Question regarding home defense shotgun choice?

R

raven84

Inactive
I've decided to get a pump action shotgun for home defense, to compliment my pistols, and I've narrowed it down to 2 choices for cost:

Remington 870 Police trade-in from Bud's Gun Shop for 329

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/910/products_id/411542030

Or

Mossberg 590A1 NIB from Buds for 394

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_871/products_id/55292

Both are lower than my area FFL dealers.

I'll also explain my reasoning behind each, but any suggestions are appreciated.

In favor of the Remington 870 Police

-Speed feed stock already on and ready.
-Lower out of pocket cost, and an awesome price for it.
-Steel receiver

In favor of the Mossberg 590A1

-Milspec
-Two Extractors
-Position of Shell Lifter
-Safety Position
-Parkerized Finish (Personal preference on finish)
-Warranty

I know that people have opinions regarding the current 870 Express shotguns and quality issues, and people have issues with the plastic parts on the Mossberg 500, so I avoided both of those...as well as the 200 dollar chinese 870 knockoff.

Any key issues I'm missing on the Police 870 and the Mossberg 590A1? Intended load is either #4 birdshot or #6 rabbit shot, worried about overpenetration with 00 Buckshot (apartment complex).
 
Get the one that feels best. Both excellent choices.

As for loads, bird shot will do if close enough. So will buck.

But close enough for bird shot is measured in feet, buck shot in yards.

00 rarely overpenetrates when applied center mass. It's our part to make that happen.
 
Raven84, if you like the Mil-Spec Mossberg, have you checked check out their Item 50660 ($521 msrp, $384 at Buds) it seems to offer a lot more bang for the buck than the 590A1 (Item 51411). Do yourself a favor and take a minute to make a comparison.



Edit:
Opps, the gun has just been re-described by Bud's, originally is was listed as parkerized; but, it seems the gun is actually matte blue. When it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Sorry for any confusion.

It should be noted that the owners, who didn't have their hearts set on a parkerized finish, rated this gun 5 out of 5 starts.
 
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One other brand for you to think about in that price range is the Browning BPS 'Tactical'. They can be hard to find, but are well worth the money. They are all steel, bottom feed/eject, composite stock, top tang safety and dual action bars. The main drawback to one is there is a lack of tacticool stuff for it. I bought mine in Dec of last year for $329.00.
 
Just read through the used Rem 870 Police reviews, apparently they are also parkerized, which I did not know. So that reduces one issue.
 
If you do a search here, you will find a bazillion threads discussing the pros and cons of both Remington and Mossberg..............it basically is a Ford vs. Chevy debate, so get the one you like the best
 
Having used both Remingtons and Mossbergs in the past, I think that both are good function shotguns. Personally, I'd probably opt for the Remington because it's less expensive.
 
Any bottom feed/eject will be less efficient as a defense gun, if you have to reload. Emptying the gun will work as well as a side eject, but the reloading process without direct access to the chamber is more cumbersome.

The Remington is very easy to get critical spare parts for, and they generally are drop-ins with no fitting needed.
You can get trigger groups, bolt assemblies, firing pins, extractors & such from either Remington or Brownells & install them yourself.

No experience with the Mossbergs, can't say the same.
Denis
 
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