cheapest home defense shotgun?

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I wouldnt go with anything cheaper than an 870 or 500. My buddy has this REAL cheap sears pump and it's got tons of problems. He stopped bringing the thing to sporting clays cause of all the ft feed ft fire...
 
There are 20" barreled models of the 500 for home defense that come with a longer tube holding 8 rounds.
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Thanks! I found a replacement 8rd mag tube and 20" barrel with rifle sights combo package at Brownells.com for $150 bucks. I didn't know that was even an option....

Considering that I would be swapping out the mag tube when I go to shoot clays, and swapping it again when I return home.... anyone had issues with the steel magazine threads wearing out the aluminum threads in the receiver?

Thanks for the info!
 
just look around the pawn shops and try to find a model 12 or 37 or what ever suits you. I look for those with those ugly old muffler type of chokes on them as you can usually get a smoking deal on them.
The model 12's will hold 6 in the tube so I just cut the barrel down to 20" (like that length). install a new bead and a little cold blue and you have a fine home defense shotgun.
 
I bought an eight shot 590 for $150 about two years ago. Just keep your eyes open and some cash in your wallet and a deal will come by.
 
As mentioned the pawn shops here locally usually have several shotguns on the rack, and with 10 million 870s and almost the same number of Mossbergs out there, finding a used one at a good price should be pretty easy.

Also as mentioned the shotguns with the muffler style adjustable chokes on the muzzle (Cutts Compensator, Poly Choke, C-Lect Choke, etc) can usually be found cheaper, and those devices work suprisingly well :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Remington Express shotguns just went on sale at my local Dick's sporting goods. I think they were running around $300. That would be a solid HD gun. You can add some small things to it such as a side saddle to hold more rounds just in case.
 
Jackal1 said:
I am looking for a separate shotgun for HD... Any suggestions for what the cheapest model would be that fulfills my criteria below would be very appreciated!
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Is it JUST me... or does this sound like, you REALLY want to trust your LIFE, and the lives of your LOVED ONES... to the cheapest suggestion proffered by a bunch of complete strangers, who have LESS emotional & familial attachment to you, than the family you're trying to... 'protect'... does? :eek:

Do we really stop & think about some of the things we say, and what they MEAN, before we say them? "Hey - my family is ONLY worth the CHEAPEST option given me by complete strangers!" :eek:

BEFORE I answer your question, would you be willing to contemplate THESE questions, BEFORE your purchase (and do NOT feel like you need to answer to me, or anyone ELSE here! This is YOUR home, YOUR family, and YOUR decision! I'm just hoping to give you more 'food for thought,' before you start putting down hard-earned money...)?

1) What is my TRUE aptitude with firearms?

2) Do I practice regularly, or buy them, throw them in a closet/safe, and PRAY I never need to so much as LOAD them, much less DEPLOY them, in a life & death situation?

3) Do I and/or my family really NEED protection? Do we live in, 'da 'HOOD, where a violent encounter IS of a higher magnitude likely, than in a rural/suburban setting? Not that 'hobbyist' ISN'T a valid enough reason to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights, but ask yourself - IS this truly a HD investment... or a hobbyist purchase? It WILL motivate you in a more HONEST direction.

4) Do I have OTHER security measures in place (steel doors, deadbolts, security motion lights, guard dog, silent alarm), if I'm REALLY worried about home security?

5) Is EVERYONE in the house on-board with, "THE PLAN," should an intruder break in? How about if the power went out for an extended period of time? How about a tornado, earthquake, or other natural disaster struck? Do you have OTHER measures considered, especially food/water storage? I have 4 small children - they will NOT be satisfied come meal time, with 12 gauge slugs, THAT'S for sure... :eek:

6) Are you limited by UN-Constitutional local ordinances, that prevent you from owning something BETTER than, "the cheapest shotgun" for home defense?

This one is crucial, because while shotguns are GREAT for turkey, pheasant, & other birds, there ARE better weapons for home defense, and I've yet to have a goose try & break into MY house.

I own two shotguns, and both ARE set up for CQB. I also have the least amount of ammo for them, as they are the LAST line of defense - even my Benelli M1 Super 90 Tactical - hardly a 'cheap' shotgun.

LIKE most firearm owners, if something goers bump in the night, I'm PROBABLY going to respond with one of these - most likely the stainless one.

1911s.jpg

Yeah, the one on the bottom looks better suited to the night - but I'm NOT as well trained on it yet. I'm a man, who's GOT to know my limitations! I've set it UP for the night shift, but I've yet to even fire it. I work with what I KNOW.

Should it all hit the fan, and the golden horde be roaming the streets, I then go to my serious HD lineup.

100_8368.jpg

Yeah, the bottom one is a .22LR, BUT... a) it's a dedicated .22LR - I can pop the upper off, put a 5.56 upper on it, and be ready for serious work with a change of the magazine! b) My wife or my oldest (age 11) could still use it as/is, in a pinch.

Nonetheless, precision fire is much more helpful in home defense, than scattershot - even with #4 buck or better. I'd strongly suggest reading this thread, as part of your home defense preparation.

And again, I DO OWN shotguns. They're very nice, & if that's all I have left, I KNOW how to deploy them. They're just NOT my FIRST choice, no matter how NICE... or 'cheap'... they be.

100_7593.jpg
 
Based on concersations with instructors who teach shotgun self defense classes and in my personal experience, the 500 or 590 are great reliable shotguns. The Mavericks are not as reliable. I think you want more reliable for the few dollars difference between them.
 
Call me Captain Obvious.....

You have a 500. You have a set of "Chops" built up with that.

Get another 500. With all the controls the same, practice with one is practice with the other.

I did this with 870s for a few decades. It works....
 
Dave McCracken said:
Call me Captain Obvious.....

You have a 500. You have a set of "Chops" built up with that.

Get another 500. With all the controls the same, practice with one is practice with the other.

I did this with 870s for a few decades. It works....
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Bingo We have a winner. Why not get another 500 in a different configuration? I'm preferential to the 500 series but sounds like the OP is too He already has one.
 
Jackal1 said:
Thanks! I found a replacement 8rd mag tube and 20" barrel with rifle sights combo package at Brownells.com for $150 bucks. I didn't know that was even an option....

Considering that I would be swapping out the mag tube when I go to shoot clays, and swapping it again when I return home.... anyone had issues with the steel magazine threads wearing out the aluminum threads in the receiver?

Thanks for the info!
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Never heard of any problems, or seen any with those I have had. Pretty much everything Mossy builds will last and last.
 
Regarding repeated rethreading of the steel magazine tube into the steel receiver:
Never heard of any problems, or seen any with those I have had. Pretty much everything Mossy builds will last and last.
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Thanks everyone for your awesome help! I have narrowed it down to two options, and either will be a good outcome. I'm going to keep my eyes open for a used Mossberg 590, but if I don't find one in a decent amount of time I'll go ahead and get the replacement extended magazine tube and 20" barrel with iron sights.

Thanks all! :)
 
shortest learning curve--buy another Mossberg.
money tight--pick up a good used one.

maverick new for $200 is another option. but it has a different safety than your mossberg.
 
Zactly!

A 14 year-old quail hunter with his daddys old single-shot would be a formidable opponent in a HD situation!

I could get a double on a quail raise more often then not 50+ years ago.

rc
 
Let's see - HD shotgun, primary use is to save you and yours lives. And you want the cheapest....

Would you buy tires for your family car based on what you could get cheapest?
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You wan't the cheapest?

How much is your life worth?
Click to expand...

Is it JUST me... or does this sound like, you REALLY want to trust your LIFE, and the lives of your LOVED ONES... to the cheapest suggestion proffered by a bunch of complete strangers, who have LESS emotional & familial attachment to you, than the family you're trying to... 'protect'... does?
Do we really stop & think about some of the things we say, and what they MEAN, before we say them? "Hey - my family is ONLY worth the CHEAPEST option given me by complete strangers!"
Click to expand...

Just Curious.

What do poor people do??? should they just roll over dead? Toss their hands in the air and surrender?
 
Mayby instead of saying you want the cheapest HD shotgun you should have said you are looking for the most reliable, least expensive HD shotgun.

Using cheap and HD in the same sentence tends to get some panties in a wad. :)

Another 500 is a fine way to go.
 
Just Curious.

What do poor people do??? should they just roll over dead? Toss their hands in the air and surrender?
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I would suggest getting off their behinds and working 2 or 3 jobs so they're not poor. This is America. The reason they're poor is because they made bad life choices and won't do what's neccessary to not be poor.
 
I would suggest getting off their behinds and working 2 or 3 jobs so they're not poor. This is America. The reason they're poor is because they made bad life choices and won't do what's neccessary to not be poor.
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Dang, hit em while they're down why dont ya.

My retort (that doesn't veer way into the political, handouts, lazy americans spectrum....)

would be a 70-100 dollar Mossberg 195 will go bang as a HD weapon... Sure it dont look takycool but it works..
 
i have and have used a maverick88 for a 3gun match w/out any issues but currently use a 870 w/extension tube that has locked up during a few matches...so my 88 is set up w/18" barrel for the house and the 870 is at the gunsmiths to be checked out but has been a disappointment...i use and have 11-87auto in 12 and 20ga as backup..cbr
 
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I think a lot of people get caught up in pride of ownership over functionality. When it comes down to it, cheap guns kill a lot more people than expensive guns.
 
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