What is the best shotgun for home defense?

Question

There isn't a good category for home defense, so I had to pick this one. Apologizes in advance.

I'm looking for recommendations on brand/model of shotgun for home defense. My skill with a pistol and rifle is intermediate, but I'm a complete beginner when it comes to shotguns.

Answer 1

Shotguns despite what you see in the movies and on TV are not a "point and shoot" firearm. They need to be aimed like any other longgun. Given that your primary use is home defense a 18-20" bbl in cylinder bore will suit you fine.
12 ga vs 20 ga: You'll have a greater choice of ammo in 12 gauge and more recoil than 20 gauge.
In pump guns the most common are the Remington 870 series, Mossburg 500/590 series and Winchester has it's 1300 series.
Pro's and cons.
Remington: Pro MANY aftermarket accessories, old fashion steel and wood firearm. Very duriable, Stock models often found cheap at Wal-Mart or in pawn shops. Cons hard to find and expensive in "police" or "tactical" configurations IE: extended tube magazine, Hi visiblity sights etc.
Mossburgs: 500 series inexpensive and often found as "kits" with short bbls and sporting lenght bbl's (avoid pistol grips on all shotguns for lack of controlablity and aimed fire) 590 is ready to go with good sights and extended tube.
Cons: aftermarket goodies are less available and Mossburgs are somewhat less duriable than the other 2 brands if you are a high volume shooter.
Winchester 1300. Seems to me to be a easier gun to pump. Still can be found in a extended tube and high visiblity sight set up (defender model) for not much more than the stock Rem 870. Cons: Winchester has closed it's American plant and this gun is I understand out of production. However it's been around for years and they are still easy to find. Also the stock is some sort of plastic and doesn't feel that durable to me.
All of these guns are good choices, you are limited by how much you want to spend.

Answer 2

The italian made Valtro PM-5 12 guage.

I used to own one, it was the greatets gun i have ever had.

The Valtro is a 12 gauage pump shotgun.. except it comes standard with a synthetic pistol grip stock, it has a machined aluminum reciever, and best of all - It's clip fed! so that means you can have an 8 round abna clip of 12 gauge rounds, and you can have 8 rounds of 2 3/4 or 3 inch rounds and you still can pack 8!! It;s the single lightest shotgun i have ever seen - the aluminum reciever has a steel sleeve inside of it for strength but aside form that the entire thing is made of lightweight material. Unlike semi-auto clip fed 12 gauge guns, you never have to worry about the action not cycling when you use a low intensity round. the action is smooth and comfortable, the entire gun is very ergonomic, and just seeing the shadow of it in a doorway is enought o make a criminal piss their pants. The Valtro is one of the most visually imposing guns i have ever seen - you don;t often see a clip fed pistol gripped weapon with a barrel big enough to shove your thumb into. When i bought mine it was under 600 buckls, but they may be more expensive now.

Answer 3

Can't go wrong with a Remington Model 870 pump 12 gauge with an 18 to 20 inch barrel. You say you are 'intermediate' with pistol and rifle? The 12 gauge is going to recoil, but it is not unmanageable.

H

Answer 4

Twenty gauge is lighter and lower recoil, 12ga is more powerful and easier to find a variety of shells for. A pump action has what we referred to as the international sound of fear and with few exceptions are as reliable as can be (Stevens made what was likely the worst pump action in history). Double barrels are't bad but you have two shots I love mine for bird and target but not so much for defense. Semiautomatic shotguns can be finicky and often have a break in period of several hundred shells. For pump guns that are exclusively home defenders look for a shorter barrel, cylinder choke, higher capacity tubular magazine (or there are a couple detachable box mag fed pump guns but they are rare and often pricey). Benneli is smooth, mossberg is cheaper, try a few on and unless your a SWAT breacher get one with a stock so you can shoulder and aim it (shotguns miss too)

Answer 5

A 12 gauge pump is probably the most reliable weapons ever invented. Just "racking one" is a sound that no prowler wants to hear while crawling through a window! My personal choice is a Mossberg 835 3-1/2" Ulti-Mag. It's a lot of gun for the money, and the magnum chamber and interchangable chokes make it great for everything from squirrels and doves to deer and bad guys.

Answer 6

Use what the police and the militaries use. A 12gauge pump. Most brands are reasonably dependable. They are quite durable, ammo is easily available, easily serviced and it can also be used in hunting with excelant results. The berrals can be easily changed for differant uses (open or unchocked for home definse and close hunting to slugs for deer or small bear to extra full choke for turkey or duck hunting) and berral lingthes can very from 18 to 34 inches. The shorter is lighter in waight and monuverable to long for long shots.
It is also considered the best for servival use.

Moseburge is a good inexpencive one and Remington or Winchester are good for more expencive ones.

Answer 7

remington model 870 marine magnum it is a short barreled shotgun (18") has a reliable pump action, and is pretty light. i like the pump to a semi for HD because you have time to reasses your target after the shot not just blindly shooting. the kick isnt too bad comparable to a featherweight 20 gauge or a 30-06

Answer 8

Whatever one you get, make sure it is a short barrel, some makers call these models "security shotguns." Mainly because if you find yourself having to use it in your own home against an intruder, you can turn around while in a hallway without having to tilt your shot gun up or down in order to turn around. A short barrel will make it easier for you to still point the gun in front of you, while turning around in a narrow hallway.

Answer 9

Mossburg Mariner would be good in 12 gauge, it has a fairly short stock and barrel for maneouverability, but doesn't kick too bad as it isn't a light weight gun.

Answer 10

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