Semi-Auto vs Pump for home defense

[toymonger]

Any words of wisdom?

[Aluisious]

If you get a pump, you have to learn to operate it well, or you'll jam it in a crisis.

A semi auto has softer recoil, but recoil with the managed loads isn't bad, even for 00 buck.

[Teletiger7]

This thread sounds weirdly familiar to one that was just on here a couple weeks ago. Me i like pumps because my 870s have been totally reliable.

[Socal858]

try both. see what feels better for you. i couldnt afford a semi right off the bat so i have my pump benelli supernova with ghost rings. not that i feel under armed in the least.

[GeneralBacardi]

depends on how many invaders you expect

[James R.]

If you get a pump, you have to learn to operate it well, or you'll jam it in a crisis.

A semi auto has softer recoil, but recoil with the managed loads isn't bad, even for 00 buck.

While it's true you could short stroke a pump (this will happen becuase you don't practice with your gun IMHO) you can also have FTF or FTE caused by not shouldering a semi-auto properly. Semi-auto shotguns can become kinda shady with respect to ejection and the like esp if you do something silly like trying to get a shot off from the hip or in a pistol gripped side firing type stance.

Either is fine so long as you practice with it. IMHO for HD the pump is an excellent choice and will chamber and feed reliably pretty much whatever you throw at it.

Regards,

James R.

[-hanko]

Any words of wisdom?

Use the Search button ...

No right answer, either will do what you need. Get whichever you're more comfortable with.

Far more important is a LOT of practice, regularly. That includes anyone who might need to use the shotgun.

-hanko

[50 Freak]

Buy an Benelli M3, and have both....that's what I did.

[CalNRA]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=40802

[Socal858]

depends on how many invaders you expect

if youre expecting THAT many invaders you dont just need a gun, you need to move

[Nismo]

Unless he's talking about zombies.

[Bob Hostetter]

For self defense a pump shotgun is usually preferrable.

[maxicon]

A defense-configured pump is generally cheaper than a defense-configured semi, and there are more options available.

Either is reliable if you've put enough rounds of your preferred defense ammo through it to work out any issues.

A pump is dependent on your working the action correctly, and if you're in a physically tight spot or your weak arm hits something during pumping, you can have a shortstroke. Pumps can only be worked 2 handed, barring Hollywood techniques.

A semi-auto is point-and-shoot, and can be fired one-handed if something's wrong with your other hand, though there's an increased risk of jams there. There's a potential reliability difference in such a situation between inertia- and gas-operated models, so it takes a bit of research.

If cost is a factor, it's hard to beat a pump.

For simplicity, it's hard to beat a semi.

Either way, you need to practice regularly and put hundreds of rounds of your chosen defense load through the gun to make sure it's going to work well and your muscle memory is dialed in.

[Nismo]

How fast can you clear a jam on a semi with one arm?

[Aluisious]

FWIW if/when I buy another shotgun, it'll be a Rem 1100.