hey guys i had another thread up asking about a few shotguns for home defense. today i went to the gun range and looked at the benelli nova pump and the remington 870. i didnt much like the benelli's plastic frame and the guy who works there said the benelli had a bigger kick then some of the other shotguns. i think i am going to go with the 870 after learning that the mossberg safety is hard to reach with the pistol grip (i want to keep all modification options open). so does anyone have any experience with the remington 870 tactical. i know theyre reliable but what configurations and choke's do you guys recommend for home defense/indoor range's.
new shotgun
- Thread starter Madjohn
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chevyforlife21
Member
i know pistol grips look cool but you wont want one when you actually shoot one its hard to hit a milk jug at 10 feet with one. and the benelli dont have a plastic frame it is just covered with plastic. there is steel plates inside the receiver. i like the mossberg best, then benelli,then Remington. i have owned all of them. the Remington has the worse safety spot of them all. the benelli is pretty handy, and the mossberg is better even with a pistol grip i think its better then the 870 safety.
boalex207
Member
IMO, a Home Defense shotgun should have a minimalist approach. It should be light, fast into action, and dead nuts reliable. Adding a lot of accessories adds weight and more components that have the possibility of breaking, not working, getting in the way, etc.
A HD shotgun does not need a sling, and usually doesn't need a light. And yeah, pistol grip looks "tacti-cool" but puts a lot of the recoil into your hand....and if hurts your hand to shoot your shotgun, you won't practice and train with it.
As Clint says "You will fight with what is in and on the gun" so you may need a 2 round side saddle for a little extra onboard ammo.
Choke ? No, not for home defense. Cylinder bore.
A HD shotgun does not need a sling, and usually doesn't need a light. And yeah, pistol grip looks "tacti-cool" but puts a lot of the recoil into your hand....and if hurts your hand to shoot your shotgun, you won't practice and train with it.
As Clint says "You will fight with what is in and on the gun" so you may need a 2 round side saddle for a little extra onboard ammo.
Choke ? No, not for home defense. Cylinder bore.
JamisJockey
member
IMO, set up the gun how you want it. As long as the add ons are rugged and functional, don't let anyone tell you its "too tactical".
Sling?
I'm adding a 3 point sling to my shotgun. I have small kids and if I need to scoop them out of bed and run, I don't want to have to leave the shotgun behind, too.
Light?
Is that person, opening the door in the middle of the night, a goblin, or your Brother, the wife returning from work late, or a drunk neighbor? I'd rather put a blast of light right in their eyes and make a positive ID.
You don't need anything more than a slick shotgun for HD. But the functional extras can be handy. Don't let the purists tell you to not do what you want to the gun. Just keep your head about your accessories and think, why am I adding this or that?
Sling?
I'm adding a 3 point sling to my shotgun. I have small kids and if I need to scoop them out of bed and run, I don't want to have to leave the shotgun behind, too.
Light?
Is that person, opening the door in the middle of the night, a goblin, or your Brother, the wife returning from work late, or a drunk neighbor? I'd rather put a blast of light right in their eyes and make a positive ID.
You don't need anything more than a slick shotgun for HD. But the functional extras can be handy. Don't let the purists tell you to not do what you want to the gun. Just keep your head about your accessories and think, why am I adding this or that?
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oneounceload
member
And just remember that ANYTHING extra you add, adds weight, snag points and can change the dynamics of the gun. The KISS principle works better than the video game alternative
Snakum
Member
I don't put anything but an ammo sling and a recoil reducing slip-on on my 870s, but if a guy wants to trick his out I say "Have at it". I get grief about the sling here but I need to be able to transition to a handgun and I ain't laying my 870s down and leaving them in a match or under fire. I have no problems with the weight or swaying of the slung shells, either, because of the way I hold the weapon.
Everyone has an opinion. Many here will say a light is Mall Ninja, while Massad Ayoob, Gabe Suarez, and others recommend them for HD guns. It's yours, build it into what you like. Just don't forget the most important thing, which is being fully trained up and competent on the gun.
Everyone has an opinion. Many here will say a light is Mall Ninja, while Massad Ayoob, Gabe Suarez, and others recommend them for HD guns. It's yours, build it into what you like. Just don't forget the most important thing, which is being fully trained up and competent on the gun.
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Pony Express
Member
Howdy
I just bought an 870 and I love it. I like to consider myself a minimalist, and my shotgun has so far seen the most use hunting. However every night before i go to sleep i make sure its sitting near my bed with a 20" bbl with rifle sights. I recently sold my autoloader (mossbergy 930) to buy this and i dont feel a scrap of remorse. I think you will be very satisfied with the 870 and the options you have for customization/modification.
I just bought an 870 and I love it. I like to consider myself a minimalist, and my shotgun has so far seen the most use hunting. However every night before i go to sleep i make sure its sitting near my bed with a 20" bbl with rifle sights. I recently sold my autoloader (mossbergy 930) to buy this and i dont feel a scrap of remorse. I think you will be very satisfied with the 870 and the options you have for customization/modification.
Guns and more
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The Mossberg safety is NOT difficult to reach with a pistol grip. I prefer it to the 870.
If you do want a pistol grip, I highly recommend the Blackhawk (formerly Knoxx) "Breacher's Grip". It has a spring built in and I could shoot mine all day without a sore wrist.
If you do want a pistol grip, I highly recommend the Blackhawk (formerly Knoxx) "Breacher's Grip". It has a spring built in and I could shoot mine all day without a sore wrist.
gglass
Member
I have minimalist and "tactical" shotguns (Don't flame me. I didn't invent the term tactical.)
I think that you should do anything you want with your shotgun. The main thing is practice, practice, practice. If you cannot "point" aim or maneuver in an enclosed environment, then you will lose in a real life engagement.
For those who opine that you should only shoot with a bare minimum setup, they apparently need to talk with LEO's, soldiers and Marines who have been moving to "tactical" setups for years.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.murdoconline.net/pics/usmcshotgunners.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/3339.html&usg=__Sx6082fTQImYx6vBLG0VdmxirDw=&h=279&w=400&sz=24&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=fzUKZGDKdDZgrM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Shotgun_in_training_US_military.jpg/800px-Shotgun_in_training_US_military.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.falloutstudios.net/index.php%3Fshowtopic%3D28254%26view%3Dnew&usg=__tRVd-DL8bFIGgzN28mNnuynwFKw=&h=571&w=800&sz=81&hl=en&start=23&um=1&tbnid=BbFe6DTbX90xXM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/british-army.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/04/10/british-armys-new-combat-shotgun/&usg=__uCrjxew8fquZVLjvXKr4oEnlI0o=&h=525&w=800&sz=64&hl=en&start=40&um=1&tbnid=IFCyQXjG0ew6OM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/scout/images/jan%252012/focus3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/scout/Articles/jan%252012/focus.asp&usg=__LlWhKljlDuwkBkNC5S9j9Yj_rIk=&h=3072&w=2048&sz=2967&hl=en&start=146&um=1&tbnid=QDj9nkRafcKFPM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D144%26um%3D1
http://blogs.tampabay.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/30/shooting.jpg
http://www.policemag.com/_Images/articles/ars1-2.jpg
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3709514/2/istockphoto_3709514-women-police-officer-shooting-shotgun.jpg
I think that you should do anything you want with your shotgun. The main thing is practice, practice, practice. If you cannot "point" aim or maneuver in an enclosed environment, then you will lose in a real life engagement.
For those who opine that you should only shoot with a bare minimum setup, they apparently need to talk with LEO's, soldiers and Marines who have been moving to "tactical" setups for years.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.murdoconline.net/pics/usmcshotgunners.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/3339.html&usg=__Sx6082fTQImYx6vBLG0VdmxirDw=&h=279&w=400&sz=24&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=fzUKZGDKdDZgrM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Shotgun_in_training_US_military.jpg/800px-Shotgun_in_training_US_military.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.falloutstudios.net/index.php%3Fshowtopic%3D28254%26view%3Dnew&usg=__tRVd-DL8bFIGgzN28mNnuynwFKw=&h=571&w=800&sz=81&hl=en&start=23&um=1&tbnid=BbFe6DTbX90xXM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/british-army.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/04/10/british-armys-new-combat-shotgun/&usg=__uCrjxew8fquZVLjvXKr4oEnlI0o=&h=525&w=800&sz=64&hl=en&start=40&um=1&tbnid=IFCyQXjG0ew6OM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/scout/images/jan%252012/focus3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/scout/Articles/jan%252012/focus.asp&usg=__LlWhKljlDuwkBkNC5S9j9Yj_rIk=&h=3072&w=2048&sz=2967&hl=en&start=146&um=1&tbnid=QDj9nkRafcKFPM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilitary%2Bshotgun%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26start%3D144%26um%3D1
http://blogs.tampabay.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/30/shooting.jpg
http://www.policemag.com/_Images/articles/ars1-2.jpg
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3709514/2/istockphoto_3709514-women-police-officer-shooting-shotgun.jpg
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