[Steve24/7]

So I'm looking at buying a shotgun to enhance my home defense situation. My mind immediatlely goes to a 12ga, pump action, 18 inch barrel. Any advice for a home defense shotgun is welcome. My price range limits me a lot, under 400(300 would be ideal) I've seen for that price range the remington 870express and a charles daly model. Advice on guage, barrel length, action, brand, etc.

 

[muttmutt]

I have a Remington 870 tactical 18" 12 guage and really like it. It is not the most fun to shoot due to the recoil.

I have a good friend with a Norinco 98 he got new for $200.00. It is a copy of the Remington and I have shot the gun. I do not think there is any difference in the two. If I knew about the Norinco, I would have purchased that gun over the 870.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

Mossberg makes good quality shotguns as well at an affordable price. You may want to check into them if you're so inclined. ;D


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=91775545

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=91806951

 

[NYPD]

Got my Mossberg 500 Cruiser with door-breacher for under $250. For home defense there's only 2 choices in 12-gauge shotties IMO:

Mossberg 500 or 590 series
Remington 870

 

[Steve24/7]

I forgot to mention the Mossberg 500, and the norinco, definately options. As well, I may look for used shotguns but I do not know what to look for as far as defects. BTW this forum is great, not only do I get advice on my taurus handgun, I can get quick advice on other firearms.

I know that 12guage recoil is quite a mother, anyone here recommend a 20guage for home defense?? From what I can tell you get 75% the shot with half the recoil. Or is the 12 guage far superior?

Also, from what I've read, for home defense a 2 3/4" #1 buckshot is the best balance for home defense. Any differing opinions?

 

[NYPD]

Tried and true: 12-gauge, pump-action, 18-20" barrel, "00" buckshot in a 2 3/4"
shell from any American manufacturer.

This is just my opinion. (I'm sure lots of others feel the same way)

BTW---Remington, Winchester, and Federal make 12-gauge reduced recoil loads

 

[sagebrushjim]

Can't go wrong with a Mossberg ...

 

[Steve24/7]

grrrrrrr............Just Looking at the shotguns makes me drool. I personally love the 12 ga. destruction. recoil is brutal but so is the damage to the target!!!! OK Now, mossberg 500 and remington 870, as well as the norinco copy.
1.Any input on the Charles Daly?????
2.How about what to look for in a used shotgun????
3.Anyone like the autoloaders????
4.00 buskshot vs. #1 ?????

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

I like my Mossberg 590. With 8 shells of 00 Buck in the tube.

 

[alfsauve]

I vote for the Mossberg as well. For some reason, and I think it's just the way I handle it, the Rem 870 tends to jam when I operate it. I think I cycle it too quickly.

 

[BigBadBull]

I recently picked up a New England Firearms (AKA H&R 1871) 12 gauge and got one hell of a deal on it, about a third of the cost of a 870, and it is a direct knock off of the 870.

http://www.hr1871.com/

 

[rainman]

You didn't metion what your price range was or if you prefered new vs used. If new, I echo what others have said. the Norino 981 or 982 are available for around $200 NIB. Charles Daly is good but it is difficult to find tactical stocks if you want. Give the Maverick 88 a look. Sold by Mossberg and shares many interchangable parts with the 500. Other less exspensive guns are the Escort and the New England/H&R Pardner.

 

[Steelheart]

I'd look at either a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500/590. I think that the main differences are the location of some controls (safety as well as slide release) and the shape of the stock. When I was originally looking at shotguns it was the stock shape that made the slight difference.

Something to keep in mind is that it is easy to upgrade the magazine capacity on the Remington but you're pretty much stuck with what you buy with a Mossberg so get the large capacity mag if you go that route (I did).

A side note on this, the Mossberg M590 holds 1 more round than the M500 with equal length barrels, don't ask me why. The M590 also has a metal safety (vs the M500's plastic one) as well as some other metal vs plastic parts. Oh, you can also get a M590 with ghost ring sights instead of the standard bead sight. Yes, there are times I wish I'd gotten a M590 but I wanted a shotgun right then so...

The 18" barrel is the legal minimum but many shotguns seem to have a 20" barrel as you can get a little more magazine under them.

I'm not sure on the Remington but the stock recoil pad on my M500 was simply a chuck of rubber that had minimal to no compression abilities. A Pachmayr recoil pad fixed that. ;D

I'd suggest handling the basic models as your local gun shop but here's a link to a online place that has some fairly good prices on used Mossbergs. http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/ri...9_302?osCsid=60dd0afedee0f64aa95148af570d1f1a

The various reduced recoil loads (aka tactical loads) are much easier to handle. I've tested an assortment and they are my primary defensive loads for 12ga. The Remingtion 00 Buck 8 pellet one feels just like cheap birdshot when fired. Based on what I've heard and read I have no reservations using or recommending the reduced recoil loads for defense.

I wouldn't mess with anything other than 00 Buck (well I'd consider 000) as there's a reason that it became the standard 12ga load over decades of law enforcement use. And with full power 3" loads, full power 2.75 loads as well as the reduced recoil 2.75" stuff there's a bit of choices out there as well.

Oh, something to stick in the back of your head. Aquila is/was making some shorter shotguns shells (called mini-shells) that look interesting until you read up on them and find that they only work in a couple of brands of gun due to the feed mechanism differences. And I don't think that Rem/Moss were on the short list.

Steelheart

 

[Ace]

the only thing I am going to add to what the other people said is that you need to test drive the actions on any pump gun you are going to buy. For me the Remington 870 action is the smoothest for a pump action shotgun, and if you are depending on it for defense, you should look for a relatively smooth action, the reason being is if you need a follow up shot, the less you have to work the slide the quicker you can get it off and the more your muzzle will stay on target. Mossberg for some reason tends to resist more in the action, While they work (that's what I own) it could use some help to smooth out the action. If I had a chance to do it over again I would go with a Remington just for that purpose. Now if an American company would just put out a faithful copy of the Ithaca riot gun I would be happy. They have a good action and the empties eject to the bottom. All the originals I find at the shows however, just take 2 3/4 shells, not 3 inch, which I view is a must for some situations.

 

[45 Forever]

MY mossberg and back up

 

[Steve24/7]

Thanks to all for the advice. I'm gonna go to the local gun shops and try a few guns on to see if they fit. I'll let you all know how I did after I make the purchase.

 

[thunderjohn]

Here's my recommendation.

http://hunterinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12233

 

[FiddleDog]

I'm a huge fan of the NEF Pardner Pump Protector 12. 18.5" barrel. built like a tank. No frills, but a good looking solid shot gun. It kicks pretty hard, but nothing you wouldn't be able to handle if you were ready for it. the 20 may be a little better for choke options. I've got it set with 3 shells of Turkey followed by 2 Sluggers. I sleep pretty well at night.

 

[45 Forever]

I use a limbsaver recoil pad . I've had shoulder surgery and it makes it easy to shoot they are worth the money about $30.00
http://www.limbsaver.com/

 

[NativeTexan]

I guess I'm different....