Review of Home Defense Shotgun

This is a review of Home Defense Shotgun by Citizen's Safety Academy. 

Return to the Gauge: Revisiting Home Defense Shotgun with Citizen’s Safety Academy

I recently had the privilege of attending the Home Defense Shotgun course hosted by Citizen's Safety Academy (CSA). Leading the class was my friend and brother-in-arms, Aqil Qadir. For those unfamiliar, Aqil is not just any instructor—he’s Tom Givens’ right-hand man at Rangemaster USA, and a respected NRA Training Counselor. That’s the top of the food chain—the ones who train and certify instructors. Two of my three NRA certs (Pistol and Shotgun) came through him.

If you dig into CSA’s media, you’ll catch me in the background of several of their training videos. Long story short, this wasn’t my first rodeo with Aq or this class—but it still hit like a brand new experience.

A Lesson in Humility (and 16 Pages of Notes)

The first time I was part of this course, I hosted it at Mountain Top Gun & Archery, where many of my own courses are held. I had intended to just take the class, but Aqil immediately hit me with, “Hey man, you gonna AI (Assistant Instruct) for me today?”

My mouth said, “Yes sir, whatever you need.”
My brain screamed, “Noooo! I wanted to shoot!”

But it was worth it. I left that day with 16 pages of notes. This time, at Firearms Pharmacy in Lebanon, TN, I got my redemption—I shot and still walked away with 12 more pages of notes.

The Venue: Firearms Pharmacy

The Pharmacy is exactly what it sounds like—a place for ballistic medicine. It’s an indoor facility owned by another friend and one of my students. The range is well-run, the classroom setup is perfect for a dozen participants. The retail side stocks guns, ammo, accessories, and everything in between. If you're local, it's worth checking out.

Shotgun Mastery: Step by Step

The course structure was deliberate and well-paced. Each module built on the last, guiding students from basic familiarity to downright proficiency with their "home howitzers."

Whether you came in green or already sharp, everyone leveled up. Total beginners began running their shotguns like seasoned shooters. Seasoned shooters began operating like monsters. My friend Charles—already a pistol wizard—absolutely crushed it with his shotgun. During the final scored drill, he and I tied. That never happens. Not a flex—just facts. The man earned it.

We finished that drill, dropped our shotguns at the exact same moment, and shared a high-five like two kids who just aced recess. There’s nothing quite like that rush of shared success and mutual respect.

Real Guns, Real Skills

Every shooter in class ran a 12 gauge—pump or semi-auto. No reduced-caliber “training wheels.” Yes, even the ladies. (Spoiler: they handled them just fine.)

Aqil taught the Gospel of Gauge with the conviction of a man raised in a shotgun monastery. He balanced the class perfectly—plenty of classroom time without it dragging, and over an hour of dry practice to engrain safety and mechanics before a single round went live.

Because make no mistake: a shotgun is a devastating defensive tool. That power goes both ways. Safety wasn’t a side note—it was a recurring theme. Every step of the way, students were reminded that there’s no such thing as a “minor accident” when you’re dealing with a 12 gauge.

My Gear

For this class, I ran my Mossberg 940. Now, if you listen to the keyboard commandos, they’ll swear this shotgun is a jam-o-matic. Here’s the truth: all guns can jam. But in my experience—coming up on 1,000 rounds through it—the 940 has been solid.

Ironically, the so-called internet favorite, the Beretta 1301, didn’t fare as well. We had two of them in class, and between them, they jammed three times. Meanwhile, my Mossberg didn’t so much as hiccup. It ran flawlessly—and that reliability was a huge part of why I had such a good time on the line.

Range Time: Where Learning Gets Loud

The shooting drills were well thought-out: starting simple, essential, and fun—then ramping up in complexity. We drilled everything from ready positions to reloads, to live-fire decision-making under stress. Students learned how to move, how to think, and how to work the shotgun like a serious tool for real-world defense.

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Summary: A Shotgun Class That Hits Different

This wasn’t just another day at the range—it was a masterclass in running the shotgun with purpose, power, and precision. Aqil Qadir and Citizen’s Safety Academy deliver every single time. From practical instruction to nuanced coaching, the course gave shooters not just the “how,” but the “why.”

Whether you're a beginner who wants to get it right from the start, or an experienced gun handler ready to refine your skills, this class delivers real value. I came to learn, I came to shoot, and I left sharper than I arrived.

And yes—I’m still giggling about that high-five.