Opinions on 'Field' shotguns being used for Home Defense?

It'll work just fine. You can always add a spare "tactical" bbl later if you really want to. It's not like a 24"+ field is going to make it less effective at delivering lead to an intruder. If you're in a fixed position it isn't going to matter.

Most good defensive shotguns are nothing more than a field grade hunting shotgun with an 18"-20" barrel. As such, most any field gun can be made a good defense gun with the addition of an 18"-20" barrel.

My HD scattergun began life as a 28" full choke bird gun when it was born some 85 years ago:

The Mossberg 500 at our local sporting goods box store Big 5 often has on a sale a 28" plus 18.5" dual barrel combo so you can swap out barrels for the exact reason. Often runs $300 out the door. One heck of a deal.

Most cases where shotguns were used in a HD situation the guns were field guns. The two accounts that I've personally seen shotguns used in HD one had a 30" barrel and the other had a 28" barrel. You just have to be willing to pull the trigger before you allow someone to get close enough to you to get their hands on the barrel, but even so with a short barrel as well.

The only reason for a shorter barrel on a HD shotgun is better maneuverability in tight places (corners, doorways, hallways). As stated above, if you're staying in a fixed position, barrel size is largely irrelevant.

I just picked up an Ithaca mod.37, 16ga. it's going to be in the HD role primarily. Why a 16ga you ask, it is what came available, and my significant other can shoot it better than a 12ga.

That's my call; why bring a riot gun to a little old home defense party? When Claymore mines and hand-grenades are a bit over-kill; I like a good dose of 00 shot to, "prime the old carburetor" so to speak. Anything that'll blow a man near clean in half gets my vote...

I remember as a kid the crazy neighbor coming over to the house with a rifle carrying some complaint with him. Pop came out of the house with a 12 gauge shot gun; the conversation took a turn for the worse for the neighbor. I always figured that the crazy neighbor wasn't all that good of a shot, or his firearm wasn't loaded either... The fact of the matter is, in conversation range a 12 gauge is a formidable weapon.

CC

If it fits, goes bang when you pull the trigger, and is paid for, it will do just fine. I suspect than only a tiny percentage of the homes that have shotguns for defense have tacti-cool models. The burglar or rapist won`t care in the slightest.

I have one shotgun with a 24 or so inch barrel that I detest, but push comes to shove it will work fine, just a few training issues to practice on. (the model has very expensive replacement barrels and I haven`t psyched myself up to cutting it down). The shotgun on the other side of the house has an 18.5 vent rib which is great.
Vent rib for HD? No $100-200 add on wonder sight? Try a vent rib and see how much sight you need for minute of burglar at 10 feet.

Baddie won't care if your shotgun isn't tactical. 12ga is pretty much a universal language regardless of the furniture.

I`m not beyond picking any shotgun around the house & blasting a home invader, no matter what grade it is !............

Just bought a new SuperNova a few weeks ago. It's nice to have the 3.5" option if you ever wanted it. That shotgun will do what you need it to. As for the barrel, yes they are expensive. However, Midway offers aftermarket barrels for the for less than $200. Could always have one of those cut down and you'd be GTG.

I know that my 30" BPS will go bang every time I pull the trigger regardless of load and or conditions. I have also put thousands of rounds through it to proove my point. I certainly wouldnt trust any tacticool model over my tried and true friend.
Also as a side note: I load the first one with #7 and follow with buck. I have kids in the house and the IMO the likeliness of making a bad first shot and injuring one of my family (stray shot through a wall scenario) is limited by lack of penetration through plaster.

Field type guns are GTG for HD scenarios,lots of folks using them. Benelli barrels are gold plated and for what you pay for them you could buy 2-3 used pump guns depending on your locale. Even for the price of an aftermarket barrel I would personally buy another good used pump shotgun and have two guns.
I have a Benelli Nova with the ghost ring sights and it shoots tight groups(head shot) with cheap Foster type slugs at 50 yards. The Nova series are good guns.

My current HD shotgun is a 13 gauge Mav 88 with 18.5" barrel, but will eventually be overshadowed by a Remington pre-model 11 autoloading shotgun.
I really like the recoil operated self loaders, and this one operated smoothly with everything from low brass target loads to high brass slugs, without adjusting the recoiled system. Once I get the tie to do so, I'll dial in the recoil system properly for whichever load I plan to primarily load.

I have my folks set up for HD with a Remington 1100 20 gauge. Its a field gun. For a barricaded bedroom scenario, it'll work just fine. Just gotta make sure one of them remembers to pull the duck plug.

My current HD shotgun is a 13 gauge Mav 88 with 18.5" barrel

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Now that's a special gun. Gotta be tough finding ammo, though...

^^ That's just sexy MachIV. Very jealous. Honestly both the SuperNova Tactical and Field both appeal to me. Just a matter of what to buy first. Luckily most of my shotgun shooting is in the summer, so time I have.

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Definately get the Field model first if you can only afford one barrel. You're not gonna be shooting burglars on a weekly basis. You will be shooting lots of clays though. It's too much fun.
Since your HD needs are pretty well covered with the Glock and a field shotgun, the dedicated HD barrel can wait until you get around to it.

Mine began life as a 28" vent ribbed ported barrel blued with wood furniture and bead sight and I turned it into this.

All good suggestions

If it comes to pass that you are in such a situation, you need to have the weapon handy,at arms reach and be ready and willing to shoot.Otherwise no matter what you have - your toast.
1 Pick a weapon.
2 figure out where you are going to store / hide it
3 now be somewhere else in the home and see how quick you can access it
... repeat 2 & 3 until you can feel comfortable [ big home? maybe 2 weapons?]
4 Is it loaded?
5 is one in the chamber? extra rounds handy?
6 can you move through the home /exterior comfortably quietly - remember you ain't quail hunting.

Now Think ---
- can you pull the trigger on a 16 year old in self-defense?
- how do you disarm, contain the situation?
- how do you contact law enforcement?

Personally, I think most of these conversations are BS; use whatever you have, however you can, to disable, disarm and immobilize. Then let the lawyers and legal system sort it out. Better to be judged by 12, than be carried by six.

That's why I reload. Also, my amp goes to 11.

Take a look at the various Turkey model shotguns on the market. They have all the features of a good HD shotgun, plus a slightly longer barrel (20-23 inches usually) that you can use for hunting or clays, and it can still be maneuvered around the house.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr