Would you choose a Model 12 for home defense?

[bushmaster1313]

If price was not a factor and you could get a Model 12 riot gun in excellent condition, would it be your preferred shotgun for home defense.

As much as I like my Model 12, I would choose the 870 or the High
Standard 18-7 as my go to gun.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have actually kept a model 12 for HD, but I gave it to my little brother when I got my 870. There is nothing at all wrong with a model 12.

 

[highorder]

My Model 12 is my HD gun.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Choose one? No.

Use one if it was all I could get? Certainly.

lpl

 

[bushmaster1313]

Lee
Why not the Model 12?

 

[blanket]

sure, why not? Would use a 97 as well...Russ

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'd use pretty much any pump action 12 gauge shotgun for HD purposes as long as I was familiar with it and trusted it's reliability and accuracy.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I'd prefer a Model 12 for HD, especially a nice, well worn, slick as butter ex-LEO gun.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Why not a Model 12?

Because I'm "programmed" for an 870, that's all. There's nothing wrong with a good Model 12, I carried a Model 12 Riot on the street for a while once upon a time, in the dim dark past. But what I'm accustomed to is an 870.

Use what you're best with...

lpl

 

[451 Detonics]

If I were to use a pump (I'm a semi-auto guy) my choices in order of preference would be:

1 - Model 12 riot
2 - Ithica 37
3 - Model 97
4 - 870

There can be little doubt the Model 12 is one of the smoothest action pumps out there. The ability to trombone the action is a plus...I have seen guys who have practice enough it sounded like they were shooting an 1100, and they hit what they were aiming at as well.

 

[bushmaster1313]

To me the model 12 seems a bit bulky and slow to point

 

[Axel Larson]

A model 12 seems just as fast to point as an 870 to me but than again that is just a personal opinion.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

At this point in my life I have been using a Mossberg 500/590 for over 20 years. I'm not inclinced to try anything else due to the muscle memory of the firearm. If 20 years ago I had chosen the Win Model 12 or the Rem 870 I'd stick with those platforms as well. They are all good. I'm a big fan of just trying to keep to one design type for the home defense weapons. It doesn't mean I don't own others or know how to use them. However, should I ever be in a situation where my life is on the line I don't want to have to think about where the controls are located. For rifles I like the mini-14/M1A platforms. For pistols I prefer something that doesn't have a manual safety I need to flip (in my mind Sigs, Glocks, XDs fall into the same category).

 

[klutchless]

No way they are to hard to find .I'll stick with my mossberg that way if I have to use it and lose it I can replace it.

 

[Woodyard]

Why not? I sometimes hunt ducks with an older gentlemen who was a Korean War Marine and used an M12 to guard against infiltrators at forward air bases. He likes em.

 

[foghornl]

If a Model 12 was what I had in my hands when the "Vigoro strikes the Mixmaster", sure I would run it as long as I could.

I would prefer to use the Maverick 88, because that is my HomeLand Security shotgun...what I am most comfortable in using.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I use a 1100 for HD but before that I used an 870 and thats what I like. I don't like Mossbergs though, they feel cheap to me.

 

[tominct]

An acquaintance owned an old Model 12, 16 ga., picked up on a whim from the used rack at the local shop. That thing was as slick as ice on glass, there was hardly any finish left on it, it had obviously been well-used and hunted a lot.
One like that I'd definitely use for SD. BTW, it also didn't have a disconnector, so you could hold the trigger back and slam-fire it.
Good times, great shotgun.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Heck,yes....

 

[CSA 357]

the mod 12 is my bed side gun! i have two one is a 24 inch the other is a 30 inch full choke, holds 7 shells and i have hunted and shot the mod 12 for years i have other shot guns but the mod 12 is the one i trust!

 

[benzy2]

I think it depends on what you mean and what the shotgun means to you.

There is no reason it won't do perfectly well at the role. The only thing to consider is that the model 12 is more limited now and if you own one that you wouldn't be willing to lose after a HD incident then I wouldn't pick it. From a functionality point its great at that role. Considering it may be dad's/grandpa's shotgun that has personal value, I may consider picking up another relatively inexpensive shotgun that could be beaten and abused without much worry.