Home shotgun recommendation?

[Mark@Sea]

Sue's home shotty is an exposed-hammer coach gun. Simple, works, is safely loaded, no slide to pump, no safety to disengage, just rock the hammers back and ride.

Mine, well, I have a Remmy model 11 (18 inch barrel) in the hidey hole, a Winny 1300 somewhere convenient downstairs, a model 500 in the home office and a '97 riot clone in the bedroom. Not that I bought 'em all at once, but as opportunities to get one on the cheap pop up, I try to take advantage. One in the hand is a heck of a lot better than one in the back of the closet in the upstairs bedroom on the other side of the house. My one experience with home invasion (long time ago, and not in TN) left me with the overriding consideration being how many seconds it takes to get it in your hands. If it is more than 10, you might as well not have it.

* yeah, I know that having all the same model would be a lot better in terms of training, but it didn't work out that way. The pump guns have an empty chamber, saftey disengaged, just pump and go. No kids in the house. The Remmy is even easier, it is an early model with the large safety inside the trigger guard - remembering to disengage it is very easy.

** ten seconds is a long, long, long long, looooong time, in some circumstances.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Mark@Sea

[B18hybridhatch]

If anyone who will be using the gun is left-handed, the Mossberg is a better choice. The safety on top is equally convenient for right and left-handed shooters. The same is not true of the Remington.

On the mossberg maverick 88 the safety is on the trigger frame, for me it doesnt bother me at all being right handed but what I did notice with the pistol grip I have the slide lock is harder to get to with your right hand

[Guest twelvevoltman_69]

500/590 and 870's are the norm. I'm leaning toward a Beneli Nova. Been called the Glock of shotguns.

[Guest FroggyOne2]

I have 870 all set up sitting at Austin's Tennessee Firearms.. that is for sale if anyone is interested.

[Guest Phantom6]

Froggyone2's shotgun would work well in our upcoming Defensive Shotgun for the Home class (Defensive Shotgun I) to be held on 22 August. Check out the particulars on our Vendor Forum at the thread called (oddly enough) Defensive shotgun for the Home.

[Guest kdpate]

Right now all I have is a H&R single shot 410 shotgun with Federal 3" long shells..... Might need something better than that for HD......

[Guest Phantom6]

Right now all I have is a H&R single shot 410 shotgun with Federal 3" long shells..... Might need something better than that for HD......

Well, sometimes ya gotta dance with who brung ya but I'd say that in the event of a problem where you find that you must go guns up on more than one armed intruder or assailant your possibly short future could be filled with bad JuJu if you are relying on any single shot 410 ga. whether you are shooting 3" magnums or not. Yup, it may beat a sharp stick but not by much of a margin I'd personally like to rely on. We (and other shops, I'm sure) sell the little pistol griped Mossberg Persuader 500 12 ga. shotguns all day long for less than $330 OTD/NIB. If you can afford just a little more money get a real workhorse- a Remington 870 with a pistol grip/M-4, six position stock and magazine extension.

[Guest Tusculum]

About 4 years ago a buddy of mine worked for John Norrell and they took in over 200 Arkansas Highway Patrol trade ins. I bought 50. They were mid 70s 870 Wingmasters 12ga 18" w/Corn Cob forends and plain wood stocks. Anyway I sold all but 2 The best one and the worst one. The worst one stays in the corner loaded with 00 buck, Has never been cleaned, and has killed more skunks,groundhogs,and other non mentional varmits and has never failed me. IMOPO the finest pump shotgun ever made. No plastic all metal const. and ugly as a mud fence but it wont let you down. Thanks, Jack