semi auto home defense shotguns
- Thread starter Balrog
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krimmie
Member
How about this one;
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_871/products_id/55294
Mossberg also sells a combo(although Bud's is out of stock).
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/49886
The 930 has gotten pretty good reviews as far as reliability goes; I had a 3.5" 935 that was 100% reliable until it was stolen.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_871/products_id/55294
Mossberg also sells a combo(although Bud's is out of stock).
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/49886
The 930 has gotten pretty good reviews as far as reliability goes; I had a 3.5" 935 that was 100% reliable until it was stolen.
leadaddict
Member
Beretta makes some very nice auto-loading shotguns that are perfect for HD. Just look under 'tactical shotguns' and you will find several models.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
I would suspect that it would be an issue of cost, mostly. A used pump-action shotgun can be found for around $200 most anywhere. Even brand new ones aren't terribly expensive.
Semi autos, on the other hand, seem to generally start at around $600 and range upwards of a couple of thousand.
Justin hit the nail on the head it is simple economics. Gas guns cost more than pumps and the big name HD gas guns cost about $1K more than the big name HD pump guns.
If a Benelli M4 cost $400 you would see a heck of lot more of them.
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Al LaVodka
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Cost, perhaps, but I'll say that is the case in conjunction with reliability. Pump shotguns rarely, if ever, fail to feed and fire. Semi-autos? Not quite as reliable. And that's the main consideration usually. If they were as reliable, because they shoot as quickly and controllably as they do, people would pay the price if they were better. Thay are more complicated. This even plays a part in cleaning and maintenence which, again, becomes a reliability issue. Then pay a premium for it? Nah!
Al
Al
mljdeckard
Member
Like others have said above, I think that a Benelli M-4 would be plenty reliable. For five times the cost of my 870 express.
There are plenty of Semis that are reliable enough for HD.
My semi auto is more than reliable enough for HD duty, I also could have bought at least six pump guns that would sufficiently do the job for the same price.
Perhaps a real light bird shot load on some guns but any semi designed for HD shouldn't have any issue with a reduced recoil buckshot load.
My semi auto is more than reliable enough for HD duty, I also could have bought at least six pump guns that would sufficiently do the job for the same price.
Perhaps a real light bird shot load on some guns but any semi designed for HD shouldn't have any issue with a reduced recoil buckshot load.
Steve in Allentown
Member
I have to agree with Justin on the primary reason why semi-autos are not very common for HD. I suspect that most people who specifically want a shotgun for HD are not into trap and skeet and such. They just want something in the closet to give them peace of mind.
As for the Saiga, I can assure you that the stick mag will not drop out if you bump the kitchen table with it. It's an AK for crying out loud. So it's built like a tank. Besides, the factory 5 round mag is not very long. It's about the same length as an M-14 mag. If you really want something unusual, load an MD Arms 20 round drum mag into the Saiga. Now you've got bragging rights to the meanest home defense shotgun ever made.
mljdeckard
Member
Saying that you might drop the magazine on accident is suggesting that it's a bad idea to use an AK or an AR for combat because......you might accidentally drop the mag.
If I wanted an auto loader for SD this would definitely be my choice.
http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF005&gid=FNG002&mid=FNM0018
http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF005&gid=FNG002&mid=FNM0018
mljdeckard
Member
I bet that that FN would work just as well as the Benelli for a lot less money. Hmmmm.
You would have to bump the mag release lever and simultaneously bump the mag. Given the location and size of the mag release lever it seems like a rather unlikely event. Note the position of the mag latch in the pics below and see if you really think it is a concern. As noted this critique would exist for any box mag fed weapon (and many of them have mags that would drop free much more easily). The fact that box mag fed weapons are pretty much the standard for social work in handguns, sub-guns and long guns (shotguns being the one exception) I would be inclined to believe it is a pretty put there concern not really worth worrying about.
I have the MD20 but personally find gun with a mag well and stick mags to be preferable
The MD20 is definitely better if you are trying to garner attention at the range though.
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Balrog,
They aren't that uncommon. A good number of folks who are recoil sensitive use 20 gauge Remington 1100s for HD, and the newer youth model 20 gauge 11-87 is attracting a certain following as well.
There are other contenders- the FN SLP is a good shotgun, Mossberg's 930 has its fans, there are a goodly number of older Browning Auto-5s and Remington 11s still on the job. Of course there are a number of other designs/makes/models still going. Older Benelli M1S90s, Beretta 1201s, all sorts of things too numerous to mention.
If you want a semiauto, I'd suggest getting one that's still in production so you have accessories as well as parts support in the event anything goes wrong (not that it's likely to), or getting something recent enough or popular enough that getting it worked on/accessorized to your liking is not such a big deal. There's no need to assume any less reliability for a good semi with good ammunition than for a pump gun under similar circumstances.
fwiw,
lpl
They aren't that uncommon. A good number of folks who are recoil sensitive use 20 gauge Remington 1100s for HD, and the newer youth model 20 gauge 11-87 is attracting a certain following as well.
There are other contenders- the FN SLP is a good shotgun, Mossberg's 930 has its fans, there are a goodly number of older Browning Auto-5s and Remington 11s still on the job. Of course there are a number of other designs/makes/models still going. Older Benelli M1S90s, Beretta 1201s, all sorts of things too numerous to mention.
If you want a semiauto, I'd suggest getting one that's still in production so you have accessories as well as parts support in the event anything goes wrong (not that it's likely to), or getting something recent enough or popular enough that getting it worked on/accessorized to your liking is not such a big deal. There's no need to assume any less reliability for a good semi with good ammunition than for a pump gun under similar circumstances.
fwiw,
lpl
FAS1
Member
I think like anything else there will always be people that buy strictly based on cost. Reliability is certainly a concern for most people to consider. For me, I have a Beretta 1201FP and it has been 100% reliable even when shooting light bird shot. I don't own a pump shotgun myself.
arizona98tj
Member
I don't agree with that at all.....I see folks complaining too often about the cost of what is actually a relatively inexpensive accessory for their newly purchase pump gun. If cost wasn't an issue, they wouldn't complain about the money.
As for a semi-auto being reliable enough for HD.....I haven't experienced a malfunction yet with my FNH SLP. It runs reduced recoil slugs and buckshot and Federal Value pack #8 shot all day at the range. Of course....I've had 1911s jam up....but it seems lots of people carry them on a daily basis and stake their life on them. Do only shotguns have to be 100% reliable in order to be considered for home or personal defense?
I ran a pump gun for years before getting a good semi-auto shotgun. I can't think of a reason to switch back. The Benelli pump now gets a lot of safe time. It does, however, go to the training courses as my backup (two is one and one is none).
I am completely convinced it is all about the costs.....which is why one finds a lot of low cost shotgun threads in so many forums. The most common ones you see asked about aren't at the top of pump shotgun list. If money were no problem....you would see the high end pumps getting all the attention....not the ones you can get on sale at Big 5 Sporting Goods, two weekends a month.
Gunfighter123
Member
I have used a Rem 1100 in IPSC/3 Gun Action etc. for about 15-20 years. And then I got a Saiga S-12 !!! Now my Rem. 1100 just sits in the safe and pouts
As far as reliability with a semi-auto SG --- I WOULD BET MY LIFE on either my Rem.1100 or my Saiga S-12 --- and Yes, I DO OWN pump SGs also.
eddism
Member
Take a look at the SWS Streetsweeper. Really cool. Purely Tactical, But for home defense its overkill. But Cool... Last I saw one was on GunBroker. Probably could be seen there.
Hunterdad
Member
Here is my take on it. I have had alot of autoloaders and all of them failed me at least once on a hunt. I have owned even more pump guns and not 1 has ever failed me. I can't use a gun for HD that in my head won't cycle the next round.
It really boils down to personal preference.
It really boils down to personal preference.
Remember kentucky smith's Defensive 11-48?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=464352
That's the right idea, and old, reliable recoil-operated gun that can be had for relatively cheap (some around the price of a Mossy 500).
FMD at shotgun world also made a pretty cool 11-48 for defensive purposes:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=135335
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=464352
That's the right idea, and old, reliable recoil-operated gun that can be had for relatively cheap (some around the price of a Mossy 500).
FMD at shotgun world also made a pretty cool 11-48 for defensive purposes:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=135335
The SWD street sweeper would be a poor choice IMO. First of all it is a destructive device so you have all those hoops to jump through. Further it is rather expensive, particularly for what you get in terms of performance. Lastly it really doesn't offer that much in terms of performance, a S12 is its better in every just about every way. In terms of tactical shotguns the striker would be way down my list for anything other than gee wiz factor.
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