Which HD Shotgun?

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Smokepole14

Smokepole14

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I'm looking to get a home defense shotgun to keep bedside. The three models I'm looking at are maverick 88, pardner pump, or savage 320. I'm aware that the pardner and savage are made in China an the maverick assembled in us with Mexico parts. Does anybody who owns one of the three have any suggestions. So far the only negative I've heard is the pardner has a part internally welded in so if it breaks basically your out of luck and a gunsmith will have to fix it. Just looking for any help from you guys.
 
Smokepole, I would go with the Maverick. A lot of parts are interchangeable with the Mossberg 500. They have a great rep as a reliable, budget priced gun. I've had a 500 and now own a 590A1 and the are great and I expect the Maverick would be as well.
 
After reading a great number of reviews for all three, the Maverick had far fewer negative reviews than the other two. I bought the Maverick and so far, so good.
 
Smokepole14

Another vote in favor of the Maverick 88. As CaptTripps mentioned that a lot of Mossberg Model 500 parts that can be used with the Maverick 88 and both are a proven commodity. I have had my Maverick 88 for many years and it is still my go-to shotgun in the home defense role.



 
Another vote for the Maverick on the grounds that they all work but that the Maverick earns someone a job in the US. Once in hand, pattern with several different ammos you would like to use and settle on the one that gives you zero feed or eject issues and the most consistent patterns at point of aim. Suggest patterning at 5 yards and 10 yards with a bias to the best patterns at 5.
 
Another vote for the maverick, I own a few and they have been good to me.

also If you so desire, you can get on Ebay, and purchase a 28in field barrel. Slap that guy on, and now you can go out, hunt, and also shoot clays and the likes with friends/whomever.
 
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SOAB

Awhile back I picked up a Mossberg 500 20" vent rib barrel with Accu-choke just to give my Maverick 88 a little more versatility. Cost me a lot less than buying another shotgun for hunting.
 
I like the shorter barrels, I may pick up the 21" barrel for my 12 gauge one day. I have a Maverick 88 20 gauge with the youth stock and the 21" barrel. I like how it handles, and so do most of the smaller framed shooters that have tried it out. One unfortunate thing is that my gun club prefers 26" or longer barrels for certain clay events. I was able to get an easy ok for a 21" 20 gauge because a new shooter was with me and it fit her a lot better than putting the 26" barrel on that I had.
 
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SOAB

I also like shorter barrels on shotguns having started with hunting upland game when I was still wet behind the ears, so to speak. Back then a 20 gauge pump (like an old Ithaca Model 37 I use to borrow from a friend of mine), with a 26" barrel was great for the hunting that we did in the wooded countryside.
 
All on that list would likely meet your needs.
That said, if your looking for a low cost HD 12 ga, I can personally recommend the RIA M5. Smoothest action 12 ga pump I've handled bar none (and I work in a gun shop). I've owned one for 3 years now with nothing but smiles. The fact that it comes fully set up for $225 is just iceing on the cake.
http://www.gunblast.com/Armscor-M5.htm
 
Don't overlook the new Mossberg Shockwave, a non-NFA 14" barreled 12 gauge pump shotgun with a pistol grip:

50659_catalog.jpg


With the proper adapter you can use 12 gauge mini shells, allowing for an 8+1 capacity over the 5+1 for standard shells and still have excellent terminal performance with buckshot and noticeably decreased recoil:

aguila2_img_3707_for_ann.jpg


The MSRP for this gun is $450, quite reasonable. I think this would make an excellent home defense or truck gun.
 
Cooldill said:
Don't overlook the new Mossberg Shockwave, a non-NFA 14" barreled 12 gauge pump shotgun with a pistol grip:

50659_catalog.jpg


With the proper adapter you can use 12 gauge mini shells, allowing for an 8+1 capacity over the 5+1 for standard shells and still have excellent terminal performance with buckshot and noticeably decreased recoil:

aguila2_img_3707_for_ann.jpg


The MSRP for this gun is $450, quite reasonable. I think this would make an excellent home defense or truck gun.
Click to expand...

Recoil can be stout on a pistol gripped shotgun.
 
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For a while, I had my old Mossberg 500 18" fitted with a birdshead grip like that. Recoil was easy to handle using full power 00 Buck and slugs. It really is the best PGO setup.
To the OP, look around for a used Model 500. There are tons of them out there, many pretty cheap.
With the current "AR for HD" craze, there are a lot of used shotguns out there.
 
Regarding the pistol grip "Shockwave": Problem isn't recoil, it is the lack of ability to get a good index. Making fast/accurate hits under high stress seems important to me for HD. I'll accept the extra 4" barrel for a stock. Especially since plan "A" for HD is a barricade position which makes weapon size moot. If you are going to go looking for trouble, grab a handgun.
 
strambo said:
Regarding the pistol grip "Shockwave": Problem isn't recoil, it is the lack of ability to get a good index. Making fast/accurate hits under high stress seems important to me for HD. I'll accept the extra 4" barrel for a stock. Especially since plan "A" for HD is a barricade position which makes weapon size moot. If you are going to go looking for trouble, grab a handgun.
Click to expand...
this is very true I have shot the pistol grip 12ga a fair amount of time a aiming at a target is poor, I to prefer a normal HD type shotgun by far, shotguns do need to be aimed I found the pistol grip type is for fun with the guys at the range but for home defense I prefer the stock, you may need to use that stock as a weapon if things get close up
 
I have read that a flashlight mounted to an HD shotgun is a good idea

Also, reduced recoil buckshot makes practice less brutal on the shoulder and follow up shots easier.

Dave McCraken once advised me to take the cylinder choked home defense shotgun to the trap range and to practice getting off quick shots as soon as the clay bird is released. It took a little practice, but I was breaking at least half the birds with target shot and an 18.5" barrel.
 
Ohhh! Show and tell!

16466968_1239716699446502_1195515014_n.jpg



The picture isn't beautiful, but this is my one of my Maverick 88's, this one spends it's days in the same exact spot at all times (It's unloaded in the picture, just ammo on the side saddle). I had to set it on an old box I keep in case I have to send any guns in for warranty work.
 
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