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best defense shotgun

16K views 73 replies 52 participants last post by  INMY01TA 
#1 ·
I'm ready to purchse a 12 gauge shotgun for home defense. I'm looking at the mossberg JIC but nobody has one in stock. If you know where to find one or have a suggestion on a better unit please post it here.
 
#3 ·
I believe the JIC is a pistol grip only... In my experience I would not suggest a pistol grip in a shotgun due to inability to aim well and lack of recoil control. I had a M590A1 at one time and decided to sell it due to the weight and length. I felt it was a just too much for a quick, short range weapon and the ghost right sights were a little slow. I would suggest a simple 18.5" 590 without the heavy barrel and with just a bead sight or a Remington 870 Express (if you're not going to shoot it a lot) or an 870 Park Police if you'll be shooting it a lot.



Good luck.
 
#4 ·
It's a toss up between the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 590 or the home defense version of the Stoeger 2000. The Stoeger is essentually the old Benelli M1 Super 90 built by a sister company.





Remington 870





Mossberg 590





Mossberg 590 with sights and shell storage in the stock





Stoeger 2000 (defense version)
 
#5 ·
I love my mossberg 500a, 12 gauge, its got: 20" barrel for HD, 28" for field and trap shooting, 24" rifled with a scope for slugs. Great all around talent.
 
#7 ·
I purchased a saiga 12 about a month ago, its accurate as hell but it kicks like a mule... Has two gas chamber settings for hot and light loads. the mags hold only 5 rounds but there are 8's and 10's on the market, even a 20 round drum (Very hard to get nowadays). Mine has fed everything and anything ive put through it. Plus i love the fact that its a built to last ak47 platform.



As a secondary i would recommend a mossberg 500 persuader. but in all honestly they are both completely different animals.
 
#8 ·
No question....



Remington surpassed 1 BILLION 870s made this year, and still counting. The best of the 870s is the original Wingmaster with all steel components, but the new Express models are very good. Better built than a Mossburg, and a few dollars more. GOOD used 870s are everywhere under $300.



Mine is a 3" magnum with flat finished oiled-oak stocks, but for home defense, 2 3/4" reduced recoil 00-Buck is the best.



I have 4 barrels for my 870, including a 18.5" Cylinder choke, a 24" multi-choke, a 30" full choke "turkey" barrel, and a "One of 20 Made" 20-inch full-choke barrel with rifle sights, tested (and passed on) by the NY State Troopers in the late 80's.



This gun was handed down to me by my Dad, and was bought before I was born. It's around 40 years old. It doesn't have a spot of rust, it shoots fantasticly, and it's been through hell and back in duck blinds in 30 degree freezing rain storms and mud, and grime... All I've added is a Scatter-Gun Tech +2 mag extension.



1 Billion 870s can't be wrong... Best of the best.



JeffWard



 
#10 ·
If the 870 is "better built" than a Mossberg why are the Marines buying Mossberg 590s instead of 870s?


Typical .gov move, probably has more to do with the price than quality. Remember, just because .mil guys are using it doesn't mean it's the best thing. Food for thought.




To the OP....different strokes for different folks. Depends what you want, pump, semi, double barrel, etc. Find one that you like and that you can shoot well. With that, you can't go wrong with an 870. Solid, well made, TONS of aftermarket parts available so you can configure it however you want it.
 
#13 ·
Typical .gov move, probably has more to do with the price than quality. Remember, just because .mil guys are using it doesn't mean it's the best thing.
DOD spares NO expense on weapons. I keep a Benelli M1 S90 by my bed but quite frankly if I were to choose pump for home defense it would be the Mossy 590 with sights. There are a few more foo-foos available for the 870 just because it's been around forever but the military replaced the 870 with the Mossy for reasons other than cost. Perhaps you were thinking of the entry priced (but still quite good) Mossy 500...



Moving on to Saiga... Not a bad defensive shotgun but for my needs I'm not in love with box magazine fed shotguns. They look ticticool but to me lack flexibility. For example a Saiga shooter has to wait until they run dry to reload, while the more conventional design allows for continual topping off. Not a put down of the Saiga, just a tactical consideration. I also like to have a mix of shells to give me options. 2x#4 up first followed by 6x00 buck, with 5 slugs on the stock for openers. A single slug can then be added anywhere in the mix at at anytime if I need barrier penetration. Plus I keep a bandoleer of 25x00 buck and another of 340gr 1610fps Hydra-Shok slugs handy. And I think I can probably Poncho Via those two bandoleers a whole lot faster than you can find pockets in your jammies for 5 x 10rd 12ga magazines.
 
#15 ·
Got my remington 1100 sent off to Mike at accurate iron for a little duracoat finish. Gonna have a 21" barrel, side saddle, some hi-viz fiber optic sights, and maybe a flashlight. Haven't decided on the light yet. I hope it will be reliable with 00 buck, because it doesn't like low brass shells. Hopefully this will be my defense shotgun, depending on reliabilty of course.
 
#16 ·
As you can see every ones idea of better is different. Most any good quality shot gun can be made into a good defencive gun. The Remington or Mossberg are both good and some of the others are good as well. each has strong points over the other (location of safety, slide release, after market options). Pick one that fits your budget and needs/wants and spend most of your money on practice ammo and maybe some training. --- Good luck and Merry Christmas -Bill
 
#17 ·
gov held trials, Remmy never submitted a sample, hence didn't get the contract. The reasoning is that they didn't want to sacrifice a lot of market with high profit margins, for a small market with little or no profit margins.



I understand the marketing, but it does give a better rep to the contract holder.



I had a mossy 500, and currently have an 870. I've had other 870's and some 1100's. For HD I'll never use a semi auto shotgun (but I'll use a semi handgun). I'll take an 870 over the 500 anyday, and from what I understand is that the 500to the 590 is just a couple of beefed up parts.
 
#19 ·
I am with the Mossberg crowd on a couple of things.



First, I prefer the position of the bolt release and safety on the Mossberg over those on my 870.

Secondly, the Mossberg has dual extractors.

Thirdly, the shell lifter on the Mossberg is superior, IMO, as it does not need to be pushed out of the way to load additional shells with the bolt closed.



And I agree that if I had it to do over again I would buy the regular 590 instead of the M590A1 due to the weigh difference. Actually, what I would really prefer would be a regular 590 in 18.5 instead of 20.



That is it for pumps, but if I really was doing everything all over again I would get the Mossberg 930SPX tactical aotoloader. Similar to a FN SLP, but without the chokes and at a fraction of the price. Sweet gun!



HNY!
 
#20 ·
gov held trials, Remmy never submitted a sample, hence didn't get the contract. The reasoning is that they didn't want to sacrifice a lot of market with high profit margins, for a small market with little or no profit margins.




You got to my answer first....



And yes... I'm a former USAF Acquisition Officer... The Militery does not buy from the lowest bidder. They get three bidders. One with a low price on crap, one with a high price on good stuff. THEN, they strong-arm the good manufacturer into dropping quality and price on the expensive version until there's no profit OR quality for the supplier. THEN the Senator from the state whos company LOST the contract bitches and threatens to cancel the F22 over a "shotgun". THEN the Military goes back and REBIDS the contract, telling the manufacturers EXACTLY what it will pay for WHAT product, and both manufacturers come back with the same answer... (suprise, suprise) The Military lets two IDENTICAL contracts to two manufacturers (just in case one goes out of business due to no profit), DOUBLING the paperwork, DOUBLING the tooling costs, and doubling the man hours to build the same damn thing, because one prick Senator's afraid of not getting re-elected...



THAT'S how Government Contracts work... That's while Remington no longer competes... They sell a BILLION of the damn things because they are THAT good. They don't need a Marine Corps Contract...



PS Show me the proof that a Mossy is more "drop-sfae" than a 870...



JeffWard
 
#21 ·
I agree with Jester and Jeff, the 870 is a fine shotgun and if had competed in the trials I believe we would (military) we would firing a different shotgun. Besides that Remington was smart to utilize the civilian and LE markets. Trust me, I have had both a 590 and a 870; I simply like the 870's feel and function better.
 
#22 ·
To the OP: some like Mossberg and some like Remington. This is about what I thought would happen when I saw this thread. It is like Chevy vs Ford. The reality is that both Mossberg and Remington both make good shotguns. Both work and are reliable. So the real question it which one you like, not which one we like.



You really need to fire both if possible. But at least shoulder both and see how they feel, and get the feel for the location and function of the controls. And if you can't fire both it would be great if you could load the magazines with snap caps and cycle them thru the action. Azooms are good for this as they have nearly the same weight as a real shell. Then you make your own informed decision.



Or you could do like me and own both!
 
#24 ·
If you have your heart set on a shotgun for home defense (as opposed to alternative choices), Remington 870.



If you do end up going the 870 route ... take the time, effort and expense to get one of the Police models.




Agree, either find a wingmaster and upgrade, or get a police model.



the 870 express is the mossy 500 equal. the wingmasters and police are unmatched.
 
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