New barrel or new shotgun?

[BerettaBob]

Hey guys, I need your advice on a home defense shotgun. I currently have a 12gauge Mossberg Pump with a 28 inch barrel and obviously need something a little shorter.
I can buy the 18.5 inch security barrel brand new at my local gunshop for about $90, or I can put a Savage Stevens Model 350 security ($250) on lay-away and pay on it as I go.
I'm strapped for cash so the answer seems obvious :banghead: What would you do in my situation? As always, thanks in advance.

 

[TurkeyOak]

Buy the extra barrel.
I wanted a HD gun. The local store had Mavericks with 28" barrels for $160. I jumped on it because for $85 I could get a 18" barrel.
I added a $60 collapsable stock for $310 total.
Now I can shoot clays or be ready at home.

 

[BerettaBob]

Thanks Bud! Enjoy that Maverick.

 

[foghornl]

Since you are already familiar with the Mossberg's "chops", buy the $90 barrel. You have a shotgun you know; don't have to fumble around for the controls of a different weapon in a crisis with Bad Boys storming down the hall.

That is why I bought the (at that time) $69 short barrel for my Maverick 88

 

[Fred Fuller]

Buy the barrel.

You already have trigger time on the Mossberg, no sense in complicating things with a different gun. If you ever do have to use the HD gun, it'll be under significant pressure and you want all the advantages you can get. Fumbling with different controls under tense circumstances is not a good thing.

The old saw says something like "Beware the man with just one gun..." for good reason. I may play with any one of a dozen different kinds of shotguns at different times, but when things get real, what I want in hand is a familiar old 870.

 

[OARNGESI]

Walmart has maverick 88s with 18in barrel for 165 so for a few extra dollars you can have 2 guns

 

[BerettaBob]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Tim37]

i would buy the barrel it takes about 45 seconds to swap them out so its no biggie if you want to take it out hunting then when you get home swap the barrels back out.

 

[chas08]

Without a doubt, extra barrel!!!

 

[jonnyc]

Exactly what I did, with a Mav. 88. Now that all my shotgun NEEDS are taken care of, any WANTS can be dealt with without any timing or financial pressure.

 

[Hocka Louis]

Barrel. And once you have that on it is one of the best basic defense guns there are as is, rest assured.

Did the same thing during the Rodney King riots. I was a kid. Couldn't find anything but my 28" Modified and I would have been content with my 24" rifle sighted smoothbore barrel. Bought the 18-1/2" barrel at a LGS near where I worked for more than you're being asked today. I asked the owner what the largest pellet size was that he had. I remember some fool standing next to me explaining that bird shot would be fine enough. All they had left was #2 swanshot. I thanked the fool and said I'll take all the #2 he had (two boxes).

It was an eye opening time for me. Wore a 9mm in a shoulder holster on long commute home thru bad areas and equipped my Mom as well. Been more prepared ever since.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Buy the barrel. I have a 28" and a 18.5" and am in the market for another, either a rifled barrel or a 24" smooth bore.

 

[dober83]

Buy the barrel. I have a 28" for trap and small game and a 20" with rifle sights for deer( rifled slugs for the four legged ones and 00 buck for the pesky 2 legged ones)