Suggestions for a nice HD shotgun?

I'm looking for a "house gun." Could buy a carbine, but I always wanted a nice 12 or 20 gage. Could be tactical, or practical. Will see use sitting in a gun safe, shooting a rare 3 gun match (where I will NOT be in contention to win), might go hunting one day, will slam around at the range a couple of times a year. Mostly, I'm just looking for something that's fun to own, a pleasure to shoot at the range, completely reliable that COULD be called into use to defend the ol' homestead.

Any suggestions?

 

Actually, I'd recommend a Mossberg 500a. big 5 has them for around 300 brand new with both an 18.5" barrel and a 28" for hunting/skeet. Can't beat that deal. I have owned Remington, Mossberg and Winchester shotguns and feel that out of the 3 Mossberg by far offers the best value.

 

Remington 870 or Mossberg 590A1 on the higher end of pumps.
NEF Pardner Protector, or any of the Mossberg Maverick/835 models for something cheaper that I'd still trust.
If you're looking for something semi-auto, the most popular gun at the moment seems to be the Mossberg 930SPX. If you've got the money, check out the FN SLP or the Benelli M4 if you're really looking to spend.

 

I would swing with the Mossberg 500 series. More after market parts.

 

The Mossberg 930 Field / Security Combo is the best valued semi-auto on the market today.

R & R has thiem for $470.62:
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G85325



Do a search, they are great guns for the money!!

 

I recommend an 870 Wingmaster. It sounds like you want something more than what the average person wants in an HD gun. You want pride of ownership. A nice 870 Wingmaster is nice enough that it doesn't hurt to look at it. Meanwhile, the 870 platform can be readily modified with different barrel lengths, etc. Also, parts are readily available. The 870 platform is perhaps the most proven platform of all pump shotguns.

If you didn't care so much about pride of ownership, then I'd recommend an 870P. I have to admit that my 870P is ugly. It's not shiny. It's plain. However, that's how I want this gun. I intentionally want my HD gun to look like it's nothing special. Keep in mind that if you ever use a gun for home defense, that gun will be confiscated and roughed up by the cops. So, having an emotional attachment to your HD gun is not a good thing.

 

The gun you select (so long as it is mechanically reliable and loaded with good ammo) matters less than your skillset and ability to use it well under pressure. Any reliable pumpgun will do for that task. Here at Casa Lapin, there are a number of shotguns I would, and have, and do trust my life and that of my spouse to.

Cheapest of them so far is an old Stevens 520 with Montgomery Ward markings that cost $57 about a year ago. There are several $100 pumpguns- Sears Ted Williams Model 200s (Winchester 120/1200), J.C. Higgins Model 20s (High Standard Flite Kings) etc. There's three Winchester 1200/1300s, one of them in FN livery. There are several Mossberg 500s, and a handful of different semiauto designs from Remington, Winchester/FN, Benelli and Mossberg. And there's a gob and a batch of sub-$200 Remington 870s, both old model Express guns and older Wingmasters bought used.

Most used are the 870s, granted, because they are the most familiar to us both. But any of the guns listed above (and more) will do fine- if the shooter will do...

lpl

 

I like the Mossberg 590A1....the 20" barreled version gives you a comfortable capacity of 7 to 8 rounds in the tube, depending on which load you choose. Or you could get the 18.5" barrel and add a mag extension as needed.

Now, the A1s are a bit heavy (due to the heavy walled barrel) so they may take a bit of getting used to. But, once past this, it is a fine weapon. Plus, the HW barrel is durable as heck.

Sure, its not as "pretty" as some others out there. But, for HD, Im more concerned with functionality, durability and reliability. Ill save the "pretty" wood stocks and forends for something else.

 

For HD, Moss 500 #50577 http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/NEW/50577.jpg (7 cap mag, 20" BBL,) is IMO the best value in a pump that's still high quality, without the forward weight of the 590 (I own some of both).

^^^
But for dual use, I think this is also a great idea if you're comfortable with an auto ( I'm all fer it), and a 4-in-the-mag capacity.

Les

 

An out of the box Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590 will serve you just fine. Should you choose to add stuff to it like a fiber optic front sight or a side saddle for extra rounds, there are tons of accessories out there.



My 870 Express 12 gauge

 

I have to agree with general consensus that you can't go wrong with an 870 or a Mossberg 500.

Unless you've got a strong reason to suspect that multiple trained someones are coming for you, I'd say go for the pump over the semi-auto. It's a hotly debated topic about whether or not the sound of the action working would be a deterrent or not, but in a home defense situaution, I have to think that any possible advantage would be worth going for.

 

Why would you want a nice hd gun? I tend to like the old beat up PROVEN sg. Nice hasn't been tested much in your hands. I'd get an 870 or 500 and use it to death, until you know it works always and you becaome totally familar with it.

 

870 wingmaster imo.

 

870 police or Wingmaster

 

mossberg 500a persuader

 

Nice can obviously mean different things to different people. Nice is a vague term and a well used shotgun can still be considered a nice shotgun to someone. Nice doesn't necessarily equate to new, unused, or with out character marks (dings and scratches). My friend has a Benelli he has shot and used a whole lot I would still call it a nice shotgun. I can think of some other guns that have faithfully gone through decades of hunting seasons but would be considered by many as nice guns.

 

I like Smitty in CT's recommendation with the Mossberg 930 combo!

But a Remington 870, Mossberg 590A1, Mossberg 500, Norinco Hawk 982, or NEF Pardner pump are also all good values if you'd prefer a pump (and to save a little money).

 

I have the Mossberg 590A1 that comes with great ghost ring sights, 9 round tube (9 for 2 3/4" shells, only 8, or maybe 7 with 3", I honestly forget at the moment), and the SpeedFeed stock holds 4 extra shells in reserve (I keep slugs in it, with 3" 00 buck in the tube, and couldn't be happier with the gun.

No issues in the 3 years I have owned it. I like the safety location, smooth action, and seems pretty darn rust and ding proof (as far as from normal use, tossing it down the driveway will likely cause scratches )

Well worth what I paid, and I'd have no problem trusting mine, or my families life to it (God forbid I ever need to).

Bayonet optional, and I only put it on for the pic.
I do keep the Surefire 6P 125 lumins w/ pressure switch on permanently though.

 

Either the 870 or the Mossy. Mossy may be a little less expensive.

 

jrfoxx said: I have the Mossberg 590A1 that comes with great ghost ring sights, 9 round tube (9 for 2 3/4" shells, only 8, or maybe 7 with 3", I honestly forget at the moment), and the SpeedFeed stock holds 4 extra shells in reserve (I keep slugs in it, with 3" 00 buck in the tube, and couldn't be happier with the gun.

No issues in the 3 years I have owned it. I like the safety location, smooth action, and seems pretty darn rust and ding proof (as far as from normal use, tossing it down the driveway will likely cause scratches )

Well worth what I paid, and I'd have no problem trusting mine, or my families life to it (God forbid I ever need to).

Bayonet optional, and I only put it on for the pic.
I do keep the Surefire 6P 125 lumins w/ pressure switch on permanently though.

How did you mount the Surefire?

WJR