Newbie With Some Questions

R

rb4browns

New member
Hi Everyone

Apologies if these questions have been answered, but I m looking for some advice. For some background, I am brand new to shotguns. I am going to a local range next week and I am going to take an introductory course on gun safety and shooting. After that I am 99% I want to purchase a shotgun as opposed to a handgun. The primary reason I am buying a gun is home safety. I live in L.A. and there was yet another shooting down the block from me the other night. At this point I really have no interest in sport shooting or hunting, just too many hobbies already and not enough time....

So, here are some questions and thanks in advance to those who respond!

1. For my price range ($500-$600) what shotguns would you suggest. SO far the one that comes up from friends is the Mossberg 590 w/ghost ring sites.

2. What are some key things I should look for in shopping? I'm a guy who stands 5'6 and I am 155lbs.

3. What mistakes did u make in buying your first gun that I should avoid?

4. What should I look for in choosing a reputable dealer?

5. If given the choice would you buy a shotgun over a handgun for home safety? I really only see one benefit of the handgun, and that is quicker/easier access since it is a smaller gun obviously.

Ok thank you again for any advice you can give!

RB
 
I'd say go for a remington 870 police, or really any other short barreled model. Also, for even less money while maintaining the same amount of reliability, the mossberg 500a "persuader" or 590. Ghost rings aren't really necessary because the distances involved in a home defence situation are VERY short, so point shooting will work well, and you probably won't have the time to get a nice sight picture anyway.

If you REALLY want the tacti-cool 590 w/ ghost rings and heat shield, go for it, but who says you have to spend ALL of your buget? You'd be better off with a plain jane short pump-action 12ga. and using some of the extra cash to go to the range a couple times and familiarizing yourself with the firearm by firing it some before you put it away for a worst case scenario.

As far as a home defense weapon, the shotgun is king, period. If you're at home you don't need to go clearing rooms, just hunkering down and holding the fort, so a lightweight, extremely mobile gun is not as nice as one that is very, very powerful and reliable.

Uhm, an important part of buying a shotgun is fit. Just shoulder the gun at the store and make sure it feels right, since this is going to be primarily a home defense gun, fit isn't extremely important, but you will want the controls (i.e. slide unlock, and safety) to be easy to use for you.
As far as a dealer, try to buy from a chain if you can (i'm not sure about L.A., but here in OK they have Academy sports, and sports authority). These places won't rip you off, if you go to a gunshop, check the prices and if they seem high, you can always ask us what the gun should cost.

Hope this helps and good luck to you,
-rugerdude
 
practice!!!

Take the time to get to know your shotgun and what it will do spend time at the range. When the SHTF you need to know your HD weapon without thinking about it.

+1 on the Remington 870 short barrel or the Mossberg 500 both are great HD weapons.

Figure the farthest distance you can shoot inside your house and see what your new shotgun patterns at that distance so that you know when you need it what it will do.
 
Newbie

Yes shotguns rule. Go to Walmart and get a Mossberg maverick or 500. They are made in Texas. Either one would be fine. That and some 00 your set. Rifled barrels are better. Short ones are not the preference in say a duck blind, so get in an between length. A limbsaver pad takes the recoil out. Remember gun safety.
 
rifled barrels

Why would he want a rifled barrel for a home defense shotgun? Aren't those designed for use with slugs? Don't get me wrong, a slug would be a pretty potent defense round, but I'd be quite concerned with overpenetration (i.e. through the bg and into a neighbor's house).
 
Since the only considered use for this gun will be HD, then a smoothbore is the better barrel. Rifled barrels are excellent for big-game hunting, but that's about it. Shorter is generally better for HD, too.
Aren't those designed for use with slugs?
Click to expand...
Rifled barrels are designed for sabot slugs, and nothing else. Other types of shot can be fired through them, but standard rifled slugs will often be less accurate, and birdshot or buckshot forms a supersized donut pattern.

Just about any of the HD models from Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, or Winchester will fit your bill.
 
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I just picked up a Remington Marine Magnum that was in your price range (new). This thing becomes even more of a work of art when you break it completely down. The nickel finish seems indestructable! Many internal parts are also coated with the nickel finish for added corrosion resistance.

After my initial cleaning, I was impressed on how easy this shotgun cleans up. The action also seems smoother then my Wingmaster.

I would check one out to see how it fits.
 
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