Best home defense shotgun for under 500 dollars?

[armyowalgreens]

pump action? Semi-auto? side-by-side?

I'm hearing arguments for all three. But I'm trying to make up my mind.


I was looking at a used Mossberg 500 tactical. I'd like to keep it under $450 if at all possible.

[X_Digger]

1. Used Remington 1100? (to keep < $500)

There's an argument to be made for a pump vs semi-automatic, and the possibility of jamming in a crisis situation, but the 1100 is so reliable I'd feel comfortable using it for HD purposes.

[flamin lib]

2. Mossberg 88

Extremely inexpensive at about $175, you can buy a 14 inch barrel and pistol grip and still be under $400. Reliable, simple pump action. Only thing is a shotgun makes a hell of a mess . . .

[tburnsten]

14. A 14" barrel+$200 tax stamp would quickly put you over $400

And no one in their right mind would use a pistol grip only shotgun for defense unless they had an extremely specific living situation that made a regular shotgun, even tucked up under the arm, worse than teh PGO.

[spin]

3. I just bought a Stoeger 12 guage side by side coachgun...

for under $400.

I had heard some complaints about this weapon having very heavy triggers and having a very stiff locking lever. I visited a local dealer and found his display model had no problems and some good looking wood.

I still have to try the shotgun out but I plan to journey out to a friends house outside the city this week.

The weapon appeals to me as it's quick and easy to load. True, I only have two rounds chambered, but with practice I should be able to reload it quickly. And of course, not many self defense situations with a shotgun require more than two rounds.

[mistertrickster]

12. Dick's Sporting Goods has some excellent new Stoegers in OU and SxS.

Are they any good? The prices seem too good to be true, but Benelli is importing them . . .

[Euromutt]

4. I'd suggest a Mossberg 590

The 590, preferably a model with ghost ring sights (GRS), is one of the few shotguns that work well right out of the box. The tang safety (on the top rear of the receiver) can be operated with either hand, making it quite versatile. Its popularity means there's also a decent selection of after-market parts (if and when you feel like customizing the weapon a bit).

Other good choices are the Remington 870 and (my own choice) Benelli Supernova, but neither are entirely satisfactory out of the box. The Remington is the gold standard in pump-actions, but before it's a decent defense weapon, you have to spend as much in after-market modifications (in particular sights) as you paid for the gun itself. The Benelli is a good weapon, but the ATF prohibited Benelli from importing extended magazine tubes, so you need to buy an aftermarket one (the offering from Nordic Components is particularly good).

[krispos42]

5. This is more of a Gungeon thread

Gun recommendations and discussions relating to self-defense are permitted in there.

[spin]

7. If posted there it would get a lot more replies. (n/t)

[mistertrickster]

11. Really? Last time I posted a question about a milsurp rifle, the MOD sent me here. nt

[SteveM]

6. You might want to check out the "Home/Field Combos"...

offered by some manufacturers and widely-advertised in big-box stores like Cabela's and Academy Sports and Outdoors. These combos typically have a rather standard field or hunting barrel AND a home-defense or "tactical" barrel. Remington offers a combo in 12 and 20 ga. with 3" chambers. Stoeger has a similar set-up in 12 ga. only.

Remington combo: $399 (after $30 mail-in rebate)
Stoeger combo: $459

www.cabelas.com

[spin]

8. For a home defense shotgun, the shorter the barrel the better...

shotguns are awkward weapons at best.

The ideal home defense shotgun would consist of a short barreled model, 18- to 22-inches, chambered for 12- or 20-gauge. Recommended action would be pump or autoloader.

Models worth considering include the Remington 870 pump action series, including the Police model and the nickel plated Marine Magnum; the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose, 18.5-inch barrel pump action; the Beretta 1201 and the Benelli Super 90 autoloaders; and the Winchester pumps: Defender, Camp Defender, and Stainless Marine.

High quality pump action shotguns offer a distinct advantage over autoloaders in the sense that their operation tends to be mechanically reliable, even under the worst of adverse conditions. They often represent the best choice for a home defense application because they can be stored or carried in a relatively safe condition: magazine loaded, chamber empty, safety on, hammer down.
http://www.internetarmory.com/shotgun_defense.htm

[burrfoot]

9. My vote :

Mossberg 500. Simple, reliable, cheap. I picked mine up for about $230 new, with a pistol grip (though, due to personal preference, I switched to a shoulder stock).

For a HD weapon, you'll want a couple of add on's- (let me rephrase: I would want a couple of add on's)- at least a light and mount.


Good luck! (p.s. this is the best kind of shopping.....)

[mistertrickster]

10. I second everything . . . Rem 870 is the most popular shotgun ever made.

in a 12 guage of course. Mossberg is okay too (I prefer Remington). Coach gun is hard to beat.

I have a Mag (3 1/2 inch shell) Rem 11-87 and some number 4 shot, but I just use the gas auto because that's what I've got that fires a mag load.

Regular 3 inch shells are probably fine too . . . you don't want to be shooting through walls etc.

I do wonder why some of the other post-ers are concerned about sights. If you're firing to stop someone across the room, I think aiming is pretty irrelevant.

[old mark]

13. I was trained on and carried a shotgun in the Army back in the stone age.

I really prefer them for any type of defensive use - I have had a few, but prefer the old Mossberg 500's - very easy to take down to clean, very strong and reliable, and not prone to hanging up the hulls - they WORK, in other words. The USMC used to use them in the sandbox, and they were the ONLY shotgun to pass the military acceptance test (IIRC 4000 rounds consecutively with no problems).
You can find a used 500 for about $175, cut it down your self or get the 18" barrel from Mossberg - stil have the original barrel for hunting.

mark

[sailor65]

15. Weatherby PA-459

As a pure tactical, you can't beat it for the price. $450 or less, includes a receiver rail and ghost ring/fiber optic out of the box. If you feel like hunting with it, it accepts Mossberg chokes. And, it comes with a much better grip and balances better than the 870 or the 500, both of which I also own.