Best self defense shotgun?
- Thread starter rick_reno
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try a saiga 12. i have had several and they are super reliable. they are magazine fed [detachable] and you can carry extra mags with different ammo, slugs or buckshot or what have you. they are a 12 gauge ak47. lot of things you can do to customize them if you are a gadgeteer as well. i understand that a new importer has announced that they will be importing new ones in november, and 2 people are producing 8 round mags in the usa now as well. other than that the rem 870 is my other favorite. if you practice you can fire the remmy almost as fast as an auto.
pat
pat
berettashotgun
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Beretta 1200fp or 1201fp, not much difference, autos, recoil like a pump because they are so light, never had a failure in 2k+ while shooting clays (great snap shooting, guys-oughta try it) and going thru a course.or 2.anyways, liked the semi auto aspect and the fact that racking a slide is SOO hollywood. 
Kalashnikov
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I like my 1897 Wnchester trench shotgun.
PressCheck
Member
I use a Mossberg 590a1 that's been"VangComped".
Black Majik
Member
Wow, one of the unusal whole line of recommendations for the Remington 870's...
I'll start then. Remington 870.
Track proven record. Durable, reliable, all steel, great ergonomics, and parts galore!
I'll start then. Remington 870.
Track proven record. Durable, reliable, all steel, great ergonomics, and parts galore!
No_Brakes23
Member
While those are wonderful shotguns, they are not exactly abundant and easy to obtain everywhere.
I couldn't tell you which autos are good, but I have never met or heard of a Saiga-12 owner who didn't like theirs. (I am kicking myself now for not buying one in '99.) Also most Rem 11-87 and Browning Auto 5 owners I have met liked theirs.
As for pumps you can't go wrong with the big 3(4 if you include Ithaca 37).
I personally like 870s, but I think the 8 shot tru-glo Winchester M1300 defender is the best out of the box deal right now.
pauli
Member
really? there are plenty of them on the show circuit around here.
there are also the norinco clones.
(my hd shotgun is a mossberg 500, but you can't go wrong with any of the major ones)
there are also the norinco clones.
(my hd shotgun is a mossberg 500, but you can't go wrong with any of the major ones)
No_Brakes23
Member
Well Pauli, I guess Southern Californians are hangin' on to theirs. I have seen 2 in stores in the past 10 years here. One was "arsenal white" (Which I think just means worn out bluing,) and the other I almost bought purely for the novelty had a feaux-Ivory plastic furniture. Both were take-downs, though.
Rob96
Member
A shotgun is a formidable home defense weapon. Read a story yesterday, of a family that rode the storm out because they own a construction business and wanted to stay put. One of the armed gangs came roaming down their street and began to approach their house. All of the men in the family leveled their shotguns out of the windows. The gang decided to go choose another home.
As for shotgun to use, I personally like the Remington HD 870 pump. I love the reliability and track record of the 870.
As for shotgun to use, I personally like the Remington HD 870 pump. I love the reliability and track record of the 870.
Wags
Member
Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge Riot-Gun, or D.S. Police Special.
AStone
Member
870p
how interesting. sort of like deja vu.
this very question (sans katrina) is what brought me to this forum (via a web search) a while back, but not that long ago. now, i'm a 'senior member'. wow, time flies when you're having fun.
yeah, i add my vote for the 870.
Why? It just felt right when i picked it up. nothing more, nothing less.
(of course, that could be related to the fact that i owned a remington 16 ga. when i was a teen, but ...)
N~ (who is still waiting for his IRS refund before he gets to order his 870, because the IRS lost his refund request.)
:: some emoticon not on the available "smiles" list conveying impatience & growing disapproval of big government, especially in the bright light left on by katrina ::
how interesting. sort of like deja vu.
this very question (sans katrina) is what brought me to this forum (via a web search) a while back, but not that long ago. now, i'm a 'senior member'. wow, time flies when you're having fun.
yeah, i add my vote for the 870.
Why? It just felt right when i picked it up. nothing more, nothing less.
(of course, that could be related to the fact that i owned a remington 16 ga. when i was a teen, but ...)
N~ (who is still waiting for his IRS refund before he gets to order his 870, because the IRS lost his refund request.)
:: some emoticon not on the available "smiles" list conveying impatience & growing disapproval of big government, especially in the bright light left on by katrina ::
The major three that I see in my area are the Mossberg 500, Remington 870, and the Mossberg 590.
I have never owned any of those models, only a Mossberg 835.
I have an 870 on layaway right now but it will require mods to be "home defense" ready, at least a different barrel.
I'll be watching this thread. Always pays to stay informed.
I have never owned any of those models, only a Mossberg 835.
I have an 870 on layaway right now but it will require mods to be "home defense" ready, at least a different barrel.
I'll be watching this thread. Always pays to stay informed.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
ANY reliable repeating shotgun of at least 28 gauge that's well known to the user is a good choice here.
The hardware we love to debate about is the least part. A good shotgunner is absolutely deadly with his/her shotgun of choice and pretty darn dangerous with most any other.
Any shotgun you're shot until it feels like a body part is a good candidate for a defensive arm.
Let's look at the criteria.
One, it has to be trustworthy. Fires 200 rounds of duty ammo glitchfree.
Two, it has to be durable enough to still work in the worst conditions possible with minimal care.
Three, it has to be able to use commonly available ammo.
Four, it has to be comfortable to shoot. Comfort means more practice, means more proficiency, means more effectiveness.
Fifth, it has to be capable of being operated 10 seconds from a deep sleep, in total darkness, in cramped quarters while we pray the liquid running down our leg isn't blood. Because we may need to badly.
Ask the ghosts of NO if you doubt this.
An 870 is hardly ever a bad choice for any shotgun mission. So are 1100s, 37s, 500s 1300s, 11s, A-5s, ad infinitum.
Pick one and go shooting....
The hardware we love to debate about is the least part. A good shotgunner is absolutely deadly with his/her shotgun of choice and pretty darn dangerous with most any other.
Any shotgun you're shot until it feels like a body part is a good candidate for a defensive arm.
Let's look at the criteria.
One, it has to be trustworthy. Fires 200 rounds of duty ammo glitchfree.
Two, it has to be durable enough to still work in the worst conditions possible with minimal care.
Three, it has to be able to use commonly available ammo.
Four, it has to be comfortable to shoot. Comfort means more practice, means more proficiency, means more effectiveness.
Fifth, it has to be capable of being operated 10 seconds from a deep sleep, in total darkness, in cramped quarters while we pray the liquid running down our leg isn't blood. Because we may need to badly.
Ask the ghosts of NO if you doubt this.
An 870 is hardly ever a bad choice for any shotgun mission. So are 1100s, 37s, 500s 1300s, 11s, A-5s, ad infinitum.
Pick one and go shooting....
Ravenslair
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- May 9, 2005
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- 65
I am really happy with my 870 and would buy it again.
CleverName
Member
The problem with the M3 (aside from Benelli thumb), from what I heard, is that often people forget whether it's in semi or pump. So you end up trying to yank a locked forearm back, or wondering why your semi-auto gun misfired. KISS - leave it as a pump gun or leave it as a semi, which defeats the purpose of having both in the first place.
Dad has one and he's confused by it. Took me a while to figure out how to work it too. I keep telling him to get a 870.
But I'm pretty sure Benelli's still importing M3's. It's on their website at least.
Dad has one and he's confused by it. Took me a while to figure out how to work it too. I keep telling him to get a 870.
But I'm pretty sure Benelli's still importing M3's. It's on their website at least.
tanksoldier
Member
Many years ago went to the pawn shop and bought a Winchester 120 12g pump for $125. Had a gunsmith cut the barrel down to 18" for $50 so it just has a "cylinder" bore... no choke at all.
I occasionally take it to the range to keep the "feel" of operating the weapon and have never had a single problem.
It sleeps under my bed, and I have every confidence that it will get the job done.
I occasionally take it to the range to keep the "feel" of operating the weapon and have never had a single problem.
It sleeps under my bed, and I have every confidence that it will get the job done.
No offense, but sounds like poor training to me. I leave mine in semi mode all the time. The pump is reserved for "special" rounds (bean bag, rubber rounds, etc).
This was Benelli's intent when it made the M3. The semi/pump function allowed Swat/entry teams to use the pump for door buster rounds (which would not cycle a semi) and it was switched back to Semi (takes all of .0005 seconds) and then you had 8 rounds to rock and roll.
Even the wifee is trained to just pull back on the action and not use the pump. I mean, in a combat situation, why would you be using a pump if a reliable semi option existed? Semi also softens the recoil and allows quicker follow up shots. Not to mention the speed factor.
What's a Benelli thumb? Have had mine for almost 10 years and have yet to experience any thumb problems.
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