Buying a new shotgun tomorrow and want some advice.

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Extremely Pro Gun

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Lets make this more simple, How important is an 18 inch barrel for a home defense shotgun???

I am looking at the Benelli Nova and the Remington 870 Express Mag. I can get both for around $350.

My purposes:

I have a great browning dove gun but it doesnt reach out to the duck when everyone is in a firing line :(

I want a pump gun for duck hunting first apartment defense second.

The delima:
both come with a 28 inch barrel and both will accept 3 1/2 inchers.

The I can easliy interchange the barrel in the 870 to an 18 inch for about 100 bucks. But it doesnt come with a nice set of choke tubes.

The Benelli comes with a very nice set of choke tubes but barrel interchange is far too expensive.

Im leaning toward the Benelli, but im still not sure. How important is an 18 inch barrel for home defense????
 
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When I got my first shotgun, it to was to be used for double duty. I got both barrels and went around my house with both of them. The 18" barrel was much more manuverable. Now which one of the guns fits you better. The feel of the two forearms are very different. I like the feel of the nova forend but am more used to a more traditional design. While the 18" barrel is more desirable in a home defense senario a longer barrel could make do until you could afford a replacement.

Also, welcome to the board
 
I believe an 18 - 21" barrel is more a necessity for tactical games and to look righteous, than true "home defense". Not knocking it, my 28" & 30" barrels are for the waterfowl game. If anyone ever tries to get past me and the dogs and the gun, I will be able to give you a better real world answer. I don't do plastic in any form, but I suspect whichever of those two guns feels best to you will outlive you.
 
Benelli. I had bad luck with my 870 Express Super Magnum which is the one that shoots 3 1/2" shells. On the other hand a buddy has one just like mine that he loves. However, from most of what I've read the Super Magnums have more issues than the regular expresses. I'd go with the Benelli hands down. No questions asked if they are the same price.
 
I would grab the Benelli, and save for a cheap (reliable) Mossburg, or even a used Win 1300. Defensive SG's are still very affordable, especially used, and many suppliers (Like Midway) have every conceivable add-on imaginable to re-dress even a cheap beater into a reliable home defender. I am not an 870 fan. I have a Benelli Montefeltro, and it may be my most reliable firearm. I am a BIG Benelli fan.
 
We have the 870 Marine Magnum with the 18 inch barrel. It's purpose is strictly home defense. However it will put Brenneke Slugs into Deer sized targets at 100 yards if necessary. I think there is a few availible in my area for about 650 retail. The nickel finish resist corrosion from salt water.

3 inch shells, not three point 5. 2.75 is plenty.

Also a Mossberg 500 Bantam for the wife. 20 gauger. This gun shoots the same with the slightly longer choke equippted 22 inch barrel. However the youth stock fits my spouse perfect and we are about equal in total length.

I am literally waiting on a pair of glasses to be custom made, then I will see how the triple ought from Remington does with the Marine not to distant in the future.

To round out the home defense situation, there is a C2 taser present along with a M&P .45 ACP handgun with plans for a M&P 15 in the future for the slightly further ranges if necessary.
 
I had an 18" Nova for about 8 years until very recently-- just sold it to a good friend when I bought a Mossberg 590. I had a +2 extension on it, bringing the mag length to maybe .5" shy of the barrel's end. Loved the way it shot, the ergonomics. Didn't like the way the receiver and the stock were all one piece, which meant that I could never shorten the length of pull w/o doing a Bubba job. Didn't like the slightly long LOP, especially on a weapon made for close-quarters use. Didn't like the forend rattle.

I looked into getting a longer barrel for the Nova a couple years ago. At that point they were almost as much as I spent on the gun-- somewhere around 200, I think.

The newer 870's seem to be a little more cheaply made than in the past, but they're still based on a highly reliable, decades-old proven design for which parts will always be plentiful and cheap. Can't say the same about the Nova. I've never owned an 870 myself but have shot several and see why so many shotgunners have such a high opinion of them. I've found barrels for my Remington 1100 (in hunting lengths) for around $100, by the way-- definitely less than you'd pay for a 2nd barrel for the Nova.

Hope all this helps.
 
Ok Heres what i figure. I will get the Benelli. Then insted of saving for a $120 barrel like I would have with the 870. I will save for a 200 dollar defense shotgun. Ive seen many diferent brands of 18 inch shotguns for around 200 bucks and then I will have 2 guns. :D

Thanks for the help!!:evil:
 
Benelli

You will like the Benelli, I have the Super Nova with the pistol grip. It has the smoothest pump action of any shotgun I have ever shot.
 
If I had the money, I would've gone Benelli. But I bought a new 870 Express 20" 7+1 that takes 2.75-3.00" shells for $329 and couldn't pass it up. It just came all black with a black synthetic stock.

I added a Remington SuperCell recoil pad, a Mesa Tactical 6 shell side saddle on the receiver, a CAA forend with Picatinny rails, a Surefire light on the rail with 1" scope rings, and a GG&G sling adapter between the receiver and the stock.

I took it to shoot some clay and it took about 100 shots to break it in so that it would eject smoothly. The rest 100 went smoothly. When I stripped it apart to clean and oil it, I noticed that the break in process had smoothed out some of the sharp corners and edges of the action/chamber. I hear 870 Wingmasters come smoothed and polished like a well broken in Express but with a better finish.
 
The barrel length thing is a confusing issue anyway. I assume you want a short barrel for ease of maneuver indoors?

Consider this : my 26" barrelled 870 is shorter in overall length - by a few inches - than my mates 24" barrelled Benelli Supernova.

I would have thought a 26" barrelled 870 would do any "duty" you ask of it, frankly :)
 
There are only two shotguns that have been in production long enough with a sterling record for me to consider for defense. The 870 and the 500.

Well, maybe the Ithica 37, but the first two fit the bill so perfectly and provide enough variance in design that there is no need to consider another IMO.

Oh yeah. The shorter the better 18" IMO.
 
If I'm not mistaken, Remington makes a 21 or 24 inch barrel that accepts choke tubes.

That is just a little longer than an 18' cylinder bore barrel.

For me, that little difference would not hinder me for HD scenarios and should double as a fast handling bird gun.

For an, inexpensive HD gun that is already set up, the Maverick, Mossberg,Remington, NEF Pardner Protector shotguns are all good choices.

You just have to try them on for size to see what fits you.:)
 
Get two like you said. The Benelli will make a fine duck and dove gun.

Then go shopping for a Moss 500... you can find great, preowned examples in the $150 range. I bought my early example 500 with wood and 28" full choked barrel for $125. It is in pristine condition and the wood is nicer then some 870 wood I have loked at. I then picked up a 18" IC barrel for $60 off GB. This is easily doable and the route I recomend... a HD gun does not have to cost alot, it just has to work. 500s work, always.
 
I would have thought a 26" barreled 870 would do any "duty" you ask of it, frankly
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Exactly right. Obviously, the shorter the barrel, the more maneuverable the weapon, especially in close quarters, but at the end of the day the determining factor is going to be how well you know the gun and how well you can use it.

A well trained, well practiced shotgunner could probably pick up just about anything and make it work in a pinch.
 
Glad you were able to make a choice! Personally I would have gone for the 870. I have a Rem 870 Police Magnum that I absolutely love. Its a bit heavier than the Nova's that I have shot, but the balance seems more natural for me.

As far as picking up your second shotgun goes, make sure you do some research on the brand that you pick. For example Stoeger has been flooding my local market with shotty's for reasonable prices, but everyone I know who owns one has complained about one issue or another. Good luck in whatever you buy!!
 
Hope you like the Benelli. I cannot imagine anyone steering another away from an 870 though. Does anyone else absolutely haet the forgip on th Nova's- it was a dealbreaker for me. Friend's son shot clay with it and ended up blistered to hell from that thing.
 
How important is an 18 inch barrel for a home defense shotgun???
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After the SECOND time I poked a hole in the wall with the 28" barrel on my Maverick, I was informed that a third instance of that would have very dire consequences...and NOT to the "Bad Guys".
 
I got the benelli yesterday!!!! It seems like a solid buy but I have yet to shoot it. I'm going out this evening to try it out on some trap.

Thanks for the help everyone. This thing is like the glock of shotguns, function over form :D and that's just fine with me!!
 
I have a 18" Mossberg 88 that is just fantastic. Maneuverable, reliable, cylinder bore that allows accuracy with slugs. It's a 5+1 that can be had new for under $200 tax included. I'm currently looking for the 20" 8-shot version. The looks alone I get shooting skeet with the 18" are worth the price!
 
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