Home Defense Shotgun

Opinions on Pros and Cons of:

1. Pump Action Shotgun

2. Auto Loading Shotgun

3. Double Barrel Shotgun

Manufacturer and Model ?

Some version of the Remington 870 12 gage Pump. Just the racking sound should scare away any bad actor with any sense. The price is right and it is the poster child of reliability. Can load with mini shells to reduce penetration.

I chose the marine magnum version.

The racking sound, so the experts say, it more harm than good. I use a Benelli but any auto will do. A pump if you can handle it under stress.

Getting old and not really as fond of recoil as I once was. While way back when, I was really, really fond of auto loading 12 gauges by Remington. I'm no longer much of a shotgun fan. There are better choices now.

If you just gotta do shotgun, nothing wrong with a 20 gauge semi auto, it's essentially what the 1860-1865 unpleasantness was fought with. OK, they were rifled. Some nice deals on Remington 1100s these days.

I wish folks would stop with the old **** about racking the slide on a shotgun and the fact that it will put fear in the hearts of all the gremlins who invade their homes. First, that is not necessarily the case at all and second, it may telegraph your position.

Me gusta mas la escopeta de accion a bomba porque su buen funcionamiento no depende de la calidad del cartucho,yo tengo una Remington 870 Express calibre 12 con un cañon de 28" y chokes intercambiables y otro cañon de 20" cilindrico con miras de rifle,con ella puedo disparar cartuchos 12/65,12/70 y 12 Magnum cargados con perdigones,postas,breneke,o sea puedo tirar con todo.Ademas el sonido que hace al accionarla es muy disuasivo.
De las escopetas de 2 cañones superpuestas me gusta la Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon y de las yuxtapuestas las AYA (Aguirre y Aranzabal) modelo 1 calibre 12/70,y muchas otras.
Perdon que escribo en español pero no hablo ingles.
Gracias.

Mossberg or older Winchester-also some of the Chinese clones that have been rated very high-Hawk comes to mind-there are others.

Marshal tom said:

I wish folks would stop with the old **** about racking the slide on a shotgun and the fact that it will put fear in the hearts of all the gremlins who invade their homes. First, that is not necessarily the case at all and second, it may telegraph your position.

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i keep 1 in the chamber . they will have to be frightened by boom , rack . probably work .

HOUSTON RICK said:

Some version of the Remington 870 12 gage Pump. Just the racking sound should scare away any bad actor with any sense. The price is right and it is the poster child of reliability. Can load with mini shells to reduce penetration.



I chose the marine magnum version.

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Do you run mini shells in your 870? I hear that the 870s have to be modified to work. I like them in my 590 Shockwave with the OpSol adaptor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can download a racking app to your phone for free.

And for everybody else, the below means:

I like the shotgun more because its good functioning does not depend on the quality of the cartridge, I have a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge with a 28 "gun and interchangeable chokes and another 20" barrel with rifle sights, with it I can shoot cartridges 12 / 65,12 / 70 and 12 Magnum loaded with pellets, buns, breneke, I mean I can throw with everything. Also the sound that makes the action is very dissuasive.
I like the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon and the juxtaposed AYA (Aguirre and Aranzabal) model 1 caliber 12/70, and many others.
Sorry I write in Spanish but I do not speak English.
Thank you.

leonardocarrillo said:

Me gusta mas la escopeta de accion a bomba porque su buen funcionamiento no depende de la calidad del cartucho,yo tengo una Remington 870 Express calibre 12 con un cañon de 28" y chokes intercambiables y otro cañon de 20" cilindrico con miras de rifle,con ella puedo disparar cartuchos 12/65,12/70 y 12 Magnum cargados con perdigones,postas,breneke,o sea puedo tirar con todo.Ademas el sonido que hace al accionarla es muy disuasivo.
De las escopetas de 2 cañones superpuestas me gusta la Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon y de las yuxtapuestas las AYA (Aguirre y Aranzabal) modelo 1 calibre 12/70,y muchas otras.
Perdon que escribo en español pero no hablo ingles.
Gracias.

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Thank you!!! Years and years this being repeated over and over and over...

Can I shoot plus P's in that?

Marshal tom said:

I wish folks would stop with the old **** about racking the slide on a shotgun and the fact that it will put fear in the hearts of all the gremlins who invade their homes. First, that is not necessarily the case at all and second, it may telegraph your position.

Click to expand...

jimmyj said:

Opinions on Pros and Cons of:

1. Pump Action Shotgun

2. Auto Loading Shotgun

3. Double Barrel Shotgun

Manufacturer and Model ?

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What is your experience?

1) Able to handle a pump and all that goes with it?

2) How about clearing an auto if it's limp wristed?

3) Able to deal with the recoil and slow reloading if a double barrel?

What gauge are you looking at?

Mossberg 500/590 or Maverick 88. 12 or 20 gauge.

Nothing wrong with most autos but the pump actions are less ammo sensitive generally (although my experience with Remington 870s would challenge that).

Double barrels are fine but are limited in capacity to an extent I wouldn't choose one if I had other options. I prefer at least 5 rounds in the magazine.

My only remaining shotgun is a vintage Remington 870 "Sportsman 12" model. Parkerized finish, plain walnut stock, 21" barrel with RemChoke feature, vent rib with large front bead and small mid-bead. I added sling swivels and a leather strap sling.

Around the house it is kept with chamber empty, magazine loaded, action cocked, safety on. This requires the user to hit the slide release, pump the slide to chamber a round, and release the safety to make the weapon ready to fire. Takes much less time than I spent describing this. This is how I carried my shotgun in a police car for over 20 years without any problems at all. Safe as can be and ready in a second or two.

I keep the IC choke tube installed. Magazine is loaded with Federal 2-3/4" magnum BB-shot loads (old time heavy goose loads).

For field use I also have a modified RemChoke tube, a full choke tube, and a Hastings Extra Full turkey choke. With proper ammo the Remington performs well on doves, quail, pheasants, and small game. With the Hastings tube this shotgun has won every turkey shoot I have attended (and seen several demands for re-shoots with everyone using my shotgun, even though there were several high-dollar trap guns on the firing line).

Nothing fancy at all. Short, lightweight, easy to handle (especially in a confined space like a hallway in the house). It has a 3" chamber but I've never been tempted to use such ammunition, or seen the need to do so.

Longest distance inside my house in a straight line is less than 40 feet. I figure that 1-1/4 ounces of BB-shot will make about the same impression on an intruder as buckshot or slugs, but without the worries of shooting through multiple walls (and houses) in a residential neighborhood.

YMMV

I went with a Kel-Tec KSG with a red dot and a flash light. Loaded with 14 rounds of Federal Tactical Low Recoil #1 Buck. It's a bit heavy with the 14 rounds, but my home tactics are to wait for the bad guy to come up the stairs to the bedroom area. So the only weight I have to worry about is the trigger pull.

i am an 870 guy myself . i like to start off with #6 high brass so there is less chance of overpenetration and harming some one i love on the other side of the wall . i load progresively more powerful rounds , 4s,ts,buck then slug. in side home range 6s will likely do the job and then some . Mr. BlackTalonJHP, i have never heard of an ammo related problem with 870s . would you share with us . would rather hear it from fellow member than discover problem when SHTF. thanks , kenny .

If you’re just getting into them for home defense, honestly, don’t.

I have an 870 for Home Defense work and do enjoy it, but I grew up shooting them and they’re a natural fit for me.

If starting from scratch, I’d get a basic solid AR-15 16” carbine from Colt or Smith & Wesson, or a few others. Add a mini red dot, sling, and a tactical light and you’re all set up for home defense.

You have 30 rounds on tap as fast as you can pull the trigger, recoil is minimal, follow ups extremely rapid. Stopping power with the new tactical loads such as the Hornady TAP 75 grain and many others is tremendous, fully equal to any 12 gauge buckshot load and with so much more firepower of any shotgun.

Truly, the advantages of an AR over a shotgun is just undeniable. And if you think .223 is too much penetration for inside the home, you are dead wrong. The modern tactical rounds penetrate LESS than handgun rounds AND buckshot and are SAFER than either for home defense in an urban environment or with family members in the house. Look it up.

There’s a reason most Law Enforcement aganecies no longer carry shotguns and will not be buying any more ever. I feel that the defensive shotgun as we know it, at least the tube-fed variety, is a dying breed on its way out. Carbines (ARs) are just so beyond better it’s not even fathomable if you haven’t researched or fired them.

WITH THAT SAID, if you are used to and comfortable with a shotgun (like me), they can be very effective. Just don’t go out of your way to chose one as your primary home defense long gun.

jimmyj said:

Opinions on Pros and Cons of:

1. Pump Action Shotgun

2. Auto Loading Shotgun

3. Double Barrel Shotgun

Manufacturer and Model ?

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OK, I have a confession to make . . . I'm a shotgunaholic . . .

I shoot skeet nearly every Wednesday night and again on Sundays (or five-stand or sporting clays). I love shotguns and I love buying shotguns. I scour Gunbroker and pawnshops for good deals and am nearly incapable of letting a good one pass at the right price. I've lost count, but I probably own three dozen shotguns. I have pumps, autos, side-by-sides and over/unders. I love them all.

I also shoot all of them . . . well, most all of them. The ones that I hardly ever shoot, the ones that I love the least, are the so-called home defense shotguns. Still, I have a half dozen of them. Did I mention I can't let a good deal pass?

The home defense guns sit propped behind doors and occupied easily accessible spots right inside the safes. They don't get shot much though. What the hell do you do with them? Punch a whole lot of holes in cardboard I guess. Sometimes I'll take one out and run a round of skeet with it on a lark, but otherwise they sit.

So, to the original question . . . in terms of short-barrel "home defense" guns (and the the short barrel is the only thing that make a shotgun a "home defense" gun, IMO), I own three 870 Wingmasters, a Remington 11-48 auto, two Ithaca 37, and a Mossberg 500. I like them all. (I have other repeater shotguns, but not with short barrels)

But, if you're asking for advice . . . .Go to Gunbroker or watch the surplus gun websites. Pick up a used Remington 870 WINGMASTER (not an express). You're looking for an old cop gun that rode around in a squad car or prison armory and got beat up, but only got taken out and shot a few times a year for qualification. The simplier the better. I prefer 20 inch barrels, but 18 is fine, too. You want a simple bead front sight. You don't need rifle sights or ghost rings. A wood stock is better than plastic. You don't need Maglight forearms, Magpul stocks, side-saddle shell holders or any of that ****. You just want a simple, plain, reliable shotgun.

If you shop well, you'll be able to pick one of these up for $250 or less. The last one I bought is stamped "DPS" on the side and looks like hell on the outside. Scratched up wood something fierce. When I torn it down, I discovered the thing had NEVER been shot. I paid $180.

When you get your old cop gun, tear it down. Remove the trigger group. Use some oil-soaked steel wool and clean all the old crud off the inside (watch the fingers, you'll slice yourself if you're not careful). Put it back together. Shoot a few shells through it to get comfortable. Maybe shoot a round of skeet. Clean it again. Oil it. Put it behind the door. Forget about it. Chances are extremely good you'll never need it.

That's what I do, anyway.

Regarding the advice to get an AR15 instead of a shotgun . . . well, he's right. The AR15 is a much more capable weapon, and I can understand why cops are using them instead of shotguns. But for myself, I'm not going that route (although I do own AR15s, build them, use them, etc.). I just can't bring myself to leave one out and accessible . . .

1.) If I'm going to leave a gun laying around, I'm more comfortable with something I paid $200 for, rather than $500 (and yes, even a $300 Palmetto special is going to cost $500 by the time you add sights and do-dads).

2.) I'm not comfortable with the idea that some methhead who breaks into my house can help himself to an unsecured AR-15. If he's going to steal a gun, I'd rather it be an 870. He's less likely to cause trouble with that. Besides, he'd probably cut it down, rendering it useless, and load it up with birdshot, making it ineffective.

3.) I know how devastating 00 buck is. If you absolutely have to put somebody down, RIGHT NOW, at close range. There is NOTHING better.

4.) I do not anticipate engaging a bad guy at any distance beyond from here to the other side of the room. If I'm shooting any farther than that, it's stopped being a "defense" situation and has become something else. Cops may deal with that, but I don't.

5.) A jury will be more sympathetic to a shotgun than an evil assault rifle.


If I need an AR15 there's several of them down in the safe. An AK, FAL and M1 carbine, too. If Red Dawn happens, I'm set. But I'm not leaving an AR15 propped behind the door.

I do understand why people choose the carbine over the shotgun, however. They're not wrong.