Stoeger Double Defense: A Side-By-Side Designed For Defensive Duty

by
posted on November 20, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Stoeger Double Defense

Stoeger’s Double Defense shotguns are squarely aimed at the home-defense market, with 12- and 20-ga. versions, all capable of chambering either 2 3/4" or 3" shotshells. Each wear matte-black 20" barrels with fixed, improved cylinder chokes and all four in this line have overall length of 36.5".

A green fiber-optic up front provides sighting on each, but they also have a Picatinny rail near the breech for optic mounting. Another rail up front beneath the barrels is ideal for a weaponlight. A manual safety is mounted on the tang and the guns have extractors.

Two side-by-side models are available, in both 12- and 20-ga. MSRP, regardless of choice, comes in at $489. The former weighs 7 pounds, the latter 6.4. The larger bore wears a black synthetic stock, while its smaller brother’s furniture is black-finished walnut.

There’s also a pair of over-unders in the same chamberings. They also have black-finished walnut stocks and weigh 7.1 and 6.6 lbs. MSRP in this configuration is $449.

Regardless of preference, you can’t go wrong with any firearm design from Stoeger. The company brings decades of experience in manufacturing firearms that perform in tough conditions. Although total capacity is two shotshells in these shotguns, extractors make loading fast and sure with a little range time.

Gil Horman reviewed a 12-ga. version for American Rifleman, fitted out appropriately at a time when zombies were all the rage. He concluded, “Is the Stoeger Double Defense side-by-side 12 ga. a fun zombie gun? No doubt about it! Its quick handling, manageable recoil and easy operation make it ideal for this kind of themed shooting event. While the usefulness of a fixed Laserlyte bayonet is debatable, the RML Kryptonyte Center Mass CM-15 green laser sight proved to be a very useful sighting option for at-home and relatively close range (25 yards or less) defensive applications."

"But what if you don't want to dedicate a shotgun to just zombie-themed shooting events? Simply remove the bayonet, swap out the "Zombies Only" ammunition for bona fide field and defensive loads. Then take advantage of the Picatinny rails to mount lights, lasers and optics for personal protection, camping or casual hunting and clays.”

Latest

smith and wesson mp 22 right-side view on table indoor shooting range
smith and wesson mp 22 right-side view on table indoor shooting range

Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Magnum

One of Smith & Wesson's recent additions to its M&P handgun line is the M&P 22 Magnum, and there's a lot more going on in this gun, technologically, than it appears at first glance.

New For 2025: Beretta BRX1 Ranch

Beretta has expanded its BRX1 straight-pull action into a "ranch rifle" configuration, providing a handy, lightweight platform that still includes some of the groundbreaking features of the original BRX1 rifle.

Ruger Buys Anderson Manufacturing

Ruger announced on July 1 it has acquired all assets of Anderson Manufacturing, a recent top 10 producer of firearms in the U.S.

Favorite Firearms: Anticipating Answers

Everyone has a favorite gun, but not many have a story quite like the one from NRA member Jim Schollhammer.

Rifleman Report: Safe Passage

While the phrase “tools of the trade” may refer to specific items that a worker uses to ply his or her vocation, it could just as easily be a reference to the firearms, knives and other everyday carry, or EDC, gear that the average citizen uses to ensure his or her safe passage through the course of an uncertain, sometimes dangerous, daily existence.

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model 1914 Auto Pistol

The Spanish/Basque city of Eibar is one of Europe’s great arms-manufacturing centers, with a history in gunmaking dating back to the 1500s.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.