action with less powerful loads.

Try these loads...

Hornady Critical Defense 12 Gauge 00 Buck – Designed specifically for personal defense, these reduced recoil loads from Hornady feature eight 00 buck pellets moving at 1600 fps.

Also look into the Knoxx recoil reducing stock, that may help as well.

Try these loads...

Hornady Critical Defense 12 Gauge 00 Buck – Designed specifically for personal defense, these reduced recoil loads from Hornady feature eight 00 buck pellets moving at 1600 fps.

Thanks man.

you don't get the scary sound of pumping the action, though

No, I will load one in the chamber already ONCE I hear the scary sound of the BG(s) coming through the door.

 

Definitely get one with a stock.

Go to a practical shotgun class anywhere and count now many people have shotguns with no stock.

Better yet, I'll save you $500 and tell you... Zero.

Advantage to a pump shotty is like you said, you can shoot everything out of it.

Advantage to a semi is they're faster and don't require pumping.

As far as recoil goes, they make some great recoil pads for shotguns. They absorb a whole lot of the recoil and save your shoulder from bruises.

I know a guy that bought a "youth" model for the shorter LOP so he could put a big recoil pad on it.

Shotguns take practice to shoot well just the same as any other firearm.

Don't listen to the people that say that you don't need practice and one shot will stop three bad guys.

Definitely kk...practice shooting, practice loading (also on the move) and practice them again. For HD, your not going to get a lot of spread.

thanks guys.

for HD, I was thinking to get a lot of choke on it to get the range and more focused spread.

but again, I hope it is scary enough to scare BGs away.

I like the pump action...so if you rack it and the BGs are still in your house, chances are they are there to do bad things and then you will know that you will probably have to use it.

Ok, lets dispel that myth right now.

Nobody is going to run from hearing a pump shotgun rack that wouldn't have run at the sight or sound of any other firearm.

I like the pump action...so if you rack it and the BGs are still in your house, chances are they are there to do bad things and then you will know that you will probably have to use it.

So which pump has the loudest f*cking sound again? Just kidding.   

Ok, lets dispel that myth right now.

Nobody is going to run from hearing a pump shotgun rack that wouldn't have run at the sight or sound of any other firearm.

Is true BUT let me ask you guys HONESTLY, which is scarier? A dude holding a thick 12 gauge barrel pointed straight at you, or a dude with a handgun, or even an AR/AK.

Just for me, purely subjectively, the shotgun seems a bit more worrisome, even though logically I know all of them are deadly (especially the rifles).

Ok, lets dispel that myth right now.

Nobody is going to run from hearing a pump shotgun rack that wouldn't have run at the sight or sound of any other firearm.

Maybe...but I guess my point is that a shotgun is definitely louder than lets say a pistol and is easier for the BG to hear. Idk...maybe I am completely full of shit, but if I were a BG and I broke into a house and I heard that...I would definitely pop smoke.

Is true BUT let me ask you guys HONESTLY, which is scarier? A dude holding a thick 12 gauge barrel pointed straight at you, or a dude with a handgun, or even an AR/AK.

Just for me, purely subjectively, the shotgun seems a bit more worrisome, even though logically I know all of them are deadly.

In all honesty, any firearm is just as scary to me.

A well placed shot with a 25acp can be just as deadly as a blast from a 12 gauge.

A well trained person with a 22lr can do more damage than an idiot with a 12 gauge shotgun.

Maybe...but I guess my point is that a shotgun is definitely louder than lets say a pistol and is easier for the BG to hear. Idk...maybe I am completely full of shit, but if I were a BG and I broke into a house and I heard that...I would definitely pop smoke.

Sure as heck hope they don't drop the load IN my house. Sheesh.

They can at least have the courtesy to get the heck OUTSIDE before they drop their load.

I will be sure to chase them outside the doorway before racking again. LOL