Home Defense & Skeet Shotgun recommendation

[TNblues]

Hello I was want a shotgun that will be good for skeet shooting and also good for home defense. Must be over/under or auto.

The only thing I have run across so far is a maverick made by mossberg It is an O/U 12 ga but does not have shell extractors which is a big minus my budget is around 600.

Any recommendations?

[Jonnin]

how serious are you about the skeet? For home defense, you have to consider the size of your home... can your bring a big gun to bear in your home, cut thru rooms and doorways, or is it too cramped? A lot of HD shotguns have pistol grips and/or short barrels, both of which are not exactly great for skeet shooting. You can DO it, but if you are serious about the skeet, it not ideal at all. A full sized sem-auto would work great for both if it is not too large to USE inside your home, and in that case, there are many solid full sized semi autos that will work great. I would make sure it can fire magnum shells, for home defense, but that is just my preference. That would be a bit rough for a long skeet session, so now you need 2 barrels (for regular and mag loads) .... something to consider as 50 rounds of magnums that can cycle such a gun is a lot of shoulder abuse (it takes about 2 min to swap a barrel on these guns, its very easy to do). I would also get a decent capacity for home defense, at least 5+1 and more if you like. I can say I love my rem 1100 and my browning a5 but I have not shot enough brands to say that others are not just as good or better.

[Guest robinsonfam1]

buy a mossberg 500 pump for HD. about $200-250 used

buy a used semi-auto for skeet/trap. there are affordable O/U shotties too. i prefer an O/U for skeet vs a semi-auto personally. seem to swing a bit better and usually lighter too. expect $400+ used almost anywhere anytime.

i bought a mossy 500 brand new condition and a used stoeger m2000 semi-auto in same year, spent $600. both are actually fully equipped turkey models with chokes, porting etc...

[Guest dubaholic2]

i agree. for $600 your best bet would be to get 2 used guns, one for each of its respective roles. you should be able to get a used mossberg 500 or similar, as stated before, for around the $200. you can get a brand new stoeger condor o/u for $379, or probably a better o/u for around the $400 mark used.

[TNblues]

Thanks for the quick reply everyone. I think I am going to just have to buy two guns it seems more logical.

[Dennis1209]

I had the same thoughts. I shoot skeet and trap. I ended up buying a Remington 870 Express 12 ga. brand new from $350.00, added a side saddle and Surefire forarm and light, 7 rd. capacity for home defense. Since I like to shoot skeet / trap, I splurged on a Browning 12 ga. over / under Citori. As far as the wife knows, I paid $350.00 for it also

If I were limited to one gun for dual purposes, I believe I would select a used Browning A5. Might be had used for $600.00? Good luck. JMO

[jimmydeuce]

I recently thought about this and decided two would be the way to go. I already had a shotgun but piked up a Mossberg 500 Tactical today for HD. Much more compact and easier to get around the house with when the need arises.

Edited February 5, 2012 by jimmydeuce

[McAllyn]

If your looking for one weapon for both skeet and HD, check out the Mossberg 930. Turkey models are 24" VR barrel with different choke tubes available. I have a 935 Magnum, and I don't recommend shooting it for fun... cause it's NOT fun.

Mac

[jport]

The main reason o/u are so valuable for clay/hunting is because you have the ability to choke the two barrels differently for second shot distance incase of a miss(hunting) or two targets at once(clay). Aside from that I would say a good cheap pump would do the trick for home defense. Nice mossburg with a riot control barrel works great. First two out would be birdshot, after that it's all buck shot!

[crossfire]

buy a mossberg 500 pump for HD. about $200-250 used

buy a used semi-auto for skeet/trap. there are affordable O/U shotties too. i prefer an O/U for skeet vs a semi-auto personally. seem to swing a bit better and usually lighter too. expect $400+ used almost anywhere anytime.

i bought a mossy 500 brand new condition and a used stoeger m2000 semi-auto in same year, spent $600. both are actually fully equipped turkey models with chokes, porting etc...

+1 this is the way I would go, a used Mossberg 500 cruiser pump 18.5" barrel with stock or pistol grip for HD and a nice O/U for clays. Stoeger O/U Condor for around $340 or the Supreme for $480 new on GB. Good luck

[gregintenn]

You won't find a passable over under for $600. Save up or else go the semi auto route.

[quietguy]

If you are dead set on one gun for both, I would pick up a Remington 870 Express or a Mossberg 500 or 590. You should be able to find them around $200-250 used. Then buy a longer barrel for hunting/clays, or a shorter barrel for home defense, whichever one you are lacking. This should run less than $200. Spend the rest on shotshells and rounds of skeet.

Personally, I prefer the 870, but only because I have used one for most of my life. Both are excellent systems, and have excellent aftermarket support.

[Guest FiddleDog]

From experience, I can recommend a Condor Outback - good beater gun. $379 + tax and tags. It does what it needs to do.