Home Defense Shotty List - Agree/Disagree?

[Alexx1401]

I miss the 97. One of the many guns I wish I had kept at least one of. Did not know someone was making a new copy of them till saw it here. Have had many of the Mossy 500's over many years. All were great. 870 is of course the standard since LEO's carried so many so long. Only one I still have is a 1300 Defender. Kept it as it was first gift from Wife. I had wanted for a while to put Iron sights on it. Found a fiber optic sight that just clips over the muzzle and works GREAT for me. I keep it loaded with OO but keep a bunch of slugs for it too. Reason being if all hell were to break loose and things fell apart. It would be what I would go to if I was being shot at from a car. Co worker just recently got a Savage 360 with the pistol grip stock and the rifle sights. I did like it a LOT!!!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Regarding post #20,
If the half cock notch is not worn ... the 97 is a a safe gun.
Lots of 92's , 94's and 95 and 97 Winchesters* are out still there and still safe ... the half cock has been used as a safety for hundreds of years.
( * not to forget to mention Marlins and many others )
Replacing a worn hammer isn't difficult...

Sorry for the loss of your friend.
Andy

 

[Alexx1401]

My wife won't go back to sleep if there is a bump in the night, been that way since we started living together at 18, so once or twice A year I get to clear the house and basement to make sure all the locks are locked and no windows are busted.

I'm still young enough that it keeps me in practice and I take the 3 D-battery Mag light with my pistol so I can use it as a club if I need too.

I have hardwood floors so it'd be hard to get the jump on me and I can walk my house in the dark and only use the light if I think I see or hear something unusual.

I can respect y'all that stay and wait but even if it weren't for my wife, I would probably clear my house anyway - I don't particularly want to call 911 for a tipped over plate in the dish drainer or such.

If I hear something I would check too. Even though they are getting old we still have 2 ankle bitters that make a great alarm. Some times I will wake to some "noise". If the alarms are still laying there sleeping I go back. If they perk up I do. If they jump up and leave the room I really perk up and wait. If I hear nothing and they soon return to bed I just go back to sleep. House is wood floors so anything less than Nija is not going to be able to walk around and not set off the alarms.

 

[etrain16]

OP asked if we agreed with the list. I do, in part. My choices for good (maybe best?) home defense shotguns:

Mossberg 500
Remington 970 Wingmaster/Express

And my personal favorite:

Mossberg 590A1

Honorable mention (not called out in the article):

H&R Pardner Pump - value priced, compatible with many Remington 870 parts (save for the barrels), reliable. Good if you're on a budget.

 

[IronMonster]

My twin house sweepers. I also have a Benelli M4 and a M2, however they are just worth too damn much money to leave loaded in the mud room.

I don't know why you would pick anything but an 870 for this drill, but that's just me.

 

[Stomper]

Here's my top three choices. M500's with upgraded metal trigger packs, 7+1 mag-tubes, heat shrouds, 4rnd. speed-feed stocks...



One is modified & kitted up for a pig sticker, I'll do the other two... eventually.

 

[IronMonster]

Here's my top three choices. M500's with upgraded metal trigger packs, 7+1 mag-tubes, heat shrouds, 4rnd. speed-feed stocks...

View attachment 343542

One is modified & kitted up for a pig sticker, I'll do the other two... eventually.

View attachment 343549
View attachment 343548

Damn it, you just had to "one up" me didn't you? (This might be the only time I ever get to say that and mean it literally)

 

[clearconscience]

I would pick a Mossberg 500/590 or Remi 870.

But an honorable mention for the KSG tacticool shotgun. I don't think I would buy one, but pretty neat.

And of course a bandolier of shells.

I've been going back and forth trying to decide on a shotgun.
I think i'm sold on the Mossberg 590 9 shot, maybe the mariner.

But I really want a 14" 500 too.

 

[MooThulhu]

Sadly I no longer own a shotgun but have owned 3 or 4 in the past (I will be correcting this travesty when I can afford to do so but am focusing on finishing out my 3 AR's first because lets face it, if a ban comes along most shotguns will most likely be ok except for the really cool mag fed ). Maybe if I can sell my partner on the benefits of eating only mac and cheese and raman for a couple months I can work a shotgun into our budget, but I digress.

I have shot all but two of the shotguns on the list (never seen an escort or winchester sxp) and can agree with most of them being good choices for home defense with the exception of the Pistol Grip Only Mossberg, my experiences with those are pretty well mirrored in what they have happen in the test these guys did.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

as long as there is always a mossberg and a remington in the debate, its a debate worth debating.

 

[Srbasbol2]

My go to home defense shotty is a mossberg 930 black water. Pistol grip is a must have for me.

Why you ask? Because my left wrist was once ground beef. Can't rack it, go with my semi auto.

 

[Unka-Boo]

Sadly I no longer own a shotgun but have owned 3 or 4 in the past (I will be correcting this travesty when I can afford to do so but am focusing on finishing out my 3 AR's first because lets face it, if a ban comes along most shotguns will most likely be ok except for the really cool mag fed ). Maybe if I can sell my partner on the benefits of eating only mac and cheese and raman for a couple months I can work a shotgun into our budget, but I digress.

I have shot all but two of the shotguns on the list (never seen an escort or winchester sxp) and can agree with most of them being good choices for home defense with the exception of the Pistol Grip Only Mossberg, my experiences with those are pretty well mirrored in what they have happen in the test these guys did.

I was gonna post that, sums up how bad PGO shotguns suck pretty nicely.

 

[clearconscience]

Fork me that looks aweful.

I really like the 930 too but thought the pump would he more reliable. I can't say from experience though.

And that video is subjective at best. That guy shooting the pistol grip was somewhat douchey

 

[Ura-Ki]

I have always had at least one 97 take down converted to a trench with a sticker on the bowsprit and that's the way I roll, a good second would be a Mossy 500/591 or a Remmy 870MAG with mag extension! Hard to go wrong with them!
Andy is correct, the 97 with a half cock is plenty safe and the exposed bolt has never once bit me. Many thousands were modded over the years to have the rear of the bolt rounded off and so guys like me that have big hands never get bit! One of the biggest benefits of the 97 is the disconnector which allows you to cycle the gun with the hammer still in half cock and even better, the ability to slam fire! The 97 also likes 2 in shells for low recoil and to hold more shells in the feed tube.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

I have always had at least one 97 take down converted to a trench with a sticker on the bowsprit and that's the way I roll, a good second would be a Mossy 500/591 or a Remmy 870MAG with mag extension! Hard to go wrong with them!
Andy is correct, the 97 with a half cock is plenty safe and the exposed bolt has never once bit me. Many thousands were modded over the years to have the rear of the bolt rounded off and so guys like me that have big hands never get bit! One of the biggest benefits of the 97 is the disconnector which allows you to cycle the gun with the hammer still in half cock and even better, the ability to slam fire! The 97 also likes 2 in shells for low recoil and to hold more shells in the feed tube.

see what im sayin... a 500 or 870 is always, hands down, no matter what, always again a good choice!!!

 

[MooThulhu]

Srbasbol2: Ouch man, that looks knarly, what happened?

Clearconscience:

I'm pretty comfortable in saying that if you have 20 people who are not super into shooting like any of us and hand them a PGO shotgun and a Stocked Shotgun that just about all of them will do better with the stocked shotgun. Like they said in the video its possible to get good with a PGO shotty, but its not something that comes as easily as getting proficient with something a lil easier to aim.

As for the doucheyness I assume you are referring to Karl (the blondish guy who Isn't Ian from Forgotten Weapons) I can see how he could rub someone the wrong way, I've met him a few times at Defcon and he wasn't a bad guy though.

 

[Kruel J]

Why do I hate the word "shotty"? ShotGUN is the same number of syllables and doesn't sound goofy. I don't refer to a Glock as my "handy" or an AR as my "rifey".

 

[Ura-Ki]

My truck gun is a Cut down 870 Super mag turkey gun I got from a dude who found out the hard way that Turkeys are not an easy bird to hunt and even harder to kill! I changed out the stocks to the original Remmy plastics and cut the barrel to 21 inches and welded on a pig stickin mount plus a breaching device, cause I actually know what it's for and how to use it! Also added a ghost ring rear sight and trit front sight pin from a glock! If I had to choose ONE over all others, the Remmy has the nod over the mossy, no parts to fall out and loose when you take it apart! Mossy I like for the tang safety

 

[bsa1917hunter]

Hmmm. I'm thinking something loud when you pump it. Kind of like an old Maverick 88.... My buddies really scared the ducks away when we were kids. I'll bet it would scare the heck out of a would be home intruder too...

 

[waltermitty]

though the video provides a useful demonstration, i'm not convinced that it would be what you hinge your decision on in terms of a home defense shotgun. pump actions require a little finesse in operation which can be magnified under stress. a semiauto less so but requires careful ammo match. dbl barrel excels with <2 shot situations.

but I would highlight other considerations: elbow room, sweep, targets. in Seattle the past few months, multiple home invaders targeted homes, many of which have smaller rooms and hallways. the video demo was situated where a confined space was not tested and against targets converging from different directions. if you've ever had to run an exercise within an enclosure, it is obvious that weapon selection is important. whereas a longarm may be suitable say, within a lodge, may be a poor pick for an urban apartment or condo.

the key is to weigh all these factors, your skill, practice...and make the best call for your home environment