870 Remington, solid milled steel receiver. Mossberg, alloy receiver, plastic safety button, no thanks.
Home Defense Shotgun
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
I had a Mossberg Shockwave that had the roughest action I'd ever experienced on a pump. Maybe it was just a bad one, I sold it.
I have 2 Wingmasters, and old Winchester 1200 on the right. The 1200 leans against my headboard.
I have 2 Wingmasters, and old Winchester 1200 on the right. The 1200 leans against my headboard.
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I use the handgun........Shotgun is too big and unweildy in a home enviroment.........Would never even consider it.
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.
Youth model 870 20ga. non-rifled slug barrel cuz i shoot better with the rifle type iron sights. Loaded with 00buckshot, I've had it for at least 20 years, used for deer hunting many times. If I can drop a deer at 70+ yards with a slug figure I can put a world of hurt on a bad guy with buckshot at closer range.
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AJ
US Veteran
Of the two choices, I am going to tell him to look at the 590 first. Also maybe a .20 ga.
Echo40
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Personally, I chose the Mossberg 590 for the following reasons...
- Ambidextrous Tang Mounted Safety
The 590 can be operated with either hand, whereas the 870 uses a cross-bolt safety located on the right-hand side of the trigger guard. - Drilled and Tapped Receiver
The 590 can be mounted with a scope or other accessories/peripherals, unlike the 870 which isn't drilled and tapped. - Slide Release Location
The Slide Release is located behind the trigger guard on the 590, where it can easily be accessed without altering your grip, whereas on the 870 it is located on the front of the receiver where it cannot be accessed without altering your grip. - Heavy-Walled Barrel
The Mossberg 590 is fitted with a Heavy-Walled Barrel which is more durable and has the fringe benefit of adding a bit more weight up front which helps to dampen recoil.
K Harris
Member
Almost any pump shotgun in serviceable condition will work fine. The Mossberg 500 Bantam models make for great, understated home defense shotguns. The 20 gauge has a 22" barrel and a 13" length of pull. Walmart had these in stock even during covid and the price is quite reasonable. Load it up with Winchester #3 buckshot and you are all set. It is small enough that it handles easily, and at 7 pounds loaded it soaks up recoil. The best deal at the moment is the Maverick 88. Hard to imagine a better deal for the money.
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AJ
US Veteran
I do have another HD shotgun for all the other who favor other shotguns. This is a Model 1912 (read Model 12) Winchester in .12 ga. (2 1/2") made in 1918. I like it as it can be "slam fired". Just hold the trigger down and operate the slide hard and fast and it goes boom for five shots. Not pretty, but works and gets the job done---it had a hard life somewhere.
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AJ
US Veteran
I voted other. I will use this 103 year old Winchester model 12.
Yours like nicer than mine......! But mine is 106 years old!
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OP
AJ
US Veteran
Looks as if they were copying the USMC Remington M870 Mk 1. Should work good and last a long time.
I voted for the Mossberg due to the safety. It's just more intuitive. Plus it's easy to confirm visually, providing there's enough light.
The 870 used to be the police standard and that was my issue for a fair number of years. My experience is that the Mossberg is the police standard now. Both are proven reliable.
The shotgun I carried more than any other was a High Standard pump with rifle type sights. I liked it and never had a problem. It was an easy transition from the 870 I had at my previous agency. They eventually took it away when they standardized on the Mossberg. I liked it too although I missed the old High Standard. I was just very used to it at that point.
My house shotgun is an old Japanese Smith & Wesson pump. I bought it cheap long ago. It's a used police issue from somewhere.
If buying new the Mossberg would be the easy choice to me.
The 870 used to be the police standard and that was my issue for a fair number of years. My experience is that the Mossberg is the police standard now. Both are proven reliable.
The shotgun I carried more than any other was a High Standard pump with rifle type sights. I liked it and never had a problem. It was an easy transition from the 870 I had at my previous agency. They eventually took it away when they standardized on the Mossberg. I liked it too although I missed the old High Standard. I was just very used to it at that point.
My house shotgun is an old Japanese Smith & Wesson pump. I bought it cheap long ago. It's a used police issue from somewhere.
If buying new the Mossberg would be the easy choice to me.
STORMINORMAN
Member
I happen to have both of the apparent poll favorites... 
The 1st firearm I ever purchased (@ the ripe old age of 20) by myself was a well-used 20 gauge Wingmaster for $25. It needed a small internal part that a local gunsmith replaced for $15 and has worked very well for me for over a half century... He even touched up the blueing! Told me it was one of the very early ones, close to my birth year of 1951.
My Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge (which arrived some 35 years later) came with two barrels and a synthetic stock: with a piece of rail mounted for a red dot & a light it handles shotgun appropriate home defense duties.
Two winners, IMHO?
CHEERS!
The 1st firearm I ever purchased (@ the ripe old age of 20) by myself was a well-used 20 gauge Wingmaster for $25. It needed a small internal part that a local gunsmith replaced for $15 and has worked very well for me for over a half century... He even touched up the blueing! Told me it was one of the very early ones, close to my birth year of 1951.
My Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge (which arrived some 35 years later) came with two barrels and a synthetic stock: with a piece of rail mounted for a red dot & a light it handles shotgun appropriate home defense duties.
Two winners, IMHO?
CHEERS!
Doug M.
Member
I have a 590, which replaced one stolen in 2011 or. so. It is Vang comped; good for shooting, but the concussion to the side is pretty unpleasant. I got it with the ghost ring sights and rail, mounted an Aimpoint on top and a Surefire equipped front end. Since my bypass, it has stayed in the safe as I more sensitive to recoil. It is loaded with 000 or slugs. I am confident that if the need arose, it would stop an intruder.
My preferred long gun is an AR (Bravo Company M4A1) that I also used on duty. Lighter, less unwieldy, far better ergonomics. 5.56X45 is a very good ballisitic choice for HD as with LE duty ammo it is far less likely to overpenetrate walls than decent shotgun or handgun ammo according to tests run by the FBI and Dr. Roberts. Aimpoint, Surefire 1000 lumen light, and sling. I trained with Pat Rogers in several classes, and I am comfortable and competent with it. I also have a pistol or two accessible most of the time. A couple have RDS.
The firearm is probably the least important component of a HD system. Access control (fencing and lights) will deter most; I like bigger dogs as they have deeper and nastier sounding barks and tend to be more stable with others if properly trained and socialized (some breeds are not good with strangers, so make sure you research; I would not have one of the livestock guardians unless I had rural property and livestock, although someone on the neighborhood has an Overchka which seems to be well trained and socialized). Most of our dogs have been rotts or Rott X; they are very discouraging to strangers but pretty easy going if you do your part. Working breed dogs are many times more alert than we are, and the comfort associated with a Rott or 2 on the bed is significant.
My preferred long gun is an AR (Bravo Company M4A1) that I also used on duty. Lighter, less unwieldy, far better ergonomics. 5.56X45 is a very good ballisitic choice for HD as with LE duty ammo it is far less likely to overpenetrate walls than decent shotgun or handgun ammo according to tests run by the FBI and Dr. Roberts. Aimpoint, Surefire 1000 lumen light, and sling. I trained with Pat Rogers in several classes, and I am comfortable and competent with it. I also have a pistol or two accessible most of the time. A couple have RDS.
The firearm is probably the least important component of a HD system. Access control (fencing and lights) will deter most; I like bigger dogs as they have deeper and nastier sounding barks and tend to be more stable with others if properly trained and socialized (some breeds are not good with strangers, so make sure you research; I would not have one of the livestock guardians unless I had rural property and livestock, although someone on the neighborhood has an Overchka which seems to be well trained and socialized). Most of our dogs have been rotts or Rott X; they are very discouraging to strangers but pretty easy going if you do your part. Working breed dogs are many times more alert than we are, and the comfort associated with a Rott or 2 on the bed is significant.
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I choose the 870, but I bought an unfired example from 1975 a couple of years ago - it's so much nicer than current production! The Mossberg 590 is a workhorse, and you find them with MSG Detachments in Embassies worldwide.
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.Why does he think he shouldn't have bought the KSG? I bought mine specifically as a house gun because of its short length. It's definitely heavy if you load it up with stuff like I did with mine (below), and if you load it with all 14 rounds. But that can be mitigated. Mine works fine however.
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.
DWalt
Member
I have 2 Wingmasters, and old Winchester 1200 on the right. The 1200 leans against my headboard.
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.
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