Serbu "Super Shorty"

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TechPrepper

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My wife and I like to do a lot of backpack camping. We always carry our CCW's with us (Her a Glock 19 and me a 17). I've often thought about carrying a shotgun as well, but even with a pistol grip they are quite large and heavy.

While researching short barrel shotguns I came across the Serbu "Super Shorty"

super_shorty_870.jpg


It is classified as an AOW instead of a SBS which would make picking it up a lot easier ($5 tax stamp). The size is ideal for inside a backpack or even strapped to the side of the leg for easier access.

Does anyone have experience with this firearm? Is it a gimmick or actually useful? In your experience, what is it best suited for and why did you get one?
 
If you search this site for threads on pistol grip shotguns or on the term PGO, you'll find a huge number of threads debating their utility. FWIW, people whose opinion I respect very much don't think very highly of such shotguns.
 
The Serbu is not cheap, but it is compact, and as a bear-defense type gun, should work well. PGOs have their own quirks when it comes to handling, and as you lighten the gun and shoot hot loads, the recoil can be brutal to some. Whether changing the pistol grip style for a birdshead might makes handling a little easier
 
I can see them being devastating as a short range defensive weapon against man size or smaller attackers when using buckshot. With slugs, I'd consider it a last resort weapon defending against a bear attack maybe... a small bear...
 
You'd be lucky to get 1100 fps with slugs, 1000 fps with buckshot, out of so short of a barrel, at the price of utterly stunning muzzle blast.

I've got a 12.5" barrel and trust me, that's as short as you'd want to go regarding ballistics and shooting comfort. Also, it's so darn short and handy that you aren't gaining much by going shorter anyway.
 
Back when I was young and dumb, I had an Ithaca 'Stakeout', 10 3/4" barrel, two in the mag one in the chamber. It was handy for warrant service, but that was about all. It was NO fun to shoot, but it was fun watching others shoot it. Of course this was years before the reduced recoil loads were on the market. I sold it to a collector who was thrilled to get it and I don't miss it a bit.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd pay the 200 bux for an SBS with a folding stock. That way practice would be a little more enjoyable.
 
I wouldn't consider it for any serious purpose. Not that Mark Serbu doesn't do good work- he most certainly does. Interesting, yes - entertaining, yes - practical, I just don't see it in a shotgun that short, unless you plan on a wardrobe shift to white linen suits, pastel shirts and a job fighting the drug trade in 1980s South Beach... :D

miami-vice_l1.jpg

lpl
 
i dont know a whole lot about shotguns but i always thought the Serbu would be awesome if converted to a SBS with an AR type stock
 
It's cool for sure I know you need an aow tax stamp but is it technically a handgun? By that could you carry it with a TN handgun carry permit?
 
A couple of my friends have them.
They have it because it is the closest thing to a SBS that they can legally own. One lives in CA and another lives in WA.

Shooting slugs through it is not a fun experience.
I can shoot about 20 rounds of 00 buck shot through the Serbu before I'm done with it.

Kinda like the Safety Harbor Firearms KEG-12 better than the Serbu Super Shorty. It's the same thing just slightly less expensive.

But for an AOW, I really want the Cadiz Gun Works Saiga-12 AOW. :evil:
 
Do you really think you would need more at close range? This isn't for bean field shooting
Click to expand...

You might, buckshot out of one of these is probably giving the kind of velocity you would expect at 50ish yards from a regular length shotgun, at the muzzle. Buckshot isn't exactly noted for its effectiveness at 50 yards.

Energy wise you're running right between what some .410 buck loads can do in a Judge and a proper .410 shotgun, hardly worth it considering the negatives.

As far as the slugs go, I'm sure they'd still be good to go on people but they might start to get "iffy" for animal defence, and between the reduced power and other negatives I'd rather carry a magnum revolver at that point instead.
 
What is so frightening in Southwest Florida that you want to carry a shotgun on a backpacking trip? The 9mm might be marginal, but that's a pretty big jump!
 
I've shot one.

Even with birdshot the recoil was noticeable, though not downright unpleasant. it wouldn't be very useful past extremely short distances, and the capacity is very limited.

They are neat, though. :D

If you need a dedicated backwoods gun, I'd suggest looking at a handgun chambered in 10mm, .357, or .44 Magnum. Such a gun would likely be lighter than the Serbu, carry at least twice as much ammunition (if not four times as much in the case of something like a Glock 20) and holsters are readily available.
 
Mainsail said:
What is so frightening in Southwest Florida that you want to carry a shotgun on a backpacking trip? The 9mm might be marginal, but that's a pretty big jump!
Click to expand...

We backpack all over the United States actually and rarely in Florida. We like the mountains the most. That said, it is a big jump from a 9mm. The Glocks were our preference for a CCW. We didn't have anything else and we were comfortable/proficient with our Glocks, so taking it hiking was a no-brainer. Honestly we are more concerned about predators on two legs rather than those on four. But if we ever crossed paths with a large predator it would be nice to know we had a tool for the job. I was hopeful that the Serbu with a few slugs would do the trick. I guess I'm looking in the wrong direction. I always wanted to get a S&W 500 :D
 
I wanted one, I sort of still do, but I just can't see what job it would fill. It is heavier than a handgun, but not as efficient as a shotgun...
 
lee.nice pic. that shotgun held by tubbs is a wilson arms executive protection shotgun by wilson arms company of brunswick ga.wilson also makes the witness protection shot gun used by the us marshalls service and was also seen in the early grocery store scene in the stallone movie cobra. the serbu is a clone of the executive protection shotgun
 
The Glocks were our preference for a CCW. We didn't have anything else and we were comfortable/proficient with our Glocks, so taking it hiking was a no-brainer. Honestly we are more concerned about predators on two legs rather than those on four. But if we ever crossed paths with a large predator it would be nice to know we had a tool for the job.
Click to expand...

Perhaps one of you should buy a 10mm glock? It'll do for any north American predator. Outside of that, I'd go for a large bore revolver that is easier to carry and similar in price, not to mention far more practical while still being just as lethal...if not more.
 
Alternatively, you could buy a used Norinco double barrel shotgun for $300, cut it down to an sbs for $200, still come in under the price of a Serbu, and still have what you want.
 
TechPrepper said:
My wife and I like to do a lot of backpack camping. We always carry our CCW's with us (Her a Glock 19 and me a 17). I've often thought about carrying a shotgun as well, but even with a pistol grip they are quite large and heavy.

While researching short barrel shotguns I came across the Serbu "Super Shorty"

super_shorty_870.jpg


It is classified as an AOW instead of a SBS which would make picking it up a lot easier ($5 tax stamp). The size is ideal for inside a backpack or even strapped to the side of the leg for easier access.

Does anyone have experience with this firearm? Is it a gimmick or actually useful? In your experience, what is it best suited for and why did you get one?
Click to expand...
Easier is only in financial terms, paperwork is the same - just $195 less.
 
I have the factory 870 MCS AOW and would have to say for practicality I really can’t think of any situation where I would grab my 870 AOW over my Glock 21 with Surefire X300. If you really want one, have them SBR it and put a top folding stock on it. If it were me and I was looking to increase my firepower from what "you" currently have I would upgrade to a Glock 20 or 21 with a couple spare magazines, some good night sights and definitely put an LED rail mounted light on it. My Surefire X300 is absolutely amazing when out in the woods at night.

Dan
 
if your going to cut down a double barrel,find a nice verticle double with good auto injectors.more compact to hide and quicker relaods in tight situations.

also,the determination of short barrel shotgun or aow is determined on how the receivers are aquired by the title 2 manufacturer.if useing rem or mossberg,if they get them fully assembled like the public gets them,it's a short barreled shotgun, 200 tax stamp.if they get the gun receiver only,then it's aow 5 bucks.that makes the title2 dealer the end manufacturer.
 
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