The major drawbacks when employing the shotgun as the best gun for survival is the recoil when blasting slugs and buckshot loads, and the large size of the ammo which becomes tough to carry or stock up a significant amount of rounds. Most people’s favorite shotgun is the Remington 870 express, with a 26” vent rib field barrel with full and modified screw in choke tubes and a 20″ rifle-sighted Improved Cylinder “riot barrel”. As many feel confident, that this combination will handle everything needed from a shotgun.