Home Defense Shotgun

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JeremyIA

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I have a few shotguns that I use for hunting. I suppose they would do just fine in a home defense situation. However, I have some sentimental value attached to them and would hate risking them in an investigation that would ultimately follow a home defense situation if it would ever arise. I've been thinking about getting an inexpensive (under $500) shotgun for home defense use. I refuse to buy something with a pistol grip. I prefer a shoulder stock because the gun tends to point where you look when it it is raised to your shoulder. When you have a pistol grip on your shotgun you run the risk of looking towards a threat but forgetting to point your shotgun in that general direction. Right now I'm leaning towards three different options.

1. Benelli Nova Tactical (gotta love a Benelli)
2. Mossberg 590 (like the manual safety location)
3. Winchester Defender (it's roughly in the same class and I've heard some good things about it)

Any comments on the three mentioned here? Any other suggestions? I'm not looking for a major tactical rig. My only requirements are a pump action, 7+ shot capacity, shoulder stock, and barrel length not greater than 20".
 
Welcome aboard JeremyIA. All three of the SG's you mentioned get great reviews here. For what it's worth, all my 870's are 20" barrel'd with +3 extensions (7 +1). I'm not sure why you left the 870 off your list but if you haven't already, you should take a look at them as well as the Ithaca.
All of these come in for well under your price range. In fact, I paid less than half your budget for my most expensive 870. I think you're right on about the non-pistol grip stock. It sounds like you've already started down the right path and I'm sure that others will chime in here soon with some excellent advice.
Good luck,
Mike
 
I have a Moss 500 pump which had a 26" slug barrel on it when I purchased it new. I bought a used 18" barrel for it added a sidesaddle and have a light and 2.5 pwr scope with see through scope rings. I have since traded the slug barrel for a variable choke barrel and it doubles as a turkey gun.

The Moss 500 pump is a dependable HD SG, and not hard on the wallet.

Good luck :cool:
 
My only requirements are a pump action, 7+ shot capacity, shoulder stock, and barrel length not greater than 20".
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hate risking them in an investigation
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Jeremy,

Those being your main concerns/needs and those being the shotguns to pick from, get the least expensive. Nothing I have heard tells me you have a need to spend any more money than possible. Save your bucks!


;)
 
First off,Jeremy,welcome. The guns you mention will do well for HD. Read the floating thread up top on Big Four shotguns for an overview.

I'm a stone cold 870 fanatic.But, I'd be as well armed and equally deadly with any of the others, including the Nova with a bit of practice.

It's the pianist, not the piano.

As for downsides, the Mossies and that Nova rattle a bit when shaken.

In your shoes, I'd check around and get the one that FEELS best from the short list. Take it to the range and shoot it in. If it runs 200 rounds sans glitches, clean it, load it up and store safely. Take it out and shoot it periodically.

Stay away from off brand shotguns.

HTH....
 
Consider the Winchester 1300 Defender in .20 gauge. Use #3 magnums. It will do the job, and it won't kick so much. In a house you are not going to have a whole lot of pattern taking effect anyway, so I think a handier easier to use shotgun is a better choice. I really like mine.

From a web site discussing shotgun use for home defense:

"The 20 gauge is an excellent caliber for self defense._ It is particularly well suited to those of smaller stature and those that dislike the blast and recoil of the 12 gauge._ When compared to a 12 gauge, the 20 gauge delivers 75% of the lead with a recoil that is 40-50% less._ This is equivalent to the ballistic force of being hit with two .44 Magnum rounds simultaneously._ Reduced recoil of the 20 gauge is conducive to accurate, rapid shots."
 
I second the Defender. There are many good HD pumps out there, but the win 1300 is the fastest action hands down. People at the range often think its an auto loader. I'm sure someone will point out why another SG is better, but I don't think you can argue the speed title. Mine has been very reliable. The only failure has been that it wont extract federal Buck loads I've tried. They get stuck in the barrel.
 
Too bad the barrel is ported. It breaks my price ceiling but it sure looks like a winner in my book.


FN_Tactical_Shotgun.jpg
 
I refuse to buy something with a pistol grip. I prefer a shoulder stock because the gun tends to point where you look when it it is raised to your shoulder. When you have a pistol grip on your shotgun you run the risk of looking towards a threat but forgetting to point your shotgun in that general direction.
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Such a sudden change of heart? :)

That buttplate (or lack of one) looks a bit, painful :eek:
 
I should have been more specific. I want something that has a shoulder stock--not pistol grip only. The combination of the two doesn't bother me. This multi-position AR-15 stock is pretty cool.
 
Yes, you should. You'll find it to be the fastest pump around. It comes ready to rock. Listen to the good Reverend, here, as I have converted a few folks to the High Church of the Def Win.:D It's a good price for a great shotgun. It'll take 3" mags, too. Find posts by HS/LD here and he has explained a lot of the great things about the Defender. It's fast, it handles great, it disassembles easy for cleaning, and utterly reliable. It's fast because right the split second after you shoot, the bolt unlocks and opens up. It practically pumps itself. The Tru-Glo sight is a great feature. It comes with sling swivels attached. This shotgun is being marketed by FN as the Military & Police shotgun. FN has a reputation for quality arms. They came, they saw, they liked, they marketed.
 
Good shotgun, good price, Jeremy. If it feels good, get it.

Galahad, how close are you to Md? Maybe we could do a shootoff, and see if a cool hand with a Defender can outshoot a grumpy old man with an 870 that mimes a body part....
 
grumble grumble grumble

If anyone wants to jump on the Defender deal it's on gunbroker. I just made a major layaway payment on my T/C Omega (limited edition camo stock and camo barrel). I can afford the Defender but I am forced to yield to the voices of discipline right now. If anyone wants the defender I can post the link to the item number on gunbroker.
 
Jeremy if you fired and shot someone in your home with a shotgun you did so in order to save the lives of your family and yourself.

I think you should use the shotgun that you are most proficient in.

I can't think of any purpose more important than saving the people in your home. The hell with the investigation. I think it's much more important to be able to do the job with the most degree of success.
 
Given your choices, I'd pick the Mossberg, but I wasn't given your choices. I've got an 870 for the reasons everybody else will tell you, it's just a better weapon. The market says alot. Mossberg is less refined and rattles more, but still a sound gun. I like the Winchester too, but it doesn't point as well as Mossy or Remington. No experience with Benelli.
 
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