First Shotgun Choice?

[cqbdude]

Go for the 870. and buy longer barrels on ebay..if you want to shoot trap...clays..

[Atekhed]

Of the two go with the 870.

The Escort MP-A is a nice shotgun but there is little to no aftermarket for it (i.e. no longer length barrels). They do make a sporting configuration version but I've never seen them anywhere in my area.

I have the MP-A and while it is a decent tactical/defensive shotgun, its not really a clays or skeet choice. Won't say you couldnt use it, but you'd have more fun with a different shotgun is all.

[Whatisthis?]

I almost picked up a Mossberg 500 with 18" and 28" barrel from Big 5. But then I held the Remington 870 and it just felt better. I LOVE the wood furniture on it too. So I didn't get two barrels, but I think I wouldn't have been as happy with the Mossberg. I don't need tacticool looking stuff anyways. An 870 with an 18" barrel is just fine for SHTF or HD. Don't buy into the tacticool stuff.

OTOH, if you're ONLY going to keep it in your safe for a SHTF or for something bigger when all the bad guys start busting into your place, the mossberg would be fine and would probably save you a little money since it comes with multiple barrels. I'm not saying the mossberg wouldn't be fine for clays or anything, I just think the 870 is better for that.

[deephouse]

^^ 2nd that.

My first gun (ever) was the Remington 870. I was going to get the Mossberg (price), but when i first picked up the Remington it is exactly what I envisioned a shotgun would feel like. That being said, it was a tough act to follow, and i have no regrets. Nothing against the Mossberg - but with your talk about target/clay shooting, as already mentioned by many, the barrel options are all over the place.

[n0t4g0t10]

held both the mossberg and remington....left the store w/ a remington. had a solid feel and didnt feel cheap...

[Subotai]

I'm good with either Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, or even the Maverick 88 I just bought. Personally, I think the 870's are superior in feel.

[XVIga_Rob]

ya I felt both, liked both of them but thanks for the opinions can't go wrong with the 870!

Nope!

Last week, I traded off a like new 20ga. Benelli Nova, for a slightly used 12ga. Remington Wingmaster.

[phresh310]

Yup same here.. used to like mossbergs.. then i held an 870 tactical.. and bought it right away.. solid shotgun.. recoil is reduced pretty good with the knox buttstock.. my girlfriend is 5 feet tall and weighs 100 lbs and she can shoot rifled slugs and all that good stuff no problem..

[phresh310]

I'm good with either Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, or even the Maverick 88 I just bought. Personally, I think the 870's are superior in feel.

maverick 88's arent that bad for the price, when they FIRST came out they were 120 bucks.. my little bro has one and i realized after quite a few rounds u gotta tighten it up.. starts to lose integrity..

[ray9368]

maverick 88's arent that bad for the price, when they FIRST came out they were 120 bucks.. my little bro has one and i realized after quite a few rounds u gotta tighten it up.. starts to lose integrity..

I guess it depends on your version of "quite a few rounds". I have the original 120$ version, and several thousand rounds through it, and it shoots fine. Granted most of that was cheap low brass ammo, but it's seen some slugs and buckshot too. Of all of my guns, this one has seen the most use and the least care

[theshoer]

Mossberg Combo from Big 5 at least worth a look. jmho.

[the86d]

http://grabagun.com/nef-prdnr-20-21-1ct-vr-bl-syn-72282.html

They are a Rem 870 clone (mostly, I believe) and I think they are like $234.xy out the door for a HD shotgun (I have read that they will take all REM 870 compat. hardware on the BACK end of the receiver).

[BonnieB]

I will be massively surprised if you can shoot trap or skeet with an 18" barrel. More like 28" to 30" would do the job. And the skilled trap guys will laugh at you for bringing a tactical gun on the skeet range.

If you really insist on the 18" barrel, which his good for home defense, see if you can find a shotgun with interchangeable barrels and pay the extra money.

Or, you can by a mid-price 12 gauge, 18" for home defense (00 buckshot), and a mid-price 12 gauge SA shotgun for the range. The Weatherby SA 08 (around $ 600) is a nice 12 gauge, 3 in the mag, 1 in the chamber. Or more in the mag if you promise not to hunt with it. Get the wooden stock so it can be adjusted for your size by a gunsmith. It'll shoot trap or skeet just fine, comes with 3 interchangeable chokes. And you can always use it as a second gun in a crisis.

But really, if you can't hit a BG in your home with more than two shotgun blasts, something's wrong anyway.

And BTW, take a 1 day shotgun class. NRA offers good ones, probably at your local range. http://www.nrainstructors.org/CourseCatalog.aspx Regardless of what you think of the NRA politically, they do a good class.

[Squid]

buy Rem 870 supermag in 24 or 26" and tape roll of toilet paper to end of barrel

and do your tactical home defense drills around the house with that, so you don't scar up the walls, or get plaster down the action.

Then when you use a 18" barrel you buy later all your moves will work.

[Whoneedsafety?]

Invest in a 870. I do tons of work on them for my clients to make them tacti-cool. I am a huge fan of them. I own 4 at the moment. They have gone from being a great design to a modular design. One could swap it's intended purpose in a matter of minutes.