[Owlnmole]

I am sure there is already a thread or twelve about this somewhere, but I didn't find it in a search, so here goes.

What are the pros and cons of the most common models of pump-action 12 gauge security/tactical/home defense shotguns? I am talking about traditonal, basic, 18" or 18 1/2" barrels and six shot magazines. Which do you choose and why?

I have listed a few off the top of my head, and deliberately excluded the Chinese models because of my own preferences, but feel free to offer other suggestions. Let's narrow it down to low-priced models still available new to compare apples with apples, so to speak.

Thanks!

[A man with a gun!]

18.5 870 Police. No mag extension, bead sights, no whistles, no bells.

Good enough for the California Highway Patrol.... Good enough for me.

[foghornl]

Maverick 88...

Bought in 1990 (or so) w/28" Mod choke plain barrel, later swapped on the 18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel.

Goes BOOM! on request, every time, and puts the lead where I point. Only add-on is a 5-round butt cuff w/slugs, #4Buck in the magazine.

[riverdog]

18.5 870 Police. No mag extension, bead sights, no whistles, no bells.

Good enough for the California Highway Patrol.... Good enough for me. Mine came used with a rough but serviceable stock for $150. 2 3/4" only but who needs 3" 00B. No bells, no whistles, just a solid pump for HD.

[Dave McCracken]

Sigh....

870 for me, but any of these will do. The software is much more crucial than the name on the receiver....

[FEG]

Old pattern Ithaca 37 Featherlight in 12 ga. It has no disconnect, and it will fire when racked if the trigger is held. I have one, and it will fire faster than my Benelli Montefeltro with some practice.

[gunut]

I use 2 model 12 Winchesters.. one from early 40s one from early 50s....I think they are classy firearms..

[Frog48]

I just picked up a Mossberg Maverick 88 last week. I already have a Maverick field model and like it alot, so I figured "why not?". Mavs are hard to beat for the money.

My home defense Maverick, I added the heatshied and shell holder:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/SigEpGrant/Outdoors/Firearms/MaverickSecurity.jpg

My hunting Maverick, with Mossberg 500 wood stocks:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/SigEpGrant/Outdoors/Firearms/Mossberg88.jpg

[TAB]

Sigh....

870 for me, but any of these will do. The software is much more crucial than the name on the receiver....



exactly, besides other then some minor cosmedic( I know some one is going to disagree with me on that) they are all pretty much the same.

[bakert]

The only shotgun I own now is an older 16 ga 870 that had been sawed of and then a Poly choke added, but any of those listed would do just fine Don't have to be "tactical" or gussied up with extra cap mag or all of the other newest things. Just a plain hunting gun will do the trick. Actually when growing up I remember of a few instances where an old off brand single barrel shotgun got the job done right well.:p

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/brumanj/870pc2.jpg

[bigdaddydan]

remington 870 but my first choice would be my benelli m3 one bad shotgun :neener::neener::what::what::evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

[rogerxd45]

mossberg 590a1
its a really solid gun doesnt have any plastic parts, it also has a heavy barrel that is thicker then the 870 express and the other mossbergs

here is my 14"er
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u17/rh4runner/DSC_0449.jpg

and heres another view
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u17/rh4runner/DSC_0466.jpg

and a picture of the tax stamp (its an AOW with a $5 stamp)
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u17/rh4runner/DSC_0452.jpg

[RP88]

Mavericks are nice, but from what I've seen, you can throw down an extra 50 bucks and get a nicer parts aftermarket and better finish from a Mossberg, and just a little more for a Remington.

I voted Mossberg, since I have one :)

[DougW]

I don't currently have a HD 870, but I used to. I still have the old 870 Wingmaster 20ga, and it is the shotgun I started using back in the mid 60's. Currently using 1100 and M1Super90 Tactical as HD shotguns. The Mossburg/Maverick impress me a bunch too. I can't comment on the others.

[archigos]

Any feedback on the Stoeger P-350?

[Owlnmole]

Much to my surprise, because I have always heard, "they are good, but..." about the Remington 870, it is leading the poll 2 to 1 over the Mossberg.

Absolutely no votes for the Turkish guns, though in other threads people have said good things about the Charles Daly Tactical model.

Sounds like we're back to Chevrolet/Ford/Dodge with shotguns, with the Dodge having dropped out (Winchester) leaving just the Chevy and Ford (Remington and Mossberg) to battle it out. You pays your money and....

[Dksimon]

I have always been a big fan of the 870. Very upgradeable so you can customize it to exactly how you like it.

Looks like the majority agrees with me

[Owlnmole]

On a side note, do any of the inexpensive pump shotguns come in with a barrel appropriate for home defense and a WOOD stock for the Luddites like me that prefer wood to plastic?

The closest I can find is a Remington 870 Express Deer (http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express_deer.asp)with a 20" IC smoothbore barrel and rifle sights.

That's not a bad choice at all for general purpose use, just wondering if there are any other options with wood stocks that won't break the bank, and I would have preferred a bead sight and straight stock.

[John G]

Whatever works for you, works. I have an older Ithaca 37 w/18.5 barrel, wood furniture, and worn blue finish.

But as the man said (and said, and said again), it's the indian, not the arrow.

[Nematocyst]

I no longer own a shotgun.

Traded in the 870P for a .357 mag carbine.
Lighter, shorter, less recoil (facilitates training),
more rnds, same rnds as my mod 65
(an advantage for camp use),
stops intruders (and deer) well.

My next shotgun will likely be a 20 ga SxS for birds.

However, if I were to buy another HD shotgun,
it'd be an 870.

[possum]

remington 870 for me.

[madcratebuilder]

The Remington's and Mossberg's are the best for HD, with the 870P model being the best. It has many improvements over the other 870 models, with a all metal trigger group and flexi-tab being the most notable.

[Black_Talon]

http://www.black-talon.org/RKBA/SG/870P_1975_FT_03_0900.jpg

[Owlnmole]

That's a nice pic, Black Talon, but could you identify the model, please?

[deadhawg]

I just bought a Charles Daly Tactical mostly because a local store had it on sale for under $200. Haven't even fired it yet, but the action seems ok and shells cycle fine. I hope to get an 870 and/or a Mossberg one day when the budget allows.

Ron

[Charles Daly]

Hmmm....well, I know where one of the two votes came from for the Daly tactical! ;)

[13.45]

gotta go with the trusty ol' 870 ;)

[Nicky Santoro]

My hunting SG is an 870 with a scope. I use the same one for both deer and turkeys with different chokes, and, of course, different ammo.
My HD SG is a Winchester defender with a bead sight. Light, handy, and slicker than snot on a door knob.

[Owlnmole]

We all know who voted for Charles Daly, Michael, it's that kind of poll. ;-)

[okiewita40]

I use an 870P at work. But for the house I have a Mossberg 500. I like the weight better plus there is not gate to scrape my thumb on when I load the rounds. My vote is for the 500.

[Black_Talon]

That's a nice pic, Black Talon, but could you identify the model, please?

1975 Remington 870 Police.

[guntotinguy]

OK..I voted for the Mossburg 500 (I have a tactical) but I would also mention my Saiga's are a more likely 'grab and shoot' if closer.A local gunsmith is going to be showing me a Rem 870 later this week...still looking for more 'shotguns'.

[ScratchnDent]

Well, I have an 870, a Mossy 500, and a Mav 88.
I voted Maverick, because that's the one that stays loaded in the closet. Reason being, if I have to use it, I'd rather my least expenive shotgun sat unloved in an evidence locker for who knows how long.

[gallo]

I've been researching the topic of a shotgun for home defense. I'm inclined toward a 20 gauge if the blast is significantly less than a 12 gauge.

[kennedy]

bought a moss 500 for $70 at a yard sale, refinished stock, took it apart and gave it a needed good cleaning, added a 18 in barrel. enought said

[SiG357]

Nice price. I just bought the same new for $299

[10 Ring Tao]

None of the below options are less worthwhile than the others, it just depends how much time, effort, or money you want to put into it.

Lets be realistic, all you need is something that will always go bang and feed ammo reliably. If that's all you want, get whatever pump is cheapest that still works. My first HD scattergun was an old, beat up, $100 gunshow special stevens model 620, that I chopped up and had no qualms grabbing for bumps in the night.

If all you want is an extended magazine and plain bead sights on a proven reliable pump, get a 500.

If you want a pistol grip (because of the location of the safety) and/or really want to tacti-cool it out, get an 870. I wanted another HD gun because I could, and wanted to upgrade my options from the trusty 620 I'd had in the bedroom for years. After reading a bunch and planning out exactly what I wanted, I built this. (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356873)

Again, don't let anyone tell you that what you have isn't sufficient. If you can hit what you need to, when you need to, without fail, anything else is icing on the cake.

[SimpleIsGood229]

Of all the choices, I voted for 870. You really can't go wrong with either the 500 or 870. The rest of those, in my humble opinion, just don't have the proven record of the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870.

[BamaHoosier]

Ithaca 37M&P with no disconnect,like FEG's Featherlite.Pump and sweep:D!

[LongRider]

To late to vote but thought I would add my 2¢ anyway as my first THR post. I have 2 Mossberg 500's one is basic no frills came with a 18.5 barrel, heat shield and pistol grip. My second is a 500A that I just added a Knoxx Spec-Ops Stocks from Cabelas too. 18.5 barrel, holds eight 3" rounds with one in the pipe. Added a picatinny scope mount to mount a Red Dot sight and a Mako 3 picatinny rail foregrip that I used to add a Mako T- grip with 1" flashlight adapter that holds my batteries and has a trigger switch to operate my NovaTac 120 lumens flashlight. The NovaTac has three light settings bright, brilliant and blinding plus a strobe option. Put a LaserLyte laser on the pistol grip so I can thumb it on or off. The flashlight & laser are operated without needing to release my hold on the foregrip. Need to add a heat shield, sling and side saddle to carry a reload. I am real excited about the Spec-Ops Stock. To be honest I figured Knoxx's ads to be a bit exaggerated, and expected some reduction in recoil, but not the advertised 95%. Turns out if anything, the Spec-Ops Stock effectiveness is understated. Got to play with her this week end. WOW, this thing is way to coo. After about 50 rounds recoil was virtually non existent. I put 200 rounds through my Mossberg like I was shooting a 22. With the pistol foregrip I stayed right on target. NO muzzle flip to speak off at all. Consistently emptied the shotgun as fast as I could work the pump, hitting multiple targets dead on from 15 feet to 25 yards. Will extend the range when I get a chance. 25 yards is all I have to shoot on my property. Only bad thing is I ran out of ammo and shredded all of my targets far to quickly. With a little practice and maybe a training course I have no doubt that short of a full auto there is nothing I can clear a room of eight targets with as quickly or effectively as I can with Bertha. Here's a pic for you, ain't she purdy? Actually despite her tacti-cool mall ninja appearance this is one extremely vicious weapon. Almost impossible to miss with and handles like a dream. Any BG on the wrong end of this thing will feel like the gates of hell have opened up releasing the four horsemen of the apocalypse on them. They will immediately cease what ever inappropriate behavior they were engaged in.

http://bearvisions.com/4Guns/bertha.jpg
If you don't have a Knoxx Spec-Ops stock. Don't let the name turn you away, get one you WILL be quite pleased with the result. In addition to Cabelas, Midway USA has the Knoxx Spec-Ops stock (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=974135) in stock at their website MidwayUSA.com (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=974135)

[Tribal]

RogerXD45,

To be honest, I think that a scope on a shotgun like that is completely unnecessary, as is the attached AR-15. Just my opinion, though.

[proud2deviate]

Mine. Remington 870 Police Magnum, 20" IC barrel with rifle sights. 7+1 capacity.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/proud2deviate/870-01.jpg

Her it is without the mag extension, and with the rear sight blade installed. . .
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/proud2deviate/ShortTube003.jpg

Love this gun. . .