Purchasing first shotgun tomorrow, few questions

[au01st]

Well, what started it all was last monday night while playing Xbox, my roommate and I heard some commotion at the front door. Looked through the peephole and saw some meth-head getting frustrated with the deadbolt. I have always kept a baseball bat by my front door (I played for 16 years, little league through high school) because I've always felt confident that if the need arose, I could handle it. It's amazing the rush of adrenaline and suddenly how unconfident I felt in my bat/beating plan, and it was at that point I realized I'd have felt much better if I had a means to deliver some high velocity lead therapy should the need arise. This guy was as bold as they come, we have a lighted driveway and motion detection flood lights on the porch that come on after dark (yes he was out there in full light fumbling around with the door, despite three cars in the driveway and lights on in the house).

I've spent the last week looking at reviews online and checking out local stores. I think I've decided on the Maverick 88 12ga. My local Academy has the field model on sale this month for $150 + tax (I've been told by a buddy that if I get a gun suitable for hunting, he'll take me on a few trips since he goes multiple times a year; I've never been but have wanted to go), which seems like a deal to me, since shops here want $350 for a Mossberg 500 (means I get $200 in accessories and ammo if I go with the Maverick). The shorter Maverick is $190 + tax, so for less barrel, I get to pay more...nice.

I do plan to buy the shorter Mossberg 500 barrel, leave the standard stock on there, but was wondering about a few things. I've seen the saddles that allow for additional ammo on the side, and saddles that allow for a scope on top (thinking red dot for hunting) but haven't seen any that will allow for both at the same time, and I didn't know if there was a reason for that?

Also, I saw on one forum that someone had added a larger safety switch but searching has turned up little in the way of a bolt-on mod.

Finally for those that have experience with this gun, what would be a recommended load for breaking it in? Cheapest ammo at the store? Already talked with some friends and we're going to the range on Thursday, so I figure I can put a box or two through it. And then what would be the recommended load that won't go through 4 sheets of drywall, but will still be effective at less than 25ft (longest straight line in my house, and I only have one roommate, who like I said, is behind at least 4 sheets of drywall)?

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[lobo9er]

you'll soon have a half a dozen, . I would go with the 500, but the 88 isnt a bad place to start to kick around in the woods. A coach gun is good stuff too, pretty much the only thing more rock solid reliable than a pump. Also if budget is an issue LEATHERWOOD RED DOT. I have the ES1X25 on a 44mag and I know of a ES1x30 that is on a H&R single shot 3inch mag slug gun. so far rock solid holding zero no problem. hope this helps. shotguns are fun, kinda like tattos there addicting.

 

[au01st]

Yeah, I've been wanting a firearm for a while. Wasn't really raised around guns (no bb guns or paintball guns allowed in the house), but when my uncle (ex-marine) passed away two years ago, my dad was responsible for selling the 55 guns found throughout his house. He kept a few without telling my mom or any of us kids, and recently revealed it earlier this year when they had someone messing around the locked storage shed in the fenced back yard. All that's in there was a few tools and mowers, so my dad is standing on the back porch with his big flashlight/spotlight (uses a 9007 car headlight) pointing a pistol at the shed. Guy ran off but after that he and my mom went and took lessons on proper use. They decided that they were buying us guns for Xmas this year (me, my brother, and sister) but my incident has prompted me to jump the gun a bit, and maybe I can get something nicer in a few months, lol.

Realistically, I'll put a few hundred rounds through the Maverick 88 and take it hunting a few times, then it will be on bedside duty. If I decide I need/want more, I'll look into dropping a bit more coin, but for a recent graduate still looking for a *real* job, this is in the budget for now.

I have been shooting with friends before, and actually got to shoot skeet with a Remington 870 last December. 20/25, which I'm told was not bad for a first timer (thank you Call of Duty and Microsoft, lol). I'm really just tired of going out there and having to borrow someone's gun, I'd like one to call my own.

 

[omegaflame]

I'm not sure pump shotguns need breaking in... but I've never owned a new one.

Get some bird shot and find a trap range.

I also suggest looking at some of the Remington 870s.

 

[Six]

Cheapest ammo at the store ($22/100 at Walmart) is fine as far as breaking in the gun is concerned - but it might also be somewhat frustrating as they don't eject as well as slightly better loads do. They might run fine in your gun, they do in mine, but some people have problems with them.

For fun plinking my preferred load is Winchester AA Low Nosie Low Recoil (Marked as such on the box). Slightly more expensive than the above loads at $7.50ish/25, but far more enjoyable to shoot.

Walmart probably also has a pack of 15 rounds of 00 buckshot for $11 or so.

 

[Black Knight]

At 25 ft. the shot load will most likely hit close to one solid mass. It won't have much time or chance to start spreading. Also drywall offers little in the way of protection from firearm rounds. For home defense I use Federal 00 Buckshot Low Recoil in my Remington 870 Wingmaster. While a shotgun is considered by many as the perfect HD gun it has its drawbacks. Unless you are specially trained to clear a room or building using one don't go looking for the subject unless you have to. The barrel will go beyond the door opening before you are able to see whats there. A person could be on either side of the door and wrestle the gun from you. A short to medium (2-4 inch) barrel handgun is much better in this situation. The shotgun is a good weapon to use for a safe room (a place where you can hide or use to escape the residence, call 911, wait for the police, and let the intruder come to you). The Maverick is made by Mossberg and from what I have seen of them are well made. The police force I work for has the Mossberg 500 series police shotgun. We also load them with 00 Buckshot (full power load). You definately want to train with it at the range as often as you can.

 

[au01st]

Ok, I don't mind spending a bit to find out which ammo I like, so would getting a few different boxes and trying them out be the way to go? Didn't know if this specific gun liked a certain load.

This will most certainly not be a searching through the house gun, it will be a lock the door, rack it, and sit in the corner with the barrel pointed at the bedroom door while 911 is communicating through the bluetooth headset. I currently have no one to protect except myself; my roommate has his own rifle (by the time he got it out of the storage closet last week, the guy was gone). It just seems like every day the criminals get bolder and bolder and if there's going to one "side" of the story to tell, it's going to be my side.

 

[Mr. T]

I happen to own 3 mossbergs and I'm a large guy at 5'11" and 280 lbs, but out of them all if I needed to use one for home defense I would go with the Youth model 500 in 20 gauge. It's so compact and light weight, yet at close range it would be deadly to anyone you might need to dispatch or discourage. The reduced recoil would also make it much quicker on the follow up shots if necessary. I just purchase a youth model two years ago that was called a youth combo package that had a slug barrel and a bird barrel. The youth model is very compact and just snugs in nice and tight...perfect for close quarters in my opinion. The package I bought was $225 at Gander Mountain.

 

[Sgt_R]

My first gun was a used Maverick 88, which I promptly traded in for a tricked out 590. Both are excellent guns, but if I had it to do over again, I'd buy a blued 18.5" 500 with standard stock and bead sight, mount a decent tac light on it somewhere (80+ lumens), and buy as much ammo as I could afford to shoot.

I prefer 00 buck for HD duty, but some folks swear by #4. I wouldn't go smaller than that though.

R

 

[oneounceload]

Any basic pump gun will work for your intended purposes just fine - remember to clean it thoroughly before you shoot it and then apply whatever grease/oil the manual says.

Running some basic wally world promo loads will do fine to allow you to get familiar with the gun. Any flavor of buckshot will handle the intruder at typical HD range

 

[wgp]

Absolutely go shoot the gun before you rely on it. It's not so much that a pump gun needs "breaking in", it's that you need to be sure it works. I discovered when I took out my last new shotgun that the coating applied as a finish to the barrel was also applied in the chamber, and it caused fired cases to stick and prevent ejection. It was simple to fix but it had never happened to me on any other gun and was a nasty surprise.

Also not mentioned here -- find some classes in your area that give instruction and hands-on practice in self-defense/home defense using a shotgun. Go more than once -- it is money well spent. Don't assume that just because you learn to shoot the gun, that you also really know how to use it. (These classes are also fun, you'll find out).

 

[FLNT4EVR]

If you are looking for a very effective home defense load get some of the Centurion buck and ball rounds from Cheaper Than Dirt. 6 #1 buckshot under a .65 caliber ball. I took some to the range last week and at 20 yds the ball shot to point of aim with the busckshot in a 6 inch pattern all around it.They sell for under 9 dollars per box of 10.These loads will stop any threat in a big hurry.

 

[reckless carolinian]

Something about those buck and ball loads just doesn't sit well with me. At the sort of ranges that home defence entails, why not use 00? And that is (usually) available in any town, whereas the CTD stuff has to be shipped. I just don't like gimmicky stuff(buck and ball is nothing new, this is a simple repackaging). If I have to have ammo that I can trust, my money is on name brand i.e.: Remington, Federal, etc. 00 buck.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I would definitely suggest a short barrel for home defense. If the Maverick accepts a 18 in barrel then get both. Shoot a crap load of skeet to get familiar with the gun and pattern your buckshot load out of the shorter barrel. I found I love shooting skeet and is still my favorite way to burn powder. Keep it loaded with a good load and the short barrel and you will be good to go. I like Federal low-recoil OO buck.

You can always use a butt-cuff with extra rounds and even find an magazine extension to bring it to seven rounds. Gives you a dozen rounds in an easy to grab package.

 

[Old Guard Dog]

I have not seen an oversize safety for the Maverick, but there is one for the Mossburg, which has a tang safety, not the crossbolt safety of the Maverick. Nothing wrong with a Maverick. You can't get a magazine extension for Mossburg 500s or Maverick, however, there is a Maverick with a 20" barrel that has an extended mag for 8 shots. The barrel lug is forward of the usual place, so you can't interchange barrels. I sell the 8 round for the same price as the 5 round, so they are a good buy.

 

[lobo9er]

You can't get a magazine extension for Mossburg 500s

really?

 

[ithaca49]

If you are planning on getting the security model the only hunting you will be able to do with the barrel that comes on that is deer (slugs). It has a cylinder bore barrel and it isnt suitable for turkey, pheasant, duck, etc. because the shot spreads too quickly. Perfect for home defense but not so good for this. Also, you will have to plug the gun if you have a capacity of more than 6 for deer hunting (at least in my state). But you can just get a field barrel for a mossberg 500 in the future (they work on mavericks). Then you can get double duty out of it.

 

[tactikel]

If you have any intention of hunting, or using the gun for clays, spend the extra $$ and get a Mossberg. If you only want something to prop against your nightstand the Maverick would be adequate.
Fire several hundred rounds (at least 200) to break in- you, not the gun. Learn how to shuck it, how the safety works, and how to load it with your eyes closed. The gun will loosen slightly over the years but your muscle memory will need to be reinforced several times a year. I shoot 100 rounds from my favorite shot gun every other month, monthly in good weather. Good luck and shoot straight.
BTW - under 10 ft your Louisville Slugger is probably more useful a defensive weapon than a 12ga.

 

[omegaflame]

under 10 ft your Louisville Slugger is probably more useful a defensive weapon than a 12ga[/QUOT] If I were an intruder I'd MUCH rather deal with the bat than a 12 ga at that range.

Is there any truth to side by side 12 Ga shotguns cutting people in half at close range?

 

[oneounceload]

Is there any truth to side by side 12 Ga shotguns cutting people in half at close range?

No.

 

[DHart]

My first gun was a used Maverick 88, which I promptly traded in for a tricked out 590. Both are excellent guns, but if I had it to do over again, I'd buy a blued 18.5" 500 with standard stock and bead sight, mount a decent tac light on it somewhere (80+ lumens), and buy as much ammo as I could afford to shoot.

I prefer 00 buck for HD duty

What he said. An 18.5" 6-shot Mossberg 500 Persuader is a great defense gun. I much prefer it to the 20" 9-shot 590, which is nice for a fixed-position, hunkered down gun, but not so great for maneuverability. I've switched to wood on both of mine. The 500 is a great gun for a good price. And six shots in a 12 gauge is plenty for personal/home defense use. Get a pistol too... there are situations where they are a better choice and nice to fall back to if necessary. A shotgun mounted light can be very useful. Anything beyond that, I'd pass on. Best to keep the gun simple, lean, nimble, and mean.

 

[Sgt_R]

That 500 sure is pretty. One of these days, I'm gonna' build one just like it.

R

 

[au01st]

Now those are some beautiful looking guns!

I decided to hold off and save for the 500 and I want it to look like that. Where is that stock available?

 

[Sgt_R]

Good call on saving up for the 500, youll be glad you did. In the meantime, tell your roomate to load that rifle and keep it somewhere more accessable than the closet.

R

 

[DHart]

The buttstock is available from Mossberg directly in standard (14" LOP) or bantam (13" LOP). I like the Bantam because it shoulders more quickly and easily and is more maneuverable and nimble in use. Even though at 6' with fairly long arms, the Bantam works fine for me.

The forearm is a bit more difficult to find as Mossberg doesn't make that one anymore. But havlinsales.com may still have some used ones which is where I got mine. I refinished all the furniture with MinWax Red Mahogany oil stain followed by a couple of light coats of Watco Teak oil. Just perfect now, to my taste.