[ahadams]

what? that's my question guys. My last HD shotgun was a Mossy 500 cruiser that I put a folding stock on and subsequently loaned to the parents of my Goddaughter where it will stay until they no longer need it. That was a couple of years ago. Where I was living at the time a Mossy was at least a hundred bucks less than a REM 870. Where I'm living now that is no longer the case. I have a mossy hunting shotgun, but I want a new dedicated HD shotgun. Quite frankly the REM 870 3" Magnum Express riot gun *feels* like a whole lot more shotgun. Neither one comes with what I would consider really outstanding sights...so I'm thinking of going with the Remington.
good idea, bad idea, need to look at something else entirely, or what?

[HSMITH]

Nope, buy the 870 unless you have the cash for a 590 mossy. It is not until you get to the 590/835's that mossy makes a good quality shotgun. The 870 is dead solid.

[Badger Arms]

For quality, buy an Ithaca. For cost (and they are cheaper by a little bit) go for the Mossberg. Remington is a great compromise and jsut feels better.

Sights? On a home defense gun? You need a BIG BEAD that you place center-of-mass and pull the trigger. In the home, you might be touching the BG with a gun. You're

[Wildalaska]

Remington 870 no ifs ands or buts, no matter what is cheaper or more expensive..

WildtriedandtrueAlaska

[Dave McCracken]

Any repeating,reliable shotgun held by the Ultimate HD/Riot shotgunner.

The hardware's 10%, the operator's 90%.

Pick whichever of the Big Four appeals to you. Make sure the thing fits and it has a 4 lb, clean trigger. Make sure you can see the sights in low light.

Buy Ammo, Use Up, Repeat, until it feels like a body part and not a tool, and you're absolutely deadly with it under short time frames and heavy stress.

At that point, it matters little if you're using a Dave McC Signature Model 870 with the SP Mag option pkg or a 3rd hand Mossie 500 with mottled finish and skateboard tape on the grip.

Deadly is as deadly does....

(Dismounting from soapbox)....

[ruger357]

Rem. 870.

[Smoke]

Dave is dead on and I will always endorse and use an 870.

But the ultimate HD/Riot shotgun is... Benelli M3

[TrapperReady]

Wouldn't the ultimate HD/riot shotgun be the one you happened to have in your hands at the time?

As long as it's reliable (and there are many very reliable shotguns on the market) and you have shot it enough to gain familiarity, I don't think it much matters.

Remember, a 12ga hole is a 12ga hole. An evil doer isn't going to care if it came from a single shot H&R or a high-tech ($$$) Benelli that looks like a Super Soaker.

[hunter44]

What Dave McC said. Plus, I strongly believe that they all carry very very serious sting in the hands of a well trained shotgunner.

[Badger Arms]

Pick whichever of the Big Four appeals to you.OOOHHHhhh, let me guess... Remington 870 Express, Remington 870 Wingmaster, Remington 870 Police, and Remington Model 10A????

for those of you wondering, one of them is a JOKE gun more akin to a club than a firearm

[greyeyezz]

My 870

[Al Thompson]

Big Four = Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, Ithaca, Benelli, etc.

[foghornl]

The ultimate HD / Riot shotgun is... The one you shoot the best.

I happen to own, and a very comfortable with a Maverick/Mossy Model 88. I have the short (18.5") plain barrel, but the standard stock. I cannot hit things consistantly with a pistol-grip shotgun.

So, for me, this configuration makes the ultimate riot gun.

Your mileage will vary.

[Onslaught]

Wouldn't the ultimate HD/riot shotgun be the one you happened to have in your hands at the time?
True, if the need has already arisen, and all you have in the house is your 26" bird gun... That's the world's best shotgun...

But, if you're fortunate (and wise) enough to be able to plan ahead, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask which one is best and expect a few biased suggestions.

I've only owned 2 shotguns in my life... a Mossberg 500 combo and a Winchester Defender. The Mossberg is long gone, and I am perfectly happy with my Winchester.

But that Benelli M3 sure is purdy! :D

[Meowhead]

No, no, no, nobody in this thread has ANY idea what they're talking about.

All you need is a Maverick 88. Or some Chinese knockoff. Cheapest 12ga pump you can find, anyway; you'll need to save some cash for accessories. It's just not the ultimate HD / riot / tactical gun unless you have a pistol grip, front accessory rails for flashlight, laser sights (both visible and infrared), front pistol grip with storage compartment for batteries and subway tokens, ghost ring sights, holographic scope, vibrator, speedfeed stock, folding stock with pistol grip, plain pistol grip, pistol grip with fixed stock (never know which the situation will call for, after all), recoil pad, bipod attachment point that doubles as a bayonet lug, can opener, heat shield, sidesaddle, a smaller sidesaddle on the other side, tactical sling with shell holder, bandolier, blah blah blah blahhhhh

[Al Thompson]

:D

[Badger Arms]

Forgot the bottle opener.

[oldfella]

Can't hardly wait to try out my new Mossy 590A1... next month!

[Detritus]

hey no one's mentioned the Winchester '97 trench and riot models..... or their Norinco clones. wonder what eh legalities of puting a Bayonet with a 12"+ blade (such as the 1917 enfeild bayo) on the end of a home defense gun are?? :D :evil: (kidding)


seriously, as has been said repeatedly above, it's more a case of what YOU'RE comfortable with.

personally i'm looking at getting a mossy 590A1 since in addition to being less over all than a similarly equiped 870 (in my particular area), it also just seems to balance better to me and my wife. btw if you're not single you should bear in mind that it is best to get a gun or guns that most, if not all the family can bring to bear. your family should not be defenseless b/c YOU aren't there, or even reluctant to use the tools at hand.

[Al Thompson]

"best to get a gun or guns that most, if not all the family can bring to bear. your family should not be defenseless b/c YOU aren't there, or even reluctant to use the tools at hand."


Very good point!

[4Truck]

Spas 12 :evil:

[ahadams]

and if anyone wants to donate one of those fancy Benellis or a SPAS 12 to the ahadams retirement and longevity fund please don't hesitate to do so!:D

That being said I guess I'll end up with with the 870...now to start another thread on learning shotgun techniques.

[ReadyontheRight]

Unless you spend extra $$ on a Marine Magnum or Police model, you have to remove a dimple to add an extended magazine tube on an 870.

I like Remingtons, but this little "feature" points me toward Ithaca or Winchester if it's for HD only.

As far as ultimate HD shotguns go,

http://www.webleyweb.com/gifs/autoburg.gif

the Ithaca Auto and Burglar was a pretty good defense against thugs until 1934. (http://www.webleyweb.com/tle/le970315-03.html)

[ahadams]

Ready on the Right - yeah and I bet that thing was a lot of fun to pattern too!

one of my local FFLs always carries at least one 870 with the extended mag already installed.

[ReadyontheRight]

I love 870s - especially the marine magnums. Glad to hear your dealer knows his stuff.

"Patterning" is probably quite the overstatement with one of those. Not exactly a turkey gun.

[foghornl]

Never even heard of that particular Ithica model before...Probably not your 50+ Yards 'overhead & pass' shooter for ducks & geese

Meanest little 'alley cleaner' I ever saw was taken from a passed-out drunk by another deputy. The [ahem] gun was a SxS 12 Ga, with the big external dog ear hammers. Said gun had been cut so short that the ammo was flush with the end of barrels. :what: :what:

[Midnight]

the one you have when the SHTF.