Best Home Defense ONLY shotgun?

[Navy_Matt]

New guy here, in the market for a shotgun that will likely be fired only for practice to establish a comfort level with the weapon for home defense. The rest of the time, it will remain ready for an intruder. I'm active duty and am familiar with our shipboard Mossberg 500 series. I'm looking for pros, cons, barrel length, type of shot, reliability, etc. My local dealer suggested avoiding the pistol grip due to the difficulty in aiming (said you could shoot from the hip if needed, but if you had the extra 1/2 second, you could shoulder the stock and draw a bead). Any advice would be great.

[ZombieTactics]

Honestly, the Mossberg 5xx and Remington 870 series shotguns are your friends. Either is an excellent choice.

Given your familiarity with the Mossberg manual-of-arms ... seems like the best choice for you. A 500 or 590 with a 18.5' or 20' barrel ... there you go.

[Reductio]

Ditto, if you're used to a Mossberg, just get one of the security models from Big 5 when they go on sale and call it a day.

[Navy_Matt]

good deal thanks for the advice. I've heard about using birdshot in the home as to not destroy EVERYTHING around the intended attacker?

[Turo]

good deal thanks for the advice. I've heard about using birdshot in the home as to not destroy EVERYTHING around the intended attacker?

That's a terrible idea. Birdshot is designed (and best used) to knock little birds out of the air, not for incapacitating 200lb bad guys intent on causing you harm.

If you get a 12 gauge, 00 buck is the only load you should worry about loading in it. In a pinch #1 or #2 buck can work, but bigger is better in this situation.

Birdshot doesn't have the energy to penetrate deep enough into the human body to reliably incapacitate an assailant quickly. Buckshot does.

As a general rule, anything that won't penetrate a few walls of a normal house isn't going to be enough to stop an attacker. It's much better to shoot in a direction that will have the least possibility of hitting an innocent than relying on a round that has been proven to not be able to stop an attacker.

[ConcernedCitizen]

Don't beleive all you hear. There seem to be two mistaken assumptions in your sentence:
1. That a shotgun blas will spread out to fill the entire room or at least one whole wall. At HD ranges (<30 feet) the shotgun pellets maintain a tight grouping and will not spread more than a couple of inches. I listed this one first because it's the most dangerous. You stll need to aim the gun carefully.
2. There has been much posted on this forum about the lethality and collateral damage for various grades of shot. You should search this forum for "birdshot" or "00 buck" and also check out a website called "The Box of Truth". Even birdshot will penetrate two layers of drywall and even 00 buck may not stop someone.

[OC-Indian]

Moss500 in 7+1

[Navy_Matt]

apparently I was way off with the birdshot comment.... That's why I asked! In tonight alone, I've learned a lot. I'm a sponge for firearm knowledge.

[shooterdude]

New guy here, in the market for a shotgun that will likely be fired only for practice to establish a comfort level with the weapon for home defense. The rest of the time, it will remain ready for an intruder. I'm active duty and am familiar with our shipboard Mossberg 500 series. I'm looking for pros, cons, barrel length, type of shot, reliability, etc. My local dealer suggested avoiding the pistol grip due to the difficulty in aiming (said you could shoot from the hip if needed, but if you had the extra 1/2 second, you could shoulder the stock and draw a bead). Any advice would be great.

The Mossberg 500's for HD purpose come in 12 guage with 18.5" or 20" barrels. The 18.5" barrel is the better choice since they can be interchanged with a longer barrel which they usually come with in a "combo deal". You can usually find them on sale at a Big% for around $250-$280. Bottom line is they just work all the time.

[Navy_Matt]

As long as CA Police Equipment in San Diego can add the Mossberg 500 to my DROS when I come in to pick up the H&K, I'll be the proud owner of one on Thursday.

[joeyant]

This thread will quickly implode into a birdshot vs buckshot pizzing match. And the countdown begins.............

[Turo]

apparently I was way off with the birdshot comment.... That's why I asked! In tonight alone, I've learned a lot. I'm a sponge for firearm knowledge.

That's what CalGuns is here for!

Enjoy your new shotgun and pistol!

[Navy_Matt]

Since I started the thread, I'll ask one more question here...

Mossberg 500 or 590?

Money isn't the issue, I'm looking for sturdy, reliable, and bad-*****. I know I want a stock (not pistol grip), 12 ga...

[ZombieTactics]

I prefer the milspec 18.5" 590A1 myself, but there is absolutely no reason I can think of why a 18.5" 500 would not be perfect ... and just as good ... for HD. The 590A1 is a bit sturdier and heavier, some would say overbuilt.

[Omil]

Mossy 500 for me. Never look back.