Shotgun for trap/home defense

[andrewdl007]

My father in law is not a gun guy but decided he wanted a shotgun for home defense and occasional trap shooting. I generally would recommend getting two different shotguns and have each serve a specific role, but he only wants one. I recommended the 870 field/defense combo but wondered if anyone had other suggestions. He lives in NJ and wants a pump action. Price is not a deciding factor. Thanks.

 

[12Bravo20]

Since he wants a pump, I'll suggest the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. Both are good shotguns and will last when taken care of. I would have your FIL check out both brands and see which one fits him the best. He won't go wrong with either.

The bad thing is that any shotgun is very hard to find in stock right now. Last time I was at the Academy Sports by me, they only had about 4 or 5 shotguns in the rack. All were either single shot or Turkish double barrels. The Bass Pro across town was the same.

 

[PapaG]

870 Wingmaster with two barrels. 30 inch with Remchokes for sport/trap and 20" either rifled or with Remchokes for HD. my choice since 1975. My boys and I have about 8 of them now. My 1975 TB has shot over 200k rounds at trap, killed duck, deer, quail, dove, and one tough woodchuck.

 

[entropy]

I'll second both PapaG and 12 Bravo20; An 870 combo would be first recommendation, a 500 combo would be next.

 

[Jim Watson]

Real regulation ATA Trap?
An 870 Trap with stock and rib to suit, drop in a slug or riot barrel to repel boarders.

 

[KsSkaEnthusiast]

Ill only slightly switch the rhetoric, Id recommend a mossburg 500 over a remmington 870. To toss in the mix id also look at a benelli nova, the stoeger pumps or used winchester 1200/1300 too. I've found the recoil pad on the new 870s to be a little sub par compared to the mossburgs, benellis and stoegers I've used. Whatever fits him best and makes him most comfortable and confident is the important part, most of these guns will work exceptionally for what he needs and a combo even better.

 

[12Bravo20]

The 870 and 500 are both good shotguns and it really boils down to features and how each fits the user. I shoot left hand so prefer the tang safety of the 500 over the cross bolt safety of the 870. I also seem to get my finger pinched a lot by the 870 where I do not get pinched fingers with the 500.

As already said, you won't go wrong with either. I don't want to see this thread turn into a Mossberg vs Remington war.

 

[George P]

I agree with the 870 mentioned above; trap model and an extra HD barrel

 

[entropy]

The 870 and 500 are both good shotguns and it really boils down to features and how each fits the user. I shoot left hand so prefer the tang safety of the 500 over the cross bolt safety of the 870. I also seem to get my finger pinched a lot by the 870 where I do not get pinched fingers with the 500.

As already said, you won't go wrong with either. I don't want to see this thread turn into a Mossberg vs Remington war.

I agree; for LH shooting, the 500's tang safety is easy. There is a LH replacement option for the 870 safety available. Both are good guns.

 

[KYamateur]

A combo shotgun or home defense shotgun is non-existent right now. However, several of the Turkish pump defense shotguns are still being shipped regularly. I actually just purchased an Escort made by Hatsan. Back in the spring I sold a 590 A-1 Mariner because I wanted a 20” barrel instead of the 18.5, and I waited too long to get one. Your best bet would probably be a used Mossberg 500 or used 870 with a 28 inch barrel. I’ve seen them plentiful in stock around here anyways. You could always purchase a shorter barrel. 2 caveats: Mossberg barrels are cheaper but the 500 won’t accept a magazine extension. Remington 870 barrels will but they are normally around $200. Another option is a Mossberg set up for turkey. They are short enough for Home Defense and still plenty capable of shooting trap. I was getting ready to by a 20 inch Remington 870 barrel for my Wingmaster and ended up just buying an Escort HD shotgun because it was cheaper than the barrel.

 

[MrBitey]

My father in law is not a gun guy but decided he wanted a shotgun for home defense and occasional trap shooting.

This was my exact starting point back in late February, and I ended up with a 9mm handgun and will use a rental to shoot sporting clays until I find the right shotgun for clays. The reason I didn't get a shotgun were (a) I don't have anywhere to practice HD with a shotgun other than with slugs, (b) unavailability of any of the popular HD shotguns, and (c) didn't want to be that guy shooting clays with an HD shotgun.

Does your FIL have a place to get training and practice with a shotgun?

 

[lemaymiami]

Here's a viable alternative... buy a new shotgun for trap and take a look over on Gunbroker for used ex-police 870 Wingmasters (or Mossberg 500s in basic riot configuration)... A fair selection there - at a time when a new defensive shotgun will be very hard to find... Some of them will be scuffed up and kicked around - but most of them have very few rounds through them at all (they were carried in a patrol car, qualified with (maybe) once a year with a half dozen or so rounds downrange, and most are absolutely reliable (and real one shot fight enders...).

Remington (my preference and always first choice...) or Mossberg what I always recommend is a basic riot gun - 18-20" barrel with simple bead sight, four shot magazine, 12 ga... Hard to go wrong there. Spend any extra bucks on some standard 2 3/4" 00buck rounds and practice until you're comfortable with it...

 

[crestoncowboy]

mossburg 500 over a remmington 870. To toss in the mix id also look at a benelli nova, the stoeger pumps or used winchester 1200/1300 too

I'd also say the 870/500/Nova (although the extra barrel for the nova will likely be more costly). I prefer the 500 but have all three and consider them excellent shotguns. Not just excellent for their price but just great, do all, tough shotguns for any budget. Never used the stoegers but I've seen some good deals on them. I'll end up picking one up.

I despise the Winchester 1200/1300/1400/1500 etc series though. I've changed more broken ejectors in those than I've worked on all other shotguns combined. There are even sellers who offer ejectors in a 3 pack for a discount. I've never seen a non-wear part for any other gun offered in a multi pack. That's never a good sign. The original pin design was bad. Changing barrels tends to cause them to fail even faster since they extend into the barrel and can get knocked off the pin or misaligned. The retainer design didn't seem to be much better.

 

[FL-NC]

Yep, the 870 or 500 combos would be what I would recommend.

 

[George P]

I agree; for LH shooting, the 500's tang safety is easy. There is a LH replacement option for the 870 safety available. Both are good guns.

I can tell you, that as a LH, I have never used a shotgun safety, ever and really hate those that come with auto safeties. Target guns have no need for a safety; you do not load until you are ready to shoot. HD guns, the last thing you need when your adrenaline is pumping is a safety you might forget to take off when you need to shoot. Hunting guns, either break them open or use a manual safety (if that makes you feel safer)

 

[748]

I have never had mine break.

 

[entropy]

Target guns have no need for a safety; you do not load until you are ready to shoot.

I did have someone who wanted to shoot my Ljutic ask where the safety is......

 

[George P]

You need to make sure they can pronounce the name.!..............When I lived in Reno, Dan Orlich, trap shot extraordinaire, shot at a local club. he owned Ljutic single and doubles, both serial number "1".................as a VP for Harrah's back in the 50, 60 and 70s, he had the lousy job of taking care of shooting VIPS.......man. could he shoot

http://trapshootingonline.com/dan-orlich-returns-grand-american/

 

[CopperFouling]

I'll echo the suggestions for an 870 or 500. If you can find a field gun, you can probably find a spare 18.5" or 20" barrel. If you buy a Mossy, though, keep in mind that a lot of the HD shotguns have extended magazine tubes that are not compatible with the barrels of the field models (the 590 will have the same issue). That is one advantage of the Remington.

Benelli is too proud of its barrels if you are buying a second one.

 

[Boattale]

To simplify recommendations, mine is 870 Wingmaster with two barrels.

 

[dh1633pm]

No new 870's for now. With their bankruptcy, suppliers want cash on delivery. Something that the company doesn't have. Plant is mostly idle. The used market has some.

 

[Double_J]

Moss erg 500/Maverick 88 would be my personal first choice followed up with the Remington 870.

I would not worry with the "extended magazine" or other gimmicks for a dual use gun. If you need more than 4-6 shells in a typical home defense situation you probably are in a world of hurt and the extra ammo would not be a big assist. Reload during lulls in shooting and after the shooting is over.

 

[mnrivrat]

Ill only slightly switch the rhetoric, Id recommend a mossburg 500 over a remmington 870. To toss in the mix id also look at a benelli nova, the stoeger pumps or used winchester 1200/1300 too. I've found the recoil pad on the new 870s to be a little sub par compared to the mossburgs, benellis and stoegers I've used. Whatever fits him best and makes him most comfortable and confident is the important part, most of these guns will work exceptionally for what he needs and a combo even better.

All due respect I would skip the Winchesters. Parts are getting harder to find for them. I am not personally familiar with the Benelli's or Stoegers but see no reason to buy foreign when Mossberg and Remington have given Americans great pump guns with exchangeable barrels for decades. That doesn't mean the others you mention are bad guns, just no doubt the American guns have very much proven themselves for many decades, and parts are simply not a problem if you ever need a part.

 

[guyfromohio]

Don’t forget the Browning BPS!

 

[KsSkaEnthusiast]

All due respect I would skip the Winchesters. Parts are getting harder to find for them. I am not personally familiar with the Benelli's or Stoegers but see no reason to buy foreign when Mossberg and Remington have given Americans great pump guns with exchangeable barrels for decades. That doesn't mean the others you mention are bad guns, just no doubt the American guns have very much proven themselves for many decades, and parts are simply not a problem if you ever need a part.

Thats a totally fair point on the Winchesters. I’m just suggesting different options because he might like the fit, ergonomics or feel of any one of them over the other. I’d personally go mossberg in this scenario but I know people who love their benellis and Stoegers and if two barrels isn’t absolutely essential then they’re definitely worth a look.