reliable shotgun? home defense

B

bfskinnerpunk

New member
I'm only now getting around to arming myself... been planning on doing it for years.

Recently, I bought a Glock 19.
Very reliable, very, VERY common, cheap parts, high capacity, easy to break down and clean... there are slicker guns, but none have all of those features combined as a far as I can tell.
[My favorite polymer handgun was the SigPro 2022, but again... not many own this gun)

Also, I took the concealed carry course a few days ago and am waiting for the actual license in the mail.

Now, for home defense shotguns:

What is the "glock" of shotguns? I know almost nothing about shotguns.

Again, I'd like a shot gun that is very reliable, simple to operate, simple to break down and clean, easy to get parts, and common.

I'd like to keep the price around the $300 range.

I'm thinking 18" barrel, but not so sure if I want pistol grip, folding stock, or traditional stock.

I'm assuming 12gauge is the way to go.

Side Note: Do all Remington 870s have the same "guts", or are there important reasons for the wide range of prices.

Alright... looking forward to any input on this at all!
BF
 
Mossberg and remington are the standards upon which all "cheap guns" strive to achieve.
For me I settled, in early life, on the Mossbergs. I prefer the top of tang safety button and slide release location.

I have never had a mechanical failure of any type and so long as I cycle the action properly I have never had a feed failure of any type.

Yes a 12 gauge is the better choice if 00 buck is your choice of ammo. A 20 suffers reduced ammo selection.
Brent
 
What is the "glock" of shotguns?
Click to expand...

IDK what that means exactly, but I can't wait to find out myself.:D

Again, I'd like a shot gun that is very reliable, simple to operate, simple to break down and clean, easy to get parts, and common.

I'd like to keep the price around the $300 range.

I'm thinking 18" barrel, but not so sure if I want pistol grip, folding stock, or traditional stock.

I'm assuming 12gauge is the way to go.
Click to expand...

I recommend a Mossberg for the reasons you gave. You can find ones brand new that would meet all these requirements. I'd recommend a traditional stock for the most accuracy, precision, and recoil control. I think the 12 gauge 18" barrel is a good choice.
 
Hogdogs wrote:

I prefer the top of tang safety button
Click to expand...

I didn't understand why this might be better until recently when I used one..."Hey, that's cool I can see whether the safety is on or not while I'm aiming it"

With my remington I still have to turn it sideways to look, I can never remember which side is safe.:D
 
I can never remember which side is safe
Click to expand...
And even more important at 3AM with the boogy man in yer house:eek:.
I have always been taught "right is right" but is that for fire or safe and does it mean push to right or push with right?:rolleyes:
And on a mossberg, don't even look at the safety... gap at bottom of button = HOT. Gap at top of button is safe...
Or my little memory thing is "I push the button in the direction of where the hot stuff comes out."
Brent
 
The one downside to the Mossberg safety is that if you have a pistol grip, the safety is almost inaccessible. I personally leave mine hot without a round in the chamber.
 
Yes the PGO makes everything harder to deal with. But even then, I just "Roll" my hand upwards a tad.
PGO is for fun. PG AR type stocks are fine for some but I find I have more mobility and more usable shooting positions with a regular ol' fashioned stock.
Brent
 
The mossberg Maverick 88 security line of shotguns are hard to beat. I picked up my 20" barreled 7+1 Mav 88 last year and just cant say enough how reliable and high quality it is for $198 NIB!

Also, get a real stock for your shotty. At HD ranges (less than 30') buck shot form even a cyl choke barrel does not spread that much...so you still need to aim! Aiming and hitting with a PGO shotgun takes LOTS AND LOTS of practice. Shouldering and aiming a shotgun with a stock is much more natural, thus easier for most people.
 
Yes the PGO makes everything harder to deal with. But even then, I just "Roll" my hand upwards a tad.
PGO is for fun. PG AR type stocks are fine for some but I find I have more mobility and more usable shooting positions with a regular ol' fashioned stock.

It's a tossup - Mossberg, Remington, or Ithaca. The best is to handle and choose what seems to work best for you, and something like the safety is a signicant factor. What you DON'T want is to add anything that will make it harder to operate under the stress of an adrenaline dump, in a dark house.

Pistol grips are an assault rifle modification that few hunting shotguns use - precisely because they do make things more difficult. Handling is impaired overall, even for AR's, as the hand has to switch from grip to small of stock to grip on a drop and roll. IMHO the straight line bolt travel has more to do with the use of a pistol grip, something started by the Stg44.

Slings aren't necessary and impede shouldering the weapon to fire - I've never seen anyone on a range shooting clays prefer one. If a shotgun is for home defense, it stays home and doesn't see much mileage tramping the woods for deer. If that is a alternate use - take off the sling the rest of the year.

Sidesaddles and mag extensions make the weapon much heavier - and aren't always justified. Most home defenders fire less than three rounds according to the DOJ. Removing the mag filler should do.

Home defense ranges are in feet, not yards, and if you need to reach out further, slugs will do it. For multipurpose practicality, a 20" smoothbore in cylinder gets the job done. Finding a good used reliable gun and shortening the barrel is about that's needed to really fill the job.

Stock? Adjustables are for those who may or may not have body armor - civilians really have no need for it. A simple wood stock, possibly youth sized is good enough for all who may need it. Length of pull is important for other family members, and a great help when training them as the time comes.

Ammo is a subject of a lot of discussion. With shotguns, there's lots left on the shelf. Magnum loads are unnecessary as the higher cost only comes with a small increase in payload at less than 20 feet, but a lot more discomfort which can impede the shooter deciding to pull the trigger. It's not the time to let that be a factor. Practice and use the most comfortable loads, and skills will improve much faster than punishing everyone with a shorter range time at a higher cost. Programming the software is far more important than another 1/8 oz at 50fps.

About the only major difficulty is being able to ID the target. I have no problem with those who would attach a modest intermittent switched white light. I've yet to see much better than a AA Maglite on a tape switch. High output lumen lights can be more hazard than help if they blind the operator as much at the assailant, and constant on only lets them know where you are. The homeowner has the advantage here - they know their house - and don't need much light.

Be careful reading too much into advertiser's claims, or in shotguns altered to perform the assault rifle mode with attachments that actually reduce their effectiveness. Follow the KISS principle, train, and things will be far more effective than the fantasy warlord shooters marketed to the public.
 
Glock of shotguns? Sounds like it.

Cheap, reliable, common

Not sure why it's hard to "get" what I'm getting at...:confused:

BF

______________________________
"The churches have no confidence in each other. Why? Because they are acquainted with each other." Ingersol
 
Well you have a Glock and obviously have fired it.

The Glock is an outstanding pistol and no doubt will prove itself reliable as you prove it by getting familiar with it.

I have two field guns that would be just fine for home defense but I also

have an older Steven's "Westpoint" model 167H that is cut down to 20 " and reworked by me and is my main HD shotgun.

No bells or whistles, just straight up BOOHYA!

That old gun has been there and done that and I won't cry if the law takes

the gun, which they certainly will if I use it to stop a goblin meaning

me grievious harm.

Some have given you good choices and I agree with them whole hog.

The main objective with any shotgun old or new, is to PROVE the gun and make sure it will shoot everytime.

I would find one that fits and get some trigger time with it to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it will go boom when it has to go boom.

NEF makes a Pardner Protector that is real nice and that is just a suggestion.

For the money, it's hard to beat.

Pawnshops are loaded with good candidates of all makes and you will have to dicker with prices but chances are you can score a good deal if you look.
 
+1 to everything that tirod and hogdogs said. Pistol grip only (PGO) stocks are for looking cool in the movies and not for hitting anything. Stay with a plain stock and stick a Limbsaver on it if you're recoil shy.

Mossberg, Remington, and Ithaca are all good shotguns so pick the one that fits you and your budget. More than likely the one that will fall into your budget is the Mossberg 500. A step up is the 590, the Ithaca, and the Remington 870, but there is nothing wrong with the 500.

At home defense ranges you have to aim a shotgun just like a rifle so learn to use it. Invest in a defensive shotgun class.
 
Not sure why it's hard to "get" what I'm getting at...
Click to expand...

I get your meaning BF and it makes sense, I just thought it kinda humorous to call a Mossberg the "Glock of Shotguns". Sort of reminded me of the old Miller Beer jingle "Miller, the champagne of beers" :D
 
After months of research, it came down to the 500 or 870...I opted for the 12ga Mossberg 500 for the reasons stated in previous posts plus the shell elevator doesn't get in the way when loading as it does with the 870.
BTW, I wouldn't carry a Glock for fear of shooting myself in the foot...A wheelgun is the only way to go for civilian SD (i.e. reliable shot placement vs. spraying the place with lead).
 
mportant to differentiate between PG and PGO.

PGO has no butt stock, only the pistol grip. Pretty general consensus this setup doe not work well.

PG has the normal butt-stock plus the pistol grip. Many like this stock type. I do not like the PG that hangs down, but I do prefer the one that is formed into the stock as opposed to the straight english stock type(I believe that is what it is called).

500 Persuader in Marinecote is an amazingly intuitive and simple shotgun to operate and maintain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top