Looking for my first shotgun ... want advice!

[NJGunOwner81]

Hey everyone! Not on this board too much because I do not own a shotgun. HOWEVER, I want to change that in the near future ... money permitting. I've looked at a few of the manufacturers and I think I like a particular gun in the Benelli line-up.

More specifically I like the Benelli SuperNova Tactical. However, I fully admit I really don't know what I'm looking at for the most part. The gun will be low use primarily for home defense using triple ought shot shells. Now, while I spent $1200 on my Kimber Stainless II .45APC I really didn't want to spend that kind of money on a shotgun ... was thinking in the $500-$700 range.

If anyone can offer recommendations for a good shotgun or what makes the Benelli gun I'm looking at either good or bad PLEASE throw your hat in! ANY advice will be GREATLY appreciated! THANK-YOU!!!

NJGunOwner81

 

[Virginian]

Liking a gun is a big thing in my opinion. I like Remingtons, other guys like Mossbregs, and some people like you like Benellis. Let's face it, most pump guns work, and are only limited by the guy on the back end. I would only spend my money on something I liked.

 

[GigaBuist]

The gun will be low use primarily for home defense

A home defense gun should never be a "low use" item. It should be your most shot firearm. Get a rig that you can shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays, five stand, or whatever with and go out and play the silly game. If you want to run an 18.5" or 20" barrel at home that's great, and I'd encourage you to swap out to that when not playing shotgun games, but by all means get something you can "play" with and get out there.

I recently did my first ever IPSC-ish steel plate shoot with a shotgun and got to see folks of varying levels of experience with their shotguns. There was a huge difference in performance between the couple of us that shot trap and skeet on a regular basis and the folks that brought out guns they never used for anything other than "HD" which means just keeping them in the closet.

Ya gotta shoot the darned thing to get good with it.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

The Benelli is fine. It's whatever works and fits best for you. I'm a Mossberg guy. They fit me best and suit me best and I feel they offer the most gun for the money. I still like Winchesters, Remingtons, Benellis, Ithaca, Hi-Standard, whatever...I've just found the Mossberg suits me best. And I found that out the hard, long way =- by trying them all. I recommend you do the same!


As Gigabuist said, it should be anything but low-use. If you're going to trust that gun with your life, make sure it'll hold up to that tall of an order and that you'll be able and know how to maintain it and operate it efficiently while it does so. Shoot, shoot and shoot some more.

 

[JShirley]

NJ, is there some certain reason you're fixed on 000? It might be a decent load for mid-size wild pigs invading your home, or close-range jaguar, but otherwise...

000 will cost much more, and penetrate more than 00, which at close range has the ability to penetrate a little through most people already.

I'm also curious as to how important semi-auto is to you. If cost is a factor, finding a pump gun much cheaper is usually pretty easy.

John

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I'm a huge fan of the Ithaca 37. I grew up with one in 20 ga, a featherweight with blain barrel and a "Raybar" sight. Their HD gun leaves somthing to be desired though because the barrel is fixed to the reciever, but that might not be such a big deal. I remember how you could just take out a couple of screws and the trigger group and stock came off in one piece and the bolt came out. A pull through could clean the thing up real nice. Haven't shot one in a long time, and the price has kept me from getting one, so my second choice was a Remington 870.

 

[jakemccoy]

I am personally an 870 fan. The quality/price ratio is way up there. I have bought both new 870's and used 870's. I see no reason to buy brand new if you do a little homework.

I'll reiterate some points made above. You should highly consider having the following for a home defense gun:

-a gun you like
-a gun you will shoot a lot and not treat like a safe queen
-a gun that's not so expensive and pretty that you'll cry when the cops take it away

 

[Fred Fuller]

Shoot as many different riot type pumpguns as you can lay hands on, and pick out what you like best. What YOU like may well be different from what anyone out here in Web-land likes. Get some experience first, then make up your mind. You don't have to buy the gun to try it, if you play your cards right. Ask family, friends, co-workers, or go to gun clubs or ranges that have rental guns. Try as many as you can get hands on. If someone offers to let you use their gun- you buy the ammo. Stick with low brass birdshot, light loads, if the range allows it. Stay away from Winchester Value Packs-they're notorious for jamming when fired.

There are a LOT of good pumpguns out there. You'll find yours...

Stay Safe,

lpl