Best Shotgun for Home Self Defense

[flak88mm]

Hi,

I would like to get some advice on the best kind of shotgun to get for home defense, in the 300 to 400 dollar range. What do you guys recommend?

[fdk8776]

I have a Rem 870. Came with 2 barrels. However, any shotgun with a trigger will work for Home defense. Once you find the one you like, you get to venture into the next topic of, "which HD rounds do I buy?"

[Get3CoffinsReady]

There is not a wrong or right answer to that. Any quality made shotgun in that price range will be fine. Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590, Winchester 1300 (used only)
Maverick 88s and Escorts are supposed to be decent for the low end.

My suggestion is to go to a local gun shop and shoulder some of the shotguns to see what feels good in hand and possibly go to a gun range that will rent out shotguns.

[Reductio]

The one you can afford to practice with, and have readily on hand.

Only two real choices in that range are the 870 or the Mossberg 500. Big 5 often has great sales on both, particularly the combo Mossy 500 with two barrels but only a 5 round tube.

[Ricky-Ray]

Most of your answer's are probably going to be either the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500/590. Both are good reliable guns and can be had within that price range. Try them both and see whichever you like and pickup that one.

I went with a Remington 870 and have been happy with it since the day I bought it. After you get it invest in some ammo and practice with it at the range and then invest some more money and take a couple of shotgun classes. It will open your eyes to a whole new level.

[bigkyle72]

not a big deal only having 5 rounds, if you cant get it done with 5 rounds in a house you have bigger problems.

Only two real choices in that range are the 870 or the Mossberg 500. Big 5 often has great sales on both, particularly the combo Mossy 500 with two barrels but only a 5 round tube.

[McTerry]

Another vote for Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Depending on which model Mossberg you go with though be advised that it might not be quite as easy to upgrade than a Remington right out of the box.
On my Model #50521 Mossberg 500 I had to buy a whole new Slide Assembly just to change out the forend for a Hogue one, and the pistol grip that comes with it is just a piece of hollowed out plastic junk.
Although to be fair, there was nothing wrong with the forend on the stock shotgun, strictly changed for preference and added "grippiness"

[tacticalcity]

What shotgun to buy? I have pretty expensive taste. So I am drawn to the Remington 11-87 Vang Comp myself. Or if I want to save money the Remington 1100 Police. But of course I can't afford either right now so I start drooling over the Mossberg 930 SPX, only it does not have an improved cylinder barrel so the patter opens up too much for my tastes at 25 yards. Then I start looking at pumps and the 870 Police has the improved cylinder barrel I want but is pretty darn pricey for a pump. So I start looking at the other 870s and the Mossberg 500s and realize they only have straight cylinder barrels which all start to open up way to quickly...the good stuff is never cheap! I've owned a bunch of 870s and a Mossberg 500. Never owned a semi-auto yet. Of all the ones I owned the Wingmaster 870 12GA with an improved cylinder barrel performed the best. Avoid the 500. Unlike the 870, you will not be able to add a magazine extension to it. If you want the magazine extension and have your heart set on Mossberg, get the 590. But again, it is only available in straight cylinder (could be wrong its been a while since I was in the market).

A shotgun is actually a pretty complicated weapon to use for self defense. Most of us don't think so because Hollywood has built this myth around them that they are a gun anybody can use effectively and you don't even need to aim. That isn't reality however. Don't get me wrong. I love the shotgun. There is a laundry list of them out there that are seriously cool and on my dream list. But unless they have an improved cylinder barrel, they won't perform very well at all. And not all of them have aftermarket barrels available in improved cylinder.

In order to use it for self defense, you really need to master the manual of arms including malfuction clearances, reloads, and switching to slugs all in fractions of a second so you remain in the fight until it is over and you've won. You need to know how your shotun patters at the set distances you are likely to encounter. You need to know what firing positions work with your model and which ones it starts to malfunction in (semi-autos need to recoil against something to work) or in which you start to malfunction in (not all of us can bend like a pretzil). You need to know how to exploit the design of your home to provide concealment and possibly cover.

So whatever you choose to buy I recommend taking a professional training course rather than just letting it collect dust in the closet until you need it to save your life...only you don't know how to use it. If you are located here in Sacramento Check Out Gray Ops 1 (formally Stone Cobra Tactical), http://www.gofast1.com/. I didn't see a date for the next shotgun course listed. But if you email them they can put you on a list of interested students and scheduel something. The instructors are great, and the courses are very informative and literally a blast to take. Very fun stuff.

[McTerry]

TCity is right, if you take into consideration combat loading slugs (without unloading live rounds that are in the magazine) then that is another slight strike against the Mossberg 500. It can be done, just might lose a couple rounds of Buckshot or whatever you have loaded in the magazine. I still like it though...

[1998 m4a1]

go big or go home, 12 guage at a minimum! if you cant handle the recoil, you had better man up cuz the bad guys arnt gonna go any easier on you!

then again, all you really need is a cell phone. just call 911 and make sure to slowly spell out your address clearly!

[John Browning]

go big or go home, 12 guage at a minimum! if you cant handle the recoil, you had better man up cuz the bad guys arnt gonna go any easier on you!

That's a pretty dumb statement. A 20ga and a 12ga are near terminal ballistic twins. The major advantage to a 12ga is that it is much easier to find buckshot and slugs which are a must for HD, however a 20ga gives you the same terminal performance with much less recoil and a much quicker follow up shot.

[offdeez]

Saiga 12

[plumbum]

For your price range, new in box, I will say Mossberg 500/Maverick 88. 12 gauge is most popular and common, but I would be completely comfortable with a properly loaded 20 gauge, or even a well loaded .410 bore.

Always scour the used racks, because I have seen some great deals on older shotguns. Heck, even the single shots and bolt actions can be pressed into service, sometimes for $100 or so.

edit: forgot about the NEF Pardner Pump (Hawk 982) which is a Chinese Remington Clone, or the Stevens 350 which is a Chinese Ithaca 37 clone. People get polarized about them, but they are great for a beginner or those on a budget. I have the Stevens 350, and it has been a great performer.

[jeep7081]

I have a Hawk 982 (remington 870 knock off) from Big 5 new for $199! Great shotgun! Includes ghost sites ($100 value).

[HatersLOVEme : )]

In your general price range theres quite a few HD options actually but if you plan on doing anything to said gun after the fact ( mainly a forend swap ) stay away from newer Maverick / Mossberg Big 5 specials since the crappy forend set up negates most of the savings as McTerry has already stated / went through .

You can get away with a longer barrel for HD but it really depends on what your comfortable with and a few variables like if your home has tight hallways and or you live in a apartment with limited space then you might just want to stick with the shorter 18-20" barreled models if thats the case .

Next is your body type I own both a 18" & 20" HD shotguns 18" is optimum for HD but 20" is still doable in IMO but I'm 6-2" and I'm a rather big fellow maybe my idea of heavy is different then some and my home is pretty open but I prefer my 20" model as far as range and capacity and weight .

As far as the company or brand the long and short of it is some people like their shotguns configured this way or that way or certain features are or aren't a deal breakers so they like this maker or that one accordingly . Now obviously I'm a bit biased here because I like heavier barreled pump shotguns with metal trigger guards and metal safeties lol heres my suggestion for 395$ it has all the above mentioned features its basically a 18" military spec / LEO spec shotgun for about 30$ more you can get the ghost ring sight version if you like sites or plan on shooting slugs at the range but a bead site model like this will be more than fine for home defense good luck :

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/55292