Whos making the best tactical 12s these days?

[cslinger]

I feel the need to channel a very wise man.

Get what fits you and then BA/UU/R. Do that with damn near whatever you like and you will have a formidable "tactical" arm.

RIP Dave.

 

[Cokeman]

As mentioned, the Remington 870 & Mossberg 500 are the most popular pump-actions. Also as mentioned, the best ("tactical" or not), is the one (or the configuration) you shoot best.

I have an 870 and it's a fine shotgun. But for a HD shotgun, I'd prefer the Mossberg, as the tang safety's a lot quicker and intuitive to employ IME. Also, the Mossberg can be unloaded without having to cycle the shells through the action. If I'm supposed to be able to do that with my 870, I haven't yet figured it out.

How? I didn't know you could.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

As everyone already said, the standard pump shotguns that all others are normally judged are the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870. The biggest difference between both are the locations of the controls (safety and action release). I'd recommend one of these because parts/barrels are everywhere so it can go from tacticool to practicool in 15 minutes.

But, if you are on a budget (I love budget guns) then you can get some other great options for normally under $200:
-Mossberg Maverick 88 (budget Mossberg 500, takes 500 barrels and most parts)
-Stevens 320 (uses Rem 870 control locations, but I don't believe it is an 870 clone)
-H&R pardner Pump (870 clone, uses man 870 parts and accessories)
-IAC Hawk (another 870 clone, not as prevelent as the H&R)
-Any of the Turkish imports from odd brands

Obviously you can always go to other brands, with offerings from Benelli, Winchester, Browning, Weatherby. Honestly, a pump shotgun is a pump shotgun for most purposes

 

[Sam1911]

How? I didn't know you could.

The way I do it is to curl my fingers up into the loading port and press the cartridge stop bar (one of the two bars that fall out when you take out the trigger group) on the left and the shells slide back out of the magazine.

 

[MrBorland]

How? I didn't know you could.

Sam1911 just beat me to it.

I have some egg on my face, though. I recall I was on the range with my bud's Mossberg and my 870, and I'll be darned if I could unload my 870 the same way. It just wasn't happenin'. I just tried this morning, though, and voilá, so figure.

 

[GAMEOVER44]

I kinda have this itch for a Benelli M4. I think I found my next girl. Im on their website now drooling over it.

Mr Borland, great video post.

 

[rbernie]

The 21" M2 Field with a Nordic +2 extension is way handier and more versatile than the M4. It just doesn't look quite as tactically faddish.

 

[Inebriated]

The M2 is the way I'd go as well. Over the M4, anyway.

I'd still take an 870 over both.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

From the looks of his gun unloading it is all he has ever done with the gun. If you shoot an 870 it does not take long to wear the magazine tube shiny.