On Fighting Shotguns....

[rugerron67]

I run the original fighting shotgun.
1903 Winchester 1897 12g 20" slam fire baby !

[kris7047th]

Wrong about that. Some of the top trainers in the Country teach shotgun for defensive shooting and can run them as effectively as an AR15. Google & You Tube Magpul.

[oneounceload]

RIP Dave, see you on the other side

[spotch]

As someone who is still reading and researching about buying a first shotgun I think it's interesting that so many people seem to still favor pumps over semi-autos (like, say, a mossberg 930) and that lighter-weight 20 gauges aren't more popular (since a lot of people have said that weight is a real important factor).


Also, Rip Dave

[JamieC]

I just bought a Remington 870 Express, got it off a friend who needed $. Came with a 28 & 18.5" barrel. Scattergun Technologies extended mag. Had maybe 20 shots through it. Way too long to fit the wife, got a Knoxx GenII recoil absorbing stock, with the adjustments, fits both of us fine. Need to get to the range and shoot it a bit, I've been told shooting 'clays' is a good way to have fun and use the gun, looking for a class for both of us to take. In the meantime it sits unloaded in the closet. She keeps her .38 special on her night stand, my flash light and Sigma on mine.

[12gTim]

Great post - possibly the best I've read!!

[12gTim]

dfariswheel;
Great post; could be the best I've read on the subject. Thank you!

[ZVP]

I am currentlly in the market for a home defense Shotgin and this string has debated and answered many of my own doubts!
I only saw one Brand suggestion, that being in favor of the 870. The model I am leaning toward! I like wood atocks and I like Remingtons. I want a simple shotgun sans all the gizmos.
I'm after function with a sholder sling and a slip onto the stock 5 round shell carrier. I figgure that pratice will replace a snap on Lazer and that knowing where the shot colum will hit means more. I am leaning toward a 20"bbl though a 18 1/2 would do.
Mossberg offers so many "Kits" that it would be easy to just buy a new plastic stocked gun *I don't likr Plastic)
Chance and looking on the "used" market is sorts exciting!
I want a pump just because I had a pump when I was a kid. They bespeak utter reliaibility to me
ANy suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
ZVP

[WolfPak]

I recommend shooting a Remington, Mossberg and Benelli or any shotgun you are interested in, in a 18.5 or 20" barrel format, prior to buying. Try both pistol grip and standard stocks if you can. This way you find the one that fits you best.

I personally went with Mossberg for the weight, ergonomics of the safety and the slide release. I have a Mossberg 590 with ghost ring sights and an ATI Akita stock, which has an adjustable LOP and comb height so I can get a perfect fit.



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[ZVP]

Well I bought a Sweet 20 ga Stoger Uplanser combo (just had one barrel tho) for $200 "used". The problem is that the Uplander has 28" bbls and needs to be chopped for easiest handling in the hall.
I couldn't do it! Frankilly the lines and handling quality of the little English stocked Double was just too good a fit for me and I decided to just start over.
Same Hock Shop (super deals!) I found a Montgomery Wards M550AG 12 gauge Pumpgun with a 30" bbl for $100! The "M" in the designation stands for Mossberg! Truthfully the gun is a Mossberg 500/550 made for Wards to sell.
Back to the drawing board.
The Barrel will be cut to 19" or 20" a bead installed.
I bought a Blackhawk shell scabbord for the stock. Depending on the handling qualitys of the finished gun it may/not get used.
I also need to add a recoil pad as it hasn't got one.
That's it plain and simple, no extra goodies to hinder speed.
Oh yea several cases of target loads to get familliar with using the gun as if it grew there!
OK I made a little mistake up front, but gained a very nice field/ play SxS 20ga Shotgun. I woulda wasted the money on coffee and tips at Starbucks anyways. I also got the advantage of starting this project with a Pumpgun. As a renewed Shotgun owner (haven't had one since 1970!), and "Gun Tinkerer" this project is "Big Time" for me! I am going about it carefully (the barrel cut) and I may even have a 'Smith do the chop to have it done right?
The M550 won't get refinished or reblued cause the little dings and scrapes add character to a working gun. It'll likely get several more so why worry?
Ammo choices in this Post Obama NESS are slim but as I said a couple cases of Target loads to learn the gun with. I scored some Federal 20 Ga slugs for the SxS and really acored on some Low Recoil 12 Ga slugs. I got 4 boxes of #4 Phesant loads for the SxS till I can find some Buckshot loads for it. Finally I am stuck with 1 oz, 3 1/2 dram #8 Dove loads for the pump for the time being. Now these are some very heavilly charged Dove Loads and kick like hell because of the power they make! A little trick for inside the house loads to stop agression or attack.
When ammo frees up again I will use Buckshot loads and slugs for H/D loads.
Then pratice, [ratice, pratice.
I want to thank everyone here for the fine advice contained in this string it helped me choose which route is best for me to follow with a H/D Shotgun!
ZVP

[Deltaboy]

Great Thread, I have shot every brand of shotgun made in the USA, Any of them will work in either in 20 or 12. So find one that fits YOU and stay safe out there.

[ADRskew]

To all who see these present's, greetings. After reading through a good portion of this thread I see some trends, good and bad. As for my choice I am as close to what my agency uses without an NFA tax stamp. I am using a Rem 870 magnum express with a 18.5 barrel bead sight, 6 point pistol grip stock with a 5 slot shell carrier on the stock and a light on a pressure switch. In my younger days I had the aftermarket tacticool rails mounted, the mag extension, the 40mm red/green dot and the three point sling. But after replacing the word tactical for practical my gun lost a few pounds. For HD ultimately it is your choice on what you choose, for me my pump gun works, it is close to what I use at work, I can effectively combat and tactical load. For my HD situation I can see both major entries into my house from the top of the stairs and if SHTF I will stay at the top of the stairs. You can have the TV, don't really care. But set foot on my stairs and I will light you up then I will shoot you down IF I need to (hence the light). But every situation is different and before I PCS'ed the shot gun was ineffective and a hand gun would have been preferable due to the tight lay out of the upstairs hall but I made due and thankfully did not to use it in a HD situation. regardless of what you choose the most important thing I have read on this sight and many other's is practice like you play and practice, practice, practice. With respect Skew

[Sheepdog1968]

I shoot my shotguns a lot (persoally prefer Mossberg 500 for "field work" and Mossberg 590 for home defense though other name pump brands are just as good). I'm at the point where it really doesn't matter to me if it is a bead or iron sights. I think the most important thing by far is no matter what you choose (within reason) is to take formal classes such as Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, and Loui Awerbuck and then practice a lot.