Looking for a Defensive PUMP Action Shotgun

Any 870, 500, or 590 can be configured exactly as you like (with the exception of the safety, as you pointed out). The only advice I could offer is to avoid guns other than these, because aftermarket accessories will be harder to find.

If you do a search you'll find several threads comparing the 500/590 and 870s.

Yes, the Wingmaster is still king of the hill, and more expensive than the Express (not that most issues with the Express can't be fixed with some 0000 steel wool on a brush and a cordless drill)

Choices....

In 2014, you have a lot of top 12ga "room brooms".
I'm not a 12ga expert either but from what I've seen, Id look at the Remington 887 Nitro Tactical, the Mossberg 590 milspec, the Browning BPS, the 870(with add ons). FNH, Beretta USA & Benelli all have decent shotguns too but I don't know all the models.
You might want to see a 12ga that can switch from pump to semi-auto. They were vogue in the 1980/1990s but not as much in the 2010s.
Mark Serbu's Super Shorty looks cool. www.Serbu.com
It's been featured in a few films & TV shows too. www.imfdb.org

Rusty

Shooting slugs out of that super shorty would be like trying to tame a drunk and pissed of mule.

I just put together my first (and only) shotgun - got tired of waiting on the KSG to become available, so I went with the Mossberg 590A1.

I built my own, but if you can buy thru a LE distributor, I think you may be able to buy what I ended up building, probably for less?
If memory serves, I could not get the heat shield and 9 shot version in the shorter length barrel going thru the consumer side - I think both can be purchased on an OEM model thru the LE side.

I picked the 590A1 for price, features - I like the double extractor / thicker barrel (both of which I think were military requirements).

Here's what I have so far:
1. Have the OEM Mossberg heat shield (yet to install - it was a hassle getting the correct shield for the thicker barrel 590A1).
2. Installed Mesa Tactical 6-rd. Shotshell Carrier.
3. Installed Mesa Tactical Short Picatinny Rail.
4. Have an XS Big Dot tritium sight that I've got to get my gunsmith to install. Darn if the OEM bead isn't black - now that's tactical!
5. LOP doesn't feel too bad - not going to mess with the stock for a while, if at all. (decided the OEM stock was fine).
6. Installed EOTech Integrated Fore-end Light. (My review at the link).
6. Got a VISM Scabbard.
7. Might play around with a red dot, but still doing research on how / if the red dot and Big Dot sight can both be used? The red dot is probably going to be an experiment only - doubt that it will be a permanent attachment. (Threw a Bushnell TRS-25 Hi-Rise on it for play).
8. Got 16 rounds of Snappy's Snap Caps (darn those things are pricey!) - been practicing handling, reloading, operation in the house before I hit the range - 'tis a learning experience!

Been wanting a shotgun for years - I've been waiting over 2 years on the KSG to become widely available, but finally gave up.

I originally thought about a pistol grip / adjustable stock (possibly with recoil reduction), but tossed those ideas. I think I like the handling of a conventional stock better, and recoil reducing stocks still seem to be a hit / miss proposition.

I thought if I had to change the LOP, I would go with a Hogue Overmolded Stock, but the OEM stock seems to be fine.

If you absolutely have to have an adjustable stock, I think some of the 590(A1?) models come with them.

I managed to cobble mine together on somewhat of a budget waiting for Middway USA holiday sales and buying accessories as I ran across good prices.

I originally thought I wanted Ghost Ring Sights, but ultimately decided against them.

EDIT: Here's a few of the 590A1 offerings:
http://www.mossberg.com/products/shotguns/pump-action/mossberg-590a1-special-purpose

I think the rem 870 has your name on it. between that and the basic mossberg I don't think there's a pump action shotgun with more available parts from mild to wild. not to mention budget.

ahtoxa said:

Shooting slugs out of that super shorty would be like trying to tame a drunk and pissed of mule.

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lol. funny you mention that. Buddy bought the "just in case" pistol gripped mossberg, and then proceeded to load up 3" magnum heavy slugs in it.

he fired two and said. "ow" lol.

been practicing handling, reloading, operation in the house before I hit the range -

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And have you done so yet with all that extra stuff on it? How's the balance and handling with all of that?

I'd pick any version of the 870 even if I knew it might have some issues out of the box. It most likely won't, but even if it does they can be corrected. I'd rather have the better platform. 870's can be shot lefty just as easy as the Mossberg.

I wouldn't get carried away with accessories. Any 18.5-21"barrel with either a bead or rifle sights is all you need.

I took an 870 youth model, 20ga, 20" barrel, put it in a nylon stock and pulled the waterfowl plug. It has a stock sleeve with extra shells. Nothing fancy but, since all our pumps are 870's, it works for us.

I am shotgun ignorant when it comes to using one for defense. My intent is to set one up properly and then attend a class or two.

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Don't put the cart before the horse.

Take the class or classes first, that way you can make your decision on the gun and how you want to set it up with a little experience in shooting and some first hand knowledge based on what you learn in the class. Many classes have guns available to use, ones you can rent, or you could borrow a friends shotgun.

And have you done so yet with all that extra stuff on it? How's the balance and handling with all of that?

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Feels fine to me - really nothing that adds much weight except maybe the EOTech light, and it ain't bad. The heat shield is light, the Picatinny rail and shell carrier are both towards the rear, so I guess they help even out added on weight?
Mine is a 9-shot with 20" barrel - would liked to have had a shorter barrel, but didn't want to give up the mag capacity. If you drop back to the 18.5"? barrel, you get fewer rounds, and it looks like another snag point with the shorter barrel - with the 20" barrel, the barrel and mag tube are about the same length - not so with the 18.5" barrel.

The biggest / most important? / heaviest accessory was the EOTech light - you can read what I think of it at the link I provided.

I gave up trying to find an add-on light, as I had problems finding something that was as snag-free as possible, and the heavy walled barrel of the 590A1 throws a lot of clamps a loop (lots of fine print stating "does not fit 590A1").

I went with the Mesa Tactical shell carrier as I decided I wanted metal instead of the plastic units most folks run.

The gun is 'bout complete - only thing left to do is:
1. Mount the heat shield.
2. Have the gunsmith install the XS Big Dot Tritium front sight.
3. Got a Magpul Forward Sling Mount and a Mesa Tactical Pushbutton Sling Swivel for the rear - plan on using a Magpul MS4 sling since that's what I have on my ARs.

Got a relative that's a gunsmith - he has an old Remington 870 Police Special he bought used and refinished / modified - I used that as a baseline when trying to decide which shotgun I wanted. Ended up going with the 590A1.

Ayoob; Kel-Tec....

I would suggest the DVDs/books for shotgun tactics/defense use(s).
The late Louis Awerbuck & Massad Ayoob, www.MassadAyoobGroup.com , have well respected shotgun guides. Ayoob's Stressfire book is used often for LE/SWAT units.

I forgot to bring up the new Kel-Tec 12ga modern shotgun but I've also read a few mixed reviews.

For books/training, see; www.gunvideo.com www.deltapress.com www.paladin-press.com www.magpul.com www.nra.org .

Buy a standard Mossberg 500/590 or Remington 870P with a short barrel. Shoot it a bunch before you start putting a bunch of accessories on it to see how you like it. I can't stand a protruding pistol grip on a shotgun, completely ruins the handling for me, and most of the M4 type retractable stocks are brutal to shoot heavy loads with.
Most of the shotguns riding in a squad car or on the battlefield are standard 870P's or Mossberg 590's.

Mark Serbu!.....

I'd like to see someone fire up a few 12ga slugs out of a Serbu Super Shorty.
I'd pay $$$ to watch some brave soul shoot some Dragon's Breath 12ga rounds too.
I'd be inclined to buy a left hand 870 20ga Shorty, but that's just me.

Youtube.com gun host; Hickok45 has a cool vid of him blasting away with a Super Shorty. I think it's a Remington 870. Even his hands/wrists hurt after 4-5 shots.

Rusty
PS; you can also request Mossberg release the old Bullpup 12ga pump. That had a FAMAS type look & was on a few episodes of NBC's hit Miami Vice.

Keltech KSG, I'm just sayin!

Tom
You might be interested in a bullpup conversion on an 870. They are pricey, but it might appeal to you. It would be a dedicated defense gun. I handled one recently and was duly impressed. The forward rails are ideal for mounting a weapon-lite(a must for me). And endless amount of options for sighting with the rail system too.
Just a thought.
I could post links, but you can google or utube it quickly yourself. I think definately worth a look.

I am not a huge shotgun person, but having shot both the 870 and the 500/590, I personally give the edge to the 500/590 solely based on the ease of activating and deactivating the safety and the location of the action release.

tomrkba, taking your requirements and wishlist into consideration, I believe you should go for the Mossberg 590A1; it seems to be the best choice for you. In general, it gets favorable reviews regarding HD use and you can choose from many available options directly offered by Mossberg.

I personally give the edge to the 500/590 solely based on the ease of activating and deactivating the safety and the location of the action release.

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When I was doing my research, had I gone with a pistol grip, that would have been one in the plus column for the 870 (safety location) - since I ultimately decided to go with a conventional stock, the Mossberg safety got the nod.

Which reminds me...the safety and trigger guard on the 590A1 are metal vs. plastic on the non-A1 version of the 590.

Flying on memory, but a few things about the 590A1 that I liked:
1. Dual extractors.
2. Heavy barrel.
3. Metal safety & trigger guard (vs. plastic).
4. The ejector (I think?) is easy to replace by the user - replacing the ejector on the 870 is a gunsmith job.

I'm also a bit leery about new Remington stuff since they were absorbed by venture capitalists - price / quality usually suffers when conglomerates eat up small, reputable companies.

Iff'n I was to go 870, I'd be tempted to look for a pre-Cerberus model?

If I could buy any pump action I wanted for HD it would be a Remington Marine Magnum.
They're awesome IMO.

The light and slugs shouldn't be a problem.
They don't come stock with an adjustable LOP but I'm sure you could add an aftermarket stock that does easily enough.

Anyway, that gets my vote.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=428122270

I am a satisfied long time 870 user, so i may be biased but we're just talking here...
I have heard waterfowlers complain about reliability issues on the mossbergs when used at odd angles such as straight up from a goose pit
Also the tang mtd safety is easy to accidentally disengage. .