Which shotgun for home defense?

[TruthTellers]

I say none. Here's my list of HD shotguns and they're all pumps:

High end: Ithaca Model 37, Kel Tec KSG, Mossberg 590

Mid range: Mossberg 500, Remington 870

Low end: Stevens, IAC Hawk, Mossberg Maverick

Other: Maverick over/under, Stoeger Double Defense. Good shotguns for inexperienced women, those who have trouble operating the pump action, or those who want as short a shotgun as possible

The Maverick can be found on Black Fridays for really good prices. I think they sell for well under $200. The 500 is still a good gun, but if you can't spend an extra $50, then there's no harm in getting the Mav.

I prefer Mossberg to Remington. So many issues with the Remington brand these days, I don't care to contribute to the company.

 

[GBExpat]

If I am going to use one of my shotguns for HD it will be the Mossberg 500A that my folks gave me as a High School graduation present.

O'course I would, first, replace the 30"FC barrel with the 18½"OC barrel that I have on-hand.

 

[DM~]

Another 870 vote here...

DM

 

[I6turbo]

I agree with the semi-automatic route in general, and especially if a person who hasn't trained extensively with a pump might be the user. Heck, I've seen quail and turtle doves surprise shotgunners into short-stroking or no-stroking pump guns. It's not hard to imagine the brain freeze that a home intruder might cause.

 

[Mainsail]

18" FN SLP, the one that's not the MK1.

 

[entropy]

870, 500/590, Ithaca 37, Stevens 67, Winchester models 97 and 12. All have gone to war with US forces. They all work well. If you insist on an auto, M1014 or Saiga 12.

 

[C0untZer0]

TNOUTDOORS9 did a pretty good review of the Mossberg 930 SPX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5--twrZ8p8

 

[Scrumbag]

Wish we could get the SLP in the UK

 

[evan price]

Basic pump and a couple flats of shells to get used to it. I prefer mossbergs.

 

[gamestalker]

An 870 has worked just fine for me.

One can easily have their cake and eat it too, just buy an 870 express 28" VR for hunting, then stick an 18.5" barrel on it, with what ever after market bells and whistles desired.

GS

 

[Vernon1]

News To Me!! Twenty Gauge Parts!

I have always loved shotguns.

I have owned/sold/gifted my fair share.

They have all been twelve gauge.

Now that I am sixty-seven I have grown weary of being beat to bits by the twelve gauges.

I have discovered that 99% of the parts are for the twelve gauges.

Twenty gauge parts are like hens teeth...

However, as the population gets older the tide may turn. Perhaps I am not the

only old guy tired of being beat to pieces by the larger gauges...

 

[mgkdrgn]

None of those.
Get an 870 and a case of ammo

^^^ What he said (and I've got three of them to sell, Police Magnums. )

 

[UltimateGuns]

I didn't vote for any of those. For home defense, I'd recommend a pump. Personally, I prefer the 870. If you HAVE to get a semi (lots of folks do), I'm partial to Benellis.

 

[WRGADog]

Benelli M2 Tactical, pistol grip, ghost ring, +3 tube extension.

 

[W.E.G.]

$175 from various vendors.

 

[nathan]

Mossberg 500 12 gauge with bantam stock .

 

[200Apples]

.
How about a Remington 1100 Texas Tactical?







It's an 1100 from the 1980s wearing a 22" rifle-sights slug barrel which also throws 00 buckshot just fine. Remington 2-shot magazine extension and sling swivel barrel clamp. For fast-loading your favorite shotshells, there's a Dave's Metal Works' Easy Loader and a Brownells combat bolt handle.

Of course, this wasn't an option per se on the OP's poll, but, what the hey.

 

[C0untZer0]

Slug barrels throw shot in a ring pattern, making a large "O", probably doesn't matter at HD distances, but something to keep in mind.

 

[I6turbo]

.
How about a Remington 1100 Texas Tactical?

^^ Nice gun! And I agree 100% on the choice of a semi-auto for HD.


I find it strange how many people rely on semi-auto handguns for self defense (carry) or home defense, yet feel that a pump is the logical choice for a HD shotgun. It seems to me whatever logic it is that dictates a pump shotgun would require a single-action revolver in a handgun?

 

[oneounceload]

I agree, one less thing to worry about

 

[JamieC]

Remington 870, Knoxx recoil absorbing stock, (adjustable to fit both the wife and myself, always left in the shortest position),

 

[2zulu1]

I went the FNH SLP route and put a night vision capable C-MORE on top, very robust and reliable construction that can be handed down to your kids.



Recoil is relatively soft when shooting full power LE OO buckshot, meaning your shoulder won't get beat up during extended training sessions. I also like the fact that expended ammunition is ejected forward, significant design feature when shooting left handed.

The biggest issue with the 870 is it can be short stroked, more so when transitioning to the left shoulder.

Very fast shooter that shares parts with Browning and Winchester models.

 

[200Apples]

.
Nice semiautos, fellas!

My post coining the term "Texas Tactical" as a style or mode of shotgun was made tongue-in-cheek, but I think I like the phrase. (There has to be a company somewhere with that name... [Edit: My associate in Houston has just informed me that the term, as a domain name, has been taken.] Oh well.)

Slug barrels throw shot in a ring pattern, making a large "O", probably doesn't matter at HD distances, but something to keep in mind.

This is a smoothbore, not a rifled slug barrel. Basically a cylinder bore choke, which I've patterned out to 15 yards on paper. That said, I've yet to pattern THIS particular smoothbore with buckshot, so your post is timely.

What puzzles me are the folks that talk about "the longest shot in my house is 40 feet" or some other unjustifiable distance. Really, I can't pull the trigger unless someone is much closer and closing fast.

 

[I6turbo]

... That said, I've yet to pattern THIS particular smoothbore with buckshot, so your post is timely.

I found that the chokes in my A5 above make a significant difference in pattern vs. cylinder bore, whether buckshot or target/game loads.

With standard rounds (not FliteControl) of 00, #1, and #4 buckshot, the pattern is very noticeably tighter with the Full choke vs. the Cylinder bore. The Modified choke is closer in pattern to the Cylinder than to the Full. Both the Cylinder and Modified chokes result in more of the "O" pattern with a ring of buckshot and a fairly open center area. The Full choke tightens the pattern up (smaller diameter) and also puts some pellets in the center area, and is the one I want installed when configuring the gun for potential HD use.

As you no doubt know judging from your post, it is very important to pattern your individual gun with the exact loads you plan to use. Otherwise one is just guessing and ass-uming what type of pattern the gun is throwing, and where it's throwing it. It's not at all uncommon to be unpleasantly surprised at the patterning results with a given load from a given gun. Usually they're okay, but it's not unusual for there to be holes in the pattern, or the pattern isn't centered to the point of aim. Of course for HD type scenarios it's not likely to be an issue, but if one is serious about trying to hit small moving targets (game or clay), he/she really needs to check to see what's going on out there.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I cant pick any of the above semi autos as the only semi that I have seen about a dozen different folks use in shotgun classes that has been utterly reliable is the benelli M4. Even then it needs to be cleaned every 300 rounds.