Best home defense shotgun?

EDIT: I posted this from my phone and meant to put it in Off Topic! Mods, do me a favor?

Moving back to a new place in Milwaukee after a month out of town. The place is GORGEOUS and cheap, but it's on the rougher edge of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. I don't think a 9mm is well suited to home defense; what is the shotgun of choice these days? I know the Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 are quite well-regarded...I would love a Benelli but I'm not made of $100 bills. What do you guys think?

Mossberg is a great home defense shotgun. There's the Taurus judge, but that's a handgun and takes 410 shells. I'd buy a benelli m4 myself...... If I had the money

Remington 870. Or if you're left handed, Browning BPS. I shoot both but grew up with a BPS so all of the controls happen without thinking.

Mossberg 500 is a good piece.

I've never had an issue with my 870. I wouldn't turn down a Mossberg 500 either.

I like my Norinco 870 riot gun knockoff, bought at dunham's for ~$200 OTD on sale, H&R "Pardner Pump Protector". Built better than any new 870 till you get into military/police models.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

Give me a little more info on that. I know Norinco makes the best SKS out there right now; what do they offer that a plain jane 870 doesn't?

Shopped the aftermarket for accessories before buying the 870 home defense shotgun. Love this folder vs standard stock or pistol grip only, it's versatile and fits me well. Extended magazine and shell holder aren't exactly necessary but nice to have while yur buildin' it. Tac light is a must, IMO.

I imagine other brands have similar aftermarket parts as well. I'm very pleased w/ the 870.

Whatever you do make it fit you.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

Very thick glass filled nylon furniture, all furniture screw holes have brass inserts, metal trigger group(plastic on all but the milspec Remington iirc), parkerized(cheaper rems are sandblasted and blued), factory mag tube is 5 shells (not 4), seems to vary by batch but a lot of them come with forged extractors(rather than injection molded metal). Its a true military/police grade shotgun for $200.

Receiver says "HAWK Industries, China" or something like that, but its really a Norinco shell corp so they can sell to the US again. For more info just google "H&R Pardner Pump Protector" they sell some sporting models too.

Anything, really. I have a really nice Ithica featherweight pump of 1930s vintage that I grew up shooting rabbits and grouse with. It does not look bad ass at all. It's 16ga and choked for skeet. It's engraved with pictures of birds.

Regardless, I wouldn't go getting on the wrong end of it. That would be a very bad idea.

I'd rather shoot a Remington automatic shotgun over a pump gun any day. There's nothing like the sound of a shotgun racking to make an intruder's pants turn brown though.

This is basically the exact same rig as I use at home, though I have a different light. Mossberg 590 with Knoxx stock.

Very maneuverable even with the long tube if you set that stock in tight. I also find that the pistol grip gives a good amount of control vs just a straight stock.

I also have a Remington Model 11 auto that is getting a shortened barrel and stock as my toss behind the seat of the truck shotgun.

EDIT: Back had to go help the wife with dishes.

Anyway I would stick with either a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 pattern gun. Aftermarket support for both is HUGE and it is hard to go wrong with either one. I prefer the Mossy but some like the Rem better. I WOULD go with a pump because hey it is a more simplistic action with less to go wrong. You can also learn how to chuck a shell to put in a alternate other than your normal load (if you wanna get fancy). Find a setup that is comfortable for you and go with it. If you were near I would take you out with a few of mine to try out.

For home defense get a light and make sure you are able to manipulate it easily. I prefer lights that allow you to go bright or dim. Look at barrel length and how tight of quarters you will be in. Tighter spaces may dictate going with an 18 inch barrel.

PRACTICE! Clearing a house is a whole different animal than just shooting at the target range. Watch some video's online, maybe see if you can find a copy of Magpul's Art of the Dynamic Shotgun. Obviously in your house practice unloaded. You may feel silly however if the time ever came you needed to do a sweep then you are already use to maneuvering in your home with the weapon ready. Know your danger zones as well. What is on the other side of walls, where might there be family and friends or in some cases neighbors? Choose the ammo you want (#4 Buck is great for homes) and practice with it. If you are going to run any other loads in say a side saddle use different color shells than your primary. I have #4 in bright blue, 00 in maroon and slugs in black. In the side saddle closest to me is #4, then 00 and the slugs are furthest forward. Most people would not need to run a setup like that I just do it out of habit. 2 3/4 shell will pack more than enough umph for what you need so don't get crazy and go with magnums (I will use 3.5 mags for hunting that is it). Some shotguns (most actually) do not like to be cycled slowly or softly, learn to rack it properly. I have taught several people at the range that were having problems getting their gun to cycle and it was simply that they were being wimps with it.

Oh forget about the whole racking the shotgun will make them run thing. I use to think that way will sometimes still say it but I keep one in the pipe and the safety on. I would rather they not know I am coming in case they are armed. Oh yeah and keep your damn house clean. I know a guy that heard a noise went out to investigate tripped over something left in the middle of the floor and blasted a hole in his sofa. This also means know the layout of your home so you could walk it blind folded if you have to (well not really but you get my meaning).

Oh yeah. PRACTICE.

Mossie 500 or rem 870 are both cost conscious, common, well supported in the aftermarket, and reliable as gravity. I love autofeeders but the feeds can be temperamental. Pumps always go bang. My 500 will hold six 2-3/4 shells, and shorter home defense rounds are out there that get you up to 8 as long as you aren't shooting distance.

Look at the Maverick 12ga too. Its Mossberg's budget division but they are nearly identical to the 500s, interchange almost all parts and can be bought new well under $200. Its almost as cheap for me to buy one and cut it down as it is to buy a short barrel for my 500.

I've been wanting a shotgun for shooting clays with buddies and double duty as home defense. The CZ 712 utility seems to be a very good all around package. ATI makes some direct fit furniture to suit it to you and extension tubes, chokes, etc. are readily available since it uses Binelli parts.

500 or 870

mndsm wrote: Mossberg is a great home defense shotgun. There's the Taurus judge, but that's a handgun and takes 410 shells.

From what I've heard, the judge is kinda poopy quality.

What about "managed recoil" shells? Are they a gimmick or do they actually make a difference?

This thread is relevant to my interests.

Grizz wrote: 500 or 870

mndsm wrote: Mossberg is a great home defense shotgun. There's the Taurus judge, but that's a handgun and takes 410 shells.

From what I've heard, the judge is kinda poopy quality.

I hadn't heard that part.... Interesting.

The 500 and 870 are both going to be the easy buttons. You can choose something else, like a Benelli Supernova, but why?

FWIW, I think that the aftermarket pistol grip stocks for the Mossberg make them more difficult to manipulate. If you want that kind of stock, I'd go with the Remington.

Get good ammo. Birdshot isn't a proper defensive load.

You have hit the two titans of the industry, each with great support, accessories and knowledge. You can pay less and have a shotgun that will probably work, and you can spend a whole lot more and get some fancy stuff, but these are the dependable, reasonable options.

The only other one that I would toss in the mix is the Beretta 1301. It is pretty new to the market, but I have shot Beretta shotguns since I was 9 (that's 36 years) and they have never let me down.

Will wrote: Get good ammo. Birdshot isn't a proper defensive load.

This is important, 00 buck, #4 BUCK or #1 BUCK only, do not confuse the numbered buckshot with numbered birdshot, the birdshot is a different scale. I use unbuffered, standard wad(wide patterning) #4 BUCK as I live in an apartment, Remington loads a good 2 3/4" one, as do many of the European loaders, it's as small as you can go for good penetration while minimizing penetration through walls and such.

+1 for Mossie, 870, comments about buckshot and knowing your way around your house. +1000 for "PRACTICE." If your HANDS don't know how to operate the gun in that awful situation, no other detail matters. At all.

The added length would not work so well in close quarters unless you went down to an SBS or something but a Salvo 12 would be a great thing for your ears indoors. But it will hurt your wallet. Oh and you will have to wait as you are cleared for it and you have to live in a state that allows suppressors.

http://www.silencerco.com/products/#/salvo/

stanger_missle wrote: What about "managed recoil" shells? Are they a gimmick or do they actually make a difference? This thread is relevant to my interests.

Never tried em, if you genuinely cant handle a 12 gauge, and most people can if they hold it correctly, you might look into it. Personally I figure in such a situation recoil and noise is of minimal concern.

In reply to rebelgtp:

Which states allow suppressors?

In reply to Nick_Comstock:

Not enough