So where are all the home defense shotguns?

Many of the SD shotguns bought and are now in homes. There's been a tremendous run on handguns and SD type firearms in general, I can't quote you the numbers, but its staggering. As certain areas in the country spun into chaos due to social unpleasantness/riot, many folks (rightly) decided they needed a firearm.

Fair weather rioters. Now that it's winter, notice all that craziness, for the most part, has stopped. Hard to riot......comfortably.....below freezing and a foot of snow on the ground.
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We noted most of the unrest stopped after the election...

Draw your own conclusions.
 
Remember Remington is currently out of business. Mossberg has to take up the slack but can't. Winchester guns come from Turkey. I'd look for a used shotgun or a home grown Ithaca 37 or a Browning BPS and go from there. I would not pay $1000 for a mossberg pump or an 870 express. Sorry, not worth the cost. Great guns but not at that price point. Ithacas are ALL STEEL. A standard mossberg holds 5+1 with the plug out.

https://www.alloutdoor.com/2016/02/25/ithaca-m37-riot-shotgun-rides/
 
Never understood why people will not pay for quality and just get something cheap. If my life might be in danger, I would want to know that something I paid for is going to work and not break down.
 
Take a look online for used home defense shotguns like the Beretta 1201FP. I saw a NIB one for sale last year for $650. Most of these shotguns have very low round counts. Also, have seen a batch of police trade-ins within the last year that were for sale in the $400-$500 range. They are very good home defense shotguns.

https://auctionarmory.com/shop/sales-daily-deals/shotgun-beretta-1201fp-12-gauge-police-trade-in-semi-auto-shotgun-with-pistol-grip-stock-and-rifle-sights-449-99-free-shipping/
 
Pawn shops have worked for me. I never offer full price, worst you will hear is "no". Good luck and Happy New Year.
 
To cut a shotgun barrel: Measure and mark with the bolt closed.
Use a hacksaw or sawsall with fine tooth blades. Then a fine rat tail file for cleanup.
 
FAS1 said:
Take a look online for used home defense shotguns like the Beretta 1201FP. I saw a NIB one for sale last year for $650. Most of these shotguns have very low round counts. Also, have seen a batch of police trade-ins within the last year that were for sale in the $400-$500 range. They are very good home defense shotguns.

https://auctionarmory.com/shop/sales-daily-deals/shotgun-beretta-1201fp-12-gauge-police-trade-in-semi-auto-shotgun-with-pistol-grip-stock-and-rifle-sights-449-99-free-shipping/
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I hear ya, lovely shotguns indeed. Very reliable and few parts. While I do not own one I have shot them many times. I do own the Field model which I am going to send off to have the Barrel cut down. While I do own a number of Beretta's, Benilli's and a few Mossberg, the 1200 remains a favorite.
 
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GB does have quite a few 18 inch single shot shotguns made in Turkey. I bought one for $100 that is quite functional. Easy to reload but probably not a long term solution. I did blow the bead off it shooting slugs however. Lol
 
I can't help but wonder if we aren't seeing a similar phenomenon with "tactical" shotguns that we saw with DA revolvers about 15-20 years ago. The price of shotguns, particularly pump-action shotguns, may have been artificially depressed for many years due to the glut of them on the used market (similar to the glut of police-trade-in revolvers in the 90's and early 2000's). However, with more police departments moving to AR-style carbines rather than shotguns and the private market becoming more interested in "tactical" firearms rather than those for hunting (a traditionally strong market for shotguns) the supply of cheap used pump shotguns is drying up. In my area at least, the days of the $100 used Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 are largely a thing of the past. For the past few years the only sub $300 shotguns to be found in my area were budget brands like H&R Pardner Pumps, Escort, RIA, and occasionally Maverick 88's (though the Mavericks were chronically out-of-stock in my area). I suspect that the "peaceful protests" of the past year exacerbated this as the perennial cliché gun shop counter advice for a new gun owner's first home defense gun is a shotgun.
 
Carl the Floor Walker said:
I hear ya, lovely shotguns indeed. Very reliable and few parts. While I do not own one I have shot them many times. I do own the Field model which I am going to send off to have the Barrel cut down. While I do own a number of Beretta's, Benilli's and a few Mossberg, the 1200 remains a favorite.
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FYI, Gun-Test just did a review of a few shotguns and actually added the Beretta 1201FP and a very good buy if you can find one. And noted the excellent Reliability and few moving parts and easy to clean which is how I have felt about the 1200 which I own for years. And a bonus to some (maybe not so for others) is he light weight.
 
I went on a road trip last Feb and saw a lot of sub $200 shotguns on pawn brokers racks. I think shotguns are just a good old stand by for newbies looking for an effective self defense gun and they have been scooped up making them scarce. I don't think this is a permanent situation unless politics makes it so.
 
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