worth it?

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I have an older Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12 gauge with a poly-choke. For the purposes of self defense of my family, do you think it it worth the $$$ to buy a Mossberg 12 gauge pump with 9 shot capacity?

I keep shotgun at home, carry a Ruger LCR full time, and have Glock 19 and 26 that we carry when we travel.

No expert obviously, but don't want to be a sheep if stuff hits the fan.

Thanks
 
I think an extra shotgun is worth it, especially for what a Mossberg costs, but I don't think the 9 shots is necessary. My father has a 590A1 and it's too front heavy, and IMO opinion the balance is terrible. Of course others may not have a problem with it.
 
Thanks for the tip, I agree. I want something relatively light and fast, and without a bunch of add on accessories. I like simple. I'd do the 20 gauge if I didn't know the 12 is better all around.
 
My defensive shotguns are 5-7 shot (including chamber), and none with a barrel over 20". The extra encumbering length isn't worth another 1-2 shots, IMO.
 
I'll differ here....

Get another Ithaca. It's one of the best fighting shotguns yet devised. 4 +1 is plenty of ammo IF you've learned to Run The Gun and can reload on the fly. You'll need to know that even if your magazine's longer than Methusaleh's beard.

And, with all the controls in identical places, there's less chance of a fumble at a terribly wrong moment.

Used 37s around here turn up for less than you'd pay for a new 590 ......
 
I agree with Dave and oneounceload, Buy another Ithaca with a short barrel and do not cut the barrel on the one you have. I have several Ithaca 37s and two of them have 18" barrels with 4 shot+1 capacity. I find they balance well and the extra shots are really not needed. My other Ithacas are used for hunting and are a joy to carry in the field.
 
If I did anything to the Ithaca I would sell it. Hunters will buy it. SD or tacticool shotguns are cheap. Some hunter will have an old Ithaca and you will have a shiny new gun. I have a Maverick with the extended magazine. I don't find it hard to handle. I have no problem shooting skeet with it. It does get heavy on deer drives but the extra shots are handy sometimes -If nothing else you can always spare 3 shots for a buddy that is out of ammo.
 
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For as capacity goes, my HD gun is a twice pipe.

I will agree, what you got is all the home defense shotgun you'll ever need. Keep the saw in the tool box and load her up with some buckshot. I mean, I'm a Mossberg guy. Get one if you want one, but the gun you have will do the job just fine.
 
The biggest challenge in keeping a shotgun running is keeping it loaded. In my opinion, the more ammo in the gun, the better. Then the more ammo ON the gun, to replace the ammo in the gun, the better (within reason).

Another issue is clearing a home with a shotgun. Getting around a corner with a long-gun is a challenge. Anyone who's done good training with a good instructor has seen the results of letting a barrel sneak around a corner. It's ugly. :evil: When I pie a corner with a shotgun, I lay it sideways, flat on top of my shoulder. Cuts about six to eight inches from the muzzle (since that length is laying on top of my shoulder) and lets me get around a corner better without sending my muzzle past it. Maneuvering in close quarters such as hallways, around doors, etc... that reduction in length helps a lot.

Thus, my advice, which is worth exactly what you paid for it, is to go with an 18 or 20" 12ga that can hold 7-8 in the tube, and get six to eight more on a side-saddle on the gun. This is, assuming you're unwilling to get an NFA stamp. If you are, then a 14" bbl with a youth stock on an 870 is about perfect.

Then get some dummies and practice keeping the thing fed.
 
The biggest challenge in keeping a shotgun running is keeping it loaded. In my opinion, the more ammo in the gun, the better. Then the more ammo ON the gun, to replace the ammo in the gun, the better (within reason).

Another issue is clearing a home with a shotgun. Getting around a corner with a long-gun is a challenge
Click to expand...

And the odds are slim at best for this scenario. Most folks hunker down and call 911, making a few extra inches of barrel moot
 
The biggest challenge in keeping a shotgun running is keeping it loaded. In my opinion, the more ammo in the gun, the better. Then the more ammo ON the gun, to replace the ammo in the gun, the better (within reason).
Click to expand...

When I answer the door, my .38 is in my pocket. My shotgun is for safe room defense, barricade with the bed and call 911. At most, I'll look around the corner down the hall with it while the wife dials 911. I ain't leavin' the safe room, though. Two shots is plenty. I've got a butt cuff with 5 more and I know how to use the gun, it's my dove gun. The butt cuff throws the balance of the gun off, don't really like that, but I ain't shootin' at flying birds, I'm shooting at fairly static targets, so the balance ain't that important, not as important as the 5 extra rounds. I ain't takin' on the Russian army, just a few home intruders.

MY advice is to learn to shoot that Ithaca and live happy, I mean, you probably already CAN shoot it and don't need the advice or extra ammo capacity, just sayin'.
 
If I call 911, I might have to spend a half hour or more in a house with bad people before they show up.

In my view, relying on 911 for anything is a Really Bad Plan<tm>, no matter what the NRA and personal defense TV tell you.
 
Thanks for the tip, I agree. I want something relatively light and fast, and without a bunch of add on accessories. I like simple. I'd do the 20 gauge if I didn't know the 12 is better all around.
Click to expand...

You won't find universal agreement on that issue, and handling quality can be better with the 20ga. Another thread perhaps, and sometimes already discussed, but my point here is to never just blow off the 20ga for a SD shotgun .
 
I have never bought into the idea that one should leave the confines and safety of the bedroom at night and "clear your home". I see no justification for it. With a cell phone in place and a loaded gun or guns, why chance it. You may be at a disadvantage. The safe bet is to hunker down and call the law.
 
Back in the 1990s some police depts. and sheriffs offices had special orders for Remington 870 20GA youth models for female officers. It was believed that the female officers could handle the 20GA better than the 12GA. If you want a 20 GA for home defense try to find one of these turn ins. Other than that Mossberg does make a fine home defense shotgun. Either the 500 or 590 will do nicely.
 
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