What Auto Shotgun would you suggest?

[RedAlert]

I'm in the market for a basic semi-auto shotgun that I will use it the Home Defense scenario. I already have a Remington 870 and do not wish to go that route; I'm interested in an auto.

I'd like it to have a 18" to 20" barrel, extended magazine tube and be a simple auto without all the bells and whistles of the expensive brands. I'm not looking for top of the line, I am looking for a working man's shotgun. Translate that to be in the less expensive range.

I'd even look into a well-cared for used shotgun, but really I prefer new weapons. I don't need the ability to fire the most powerful magnum loads; standard rounds are more than adequate for my use. It does not need to be convertible to field use as it will be a dedicated HD shotgun. I do not anticipate using slugs in the home, so having the proper choke for the desired shot size and spread is desirable.

Your suggestions are appreciated.
Red

 

[snooperman]

You could try a good used Remington 1100 or 1187. There are others, but for home defense the 870 would be my choice or even a good used mossberg pump. These guns are very reliable with any load you choose and that is why most police and the military, not to mention millions of us use the pump. My 2 cents. Snoop

 

[Dave McCracken]

Cheap Route......

Pick up a well used Model 11 Remington, chop the barrel to 20" and add an extension meant for 870s.a good pad, and a new buffer. Total should fit in your budget.

Less cheap, a used 1100,etc.

If it has to be new, look into Mossberg's 930 series.

 

[56hawk]

I have a Remington 1187 Police that I use for home defense. I think they are going for around $900 these days.

 

[TurtlePhish]

A stock Saiga is cheap and reliable, magazines can be anywhere from 5 to 20 rounds. However, I'd recommend sticking with the other suggestions- they'll handle a bit more like what you're used to.

 

[Hunterdad]

I recommend the Stoeger 2000 Defense. Gun cost me &450 and the extension was $90ish. It has been 100% reliable.

 

[Water-Man]

You can find a Saiga 12 or 20 for $600.-$650. new.

 

[briansmithwins]

Mossberg autoloader. Cheap and the ones I've seen worked fine.

BSW

 

[jmr40]

A Remington 11-87 with a shorter barrel will not reliably cycle light loads. If you go that route you are going to have to use 2.75" or 3" magnum loads. 11-87 barrels shorter than 26" are not designed for standard pressure loads.

While a pump is more reliable in theory, the auto will be more reliable in actual use. Most pumps malfunction because of user error. Most autos malfunction because of poor quality ammo. Use good ammo and the auto will serve you well.

The bad news, a quality auto will cost you 3X-4X what a quality pump will cost you. I hear good things about the Mossberg 930, but I've never owned, or even shot one. Several family and friends owned the older Mossberg 9200 semi and it was unacceptable. Kinda left a bad taste in my mouth, so I've been reluctant to give the newer gun a try. The 11-87 is a good enough gun, but only if you want to limit yourself to heavy loads only with a short barrel. I don't think this is an issue with the 1100.

Of the guns I've actually owned and used the Benelli is the only one that I'd recommend, at least for this purpose. The Beretta is a darn good gun also, but don't think they offer any short barreled SD type guns. On a more limited budget I'd at least do some research on the Mossberg.

 

[56hawk]

A Remington 11-87 with a shorter barrel will not reliably cycle light loads. If you go that route you are going to have to use 2.75" or 3" magnum loads. 11-87 barrels shorter than 26" are not designed for standard pressure loads.

Mine has an 18" barrel and will reliably cycle birdshot as long as it's clean and oiled. Will start jamming when it gets dirty, after 150 rounds or so. Never jammed with any buckshot or slug load, even the reduced recoil stuff. If the ammo is suitable for home defense, it will be reliable in the 11-87.

 

[rule303]

Mossberg 930. Best buy in the auto shotgun world IMO. The Remington 1100/1187 series is a proven performer, but can be finicky and require frequent maintenance in my experience.

 

[MCgunner]

I agree with jmr40 about chopping the barrel of a gas gun, would require opening up the gas port and I wouldn't be willing to play around with that, myself. It SHOULD compromise function to do so and I'm not willing to have even the occasional feeding problem on anything I'll be defending myself with. If I wanted to shorten a gas gun's barrel, I'd look around for a factory aftermarket barrel I could install that would have the proper gas dynamics for function, IE larger gas port.

Dave's suggestion of an old M11, a recoil operated (Browning A5) action would be a safer bet than any chopped gas gun IMHO.

Mine has an 18" barrel and will reliably cycle birdshot as long as it's clean and oiled. Will start jamming when it gets dirty, after 150 rounds or so. Never jammed with any buckshot or slug load, even the reduced recoil stuff. If the ammo is suitable for home defense, it will be reliable in the 11-87.

Did you cut off a longer barrel or did it come with the 18.5" barrel?

 

[jmr40]

An 11-87 with a barrel 26" or longer is regulated to shoot any load from the lightest 2 3/4" 1 oz. loads up to the heaviest 3" magnums. Most of the shorter barrels come from the factory intended for deer, turkey or LE use. Almost all of those users typically use heavier loads anyway. Because the shot load is in the shorter barrel for less time there is less time for gas pressure to build up to cycle loads. The gas ports are designed to work best with heavy loads. They can be modified to cycle light loads well, but if you do that then heavy loads will beat up your gun and be less reliable.

Mine has an 18" barrel and will reliably cycle birdshot as long as it's clean and oiled. Will start jamming when it gets dirty, after 150 rounds or so. Never jammed with any buckshot or slug load, even the reduced recoil stuff. If the ammo is suitable for home defense, it will be reliable in the 11-87.

If HD is your only use for the gun, and as long as proper ammo is used the short barreled 11-87 is not a bad choice. But if you want a more versatile gun there are better choices. I can't say for 100% certainty, but believe the 1100 would work better with light loads and heavy 2 3/4" loads in short barrels since it does not have to compensate for heavy 3" magnums. To a degree barrel length will have an effect on gas guns reliaility, especially if you take a longer barrel and start cutting it shorter. Some guns more than others. This is not an issue with inertia operated guns or pumps.

If someone is willing to put the money into an auto for SD I think they work great and can be more reliable than a pump. But it is a lot easier and cheaper with a pump. I like an auto, but if on a tight budget I'd rather have a quality $300 pump than a questionable $300 auto.

The Mossberg 930 may be the answer. But I just don't know enough to give either a thumbs up or thumbs down on it. I didn't think about the Stoeger that was recommended, but I had a very good experience with a hunting version of that gun a few years ago. That is another possibility

 

[56hawk]

Did you cut off a longer barrel or did it come with the 18.5" barrel?

100% factory original, and the barrel measures just over 18".

If HD is your only use for the gun, and as long as proper ammo is used the short barreled 11-87 is not a bad choice.

I did think this was the whole point of this post. While it might not be the best choice, I have used mine to shoot trap and sporting clays. That was where I figured out how many rounds of birdshot can be shot before it starts jamming.

 

[Girodin]

Mossberg 930. I have this and a few Saigas. As they come out of the box I think the mossberg would be a much better HD gun. I REALLY like my modified S12s but they are in a whole different price range.

I hope one day to pick up a stoeger 2000, but have not as of yet been able to use one enough to vouch for it. I actually want one to make a registered SBS out of.

 

[kcshooter]

Mossberg 930. Best buy in the auto shotgun world IMO.

This, I agree with.

However, this, I don't:

The Remington 1100/1187 series is a proven performer, but can be finicky and require frequent maintenance

I don't see either one requiring any more or less maintenance, and see no difference in finickiness.

My Remington has ammo preferences, same as my Mossberg.


On a budget, I recommend the Mossberg 930.
Cost not an issue? The Remington is a far more diverse platform.

 

[eastbank]

buy a used 1100 rem 12ga three inch mag, and then buy a used regular 2-3/4 short barrel. mine works fine,as the 2-3/4 barrel has two gas ports to the 3 inch mag barrels one. then you have a good small game shotgun and a fine defence shotgun. eastbank.

 

[VA27]

Cheap Route......

Pick up a well used Model 11 Remington, chop the barrel to 20" and add an extension meant for 870s.a good pad, and a new buffer. Total should fit in your budget...

This. I just picked up an old 11 for a hundred bux. No finish, but no pitting, either. The wood needs some TLC, but I can handle that.

 

[snooperman]

I agree that the old Rem model 11 can be used but is not the best choice. It is a real clunker and too heavy for me to get excited about. The recoil is excessive for an auto gun, especially with buckshot loads. The model 1100 is lighter and will reliably function with buckshot loads and kick much less as well , allowing quicker follow-up shots too. Most police do not carry semi autos ,but when they do, it is usually a Remington 1100 that is cut down. My 3 cents... Snoop

 

[snooperman]

I would rather stay with a pump gun than use the Rem. model 11

What are you really gaining with it?

 

[RedAlert]

Thanks

Thanks folks, I'll look into the Stoeger 2000 and the Mossberg 930. Both of those fit my intended needs. I prefer not to shorten a barrel, I'd rather purchase one from the factory at the proper length.
The suggestions for older Rem Model 11 and 1100 are valid, but as I mentioned in my original post I prefer new firearms.

At the gunshow I attended yesterday, I didn't see the Stoeger, but did see the Mossberg. I also looked at the Saigas but I'm not impressed. I know they function well but in my opinion they are butt ugly and the box magazine is not as appropriate for HD as is a tubular magazine IMHO.

Thanks again.

 

[Skribs]

I have the Mossberg 930 SPX. $640 for it, but I also got it at Cabelas which could be $50-100 more expensive than my LGS (it was just more convenient to get it there since they can take orders over the phone instead of in person, and its a half hour drive minimum to get anywhere). It ate what I fed it just fine.

 

[Girodin]

What are you really gaining with [an auto]?

I used to be a person that thought only pumps were suitable for HD. I had heard all the comments about them being more reliable, and mechanically that might even be true. However, then I started shooting a greater variety of shotguns and in environments that simulate (as much as they can) defensive shooting. I also took an interest in 3 gun style shooting. What I learned is that pumps offer pretty significant advantages. There is a reason pump guns can't hang with the auto loaders in 3 gun.

I think one gains the following with an auto:

More practical reliability: Autos are less prone to user error. People who shoot much three gun will tell you they see many more user induced malfunctions with pump guns than they do with auto loaders. And these are shooters that probably shoot more than the average Joe. I know, I know, you never would short stroke your pump or anything like that.

Good autos are very reliable, particularly with loads suited for defensive use. My 930 SPX has never had a failure in several hundred rounds. My main S12 (others I haven't shot much) has also proven its self highly reliable as well. Both are much less prone to user error than my pump guns.

Followups: Shot timers don't lie and I am faster with my autos than I am with a pump. This is particularly true shooting slugs and buck.

Recoil: Every auto loader I own is softer shooting than any of my pump guns.

Firing/operation from improvised/unconventional firing positions: When one starts moving and shooting from different positions an auto loader is simply easier to use. This is its own point but also relates back to my first one as well.

Manual of arms: IMHO some models make for an easier manual of arms for some manipulations. An example would be a select a slug drill on a Benelli. This point isn't a huge factor for me, but I think it is worth mentioning.

We could change the question and ask what do you gain with a pump?

The answer is for a defensive weapon the only thing gained is a cheaper price. I think if Benellis and FN SLPs or even the 930 cost what a pump gun costs there would be few people that would buy the pump gun.

The cost difference really is not greatly significant in the long run. I got my 930 for a great deal so I wont use that price but rather what I found with a quick google search. A 930 SPX is listed at $530 with free shipping. Add a $25 transfer and you have a $555 gun. One could get a Mossberg for $300 (a serviceable pump could be found for 200 or maybe less). $230 isn't a huge difference and divided over owning the gun for even 10 years it is negligible and over the full life of the gun that is even more true.

 

[Skribs]

Girodin, I was in the same boat as you. Everywhere I looked when I first got into guns said that "a pump action shotgun is the best gun for home defense." Now, it's the best CHEAP gun for home defense, and the jury seems to be out between a semi-automatic shotgun and a semi-automatic carbine.

Price is an important consideration if you can only afford so much right now. Pump actions do have other advantages outside of the home defense situation, so if you use it for those purposes (or, if you're LE and have special rounds) then a pump is a better option. But I'm torn now between my love for my Benelli SuperNova and my understanding of the advantages of a semi-automatic (and my newfound love with the 930 SPX).

 

[kb58]

Another advantage of a simi-auto is that there's no rack to slide, making it more user-friendly to family members if need-be.