Thinking about getting a shotgun. Semi auto vs pump and mag vs tube fed

[45223]

I got so many questions.

Firstly, I hear the Benelli M4 is one of the most reliable semi auto shotguns out there. With that being said, would it function with all shotgun shells? I hear semi autos don't usually handle bird shot/light loads very well.

After some thinking about it, I was thinking, maybe I should just go with the Benelli M3 because it's got semi and pump action capabilities. Is the M3 more reliable than the M4 because it can manually pump. So like if it doesn't cycle on semi auto mode, can you basically just switch to pump action to remedy the malfunction?


Then there is the question of... are mag fed shotguns better? On first hand, it seems like it, you can buy a lot of mags, then preload them.
BUT..... I hear that shotgun shell plastic can deform when sitting in a mag too long. So it seems like mag fed shotguns are great if you're going to be in a situation that requires a ton of ammo usage.

Although, with the ammo capacity. Some tube fed shotguns have speed loaders which are almost like tube magazine or maybe more accurately clips than you can just push 4 or 5 rounds into the tube. They're bulky but would do the job. However are they more prone to getting jammed when reloading than mags? How come the military/police don't use speed loaders to reload their tube fed shotguns? Seems like there is a reason you dont see that too much. Idk. Maybe it's just a lot harder to do. There are aftermarket feed ramps I've seen on some competition tube fed shotguns that assist with speed loading them.

So Idk which is the best for general all round use. I want primarily home defense reliability, but also SHTF/combat capabilities.

Someone mentioned keltec if I'm concerned about mag capacity limits, although the one showed looked like a pain to reload. A bullpup like design? Idk. I do like how it looks shorter for more moving around a home situation.

 

[Seedy Character]

Any quality gun is going to fill your needs.

An 870 or Mossy 500 will fire anything, completely reliable and last 2 lifetimes.
1000s of '97 Winchesters still in service.

1100s, 11-87s are fantastic arms
I have a Rem SP (made by Baikhal) shoots 3 1/2", 3", and 2 3/4". Not totally reliable with light (dove) 12ga loads, but I didn't get it for lighter loads.


Decide the model, design, make, style you want.

 

[FL-NC]

If you go with a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, you won't have to concern yourself with the reliability of specific loads. You could also use either of them for any conceivable purpose where a shotgun would be appropriate through the selection of things like ammunition, barrels, chokes, etc. Also, both designs have been around for a long time and are proven, with a never-ending selection of aftermarket parts and accessories, along with factory support.

 

[bannockburn]

45223

Like Seedy Character and FL-NC wrote, you can't really go wrong with a pump action shotgun like the Remington Model 870 or the Mossberg Model 500. A Tactical 870 with an extended 6 round mag is less than $500 while a Mossberg Maverick 88 with a 7 round mag tube is $299. After-market support is readily available and whole lot less expensive than a semi-auto/pump Benelli M3 Tactical Shotgun with a retail price of $1599, or a semi-auto M4 Tactical Shotgun at $2249!

As for moving around your home with a bull-pup shotgun; most home defense advocates recommend staying put and wait for the BG to come to you or else stay put and wait for the police to get there! Either way try to minimize making yourself a target in your own home!

For home defense I have a Maverick 88 with a stock shell holder and a Limbsaver Slip-On Recoil Pad on it.

 

[45223]

Alright thanks for the opinions. I'm guessing having a semi auto isn't all that much better than a pump?

And opinions on mag vs tube fed?

And do all tube fed shotguns have speed loaders and the adapter plate thing whatever it's called?

If I get a tube fed, I'm wanting to get one of these adapter things for more competition style shooting.

 

[twofewscrews]

The adaptive plate is an add on and speed loaders should work on any tube magazine fed shotgun.

Magazine fed shotguns are, in my humble opinion, garbage. Everyone I've ever seen has had feed issues. I've been told that high end magazine fed shotguns, such as a Saiga 12 gauge or an AA12 C (semi auto civilian version of the full auto military version) work fine, but I have yet to encounter one of those.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

For HD, get a pump gun and use the money saved over a good semi to buy bird shot shells and learn how to run the gun with speed and ease.

With that said, OTJ I used Win Model 12's, Rem 870's, Moss 590's, and finally the Benelli M4. I really did like the M4. Not enough to buy one to hang around the house for just in case. If I shot matches requiring a duty gun, I would probably own a M4.

FWIW, I keep a 590 around the house for just in case.

 

[Zebraranger]

What they've said about reliability is true. My 500 combo is over 20 years old and its never failed to function with any brand of shells that I've fed it.
That being said, I've been eyeing the Remington V3 tactical. Still need to do a little more research on it, I dont need it, but I like it.

 

[nettlle]

A semi-auto is going to be quicker on the second and subsequent shots. A magazine fed quicker to reload but not by much.

 

[starling]

Tube fed pump. Mossberg...Maverick....870 or solid clone. Not as fancy as stuff like Benelli or Keltec but sturdy, simple, and excellent values for the money. Everyone should own a couple.

Or just go silly and track down a street sweeper or SPAS 12.

 

[Frostbite]

(semi auto civilian version of the full auto military version)

OP stated: "I want primarily home defense reliability, but also SHTF/combat capabilities."

Perfect match.

That, exactly.

My never regretted choice in the general purpose shotgun category is the Winchester SXP Defender.

The basic model (cylinder, not threaded for choke tubes so it can safely use "emergency slugs" or flares).

I live in a quiet place and don't ever envision the same uses as OP's to occur. It could be a second choice depending on budget.

It handles well even if front heavy and I prefer its controls over the otherwise excellent suggestions already made in the Remington and Mossberg offerings, the 500 over the 870 for the way it loads, to my taste.

I generally think now that strictly for home defense, the Beretta 1301 tactical would be a good candidate to interview. Never got the chance to shoot one though. Their reputation is excellent to reliably shoot a variety of different loads.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

You have great questions and it looks like you already started all your homework. I know shotguns, but I don't know everything about shotguns.

So my free advice: buy a cheap Mossberg (Maverick 88 or Mossy 500).

Buy a crap ton of ammo and accessories with the money you saved over buying a high end gun with little experience. Barrels, loaders, tactical crap, stocks, slings... Run it hard and beat the crap out of it. Cowboy up, be an operator, fight the zombies, hunt a dinosaur, shoot trash, shoot skeet, shoot cans and bottles. Just run that gun.

Then, you'll know what you want and have experience to back your opinions.

Buying cheap imports will leave you sad.

Look up TFBtv reviews with shotguns with James Reeves. His reviews on the Beretta 1301, Maverick 88, and trash imports (black aces and something else) really prove that you either go cheap pump, or pricey semi.

But it's better to get some shotgun trigger time in first.

 

[jmr40]

In theory a pump is more reliable, in practice a QUALITY semiauto is. Reliability and durability ain't the same. IME a semi is more reliable, a pump more durable.

A pump, even most of the inexpensive ones, will shoot most anything you can feed into the magazine. They function when dirty and can handle years of neglect and abuse and still work. If forced to use it as a club it is still likely to function afterward.

But they require manual operation and if not operated correctly will jam. And under stress, or if the operator has been wounded or otherwise partially incapacitated can fail. You need two strong functioning arms to operate the action, and they can be harder to operate if firing prone or from behind cover. It is almost impossible to operate the action in any position other than standing, or sitting up exposed to return fire

I have an older Benelli M-1 that is a similar design to the M4 but designed as a hunting shotgun. Mine came with a 24" barrel and I have an extended mag tube on it for 6+1 capacity. That is the shotgun that stays in my bedroom closet. I have another identical one with a 26" barrel that I hunt with. I've owned both for 20 years and it have never had a hiccup with any 2 3/4" or 3" shell I've ever put in them.

I also have a 21" turkey barrel on a Remington 870 that takes interchangeable choke tubes If I were going to have to survive long term in a wilderness setting or pick a gun for TEOTWAWKI situation that gun along with a couple of spare choke tubes and an assortment of ammo would be my choice.

If you can afford the M4 you'll like it. If you would rather spend less on a gun and more on ammo then buy a good pump. I still like the 870 design much better even if you have to send it off to a smith to slick things up.

I'm not sold on detachable magazines and not 100% sold on extended tubes even though I have one on one of my shotguns. I think that most of the time 4+1 is enough. Adding a tube with 6 or 7+1 adds a lot of weight, and places that weight in a place that really messes up balance. The motivation behind the extended tube on my Benelli is due to the 3+1 capacity in factory form even with the plug removed.

 

[Random 8]

For a first shotgun, as others have mentioned, get one of the inexpensive pumps out there. Mossberg, Rem 870, used Ithaca 37, doesn't really matter. Learn how to use it well. 12GA recoil vs rapid follow up shots is no joke even with light target loads. When you get into the heavier buckshot and slug loads, a short barreled (legal short, not ATF short) lightweight shotgun will really get your attention when you pull the trigger.

Even a cheap pump gun will hold a fair resale value going forward if you decide to upgrade based on your experience. You'll get your money's worth out of training and just plain fun.

A semi will have some benefit of reduced felt recoil/faster follow up shots. They also can be ammo-fussy, especially with light training loads. As a skilled user, you will notice this. As a novice, you likely will not. Train on the pump and become one with it before you consider an upgrade.

As mentioned above, the benefit of a pump is durability through harsh use, sketchy ammo, bad conditions. The downside is a considerable amount of practice is needed to avoid short stroking and jamming under stress. On the mossberg and Rem, there are a couple of small parts that may break or go out of tune over extended use/abuse. I've found these to be field repairable in most cases.

I don't see any advantage to a box magazine feed. To hold a useful capacity, they ruin the balance of the gun and become large and unwieldy. The shotgun is a quick and dirty tool. If 7 or more rounds of various shells loaded in a tube with extension don't do the job, you're probably out of time for mag changes anyhow.

 

[Boattale]

The only shotguns I'd caution you against are the cheap imported semi-auto offerings and anything with a box magazine. I'm 69 now and got my first shotgun at 13. Been through a lot of shotguns mostly good and reliable, some not quite as reliable as others. They got sold or traded in.

Today I've got an 870 Wingmaster that's 30+ years old, 100% reliable and the best shotgun in the inventory, an older 870 express that's 100% reliable, an M1 Super 90 that is also 100% reliable and a H&R Pardner that hangs by the back door. All 12 gauge. I have a 20 gauge 1100 that I had the barrel and stock shortened for my wife. It too is 100% reliable.

I hope you're seeing the trend towards emphasis on 100% reliable. That's the most important attribute for a shotgun that is intended for HD. After that, it's a matter of taste and personal preference.

 

[Spats McGee]

I lean towards pump shotguns. I've never had a problem with the few semiautos I've dealt with. That said, I've had 870s for about 40 years now. Only one ever gave me trouble, and that was relatively minor.

 

[12Bravo20]

One of the biggest issues with box magazine fed shotguns is that most can cause the shells to deform if left loaded over an extended period of time. And yes a tube magazine works every time (some exceptions with mini shells).

As already mentioned, some semi-autos will not function well with light field loads. Or you have to swap out parts to make them work but then they will have issues with heavier loads.

It is hard to beat a pump action shotgun for most uses. The US military base been using pumps for 100+ years without issues. The Winchester 97, Mossberg 590, and Remington 870 have been put through their paces by GI's for a long time.

I even had a full NFA version of the Mossberg Shockwave issued to me for a while. We used them for breaching operations. It was basically the US Marshall witness protection shotgun.

 

[PatientWolf]

If you want to be able to shoot anything, you might want to wait and see how the reviews go for the new Mossberg 590S. It is reportedly capable of cycling everything from mini shells to 3”.

if you want a semi-automatic, you’d probably be very happy with the Beretta1301

 

[tmd16556]

Modern pumps are hard to beat. Don’t forget the Benelli Nova either. They have a magazine shutoff button that is nice I’d you want to mix loads. Anything with a side ejector can be loaded more quickly than you’d think. The Ithaca 37 is harder to manage (I still love shooting them though) since it’s a bottom ejector.

 

[cdb1]

In theory a pump is more reliable, in practice a QUALITY semiauto is. Reliability and durability ain't the same. IME a semi is more reliable, a pump more durable.

The first shotgun I owned that was purchased by myself was a pump. I don’t do well with pumps, I’m the short stroke king. I can only imagine how bad I’d be in tension packed moment with a pump. So it’s strictly a semi for me.

If I had the money my first choice for HD/SD would be an M4. Second would be a V3 and third would probably be a 1301.

I’m fine with tube fed. I also don’t worry about my SD shotgun cycling dove loads as it will never be used for that purpose. It does double duty as a turkey shotgun.

 

[Rubone]

My vote goes to 870s...and you can configure them however you like!

 

[irishlad]

Modern pumps are hard to beat. Don’t forget the Benelli Nova either. They have a magazine shutoff button that is nice I’d you want to mix loads. Anything with a side ejector can be loaded more quickly than you’d think. The Ithaca 37 is harder to manage (I still love shooting them though) since it’s a bottom ejector.

Love my Super Nova, even more than my 870.

 

[Beck]

If you're starting from go with no shotgun at all I recommend pump shotguns like the Rem 870, Mossy 500, and similar. The basic design has proven itself over many decades for military, law enforcement, and civilian use.

I have a 12 gauge Rem 870 18" barrel for SD/HD. I put a Choate extended tube on it, which gives it 6+1 capacity with 2-3/4 shells.

Nice thing about the 870s and similar is you can switch the barrel out very quickly for different uses. I've got a 20" slug barrel for my 870 in the closet.

There are plenty of nice semi-autos available, but I would start with a pump, and experiment with other types from there if you like.

 

[Barnfixer]

If I was told I could have only one shotgun it’d be a pump. Probably a 870. That said, we got our son a SXP a few years ago and it’s been a great gun. He does a lot of hunting in harsh weather during duck and goose season. He talks about getting a auto, but then he sees his friends autos jamming or freezing up he feels better about his pump.

 

[Dibbs]

Another vote for the Mossberg 500. You can literally load the tube mag, after firing a couple rounds. They are lightweight, dependable, what everybody around here uses.

Get the Mossberg 500 package that comes with the 18.5 and 28 inch barrels. Then you can hunt with it, too.