Home defense 870 - 5 rounds vs. 7 rounds
- Thread starter 70extreme
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hardworker
New member
5 shots ought to be enough for one break in
NightSleeper
New member
Extended mag. It really doesn't add much weight and you have extra shells to unleash on a BG.
oneounceload
Moderator
It can enough extra weight at the end of the barrel to affect swing dynamics - try it before you buy it to see if you like that or not
Technosavant
New member
My 870 Tactical holds 6 2.75" shells in the magazine.
I figure that any remotely realistic home defense scenario (the most realistic home scenario is a night of nothing on TV before turning in for an uneventful night's sleep) is maybe two or three assailants. In those circumstances, no more than a couple rounds are fired before the intruders turn tail and run. If you can't get it done with five rounds, you aren't likely to do much better with seven. If you like the handling of the five round mag, stick with that- better to hit with a few than miss with many.
I figure that any remotely realistic home defense scenario (the most realistic home scenario is a night of nothing on TV before turning in for an uneventful night's sleep) is maybe two or three assailants. In those circumstances, no more than a couple rounds are fired before the intruders turn tail and run. If you can't get it done with five rounds, you aren't likely to do much better with seven. If you like the handling of the five round mag, stick with that- better to hit with a few than miss with many.
silvercorvette
New member
Even though I have a short barrel 870 (18 1/2 inches) the tube magazine runs the full length of the barrel so I can fit six 2 3/4 shells in the tube
My folding stock holds 3 rounds, plus the the sling holds 15, and tube holds 6 but I prefer keeping the chamber empty. I seriously doubt there will ever be a need for the 15 I carry in the sling but I never heard anyone complain they had too many rounds that they didn't need left over after the fight ended. The nice thing about pumps is you can feed more rounds into the tube if you need to and have the time, or if you are empty you can load one at a time through the ejection port
My folding stock holds 3 rounds, plus the the sling holds 15, and tube holds 6 but I prefer keeping the chamber empty. I seriously doubt there will ever be a need for the 15 I carry in the sling but I never heard anyone complain they had too many rounds that they didn't need left over after the fight ended. The nice thing about pumps is you can feed more rounds into the tube if you need to and have the time, or if you are empty you can load one at a time through the ejection port
Dr MoonUnit
New member
You just answered your own question. Is that intruder going to run like hell after that first round of 12 gauge? I'd be willing to bet my paycheck on it but not my life. And who's to say it's only one intruder? There is a possibility of regret for not going with the two extra rounds but I doubt you'd regret having them.
riggins_83
New member
When it comes to HD, especially since there's a chance I could get caught in a room with just one way in and out (such as the bedroom) I'll take the highest capacity possible any day.
Bedroom's on the second floor so leaving via the window isn't a very good option.
Bedroom's on the second floor so leaving via the window isn't a very good option.
7 rounds
Back in October I made this same choice.
I choose the Maverick Model 88 Pump with the 7 round mag.
I liked the look of the magazine,and barrel being the same length.
I am very glad that I did. What I did not know at the time.
They are only 5, or 7 shot with 2 3/4 shells.
With 3 inch magnum shotshells it is not a 7 shot magazine any more.
If you get the 5 shot magazine,and want to use a 3 " shell.
Then it becomes a 4 shot mag.
Put several in it and it becomes a 3 shot mag.
.
Back in October I made this same choice.
I choose the Maverick Model 88 Pump with the 7 round mag.
I liked the look of the magazine,and barrel being the same length.
I am very glad that I did. What I did not know at the time.
They are only 5, or 7 shot with 2 3/4 shells.
With 3 inch magnum shotshells it is not a 7 shot magazine any more.
If you get the 5 shot magazine,and want to use a 3 " shell.
Then it becomes a 4 shot mag.
Put several in it and it becomes a 3 shot mag.
.
Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
In considering ammo needs, you also need to consider:
1. How fast do I shoot?
2. How long will it take the target to react to my first shot?
We had a more in-depth discussion of this in Tactics in regards to handguns
in this thread; but I would say the same ideas apply to shotguns too.
My HD 870 has a 6 round magazine, backup has a 7. Both are loaded one round under. The extension on the shorter one adds 7 oz at the muzzle, before the 6 oz or so for two shells. That's a full pound of weight right where it counts.
Nice for recoil control(What kick?) but ti's slower.
I also use another 870 for defense, a more traditional model with a 21" turkey barrel, no extension.
While I'm a big lout, strong for my age, and well trained, the last 870 mentioned is faster than a rattlesnake in my hands.. That's something to consider. The others I can handle, from practice and training, but the 4 round shotgun is faster.
HD crises are not going to use as much ammo as the Battle for Hue. If 4 rounds will not handle the situation, more are not likely to either.
How many of us have other adults who may need to use the shotgun at a terribly crucial time and lack the upper body strength to use a 9 lb, muzzle heavy weapon?
Everyone should very carefuly evaluate whether or not the extensions are right for them.....
Nice for recoil control(What kick?) but ti's slower.
I also use another 870 for defense, a more traditional model with a 21" turkey barrel, no extension.
While I'm a big lout, strong for my age, and well trained, the last 870 mentioned is faster than a rattlesnake in my hands.. That's something to consider. The others I can handle, from practice and training, but the 4 round shotgun is faster.
HD crises are not going to use as much ammo as the Battle for Hue. If 4 rounds will not handle the situation, more are not likely to either.
How many of us have other adults who may need to use the shotgun at a terribly crucial time and lack the upper body strength to use a 9 lb, muzzle heavy weapon?
Everyone should very carefuly evaluate whether or not the extensions are right for them.....
cerberus65
New member
I have the mag tube extension for my 870 but it has been sitting in a box. I sometimes swap the short barrel off for a 28" VR barrel and carry it into the field. I think I must have gotten tired of messing with the extension.
So my 870 has 4 shells in it. I don't keep one in the chamber. If I happen to run out I've got a couple of 1911s right there too. In fact I'm probably more likely to grab a 1911 first and use the 870 in case lots more firepower is required.
So my 870 has 4 shells in it. I don't keep one in the chamber. If I happen to run out I've got a couple of 1911s right there too. In fact I'm probably more likely to grab a 1911 first and use the 870 in case lots more firepower is required.
I used to have a 21" 870 turkey gun with a 3 round extention for duel purpose HD/hunting I always felt it was real heavy so when I got another shotgun for hunting I got a much lighter better handeling gun. Since my 870 got regulated to HD only, I decided to trade it off for a different kind of duel purpose gun. Now my cowboy action shotgun (TTN 1897) does the double duty I lost 2 rounds and got a much lighter better handeling gun and couldn't be happier.
BTW in the time between getting rid of my 870 and testing the 1897 winchester copy I had my 1887 Colt copy SBS do home defense duty 2 rounds in the gun and 4 on the butt cuff. good lord it's a wonder I got any sleep like that.LOL
BTW in the time between getting rid of my 870 and testing the 1897 winchester copy I had my 1887 Colt copy SBS do home defense duty 2 rounds in the gun and 4 on the butt cuff. good lord it's a wonder I got any sleep like that.LOL
I just use my Winchester 1300 with a deer barrel. It is short, has a good site and will shoot straight as it has killed a lot of deer. 5 shots is good, never felt undergunned while deer hunting. I would really hate to shoot someone with it tho. Last deer bled all over the place, made a huge mess, I could only imagine the mess a human would make at 10 feet or so.
Better him than I
Better him than I