You’re not likely to be bouncing along the trail on a stagecoach between Missouri and the left coast anymore, but that doesn’t mean a coach gun can’t still come in mighty handy. A short, double barrel smoothbore is still a viable home defense choice for many. Loaded with a couple of three-inch buckshot rounds, that’s a lot of GTFO power in a reasonably sized, maneuverable package.
There are a few makers of coach guns these days, a testament to their continued popularity and usefulness. That said, none of them is more attractive than Heritage Manufacturing’s Coachwhip 12 gauge shotgun.
The Coachwhip is a traditional external hammer, double trigger 12 gauge. What sets it apart is the the color case hardening on all of the shotgun’s exposed metal parts.
The detailing is beautifully done all around.
The 18.5-inch barrels aren’t threaded for chokes, so you’re shooting cylinder bore patterns from the Coachwhip’s three-inch chambers.
The walnut stock has very attractive figuring and wood-to metal fit is very good and precise. The laser-engraved checkering and logo are clean and well done. Heritage has given the Coachwhip extractors rather than ejectors, something that’s likely more period-correct and arguably more reliable, albeit less fun.
A compact, short barrel (non-NFA) coach gun is an excellent all-around defensive firearm, whether it’s at home or in your car. It’s a powerful and easy to handle literal blast from the past that’s still very useful today.
Specifications: Heritage Coachwhip Shotgun
Caliber: 12 gauge
Capacity: 2 rounds
Barrel Length: 18.5 inches
Overall Length: 35.4 inches
Weight: 7.1 pounds
Made In: Turkey
MSRP: $984.99 (about $750 retail)
Damn, that’s drop-dead *beautiful*, for a grand.
Get me a *free* short-barrel permission slip from the Feds, and cut the barrel to right in front of that hand guard, and chop the stock for some sweet color-case-hardened home defense goodness… 😉
KY, Ohio and WV I loved hunting the thick cover with a double gun.
Home defense? No. I have 6 to 8 rounds available in my pumps for the house.
And they were cheaper by far than this turkish gun.
My Mossberg was a little over $300, but it isn’t pretty. I might throw a wood stock on it.