Suggestions on a Shotgun for Home Defense?

D

damionkeller

New member
I'm looking for a shotgun for home defense. I thought I wanted a pistol grip until I went to my local gun store and got hands-on. Found it next to impossible to reach the release. So, casting that idea aside, what's a good option? I had a Mossberg 20 gauge as a kid and it always performed well. Still a solid brand? Any specific models?
 
Pistol grips are fine, unless you actually want to hit something.

Get that Mossberg 20 gauge with a youth stock. That's a fine home defense setup.
 
A 20 will have less..
Recoil (faster follow up shots..think mtpl targets quickly)
Blast/noise (for indoor HD use this can be a big deal)

A 20 gives up payload weight. Not as many pellets of any given size. For a HD gun that hardly matters. 6 dbl ought pellets or 9, im betting Mr. Badguy csnt tell the difference

A 20 is generally lighter and faster handeling then its 12ga brother.

Slugs are avail for the 20ga just like a 12, so IF you feel the need to be able to shoot farther then Buckshot or need to punch thru thin cover. You can have some of these handy

For a close range HD/SD shotgun there is NOTHING wrong with going 20. Especially if you have a recoil shy member of the house that may have to use the gun. My Wife hates my Bennilli and my 590's (all in 12) but loves the 20ga 500 we have:rolleyes:

As for brands.... I REALLY like Mossburgs. Top mounted safety (ambidextrous). Action bar release BEHIND the trigger guard (no reaching out in front of the trigger to pull it. Ive seen problems reacing out like that)

I dont know if they make a 590 in 20ga. If so id take that in a heartbeat. Metal parts instead of the plastic ones just make me happier. That being said the first dept i worked for had Moss 500's as patrol guns (1980's). They worked and worked and worked

Pistol grip.....id leave that for the movies. Hard to hit with em. A short length of pull stock is how i go on all my shotties

Just my 2c...
 
I recommend a 12 gauge.

MUCH easier to find buckshot.

Get a good pump action 12 gauge with an 18.5" or 20" barrel and with some way to mount a light on it. All you need.
 
A 20 will have less..
Recoil (faster follow up shots..think mtpl targets quickly)
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This is untrue when comparing a Remington 870 12 gauge to a Remington 870 20 gauge. I have both. The 20 gauge is a proportionately smaller shotgun and it actually has greater felt recoil than the 12 gauge.

There's a wide selection of 12 gauge shotshells designed specifically for use against violent criminals. Not so with 20 gauge.

Pistol grips are fine, unless you actually want to hit something.
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You simply mount it like you would a pistol in retention position (or like you would any other long gun in danger close position).
 
I recently bought an HD shotgun, went with a Mossberg 500. I got the Home/Field combo with a 28" barrel and 18.5" barrel so it can do double duty between clays/hunting and HD. If you happen to prefer a crossbolt safety you can go with a Maverick 88, which is the "budget" version of a 500. Almost identical except for a crossbolt safety instead of a tang safety, even takes Mossberg 500 barrels. I think the pump parts are slightly different too, but its not much different than the 500.
 
If you're an average or larger adult with average or better strength, then a pump 12 gauge of the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 series with an 18-20" barrel will suit you just fine. Avoid the pistol-grip only models. A regular rifle style stock or a stock WITH a pistol grip will work fine.

If you are recoil sensitive, or smaller than average, you might load it with reduced recoil ammo. Or possibly look for a youth model 20 gauge with reduced recoil ammo.

With the shotgun, practice and load it with 00 or #4 buckshot and it will handle nearly any self defense situation you will likely encounter in the home. Birdshot should NOT be used for home defense.

I think that the 12 gauge is among the best HD weapons, and also very affordable.
 
I am a fan of the 12ga. Not because I dislike the 20 ga but because I think ammo selection much favors the 12ga. I can go down to any Walmart or mom and pop gun store and have a decent selection of bird shot buck shot and slugs for the 12 ga.
 
To the OP:

Do you live in an apartment, or house?

Do you life on a large piece of property?

Is protection from wildlife a concern?
 
The one you will train with...The one that's covered with dust in the closet, isn't worth much when the fan is hit....
 
I'm going to go against the norm here and suggest a semi-automatic. I've seen too many people have trouble with pumps, short stroking them, even remembering to pump. A pump may have an edge in reliability over the automatic in the hands of someone familiar with them, but for a gun sitting in a closet that may never or rarely be used I think user error may be more of a factor than the mechanical reliability of the shotgun. For gauge I would drop to 20. As for brand if I had to recommend it, I'd go with Remington if only because its the one I'm most familiar with.
 
I have to concur with those who recommend the Mossberg 20. It's a decently built gun and has a fairly long track record.

My only gripe about the Mossberg 500 line is that they STILL use that plastic slide button for the safety which has a penchant for breaking. This has been a problem since Day 1, and they still haven't addressed the problem.
 
I'm going to go against the norm here and suggest a semi-automatic. I've seen too many people have trouble with pumps, short stroking them, even remembering to pump. A pump may have an edge in reliability over the automatic in the hands of someone familiar with them, but for a gun sitting in a closet that may never or rarely be used I think user error may be more of a factor than the mechanical reliability of the shotgun. For gauge I would drop to 20. As for brand if I had to recommend it, I'd go with Remington if only because its the one I'm most familiar with.
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40-82, I agree 100%.
I have short stroked pump shotguns (Rem 870) a couple of times (while my 1100 was flawless). Now add to that that I was bird hunting at the time and was in the upright position. Why is that important? To everyone who would say they can operate a pump almost as quickly as automatic try doing it while lying down, hiding behind furniture or one handed. Auto wins, no question about it.

20 vs. 12, both are plenty powerful for home defense. 12 was used through out the World to kill things like wild boar, moose, brown bears and, I am sure, a few lions and tigers along the way. So 20 is more than enough for what you might likely encounter trying to get into your house. I think even 28 or .410 will do the job.

And yes, the Remington just plain works for me, point better and feels better than a lot of other guns, Mossberg in particular. But that's what I grew up with so I am sure it has a lot to do with it.
 
re: the plastic slide button on the Mossberg, you can buy an aluminum one and swap them out. Not that awful expensive to do, I'm considering doing it myself.
 
I own both a 20Ga Double and a 12 Ga Pump for HD.
The 20 is very nice but it is a full size 28" bbl gun. Recoil is nothing with it!
The problem is the difficulty finding 20 Ga buckshot these days!
The 12 ga is heavire. has a chopped 19" bbl andfits me well.
12Ga Buckshot is plentifull even if you have to get GI ammop. Power is unquestionable as is durability.
Personally, I'd go with a Pawn Shop 12 Ga Pump.
ZVP
 
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