Looking for home defense

[ScottsBad]

It was suggested to me, that I have a look at the Remington 870 HD for home defense. I don't know much about shotguns, would the 870 be a good choice?

Yes, it is a good choice. The most important thing is that you buy the right rounds for it. Any 12g shell will go boom, but for home defense some are better choices than others.

Most folks pick 00 buck shot, but for home defense, that means close quarters inside or outside, #4 buck is a better choice. Mainly, because the #4 shell has a more shot in it (smaller shot) but is effective against flesh yet it will not penetrate walls as much.

Believe me it'll got through wallboard, but it won't end up in your neighbor's house.

So basically, I'm saying just think about the shells you choose. Pick some for indoors and some for a day when you might need more range.

[NoSpam]

The Remington 870 is a very nice shotgun. I'd take it over the Mossberg 500/590 any day of the week. If you plan on ever using it for skeet, some ranges require a minimum 20" barrel.

The nice thing about shotguns for home defense is that you can load a mix of shells in the tube. For example, load up your slugs or buckshot, and then top it off with birdshot. Your first shot or two can be light loads that won't overpenetrate, and then if you're in serious sh**, you've got more firepower coming in the next few rounds.

[jfifer]

No pistol grip only unless you have trained with it. Seriously. And even then train and train with it. Not knowig how to use it when needed will not help no matter hoe big or manu the rounds are. And teach your family to use it safely as well! The 870 is good to go

[Legasat]

Yes. Both the Remmy 870 and Mossy 500/590 are excellent for HD. Get some low-recoil 00 buck, and learn how to use it.

[Saym14]

Benelli M4...if its good enough for the US Marines.....

watchin a lot of 3 gun matches I see newbies with pumps always mess up. get a semi auto.

[HPBrowningMK3]

Groundhog66, what is your housing situation like? Why do you think you ought to have a shotgun for home defense? Quite frankly *any* decent shotgun will do. How do you feel about having a handgun too? If you don't have much experience, I strongly recommend a GLOCK(45 ACP preferably) because they are just about the most reliable weapons invented.

I would say get a combo: a shotgun and a handgun and practice. A lot. Please take a class for both.

[negolien]

Some sage advice

I like the Shotgun for HD for the simple reason you can load it to minimize over penetration and for particular encounters. Any Handgun you use is going thru a few walls no doubt about it. Any Buckshot you use is going thru a few walls no doubt about it. You also are going to be jacked up making aiming problematic. The shotgun must be employed correctly in a HD situation also. You take up a position that defends a choke point , call 911 immediately while yelling you are armed and willing to use deadly force and racking the action chambering your 1st round of #8.

Do some google searches on Birdshot penetration. People can run their mouths all they want about buckshot but the tests don't lie. I saw an outstanding piece on one of the outdoor channel shows on penetration of shotgun ammo. Any buckshot is penetrating a minimum of two pieces of drywall or one complete wall. You hit someone at 7 yards or closer (the average distance of defense engagements) with some #8 and that's going to seriously hamper the bad guys determination to continue the attack. It's also going to stop the attack at least momentarily if not permanently. No one let me say that again NO ONE is going to take a 12 gauge blast without at least temporarily being stopped cold at such a close range. I stagger the loads also keeping my Shotty "Cruiser Ready" or empty chamber, safety off tube full with 1 round of #8, 3 rounds of 000 and finally a slug.

Shotguns are great for defense and my 1st choice. I only go with the Handgun because of the inability to carry a shotgun for defense wherever you go lol. Below is a link to one of my favorite Birdshot myth busting videos.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Birdshot+For+Self+Defense&view=detail&mid=11B808813CC61CB4688011B808813CC61CB46880&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR

[Groundhog66]

Groundhog66, what is your housing situation like? Why do you think you ought to have a shotgun for home defense? Quite frankly *any* decent shotgun will do. How do you feel about having a handgun too? If you don't have much experience, I strongly recommend a GLOCK(45 ACP preferably) because they are just about the most reliable weapons invented.

I would say get a combo: a shotgun and a handgun and practice. A lot. Please take a class for both.

I'd like a shotgun as an option, I also have a Sig P226 .40 in house.

[SDM44]

watchin a lot of 3 gun matches I see newbies with pumps always mess up. get a semi auto.

That's great and all for competition, but the OP was looking for something more dedicated to home defense. While I trust my 930 JM Pro to work flawlessly with my ammo, a pump is easier & faster to troubleshoot and manipulate with different types of shells. Less things to go wrong when your life is on the line and you need something that'll go bang every single time you pull the trigger.

Whatever you get, train with it and make sure it works with the ammo that you have for it.

[Dinosaur Jr]

Mossberg 590 20" 9-shot - no pistol grip. A pistol grip can get in the way inside the house and chances are you're not going to be breaching doors.

[LMTluvr]

A double barrel is all you need...Just fire a couple blasts off the back balcony..

[Neff]

A double barrel is all you need...Just fire a couple blasts off the back balcony..

^^^ LOL

[knucklehead0202]

owned a mossberg for 10 years or so, which i chose after trying both that and the 870, mossberg was not only a better value, but smoother, better controls and strangely, less recoil. finally sold my mossberg after i experienced a winchester defender, which is unfortunately is no longer produced. if you can get one, i highly recommend it. they're super-smooth, quick-cycling well-made shotguns. anyone who has ever owned or even just shot one will wholeheartedly agree. i run a choate pistol-grip buttstock and a hogue forend. it's a sweet-handling gun. biggest problem i had with the mossberg is that the only way to get the higher capacity is with a 20" barrel. the winchester and remington you can get 7 shots with 18.5" barrel.

[10GA SHOOTER]

That is a very nice Shotgun. I like my Browning 10ga BPS with Buckshot, great for home defense. But I recommend trying different types of Shotguns. I grew up around shotguns and feel that a good shotgun is the best for home defense.

[Squidward]

An 870 is fine if the price is right. There are many models to choose from but I'm not a fan of a pistol grip shotgun for HD . YMMV.