Home Defense Shotguns

[Chief Wiggums]

2 great recommendations in the above statement
* more is better....the more shells that you can send down the hallway the better.
* 20G vs 12 G
being a lifelong shotgun enthusiast (Ithaca & MB) , I had to come to reality and terms w myself and realizing that the 12G is just too much bang for me... I am by no means of frail stature.
I like to shoot my shotguns almost as frequently as I shoot my revolvers & bottom feeders. the 12G just beats me up...

 

[deadear dan]

I would agree with the Chief. 20 gauge buck will give you the ballistic equivalent of 2 44 mags hitting at the same time. More practice and faster followup shots count.

 

[Hoosier45]

I have a M1 Super 90 without the pistol grip. Benelli shotguns are the very best.

I have the same setup for my home defense. M1 Super 90 with normal stock and added a mag extension with a surefire flashlight. Awesome rig and has never failed with any ammo.

 

[nachogrande]

"*HOME*" DEFENSE.

Want to let loose IN your home with 9 shotgun blasts? I hope you enjoy spackling. IMO there's Benelli then everything else. Do you want a gas/piston operated (with lower recoil/faster speed), the uber reliable/simple inertia system (greater recoil), or pump/semi hybrid (better for non lethal rounds???) I went with the 24" super black eagle inertia that can handle 2 3/4", 3", or 3 1/2" shells & sprung for the Benelli pistol grip stock & mag extension. Ordering different barrels/stocks/parts from Benelli $$$ OUCH. At 1 time I had deeper pockets but the arms are getting shorter. Honestly FOR HOME DEFENSE (LIKELY NEVER TO BE USED) a Maverick 88 pump for <200$ would work fine.

 

[Jack Flash]

Want to let loose IN your home with 9 shotgun blasts? I hope you enjoy spackling. ...

Whether anyone here really enjoys spackling, I'm sure it's more popular, by far, than occupying a coffin!

 

[nachogrande]

TRUE DAT.

Whether anyone here really enjoys spackling, I'm sure it's more popular, by far, than occupying a coffin!

HOWEVER this often posted "situation" of a multiple armed bad guys breaching your home scenario is about as likely as the Zombie versions. In a more "realistic" burglary gone bad I doubt much more than 1 shot would have MOST BG's fleeing. I would not spend 1,000$ on a super duper fire extinguisher that would be much more likely to get used. TEHO.

 

[notsofast]

For a home defense shotgun, I use a Remington 870, it has a shortened barrel and a magazine extension.

 

[nachogrande]

JUST A WILD GUESS.

I have 3 shotguns placed in strategic places around the house for self defense. I completely trust all 3.one is a Benelli m1s90,next is a Remington 870 and the last is a linberta 01stac that I paid 399.00 new ; that I have shot enough to fully trust it.Don't under estimate a Turkish shotgun because of where it was made.and at that price, if it got beat up or rained on or whatever,who cares?

As awesome as that Benelli is, I'd bet it cost more than the 300-350$ the OP wants to spend.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

HD Shotguns...Easily one of my favorite topics.....

from left -> right
MB500 Tactical 12G
heatsheild & ghost ring sites
capacity 8 / as a SD gun w/ slugs & intermittent 00 , this would be choice #1

MB590 Shockwave 20G
brand new - anxious to break it in this weekend
capacity 6

Itahca Model 51 semi
"old Yorky" is easily 40+ years old and still runs like a champ although she doesnt get out to play much

Not pictured
Ithaca 37 w Deerslayer barrel
Out on loan to a family member
Every serious shot-gunner , knows of the Model 37

OP - bottom line.....
if cost were a concern , & I could pick only 1 gun , w a budget of $200 , my choice would be a Mossberg Maverick 88 , and yes it is a pump.
If cost were not a concern , I would move directly to the Benelli aisle.

 

[Rudi]

Lots of great info here. My 2 cents, pistol grip shotguns are cool but very painful to shoot(arthritic hands). In a real SD fight I bet you would not notice, but better aim with a stock. For speed nothing faster than a double. Hard to jam a pump, lots of good used pumps available at your LGSs. Any smith can shorten the barrel and put a bead back on.

 

[Rick_A]

I bought a rusty Remington 1100 and cleaned it up a bit.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMVzztS0neM[/ame]

I also purchased an Ithaca 37 that will be trench gunned (not mine).

 

[Watchdog]

I'm waiting on a mossy 930 18" tactical and have a proper multi use shotgun to go along with a my mossy 500 tactical .

I had a Mossberg 930SPX. It's an awesome weapon for sure. And except for the all black finish and sights, it's a fairly ordinary looking semi-auto shotgun. I ended up selling it, though, simply because I got more money for it than what I'd originally paid for it.

HOWEVER this often posted "situation" of a multiple armed bad guys breaching your home scenario is about as likely as the Zombie versions.

Don't know how it is down there in Florida, but around here, more and more home invasion incidents seem to be involving more than one offender...usually two, and sometimes even three or four. And it also seems that every one of 'em now has a gun...usually the ubiquitous black polymer pistol, but more and more now, they're carrying ARs and pistol grip shotguns.

 

[hotshot357]

I have a ATI Mossberg Tactical 500 cruiser. I put a light/laser combo on it. It's sighted in for 25 feet (longest shot in house) and the pattern will be the size of my fist.

 

[WR Moore]

For someone who didn't get a pump gun for their 12th birthday and/or isn't gonna practice till the loading of the next shell is a reflex, the semi does make sense. With one issue: unloading after you've charged the chamber. Semis often have a shell interrupter to keep you from removing shells from the magazine by operating the shell latch with your finger. One needs to practice clearing the chamber with dummy rounds until it can be done without fumbling. 20 gauge is also a good thought.

About reloading the 1100/11-87. Frankly, it's not real likely. However, if you are concerned, the shell carrier/lifter from the 1100 Competition Master (part # F300902) is a near drop in and has a much longer carrier release button. Should someone buy used, having a gunsmith check out the gun is a good idea and replacing the shell carrier wouldn't add much to the cost. The carrier is $40 from Midway. Much better solution than some of the other gadgets.

Rather than hack away at a shotgun barrel, you can frequently find used, good condition used factory short barrels at the local gun shops at much less cost than new. They'd already have any necessary gas port mods already done. FWIW, Remington factory deer/police barrels (at least on the 11-87) can have issues with bird shot loads depending upon what powder is used. They're intended for use with full power buckshot/slug loads, but will function well with reduced recoil/"tactical" buckshot/slug loads.

 

[nachogrande]

TOP SECRET LOCATION?

Don't know how it is down there in Florida, but around here, more and more home invasion incidents seem to be involving more than one offender...usually two, and sometimes even three or four. And it also seems that every one of 'em now has a gun...usually the ubiquitous black polymer pistol, but more and more now, they're carrying ARs and pistol grip shotguns.

If "AROUND HERE" is SO DANGEROUS, why stay there? Move somewhere safer like Syria.
4 Heavily armed home intruders??? Sounds gang/drug related.

 

[Robspeire]

Remington 11-87 tricked out with Wilson Combat Parts.

 

[oldiegoldie]

Remington 11-87 tricked out with Wilson Combat Parts.

what parts did you change out?

thanks

 

[F75gunslinger]

Just my $.02, but to me the terms "cheap shotgun" "semi-auto" and "home defense" have no place in the same sentence. I don't have an issue with a semi-auto for home defense, but would rather not let my life depend on a gun considered "cheap". Generally they are cheap for a reason. Plastic parts, lesser quality metal parts and bad machining tolerances are common on cheap guns. Better to either save the money to buy a good one, trade something you don't use into a good one, or keep an eye on any of the sites you frequent for a good deal .

 

[oldiegoldie]

i just bought Rem 11-87 Sportsman Compact in 20 gauge. should be here next week. i think Rem discontinued this model. have been searching for months. 40 1/2" with 21" barrel and 6.5#. not cheap. first semi auto shotgun i've ever owned.

 

[G-Mac]

I'm looking for an inexpensive home defense semi auto shotgun. Not interested in a pump. I found a Lion X6 which is manufactured in Turkey. Nice looking gun and the reviews seem to be good. I've never heard of them. Anyone know anything about these or have any experience or opinions? And yes, I know what opinions are like.

Home defense shotgun. You're "not interested in a pump" and are considering a "Lion X6 which is manufactured in Turkey".

My advice? Buy a quality, American made, pump shotgun.