Defensive Shotgun of the Week--Stoeger Double Defense

Like a few of my compadres, I would have to say the Remington Model 870 pump gun is my favorite shotgun for home defense. I'd even go so far as to say that the 870 is my favorite all-around shotgun. I have owned 870s in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges, and .410 Bore over the years, and they all performed equally well. I simply never had a single problem with their reliability. But I recently stumbled upon a very intriguing self-defense-oriented shotgun that I am chomping at the bit to try. It's the Stoeger Double Defense, and it's a double-barreled side-by-side.

The gun features 20-inch, ported barrels with Improved Cylinder chokes and a Picatinny underrail for installing lights and other accessories; a high-visibility, fiber-optic front bead sight; a Picatinny rail at the rear for mounting optics; a single trigger; a tang-mounted safety; and a black, hardwood stock with recoil pad.

The old double gun served well as a home-defense tool on the prairies of the old frontier, and I see no reason why it can't do so today.
--Joel J. Hutchcroft, Editor