17 June 2025

A Lesson About Shotguns in Self-Defense

Not all shotgun loads are created equally. Man breaks into store, gets injured in shootout with owner: Hendersonville, TN police

A Hendersonville business owner and his wife survived a gun battle with an armed man inside the couple’s collectible shop early Wednesday morning. As for the suspect, he’s facing multiple charges — including attempted homicide — following his release from the hospital.

First he broke the door to the business. As at most retail businesses, the door was glass. When he realized the owners were inside he left to retrieve a gun. He was back a few moments later, and he was armed.

Then, just moments later, Bryan can be seen coming back to the door, pulling what law enforcement described as a 9mm from his backpack, ducking back through the broken glass into the store, and rushing toward the back of the shop.

“He’s looking to do harm at that point,” [HPD Assistant Chief Scott] Ryan stated.

By this point, the co-owner of The Cache, Roger McCandless, was ready and armed with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.

Birdshot injured and scared him, but it did not end the threat. While he retreated from the store, he opened fire with his 9mm pistol. Birdshot is not what you want to use for self-defense.

Hendersonville, Tennessee is about an 18 mile drive northeast of downtown Nashville.

The hat tip goes to Miguel Gonzalez and The importance of using the proper shotgun shells.

I am not a shotgun expert by any means of the imagination, but I heed the advice of more knowledgeable people: Birdshot is for birds, small rodents and training. Bipedal predators (AKA Dangerous criminals) require at a minimum buckshot, preferably in repeated pairs.

There is also a link to the The truth about Terminal Ballistics video from Thunder Ranch provided by Miguel.

Okay. Terminal ballistics. Pistols put holes in people, rifles put holes through people, shotguns, at the right range with the right load will physically remove a chunk of [ __ ] off your opponent, and throw that [ __ ] on the floor, and you will have to get someone to come in and clean this [ __ ] up with a shovel.

Maybe I should reload that shotgun. (The picture above is of a somewhat random shotgun, neither the one used in this incident, nor the one I own.)

5 comments:

  1. While bird shot is not the preferred choice for self defense with a shotgun at very close ranges it can be lethal. The problem is in such encounters you can not be in control of all the particulars of the event.

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  2. The 2nd problem is, depending on the choke, birdshot spreads - a lot. While the majority might pepper the bad guy, you might also put a pellet into the eye of a bystander. Not that I would recommend a slug - that has it's own issues.
    But bipedal predator? Double-Ought Buck is find. It's like shooting nine rounds of 9mm into your target.

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  3. That looks a lot like my 12 gauge Mossberg 590. I keep two loads in it, 00 buck and 3/4 ounce deer slugs. If I know I’ll need it, I keep a box or two of magnum (3 inch shells) 1 ounce slugs upstairs. The deer slugs make 1/2 inch holes in front, and impart an enormous amount of energy on impact.

    All that said, I can understand a round or two of birdshot in a commercial environment, but follow-ups should be stronger.

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    Replies
    1. Slugs have the problem of over penetration, depending on your environment. I don't like a long gun for in my home, though I have thought about a bullpup.

      Delete
  4. For more info on the incident covered here, see 357 Magnum: Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0

    ReplyDelete

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