I'm in the market to purchase my first 12-gauge shotgun and I don't really know where to start. What are good brands? Are there any specifics I should be looking for? Appreciate all the input. Thanks in advance.

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Welcome to the forum!
What is the intended use for this firearm? That would help a lot.
Safe answer is a Remington 870, they have enough configurations to cover most all the bases. If strictly SD/HD use, Mossberg's 500/590 lines are very popular. Can't go wrong with either imho.

If you are looking at semi-autos, Benelli has been the name to beat for a long time. There are newer offerings that are excellent as well, but I am not up to speed on them. hth

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

It will mainly be used for home defense.

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Clearly not enough information.

Single Shot (break action)
Over & Under
Side by Side
Semi-Auto
Smooth barrel or rifled barrel? Or both?
Trap shooting?
Waterfowl?
Deer?
Home Defense?
Wood or Synthetic stock?
Blue or stainless?

The list goes on.

Maybe something along these lines?
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...c-7-round.aspx

I was in similar situation recently and after some research and budget restraints I chose the 12g Maverick 88 18.5in security model (made by Mossberg). It takes most Mossberg 500 attachments, plenty online. If it is primary HD and will sit in safe, corner of room or under bed, I couldn't justify spending alot of money as I would on a pistol I would shoot more often at range. You may find a used one for cheap. even a used mossberg was at least $320, I found a new maverick 88 for $220. You will here people finding them cheaper elsewhere not around my way though, I looked. I can't get a military/police discount. good luck

I would, and did, buy a used Remington 870 about 30 years ago.
Its action was slick as butter then, and I’ve since sent it to Scattergun Technology’s and shortened the stock, and barrel, and have a Surefire forearm light.

I just have a one shot extension on the magazine as I wanted it very sturdy for Alaska bush work.

I also shortened the stock a couple of inches.

Don’t buy a pistol grip shotgun.

For simplicity I keep mine loaded with 00 and slugs on the side.
I however take the gun into bear country.
I’d be comfortable with any duck or goose load in the house.
And heaven forbid, even bird shot, if you’re really worried about over penetration.
Emory

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Hard To Kill

I did the same thing. About 30 years ago I picked up an as new 870 Wingmaster.
I sent it to Scatter Gun Tech in Tenn. It has an 18" barrel with Trac Loc sights. Front Tritium Only.
Speed Feed Butt Stock, Side Saddle, and the Speed feed Forend. Parkerized Finish. Originally it had an Orange Follower. I replaced it with a Glow in the Dark Lime Green one over the years.

Go for an 18" barrel if possible.
I would go with a Pump Gun.
Brand: Remington 870, Winchester 1200/1300, Mossberg 500/590, or a Benelli Nova or Super Nova.
You could live with a Browning BPS or Ithica 37 also. They are both Bottom Load/Bottom Eject models. You just need to use the shotgun enough to be comfortable with it. They have a few quirks you need to know about. Like it will not pump when Cocked, without pushing the button normally on the bottom of the action, or pulling the trigger which is not a good plan at all if you do not know if it is loaded or not..
I like to keep mine with a Loaded Tube and an Empty Chamber, Uncocked. You can partly jack the slide back and get the shell out of the chamber without loading another round with a little practice. Then check the chamber with the bolt back part way to make SURE you have no round in the Chamber, and pull the trigger with the gun pointed in a safe direction.
At this point you just need to pump the shotgun to load it.

Take the gun to a safe place to shoot it, and run a box of shells through it a few times. Do the drill getting the live round out of the chamber and closing the bolt without picking up another round. It is easy with a little practice. Also practice reloading from the side saddle. Fire a round or two and top the magazine off from the side saddle.

Practice with lite loads.

Do some thinking about ammunition choices.
In a subdivision I would stay with shot no heavier than #4 or #6.
Where I live Buck Shot would not carry to my closest neighbors house.
I still have #8 in my gun most of the time for snakes in the yard.

If you have a range close that shoots Trap or Skeet I would probably go with a barrel with choke tubes, or get something you can get an extra barrel for. Shooting Trap or Skeey you will get familiar with your equipment in short order.

I like a Side Saddle so I know where my extra ammunition for a reload is. ON The Gun.

A Forend Light is not a bad plan for target identification. Can also be barrel mounted. Can be added later, down the road.

Just My 2 Cents

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

I have a Model 67 Springfield by Savage(formerly a Stevens Model). They aren't made anymore, so getting replacement parts can be a pain, but I got mine for under $100 and I like it. I have a bias against Mossberg, I've heard some troubling things about their safeties. IAC has an 870 copy they call the "Hawk" that has all the tacticool fixings for under 300. It's gotten some good reviews. Worth looking into.

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Just the opinion of a kid

Good brands are Remington, Mossberg, and Bennelli.

The Remington 870 is the most used shotgun I've seen. I currently have an 870 Express. I also acquired an old 870 28" fixed chock barrel on the cheap. I used a pipe cutter and converted the barrel to 20" with no choke. This way if I need to press the gun into a hunting mode, I can swap out the barrels to a hunting set up with removable chokes.

I agree that there is no need for pistol grips. If it's your only shotgun make it as versatile as possible. You might get out bird hunting some day and the evil looking stuff will be out of place.

If you cut down an old barrel, make sure it's at least 18.5" long to keep it legal. Also be aware that many old 870 barrels were not designed for 3" shells and you will be limited to 2.75" shells. By the way, I have other shotguns I use for hunting and clay bird shooting. If somebody needs to barrow a shotgun, they get my 870 instead of a $1,500 over/under.

You can find a used 870 nearly anywhere, and if you pick up the 2 3/4" model you will get it cheap.

The old Wingmasters were a heck of a gun, the fit and finish and polish is so much better than anything put out today.

You can expect to pay about $150 for an old used 870 in very good condition if you stick with the less desirable 2 3/4" action.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Some great advice here...and I certainly don't want to be the "Department of Redundancy Department," so I won't go into the advantages of the different pump shotguns.

However, inasmuch as this is your first shotgun, you should be aware that you'll need to go out and practice, practice, and practice some more in order to get the needed muscle memory down so you can work that pump gun without giving it a second thought.

On the other hand, if you get a short-barreled double barrel shotgun (like some of the coach guns used in Cowboy Action Shooting), you'll find that it is 1) a little easier to manipulate, 2) easier to acquire the muscle memory and 3) even with a 20-inch barrel, it's still shorter than a 20-inch barrel pump gun.

On the downside, it only holds two shells.

Lots of choices out there. Good luck to you. It's hard to beat a good scatter gun for home defense.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

As others have noted: Remington 870.

Be safe.

I would definitely recommend some instruction in the handling of a pump shotgun, or any gun, for that matter. I like the short doubles, the Stevens 311 often can be found used at a reasonable price, and a gunsmith can cut the bbls to 20" for defense. Practice, low-brass skeet/trap loads at first, then 'tactical loads' of reduced velocity. Full loads later.

I've got my brother in law a Remington 870 with Magpul furniture and it shoots like a brise.

As less expensive alternative you can look for a S&W Model 3000 Police

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Jorge

I agree with all the posts regarding the 870. You will not find a better value in a durable, do-all shotgun. I also agree that a pistol grip is not an advantage when it comes to shotguns. Find an 870 express home/field combo. It comes with two barrels (short for home use, long for field use).

Love shotguns; love the 870.

Lotta considerations if intending to use one for home defense; serious strengths, serious limitations.

Do some research and give some thought -- many of us have discussed the subject here before.

If still intent, indeed get training and practice. At minimum, check out DVDs from Magpul and Clint Smith.

Read the many pages here and look at the videos, much worth absorbing:

AIP Tactical Combat Shotguns

As you research and learn, keep the questions coming in this thread and the discussion will grow...

You've gotten good suggestions here: Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, Stevens. Pump action, not semi-auto. Now I'd like to introduce another thought.

My first-line HD weapon is a Mossberg 500--in 20 gauge. The main reason is that my 5-foot, 120-lb wife has a problem handling the recoil of a 12 ga, and if she needs to use the gun I don't want her to be afraid to pull the trigger. She handles the 20 ga okay.

At typical HD distances of three to five yards a 20 ga loaded with #1 buck is going to be just as deadly as a 12 ga.

And if you feel like playing a little on a Saturday afternoon, a 20 ga makes a really fun skeet gun!

You can but a Mossberg 500 at WalMart for just under $200. It will have a 3" chamber, but Walmart also stocks the 500 with a 3½ chamber. I would get the one with a 3" chamber, but when I buy buckshot I would buy 2 3/4" shells just because they are easier to handle. If you can afford a bit more, go on gunbroker.com and get a Mossberg 18.5" barrel. That way it will be like having two guns and it will be less than $300 new (Gun is $200 extra barrel is $70). WalMart also has the Mossberg Maverick 88, and that is what I have, but I would rather have the 500. The 500 has the safety where it is easier to use. BTW, the Mossberg 500 is what the NAVY uses for base security.

Walmart also has the 500 in 20 guage.

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Luke 22:36

I'll second this, for all the reasons listed. For HD I doubt anyone on the receiving end will notice whether or not it was a 12 or 20 gauge. From the other end, including recoil and noise level in a confined space, you might.

Looking for a Remington 870 myself. 20 gauge, 7-Round synthetic is what I am after. Should be more than adequate for my needs.

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Semper Fi

Take a look at the Benelli Supernova Tactical. I did and could not leave the store without it. $499 + tax

Chambered for 2 3/4" 3" and 3 1/2" shells. Great gun. Great price considering Benelli's are known to be pricey.

For home defense it's hard to argue with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun.

For under $300 you can find a good selection. I know the 870 is a good choice. But, CZ recently released one that looks like a good one too.

I'd suggest loading it up with turkey shot - 4 or 5 shot.


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First off, seeing that you're new, welcome to the forums. My recommendations are:

If you're a righty - Remington 870 Police, Cat No. 24903 (parkerized, walnut Stock, 2 round extension, bead sight)

If you're a lefty - Mossberg 590A1

Both are great shotguns in their own right, but I'm partial to the Remington 870 myself.

If the Remington sounds like just the ticket and plain jane's not your thing, they are offered in other configurations as well.

As many have stated a pump shotgun is a great option. I have two Remington 870's both with 6 shot mags and 18" barrels. Remington 870's have a TON of accessories available so you can fine tune it to your exact needs. Mossberg, 500/590, Winchester 1200/1300 (older ones not the new production) are good guns as well. You will be well served with any of these guns.

Now as far as ammo, for HD 00 Buck or slugs, maybe #4 Buck but that is the smallest shot you should ever use for HD. NO BIRDSHOT!

Just wanted to thank everyone for their insight. I've taken everyone's input and have my sights set on a couple. Thanks again!

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Another vote for the Remington 870. It's My backup Duck Hunting gun. I've got the synthetic express super mag (3.5 inch) that gets used when it's sleeting and crummy out. I've dropped it in the mud, used it as a paddle, even used it as a pole to push my self out of the mud when I've gotten stuck in the deep stuff. Can still fire after all of this.

It's like the AK of shotguns. I clean the mess out of it too.


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Stoeger Coach Gun variants are also good choices. Critics will point to the limited shot capacity, but if you can't get the HD job done with the twin blasts of 12 gauge from a SxS, you're in deeper than expected and best go for the combat rifle.

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I'm with the banned ...