Cheap shotgun?

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mindbent

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Just curious how many of you have a sub $300 shotgun for home defense. Was looking at my LGS web page and they have a few different makes of 12g pumps with 18.5 inch barrel. Dickinson and EAA Churchill for example. I want to get one for home defense only so it needs to be reliable. Probably just take it out 2-3 times a year. This is not a what should I get thread. I'm asking what people's experience is with cheap shotguns, call it research. Hope you're all having a good day.
 
I also have a Maverick 88 setup for HD. Only issue I had with it was it would sporadically not eject shells from the tube to the elevator for feeding. A new mag tube spring and knock off some burrs on the shell stop, ran just fine for several hundred shells since. Just for me, I wouldn't go with a no name company that I am not aware of. Maverick is made by Mossberg, just with cheaper parts so that was good enough for me.
 
I've owned a Norinco 98 since 2003 that I got from a local police officer that used it has his cruiser shotgun for a few years. I gave it to my son about a year ago and it is still going strong after all these years of having buckshot, turkey loads and heavy field loads shot through it.

I have no experience with the more recent Turkish imports so can't comment.

Unless things have improved in your area, finding a used Mossberg or Remington at a decent price might be difficult. It's hard to beat a 870 or 500. And yes the Maverick 88 is a Model 500 with a cross bolt safety versus the tang safety.
 
Cheap shotguns may have their place, but home defense isn’t it. Several good recommendations for low cost shotguns have been made above. Searching for a cosmetically challenged but mechanically sound Remington 870, Mossberg 500/Maverick, Ithaca 37, Stevens 520/620, Benelli Nova, may take some patience but will pay you back with peace of mind.
 
Buy a used Remington 870, Mossberg 500 or a new Maverick 88. Shotguns last a long time, so even a well used one will be good for 50,000 more shells. Buying a cheap Turkish shotgun like the GForce that PSA is selling isn't worth it just to save $100.
 
I have 1 of those H&R made in china clones of the 870 riot gun in each of my vehicles. Wal mart was selling them for about $140 a few years back. I also got a free 500 recently that has seen better days. It needed a new stock and stock bolt and all new safety components. It still looks terrible, but it runs fine.
 
For HD, inexpensive is fine. Cheap is not, at least in terms of quality. I'd go looking for a used Remington or Mossberg.

I couldn't agree more. There is definitely a difference between inexpensive and cheap.

My first recommendation is a used Mossberg or Remington. Outside of that, I'll actually recommend a Chinesium shotgun over a Turkish shotgun. And the simple reason for that is the Chinese shotguns have been around longer and proven to work.

I'm not bashing Turkish shotguns especially if they are properly heat treated. There have been examples of Turkish shotguns that have not been heat teated correctly.
 
Inexpensive used but famous shotguns aren't lining the gun racks at stores locally, incentive money dried them up. As for a choice of what to use, each makes their own decision, I'm aware of a great many AR pistols dedicated to that role. Some may suggest a few reasons not to, consider that every firearm has it's pros and cons, and secondly, 5.56 did just fine working room to room in numerous third world countries over the last 20 years.

The Turkish market of firearms isn't considered as robust - but it's based on presumption, not fact. Their handguns are dominating a lot of defensive pistol matches and giving the EU guns a run for their money, few American brands exist anymore. We used to laugh at tupperware, what now? Same for Turkish - it's just early in the curve, get them cheap while you can. A shotgun is just a tube to ignite shells in and direct the pellets like any other firearm, accessories etc aren't going to significantly improve it's performance at 8-16 feet inside a home. Skill and practice will. Being familiar with its operation will. Take it and shoot it, even if it's those flying saucer matches some get all dressed up for, and that practice will do you well.

Even the highly popular and well regarded Mossberg Shockwave has a "defect," it requires an adapter to run 1 3/4 shells. I'd suggest finding the Turk equivalent but a recent search says all those are sold out, maybe a look at those out of the way gun stores will turn one up. Any firearm needs to be broken in, as much as the shooter to it, we're not all some sage Hickok who can ring steel on camera just for the lulz. Which leads to the next issue, now resolving, finding 12 ammo of any kind. Much like those of us who carry new 9mm's which haven't seen 500 rounds yet, and for that, maybe next year, having lots of ammo to gain proficiency in this hoarding environment is difficult. I have no excuse, just time doing other things, as a barely broken case of 9mm on my shelf says I'm being delinquent about getting out.

If you are looking for a shotgun, expect slim pickens, and if he hands you some oddly named synthetic riot gun, consider that you may need to put in some research to understand what the market offers. New guns are still coming in - old guns are not being sold much, as families loan or sell to other family members in this climate. Someone truly desperatet to make rent will be the sad seller in the near future, as rental amnesty has been stopped and evictions start rising.

For those who weren't interested, its almost two years past time to be looking for a specific firearm, and there is still a high demand for them. Things are starting to ease up, but it's not the salad days by any means. If you are trying to acquire a gun for home defense, the best time has long passed and we are now at the point where you ask for your hearts desire in one hand and take what you can get in the other. If it ignites a shell and puts pellets down the barrel, it works. Avoid the social condecension too many attach to Tribal Brands and just get one.
 
I have a NEF pardner pump (28" version) and a Derya single shot (pack gun). The Derya needed loc-tite applied to the trigger spring screw after ~100 rounds (was getting light primer strikes)and the placement of the front sling stud is hard on the hands (best to replace with a flush screw). Have used that gun to test some 'experimental' ammo and also noticed it doesn't like foster slugs - keyholing.
The forearm on the NEF lightly rubs the barrel but IDGAF about the finish, it's never going to be a collectors item just another cheap/ugly shotgun. It shoots as well as any Mossberg or 870 I've ever had my meat hooks on (informal clays & slugs).
Sold my old (1983) H&R model 088 partly due to it being a fixed full choke (hadn't shot it in a couple years). It didn't last two hours after posting it on gunlistings .org. New owner bought it to get his granddaughter into turkey hunting.
 
For home defense I have an old, former police, Winchester '97 with a riot length barrel and loaded with 00 buckshot.
97's are excellent however they ain't inexpensive and replacement parts (these are senior citizens so expect you'll eventually need replacement parts) are non-obtainium
 
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