Home Defense Shotgun

[Well Armed]

I like my KSG, and don't understand why or how anyone could hate it. I don't need or want a full sized 18"+ barrel with stock shotgun for home defense. That's overkill, huge, and harder to move and maneuver indoors and around corners. It just doesn't seem practical and there are other better options out there for the task of home defense IMHO.

 

[dave1918a2]

The 870 of course.

 

[smoothshooter]

Mossberg 20 gauge with short barrel.
20 gauge will do the job, and be much more pleasant to practice with. Shot size is not critical, but #3 buckshot, ot #4 bird shot would be my first choices.
A 12 gauge is not necessary for across the room distances.
Even a .410 would be good.
Almost all bad guys have an immediate change of priorities when shot with anything.

 

[smoothshooter]

I am a loyal 870 guy. I bird hunt with o/u shotguns these days but still use 870s for turkey and deer. My primary home defense shotgun is an 870.

Compared to the Mossberg, I prefer the steel receiver and 2 action bars of the 870. The 500 is similar to the single action bar Remington 37, that the 870 replaced.

I have handled 870 and 500 youth 20s side by side assisting with a youth shooter program. The 870 just runs "slicker".

In my opinion the 500 has only 2 things in its favor: price and ambidextrous tang safety.

Ever try to clear a lifter jam on an 870 without tools?
I would not get an 870 because of that, and they are unnecessarily heavy. Got rid of my 870's in the early 80's and never missed them.

 

[Zoner]

My other HD shotgun is a Ithaca M37 12 gauge pump. A friend gave it to me cuz it wouldn't go bang. Most guns with a broken firing pin won't go bang. A quick replacement and it was up and running. Somebody had cut the VR barrel down to 22" The damage was done so I didn't feel bad about taking it on down to 18 1/2. It has factory wood furniture and a mag tube that holds 4 rounds with one in the chamber it holds 5. The reciever and reciever parts are all steel....no plastic or pot metal in this baby. A lot of folks think a HD shotgun is "no good" unless it holds 8 rounds in the gun and who knows how many more strapped to the reciever and/or the buttstock.....I disagree. A HD situation isn't a firefight but much more likely to be resolved with one or two rounds

 

[rockquarry]

Ever try to clear a lifter jam on an 870 without tools?
I would not get an 870 because of that, and they are unnecessarily heavy. Got rid of my 870's in the early 80's and never missed them.

I've had at least four 12 ga. 870s in the last 50 + years; never had that happen nor did I hear of it happening. How many times did you deal with this?

 

[biku324]

We had a few hundred in the NMSP and never did I see one jam on the range during our 4x annual qualification shoots, day or night. We did have the plastic safety, plastic trigger Mossberg 500s snap the plastic safeties. That was an easy fix.

 

[Model19man]

A friend wants to get a home defense shotgun. He is looking at an Remington 870 Express or the Mossberg 500/590. He doesn't want to spend enough to buy a car, so Benelli's M4 is out. I tend to lean towards the M870 (see the picture below for the answer). I used the Mossberg M500 while going through the USMC Combat Shotgun Instructor's Course designed by Jeff Cooper for the Corps. They took a beating and ket on ticking. the course was 350 rounds of 00 Buck and slug. Of course 12 ga.

He has the Kel-Tec KSG and thinks he should not have bought it.

Given these offerings, What says the forum.

I inherited a Winchester Model 1897 12 Gauge pump. I bet it is the equal of anything pump action. While it was made in 1925 it is in perfect condition.

 

[ruger 22]

Mine is a 12 ga. Sauer Royal Double. Twin triggers and 20" barrels. This was also my quail gun for over 50 years. It is short, fast, and balances perfectly.

 

[AJ]

I am very partial to the Winchester 1200, having used one for a long time. A very smooth action. Yeah, I know about the alloy receiver and a small bit of plastic, but that means nothing to me. It works very well for me. There was at one time a US military version of the 1200, very difficult to come by one of those today.

I was the active duty 1st.Sgt. of a USMC Reserve MP Company. We had three Winchester 1200's in the Armory. We took them to the range for a familiarization firing for the MP's. I believe it was 10 rounds per man from different positions. All three 1200's were down in the first hour of shooting mostly pins falling out. I had my 870 (yes, the one pictured) along to shoot for my own enjoyment. Ended up letting the company use it to complete the familiarization. Made for a long day, but it got it done. Pretty close to 2000 rounds through the 870 (all 00 Buck). Never missed a beat and still functions as advertised after 36 years.

Still plan on telling my friend to get a 590 Mossberg.

 

[AJ]

I inherited a Winchester Model 1897 12 Gauge pump. I bet it is the equal of anything pump action. While it was made in 1925 it is in perfect condition.

There is a picture of my Father-In-Law holding a military issue M1897 while on duty in Bruce Canfield's "Combat Shotguns" on page 155. I had a NC Prisons 1897 Riot Shotgun back in the mid-70's, wish I still had it.

 

[AJ]

I personally believe he already has the perfect home defense shotgun. I use one and love the versatility of it. 2 3/4", 3", mini shells (great for apartments or homes with thinner walls) it'll shoot almost anything and most compact setup you can find. And the ability to load two different loads and switch back and forth is a plus. I've used mine in 3-gun and it rocks. Yes, they are not as smooth as traditional pumps, but they love to be "manhandled." I have short stroked mine at the range more than once, however, when the stress level is up, like in competition, I have never had an issue. I imagine the stress level will be even higher in the home with unwanted guests.

BTW AJ, nice setup, it's very similar to the way I have mine rigged up. A red dot sight is perfect for this. Mine has a circle reticle that corresponds very well with the pattern at any given range within reason.

Thanks, but that is Borderboss's gun. Not mine.

 

[alwslate]

Ever try to clear a lifter jam on an 870 without tools?
I would not get an 870 because of that, and they are unnecessarily heavy. Got rid of my 870's in the early 80's and never missed them.

The lifter jam is an operator problem caused by not pushing rounds far enough into the magazine tube to engage the shell latches. Problem was solved on 870s years ago by bigger shell latches and the flexi tab parts. Parts include a u shaped cutout in the lifter and flat surface on the bolt and they can be retro fitted. Yeah, steel is heavier than Aluminum and plastic

 

[paknheat]

The mrs & I are utilizing a pair of 870s for hd duty now.

Both are 70's era Wingmasters, hers in 20 & mine in 12 gauge.

Used in conjunction that's a whole lotta buckshot heading at Mr badguy simultaneously.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Rubone]

What can I say...
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/2342/xETfUl.jpg

 

[sigp220.45]

I like my 12 gauge Model 12 because of Bo Hopkins.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

My USGI (Ohio National Guard) 870.

A Kent State Special .

 

[dsf]

HD shotgun? Buy a nice Sears & Roebuck m20 and prune the barrel to 18.5". Better gun than 870 or Moss for less. Built like a tank and they last forever.

Sears and JC Higgins branded High Standards. Rock solid and cheap as heck. I see them often with the barrel lopped off and no front sight, going for under $200.00 all day long.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I like my 12 gauge Model 12 because of Bo Hopkins.

"How'd you like to kiss my sister's black cat's ***?" ~ Crazy Lee

 

[Buick]

I like the Mossberg. I feel like the lifter arrangement is a little tougher and more positive vice the 870. That being said, at this moment I have a Benelli Nova slug gun as my house gun, loaded with #1 buck. I set the nice ghost ring sights for zero at 50 yards with slugs, in case I need to take care of something out in the yard. You can find these on sale for 300.00.