home defense shotgun

[cdpII]

what is the best home defense shotgun and at a low price

[cslinger]

What is a low price?

For around 300ish you can get either a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with a 6-8 shot tube and 18-20inch barrel. Either would make a dandy shotty.

[sm]

Good used bone stock shotgun.

Pumps : 870, 1300, Ithaca 37, JC Higgins...
Semis : 1100, Beretta 303, SX1,


Bone Stock New:
870 Express Combo with one smoothbore barrel being rifle sighted, the other being longer allowing for hunting, clay games..

SX2,
FN [1300 clone]


FWIW I am using a H&R Topper Youth 20 gauge single shot, with fixed modified choke, factory recoil pad and the loading is slugs...

[mcneill]

I have a Winchester Model 1300 w/ extended magazine, matte black, and composite stock. I think they are around $300. I am quite pleased with it - have also used it to shoot clays. (Always told my hunter ed students that it was my "quail gun." They always got a kick out of that.:))

Jim

[kingpin008]

Perhaps this would be better posted in the Shotgun forum.

[fireflyfather]

Definitely needs to be moved to shotgun forum, but you can get a mossberg 500 (several variants) from Big5 for $229 or so when they are on sale (about one week per month). If you live on the West coast, definitely the cheapest place to get the mossberg, and at that price, definitely the cheapest (new) shotgun I'd be willing to bet my life on.

[Blue .45]

Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 are probably the most common, along with Ithaca. Maverick/Mossberg is one of the best values on a HD shotgun. You can get a Mossy 500 combo for about $300. Mine has both, the 18" cyl. bore and 28" multi-choke barrels.

[Avenger29]

You can get a Mavrick 88, which is the economy version of the Mossberg 500, for $179 at Academy sports. It is a true bargin.

For spending a bit more, the Mossberg 500 is good too, but only a little fancier than the Mav. 88

For spending a little more than that, the Remington 870 is also a good choice.

Beware pawn shops and gun dealers who believe that a shotgun with a short barrel and extended magazine automatically command >$300 level prices for a beat-up example.

[The Deer Hunter]

I prefer the Remington 870, but the Mossberg isn't a bad choice. You can find a nice used 870 Wingmaster for ~$250.


If you want to go real cheap and cannot find a good deal on a used gun, the Maverick 88. The Maverick is made by Mossberg, and takes all common Mossberg 500 acessorise.

[MassMark]

Benelli Nova Tactical....All set up for home defense out of the box...

[camslam]

Another vote for the Maverick. I have one that I have put close to 1000 rounds through and I am yet to have a problem. I picked mine up for $189.00 brand new with the pistol grip included. I have gone with a pistol grip buttstock after trial and error.

With the 20 inch barrel, you have 7+1 capacity with 3" shells and I love that. I also mounted a side saddle and tac light and it is ready for anything that goes bump in the night.

For the money, I don't think you can beat it. Only my opinion.

[XavierBreath]

what is the best home defense shotgun and at a low price
I prefer mine to be loaded, with an 18 inch barrel, pump action, full stock, corn cob forend, and a sidesaddle. I like the placement of the controls on the Mossberg 500 series. I like the feel of the Winchester 1200/1300. I like the steel receiver of the Remington 870.

I buy mine used for around $100, and convert them into what I want them to be. More info at this link. (http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2005/09/home-defense-shotguns.html)

[gp911]

I was getting ready to say there are single shots available very cheap if one is willing to practice quick reloads...

A single shot leaning behind the door or laying near the bed beats a tacticool pump locked away three rooms down anyday. It all depends on what you are most comfortable shooting. Like cheap pumps? Charles Daly, H & R Pardner Pump, of course any 870, 590, 500, etc. Do a couple searches, do some shooting, and you'll have your answer.


gp911

[Dave McCracken]

Best?

Any reliable US made pump that you've put a few thousand rounds through.

Price? Buy used. Last 870 here was $178 out the door.

[glockman19]

This has ben discussed extensively. Mossberg or Ramington 870 seem to be teh leaders.

[KINGMAX]

remington 870 w/ short barrell

[MassMark]

You would be wise to shoulder several HD shotguns to find the fit and features that you desire. One of thos guns should be a Benelli Nova Tactical. In the low-end price range and already fitted with things you would have to add to an 870, Mossy, Winchester, etc...Pump action is as smooth as silk, can clear a round from the chamber with a full tube, sublime ghost ring sights and a superb recoil management stock, (optional)....

[Ala Dan]

"Best" is very subjective; but I use a 12 gague Remington model 870
"Marine Magnum"; with alternating rounds of #6 shot, and #4 buckshot. ;):D

[trueblue1776]

The #6 shot is in case you get raped by a goose.

[gopher0]

Any "Shotgun" would be good
I use rem 1100 in 12 ga
with # 4s

[JaxNovice]

For $190 my Mossy 500 does the trick. I save my Berettas for the sporting clays course.

[Avenger29]

Birdshot is advised against for Home Defense, though- it does not have the penetration to reliably stop a threat. A #8 birdshot pellet is smaller than a BB. A 00 Buck pellet is about .30" in diameter.

Buck or slugs. 00 Buck is the most popular, but there is also #1 and #4.
Slugs are good, too- but you have to remember that you are throwing one big projectile verses several smaller ones.

Pattern your shotgun with several loads to determine the best. Use 2 3/4" shells. Get used to the shotgun. You can use birdshot to practice, but you need to fire some rounds of your chosen HD load to get familar.

[mavracer]

Birdshot is advised against for Home Defense, though- it does not have the penetration to reliably stop a threat.
+1 to this 4 buck is the smallest I'd recomend.
take a look at rem 870 turkey. has 21" bbl with screw in choke.

[351 WINCHESTER]

Birdshot, especially trap loads are very effective at close ranges typically encounted in a home defense situation. I don't know how big your house is, but in mine the longest shot possible would be about 10 to 15 yds. A load of steel bb's would work wonders.

[cslinger]

Hey Dan,

Why would you alternate shots? I can see slugs vs. shot but why different sizes of shot.

[trueblue1776]

The boxotruth guy does bird shot penetration tests, they are pathetic, it opened my eyes. I always figured an ounce of lead was an ounce of lead, not so.

[coelacanth]

my choice for a home defense piece is a Savage-Stevens Model 311 12 guage side by side with the barrels cut to 18 1/2 inches. Short (even with a full stock) handy and the quickest 2 shots in the firearms world. Makes a pretty handy club too if the tactical reload thing is unfeasible. I never was too confident that the sound of my slide action racking one in the chamber would be enough to scare most BG's away. Bears don't know squat about firearms so I always carry something that goes BOOM every time I pull the trigger and so far its never taken more than 2 rounds to decide the issue. Good luck m8 - and always remember . . . . . " cogito, ergo scattergun. " ;)

[Avenger29]

Birdshot, especially trap loads are very effective at close ranges typically encounted in a home defense situation

No bird loads are not effective at any range for human targets. See the Box O' Truth test that trueblue1776 did. There are a few websites the ineffectiveness of it, too.

[cslinger]

I am a 00 buck kind of guy but that is just me.

[lepmik]

The Maverick is $154 right now at Academy. The Mossberg 500 (plain-jane version, wood/bbl, 28") is $199. I just picked up one of the 500's. It's my first shotgun! :)

[mavracer]

http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_nonsub/gelatin_testing/bird_8_heavy_dove/gelatin_shot_8.html
try this link to gelatin test with #8 shot, sad penatration and this is bare gel
not to say I'd want to get hit with it,but if you run into the BG you need to STOP use buck

[Boats]

I like #4 buck indoors and #00 outdoors. Therefore, my Mossies are set-up with #4 in the tube and chamber and three #00s and two Federal slugs on butt cuffs.

[351 WINCHESTER]

Try steel bb or no 2's. I think it would do more damage than buckshot at normal house ranges. Not much chance for overpenetration and more tissue damage. Don't believe me, that's ok, no hard feelings here.