Home defense shotgun choice

if you are talking about home defense - there is nothing scarier than looking at the end of a double barrell pointed your way. (12 gauge). and it will knock down whatever you shoot at close range - and you still have the other barrell left.
 
I don't own any shotguns at the moment, but I have always been pleased with remingtons 870 line. When I was living at home, my father and I got into skeet shooting, and went bird hunting a few times. He picked up an 870 first, then after a while, he got a great deal on a browning pump. While the browning's overall finish was much better (the 870 was the basic gun, and the browning was top of the line), the 870 never failed to perform. It felt solid, and other than the quality of the stock and finish, they performed the same. I actually liked shooting the 870 better, because I wasn't so worried about buggering it up, being my father's guns. Would I like to have the browning? Yep, but not for home defense. For home defense, I would choose the 870, hands down. I have been trying to convince myself to pick up the 870 w/ 8 shot extention, but just think, at this moment, that it would be overkill. If a BG gets through bushes with big thorns, 2 young agile large breed dogs (70lb), and my USP 45f loaded with Cor-bon +p (military experience), then they are just determined to be stupid (I would have ran after getting stuck and barked at, let alone bitten by 2 dogs, and shot at).
 
I only have two shotguns--the Remington 12-gauge Model 870 Marine Magnum and the Mossberg 12-gauge Model 500 Mariner. While I like both shotguns, I give the edge to the 870 Marine Magnum. It is an extremely rugged shotgun. Having said that, for a home defense shotgun, either of these shotguns will more than suit your needs. The Mossberg has an aluminum receiver, and, technically, not as rugged as the steel receiver of the Model 870, but that will not affect its shooting ability. Both are completely reliable shotguns. My first choice for home defense would be a Model 870 and my second choice would be a Mossberg Mariner. The 870 will last you all of your lifetime and that of your children.
 
I have an 870, 1300, an old '69 or so Savage, 1897 repro, and a 1930s Warner SxS all with 18' barrels

Of all of them I prefer the sawed off SxS. It's small manuverable and if necessary I can one hand it like a pistol.

The 1300 is much smoother and quicker than the 870

The Savage fits me and my hand better than the 870

The Norinco is coarse as a cob and generally not suited for home defense for many reasons.

Over all, of the pumps , I prefer the Remington better balance with the extended mag tougher than nails and blacktac scary


I originally bought the used but like like and seemingly unfired 1300 for $139 with the intention of blacktac ing it but soon found that it was cheaper to buy the already semi tactical Remington used but again like new for $245 and put a few add ons later.
 
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gun that i have for the BG's... gun that 95% of the police use like stated...never had a failure...dont think i will either.

great great shotgun.

IMHO

Chad
 
Coach Gun refers to Stoeger Coach gun which is a short barreled(20inch) double barrel shotgun. It was patterned after the shotguns stagecoach riders used to carry 100 years ago. I currently own one and it is great. Check out Stoeger's website. There are also other makers too.
 
also where the term "riding shotgun" comes from...if you rode shotgun in a wagon you were the guy w/ the coach gun...hence coach shotgun...

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Chad
 
That picture looks just like my Stoeger except I added a slipover leather recoil pad. Paid $420 for mine with accessories.
 
what's a "coach gun?
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My generation called them sawed of shotguns, but apparently that term implies an illegally shortened shotgun these days. And coach gun sounds like you know what you're talking about, and makes people ask questions so you can prove it

Did you ever get your lever gun?
 
Working on the lever gun. I got a S&W 686 2" this weekend and picked up my father's 870 home defender at the same time. Looking forward to using it tomorrow, weather permitting. Tonight I got a new computer desktop so I've got to pay off the credit card before even thinking of a new gun.
 
Can't go wrong with a Winchester 1200/1300 or a Remington 870.. both are quality. I just happen to have had a Winchester passed down to me :D Shoots great, and I know it will fire every time I pull the trigger. Handles 3" 00 buckshot magnums pretty good to, came factory with a thick rubber butt pad.
 
These days the term Coach Gun actually refers to legal 18" to 20" Double Barrel Shotguns which were marketed for Cowboy Action Shooting. However there are people like me who drifted back to the older action types. I used to carry Glock pistols, so called assualt rifles, and semiauto shotguns. However life showed me the hard way that firefights are only in wartime or Hollywood. I now carry revolvers, bolt and leveraction rifles, and a double barrel shotgun aka coachgun.
 
I see where you put down your $$ for the 870, . . . it is a good choice. If you ever get a chance to shoot a Beretta police model, . . . you'll find it too is a great choice.

I prefer it to the 870 as it is more like the old Kodak commercial "Just point and shoot". ;)

It shoots 2 3/4 or 3 in shells, 7 of em, and they spew out as fast as you can do the trigger. :D

Mine came with rifle sights, and a sling. It is my "after my 1911 is empty" HD weapon, . . . and sits as we speak with 2 #4 buck followed by 2 00 buck, followed by 2 slug. All I have to do to make it go is drop one in the empty chamber, . . . push the button and she is good to go.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
I'm not sure what a 870 max is. But you can get a M3 adapter for your 870p for about 6 or 7 bucks from companies such as Sports South Inc.
 
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