Cheap Home Defense

[DanTana]

Hi,

Was looking for something to use in my home. Didn't want to spend too much and just needed something dedicated to home defense. I was looking at my local Gander Mountain and they happen to have a sale on the H&R Pardner Pump for $189.00 right now. I began reading about it and learned that they are basically a Remington 870 except they won't interchange the barrels. It came with a 18.5" cylinder bore barrel and synthetic stock and forearm. Well after checking it out in the store I went ahead and bought one and really like the way it feels and how solid it is. Doesn't feel flimsy or cheap at all. Cycles very smoothly. I haven't been able to fire it yet, but I do imagine it would have a decent recoil given it's weight. I have read nothing but positive reviews on them so I hope I have a good dedicated home defense shotgun handy whenever I may need it. So, if you looking for a cheap, reliable home defense shotgun, check this one out. Can't hardly beat if for the money.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=HR-Pardner-Pump-Synthetic-Shotgun&i=416057&r=view&from=grid

Review:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/12/ralph/gun-review-hr-1871-pardner-pump-protector-12-gauge/

http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_h&r_pardner_pump_protector_p1.php

[muggsy]

If your home defense shotgun has been fired as much as my home defense shotgun has been fired it should last you through several lifetimes. They kick like hell. :)

[OldFatGuy]

If you had to use it and you're blasting some SOB through the wall, I bet you won't notice the recoil!

[DanTana]

Yea, lets hope I never have to use it for self-defense. I do want to take it out and put a few rounds through it soon. Suppose to be built like a tank, feels solid at least.

[Barth]

Years ago I think K-Mart stopped selling guns???
Anyway they sold their stock at what seemed like wholesale.
Me and two friends bought Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump guns @ $149 each.
I still have that bad boy.
It's a thumper.

[DanTana]

I think Walmart sold these too, well at least they used to.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/H-R-Pardner-Pump-Protector-Shotgun-12ga/19235966

[Pointblank]

I read the Truth About Guns article. I chuckled when the author used "China" and "crafted" in the same sentence.

[340pd]

I lucked into a Gander Mountain special a few years past. A Winchester 1200 Riot model with 18" barrel.

Sticker on the stock says "Property of the Internal Revenue Service"

Great condition, just faded where it sat in a rack on the wall probably from the early 1970's

$149

[marcinstl]

pawn shops, older mom&pop gun stores, estate sales are good places to shop. these days nobody likes side by side shotguns, they're no good for hunting or shooting clays I'm told, bolt action shotguns are not even worth laughing at. well, one mans junk can be another mans treasure. side by side guns respond well to some hacksaw and file treatment (use a ruler and make sure your barely legal). bolt action guns can be fine for launching slugs, just a large bore bolt action rifle, huh?
do not buy an aftermarket pistol grip, there's plenty of people who tried them and now will give it to you for free, good luck.
(I saw a guy at the range with a brand new, right out of the box, Pardner in 20ga., seemed to work just fine, he was smiling.)

[AJBert]

What size shot are you planning on using in it? I know most folks use 00 buck but I have #4 buck loaded up in mine. Read somewhere some while back that the #4 buck was more effective for some reason. If I find out for some reason it isn't I've got plenty of 00 buck.

[OldFatGuy]

What size shot are you planning on using in it? I know most folks use 00 buck but I have #4 buck loaded up in mine. Read somewhere some while back that the #4 buck was more effective for some reason. If I find out for some reason it isn't I've got plenty of 00 buck.

I can't decide which I would prefer if I was on the receiving end, it's a dilemma.

[DeaconKC]

I use the #4 because being a little lighter it is not as apt to penetrate as much sheetrock as the 00. Plus, i have seen what it will do working in a maximum security prison.

[Alfonse]

You can always split the difference and use #1 buck. Remington and some others make it.

[ltxi]

I lucked into a Gander Mountain special a few years past. A Winchester 1200 Riot model with 18" barrel.

Sticker on the stock says "Property of the Internal Revenue Service"

Great condition, just faded where it sat in a rack on the wall probably from the early 1970's

$149

My most prized Rem 870 is a retired CHP weapon. Picked it up a quite awhile back for about $130, or less...can't quite remember. Although still fully functional, I had the receiver refurbed and refinished by a good shotgun rebuider and fitted it with a ported VangComp barrel. Been part of my never part with gun list for a good 15 years now.

[Armybrat]

pawn shops, older mom&pop gun stores, estate sales are good places to shop. these days nobody likes side by side shotguns, they're no good for hunting or shooting clays I'm told, bolt action shotguns are not even worth laughing at. well, one mans junk can be another mans treasure. side by side guns respond well to some hacksaw and file treatment (use a ruler and make sure your barely legal). bolt action guns can be fine for launching slugs, just a large bore bolt action rifle, huh?
do not buy an aftermarket pistol grip, there's plenty of people who tried them and now will give it to you for free, good luck.
(I saw a guy at the range with a brand new, right out of the box, Pardner in 20ga., seemed to work just fine, he was smiling.)
Spot on about those pistol grips for short barrel shotguns - pretty worthless, IMO.

Tried one on my Win. Defender about 20 years ago - notice what stock is back on it now:

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/moreguns.jpg

[dsk]

What size shot are you planning on using in it? I know most folks use 00 buck but I have #4 buck loaded up in mine. Read somewhere some while back that the #4 buck was more effective for some reason. If I find out for some reason it isn't I've got plenty of 00 buck.

I believe the general consensus is that 00 buck is best if your assailant(s) might be wearing heavy clothing, but that #4 is likely better during the summer months. Either one is going to put a load of hurt on anyone you shoot with it so you're really just splitting hairs. As a matter of fact many defense experts recommend sticking to the low-recoil loads since any 12ga. buckshot load is essentially overkill on a human being no matter the shot size.

[ltxi]

Other than slugs, low recoil LE 00 buck always and since forever. Only reason, to my mind, to consider anything other/less would be home defense if only separated by drywall from innocent neighbors.

[Barth]

Other than slugs, low recoil LE 00 buck always and since forever. Only reason, to my mind, to consider anything other/less would be home defense if only separated by drywall from innocent neighbors.

LOL, we have had some lively debates about this years ago on this forum.
And I'm certainly one of the black sheep here - LOL.
Also I know for many reasons it's not really advisable.
But I run LE slugs exclusively in my 12 gauge Mossy pump gun.
I shoot it really well like that.

It just seems super mas macho.
And If there really is a "one shot stop"?
My money is on this one.
http://www.le.vistaoutdoor.com/ammunition/federal/slug/details.aspx?id=705

[DanTana]

I read where even birdshot would be effective at close range and wouldn't penetrate through the bad guy and cause some collateral damage. I did pick up quite a bit of 00 buckshot, even some Military grade stuff Walmart had with the generic dark green plastic shell casings.

[RRP]

Yessir, that no-frills shotty will get the job done as well as any other. Good value.

If it was mine, I would chop 1-1/2 inches off the stock to shorten the LOP. A fighting gun should not have a sporting stock. Keep it short to reduce the chance the butt will snag on your onesie when you mount it.

And, keep the bore clean and oiled. ROC barrels tend to rust more quickly than others.

Good deal.

[DanTana]

I ordered a 870 monte carlo stock on Ebay because I have very high cheek bones. I replaced the stock and was amazed how much thicker and better made the H&R stock was, put the Remington stock to shame. The H&R stock was nearly 1/2" thick all around, where the Remington was about so thin I could bend it. The H&R also had threads molded into the stock to mount the recoil pad, and use regular bolts to attach it. Quite a lot of thought into a $200.00 shotgun.

[RRP]

If you prefer the quality of the H&R stock, there are lots of after-market comb risers that might work for you.

[DanTana]

If you prefer the quality of the H&R stock, there are lots of after-market comb risers that might work for you.


Yea, I thought of that, but I need about 1" or more of extra height on my stocks. I like a permanent solution, I wish H&R made a monte carlo stock. I seen a wooden 870 monte carlo stock and forearm on Armslist for $20.00 and might give that a try. When I was younger and shot trap, my dad had to put a leather pad that raised the comb about 1-1.5" to fit me. It laced to the stock like a shoe, I haven't been able to find one like that, that worked well and rarely moved.

[Black Train]

Pick up a used Remington 870 from a local pawn shop. It costs @ 10 bucks to change the internals over to the 870 Police workings. If it is chambered in 2 3/4" or 3" you are good to go either way. In a close quarters or self defense situation you will not get much of a spread. #4 shot will hit in a very small diameter space at 10' to 15'. The #4 will poke more hole to bleed from than 00.

[DanTana]

I couldn't find any 3" shells at my local Wally World when I went. I did pick up some 2 3/4" slugs, buckshot, some #7 1/2 target and a box of steel #7 1/2. Yea, #2 or #4 would be good at 10-15' even rock salt can be deadly.

[dsk]

And, keep the bore clean and oiled. ROC barrels tend to rust more quickly than others.


Now that you mention it, I don't think I've cleaned my Mossberg in over 20 years! I've fired it maybe three times since then, maybe 50 rounds total.

[ltxi]

Pick up a used Remington 870 from a local pawn shop. It costs @ 10 bucks to change the internals over to the 870 Police workings. If it is chambered in 2 3/4" or 3" you are good to go either way. In a close quarters or self defense situation you will not get much of a spread. #4 shot will hit in a very small diameter space at 10' to 15'. The #4 will poke more hole to bleed from than 00.

Yeah, but you can pump more liquid faster through one large hole than a couple/three small ones, pressure drop comes quicker, and the biguns are harder to patch.

[DanTana]

Picture of the stock of the H&R Pardner Pump. I was impressed with the construction.