Security Shotgun

[Sumo99]

If you want a pistol grip on your shot gun, then I would go with the 870. The Mossberg's safety can be difficult to manipulate with a pistol grip.

[JDay]

If you want a pistol grip on your shot gun, then I would go with the 870. The Mossberg's safety can be difficult to manipulate with a pistol grip.

For home defense I would flip the safety off when I grab the shotgun, shouldn't have any accidents with proper trigger control anyway.

[Two Shots]

Bird shot wont stop a determined intruder. I've read news articles in the past about people getting shot point blank with bird shot being on their feet when the police arrived.

When you say bird shot are you refering to low base #8/7.5 birdshot for dove or HiBase #2/4/BB birdshot for ducks, Hi-base #2/4/BB birdshot would work well within a room/door way/hallway, I'd recomend #4 Buck w/27 pellets for HD.
Check this site for penetration of various shot size on gelatin it will give you more perspective on shot and slugs.

http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/ballistics_shotgun.html

[jlh95811]

Benelli Nova all the way. It will chamber and shoot 3.5" shells which are super effective for HD. Also it has standard rifle sights so it makes for a fun and easy shooting gun. I use mine for clays too

[ohsmily]

Benelli Nova all the way. It will chamber and shoot 3.5" shells which are super effective for HD. Also it has standard rifle sights so it makes for a fun and easy shooting gun. I use mine for clays too

Not all models of the Nova accommodate 3.5" shells. In fact, only a select few do. All the Super Nova models accept 3.5" shells.

However, you shouldn't be using 3.5" shells for HD. The increased power and recoil are a disadvantage in a HD scenario. Even reduced recoil 12 gauge slugs and buck shot are more than sufficient.

[BigKevLA]

870 is the way to go.

[ZombieKiller]

590A1.......Tough, reliable and tough. Get it in the 18" version for home defense.

[M. Sage]

Yes, you have to think about what going to happen if they travel through the body and a wall, remember you are responsible for what comes out of that barrel.

+1. 3" magnums are for extended range, not for more stopping power or damage at close range.

For HD? Hell yeah I think.. Bird shot is ok but Buck shots are the way to go for HD!!

Bird shot is a lot less than Ok. It can't create an incapacitating wound reliably. Buckshot can.

Stick with buckshot, save the birdshot for birds and doors.

[boukca]

I was in the exact same boat as the OP and bough a brand new Remington 870 with extented mag tube at Wild Sports in Sac for $350.

I was looking at getting a used Police 870, but this fit the bill and I wanted the old checkering vs. Rem's new design. I plan on adding a SureFire mounted light this week.

Here is a picture-

[JDay]

#2/4/BB birdshot would work well within a room/door way/hallway,

Doesn't penetrate 12 inches, wont pass FBI standards. You should read this and then go over those ballistics again and you'll see why birdshot is useless for defense. You have to remember that unlike gelatin the human body will have clothes and bones in the way. FBI Ballistic Test Protocol

[forgiven]

I tested #8 low base birdshot out of my Mossberg 500 the other day at 7 yards. It cut the target (human target waste up) in half with 3 shots. I realize its just paper, but the groups were awesome. I switched to bird shot some years back when I realized my sons were in direct fire from my bedroom. I guess it's all a trade off, but I'm sold on bird shot for my small home.

[rtlltj]

Is this the remington 870 I would want for HD at Big 5? I noticed this one doesn't say 870 in the add like the other "870 express" Big 5 sells. From the picture it does look exactly like the one Bouka posted a picture of.

http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal.com/big5/default.aspx?action=detail&storeid=2504093&rapid=0&listingid=-2090755823&offerid=