Entry guns

[680x0]

What do ya'll think about super-short shotties for home defence? The only shotgun I've ever fired was my Grandpa's ithaca 37 so my experience is very limited, but I'd imagine a short overall length would work great indoors. I don't mind having do to the class 3 B.S., but are there any quality models out there or should I just make it easy on myself and get an 870?

[Dave McCracken]

Get a standard 870, or other good pump gun. The advantage, if any, isn't worth the hassle.

The Archives here have tons of info. Enjoy....

[sm]

Welcome to THR !

Get an 870.
Or any of the big 4: Rem. / Win. /Ithaca/ Mossy.

Why? Because you admit very little or no experience. Experience is best learned with a full stock gun, learned basic fundamental, shooting light loads. Or as Dave says BA/UU/R.

You cannot learn these things with a shorty entry gun with a pistol grip. even the folks that are required to use one - hate the darn thing,it is task specific.

Many ranges will not allow, so where you gonna practice. You will miss out on a whole new world with an entry gun. With full stock gun you will meet folks, shoot various clay games and be able to hunt. The more you handle and use one the better you will be .

[680x0]

Yeah, I guess I knew I was gonna end up with an 870, those mini mossbergs are kinda cute though. Any accessories recommended for HD?

I'm still amazed at how helpful the people are on this board. Completely unlike every other message board I've ever used :D Thanks.

[Rob62]

680x0,

The only mandatory accessory for any home defense gun is a gun mounted light IMO. The Surefire Units that replace a SG's fore end start at around $180 if you look hard. Used units can be picked up for as little as $150 occasionally on the net.

I would also consider some way of keeping extra ammo on the gun. I personally like butt cuffs for this, but there's nothing wrong with a sidesaddle type attachment.

While some people really like ghost ring sights, of which I'm one, they are not necessary on a SG that will be used strictly for HD. A plain bead on a ramp will serve you well.


Regards,

Rob

[Smoke]

Lets qualify "Standard 870" or any other brand as one with a 18-20" barrel.
Those long bird barrels can get hard to manuver in a hallway.

Anyone that spends any amount of time with a SG will do better with a standard gun than a PG only.

Smoke

[ajacobs]

While I agree that with the above posters, I don't believe the original poster was speaking of a PG only gun nessesarly, just a SBS.

[standingbear]

make it easy..get an 870 express with the magnum receiver,swap out the plastic triggerguard and bolt with that of a chrome plated police model.add a surfire light and an a 2 shot extended mag with the 18" barrel.the SBS look menacing but really..you can do alot more with the regular HD model and a few mods than pay double for something that has very limited potential.

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah...he never mentioned a pistol grip only gun. Most entry guns HAVE regular stocks, as a matter of fact, just short barrels.

I think a 14" barreled 870 or Mossberg would work quite well for home defense. Probably not appreciably better than an 18 or 20" model, but certainly not any less well.

[680x0]

Yes, perhaps I should've used the term short-barreled shotgun.

Nobody sells class III's in this frickin' state so I ended up getting an 870 Marine Magnum. I looked at the mossberg 590 and winchester 1300, but the finish on the Marine Magnum is so much finer and I loved the action. I wish they'd get rid of the bayonet lug on the end though, it's kinda ugly :( Picked up a used Sphinx AT-380 while I was at it, as it was only $335! Great pocket gun, but I'd like to get some custom grips made for it as the plastic ones are VERY flimsy.

I'd still take recommendations on SBS type guns, but I won't be doing any gun purchases for a while after my little "spree" at the Frontiersman :D

[Nightcrawler]

I don't think the Marine Magnum has a bayonet lug.

http://www.remington.com/images/firearms/870marinemag.jpg

Does a bayonet fit?

[680x0]

Isn't that what the bit on the end of the magazine extension was originally for? Or is the lug actually the piece that has to be attached under the magazine?

[Nightcrawler]

IIRC, the military 870s had a barrel band with a bayonet lug/sling swivel on it. That's just part of the tube extension, I believe.

You can check, though. Get any M16 bayonet (M7, M9, M10) and see if it fits.

[Gewehr98]

The step down in diameter at the end of the magazine extension tube is for the M16 bayonet's handguard ring. However, the Marine Magnum doesn't make use of the required bayonet lug where the sling swivel and barrel band sit on that gun. The military 870 uses a fairly beefy barrel band, too, compared to the Marine Magnum pictured above. I think the front end on my military 870 isn't ugly, but kinda sexy in a rugged, no BS sort of way! ;)

Military 870 without bayonet:



http://mauser98.com/870mk1right.jpg

With bayonet attached:

http://mauser98.com/870mk1leftblade.jpg

[foghornl]

680:
I have 1 shotty, a Maverick 88 made by Mossberg. I have the orginal 28" Modified choke barrel for "Field & Woods" use, and the 18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel for "Serious Social & HD"use.

I tried a "pistol grip" stock, and found out that if it was my hat, I couldn't hit the ground with it.

So, I will echo the statements of Mr. McCracken, and others...get a 'standard' type shotgun, with good fit, and lotza practice.

[But I do like the 18-1/2" barrel for inside the home]

[Nightcrawler]

http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/rem870entry.jpg

Typical "entry" shotgun, and what I believe 680x0 was referring to. Note the conventional stock.

[carpettbaggerr]

http://www.webleyweb.com/gifs/autoburg.gif
This one would probably do the job very well, despite being pistol grip only.