Shotgun recommendation?

Question

Looking for a quality shotgun. I don't hunt, mainly for home defense. Something simple, not oversized. Simple design, simple operation. maybe pump action. Something with a "tactical" look, as opposed to a camo version. Ideas?

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

First, Krash is making many good, valid and poignant points!

My recommendation would be an affordable, low maintenance pump shotgun with a (legal) short barrel. My recommendation is a Remington 870 Express with a short barrel, which can generally be purchased for less than $300. Please see link below. Remington pumps rarely jam, and they are very safe in stress situations. The green finish is not camo, but a military type phosphate finish.

Answer 2

Ok for starters I read a few of the previous answers and they are mostly stearing you in the wrong direction. You would want to buy either a pump or revolver.


A cheap way to go would be a Mossberg 500 , Maverick 88 or Winchester 1300 Defender. Anything with an 18.5 inch barrel and pump action (will explain the reason later)
These are all easily worked and functional weapons. An automatic shotgun would be over kill and youd be spending 500$ or more.

A pistol would also be good in caliber above 9mm and using Glaser safety tips (they 'detonate' on impact and will not go through drywall)

Pump shotguns are Ideal for the one major reason, the pump! Just working the action is enough, to a thief in your house it would sound like the gates of Hell slamming shut. But remember to speak with someone at a gunshop and get some training 40 percent of people are shot with thier OWN guns during break-ins. Also find out about the shoot-to-kill laws in your area. Some places the person must be IN your house before you shoot. Other places if you shoot a guy and he lives, he can sue YOU. And in others if you shoot them and they live, and are in your house when the cops arrive you will be arrested for wrongfull inprisonment. KNOW THE LAWS !!!

I personally recommend 00 Buckshot. But I have cement walls so I dont have to worry about shoot-through. Again if you shoot a solid copper slug it will go through the bad guy, your wall, your neighbors wall, and your neighbors 6 year old child. Think before you shoot. Dimes work well to but expensive to shoot (ever seen Young Guns 2?) For the normal person I recommed a BB round, mostly used for ducks and geese.

Or go to your local gunshop and find a good used .38 or .357, revolver (less to remember and go wrong)and get TRAINED to shoot it. Perfect round would be the Glaser Blue or Silver tip. This round is devastating on soft flesh but detiriorates on drywall and wood ( reduced shoot-through )

A Good flashlight is recommended as well for low light conditions. If you have children buy a good gunsafe with a finger combination or trigger lock. Locks come free with all new guns and can be gotten free at any Sheriffs office.

Answer 3

Remington 870 or Ithaca 87 would be my choices. The Ithaca is a bottom eject and a solid design. The remington has been around for years, many after market add-ons. I would spend the extra $ and go with the wingmaster or police model and avoid the express models. I also prefer the 20 inch barrel with IC choke over the 18 cylinder bore. Loaded with #4 buck shot or larger, (not birdshot) and its is one of the best self-defense options available.

Folks often worry about over penetration, but not under penetration. A shotgun can creat horrific superficial wounds with birdshot and not stop an attacker. No offense to the folks recommending Glazers, but they would be one of my last choices in self defense. I preder a bullet that ensures adequate penetration to vital organs than one that creates terrible horrific, (but shallow) wounds. In my .357 I typically carry .38 special 158 grain LHP +p, my .45 is Gold Dot 230 JHP and in my home shot gun the 1st round is #4 buck followed by #1 buckshot. Read the review on the site below for ammunition recommendations.

Answer 4

i have an off brand coach gun in 20 ga side by side double barrel. mainly a cowboy shoot gun but the short barrels make it quite intimidating and loaded with self defense buckshot quite deadly should any intruder feel froggy. in an apartment i would load with #6 shot so it wouldnt go through walls. you can find these guns at any major gun stores. mossberg also makes a maverick 88. you can get it in a tactical version with a seven round magazine tube and a heat sheild usually for under 230 bucks. if you want a true self defense get a mossberg 590 get the pistol grip and the pistol grip for the foregrip. you can also get a tactical flashlight to mount on this one. 9 rounds of hell for any intruder. works well from any position the hip or around the corner. check your laws though may have to have a permit for a gun like that. and definitely know what you are shooting at and store the gun in a safe place and manner

Answer 5

Mossberg 500
Check your local Big 5 ad for the Mossberg 500 with two barrels a 18.5" and 26". It usually runs about $239. I use the short barrel for a home defense gun and the long one for trap and hunting. I use #7 1/2 shot for all applications. I live in an apartment and the 7 1/2 is lethal at ranges out to about 25 ft yet it won't go through the walls.

Answer 6

smiles...mine is a mossberg sawed off (legally) and i don't mean with a hacksaw either...lol...any shotgun will do, for home defense, if your new at this I wouldn't suggest a pump, id suggest either a double barrel or a single gauge 20...a 12 gauge will kick like a Mississippi mule, if you're a light framed person, a 20 gauge can be handled by most anybody, its nice and light and i personally can fire it with one hand...its a nice gun to use...id stay away from handguns unless you're trained to use one, sides the sound of a shotgun shell being loaded is one helluva scary noise i don't care who you are....

Answer 7

For home defense I prefer a Louisville Slugger. It gets you close to the action, take em out at the knees so you can see the look on his face before you bust his skull open. As for the shotgun, you can buy a reasonably priced Remington Sportsman in a mat-black finish, you can take the stock off and buy a pistol grip and you can saw the barrel off to the legal limit. This should be much cheaper than buying a specialty combat gun.

Answer 8

I have a Remington 870 Supermag
Benneli Supernova is pretty good
Mossburg 500
You can get all three in flatblack, I live my Remington and there are so many after market parts for it that you can customize. I'm thinking about getting the Surefire forearm for it. The Supernova comes with a pistol grip stock

Answer 9

Reminton 870 Express Synthetic stock approx $320 at Wal mart

Answer 10

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