Need HD Shotgun Advice

[500KV]

I need some expert :p opinions on a HD scattergun.

I've looked at a Rem 870, Mossberg 500 and a Benelli Super Nova.
I've never been into shotguns other than the bird and rabbit guns and figured some of you guys probably had some hands-on experience that might help simplify my decision.

I'm leaning toward the Benelli but don't really know why.

Thanks for any ideas..

[Kingcreek]

any of them will do. I prefer the location of the safety on the 870. just personal preference and what I'm used to. lots of used police trade-ins around sometimes.

[Willieboy]

Here's my advice. Keep the lenth to 18"". Use a short stock... no pistol grip "Terminator" stuff. Keep it simple. That is, don't add a lot of junk to it to make it look "tactical". You want your shotgun to be manuverable, light and fast. I have a Mossberg 500, but any of those you listed would be fine, IMO.

[Bawanna]

Benelli makes a heck of a nice shotgun, I don't own one but have shot a few. You pay for the name some.

Of those three I prefer the Mossberg 500 with a buttstock (not pistol grip) and the 18 1/2" slug barrel. I like the safety and slide release button much better than the Remington. Cops seem to prefer the 870. It's tough and takes alot of abuse but I believe the Mossberg will too.

We just got a Marine Special Mossberg for a retiring officers going away gift, (he's not into watches). Will be on his sailboat. Nice gun, hard to find. All nickel plated.

Any of the 3 would work fine for you. My pick is the Mossberg.

[mr surveyor]

the Benelli is a fine gun. The Mossberg 500 and Rem 870 are very much adequate for HD. Another one you could consider is the Mossberg Maverick in HD style. For the money it's a heck of a deal, and plenty adequate for HD purposes. The major difference between the 500 and the Maverick is the placement of the safety.... the 500 has a tang safety (which I prefer), whereas the Maverick has the standard crossbolt safety. I got a heck of a deal on two Mavericks a couple of years ago - one 18-1/2 inch HD model, the other 28" ribbed barrel. I kept the HD model and sold the bird gun (I have other "bird guns"), and am satisfied with the lower cost Maverick. I do have a 22" Mossbereg 500 in 20 ga as well that can be more than adequate for HD.

You can get a basic HD shotgun for well under $200 that will last a lifetime of light use and "stand-by" purposes, or can spend as much as $1000 (+) and get one that will last a lifetime and handle tons of shooting and heavy use. Lots of HD/security shotties on the market.


surv

[Fedor]

I love my Mossberg 590A1 12ga. with speedfeed stock & ghost ring sights. :D

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/New/51668.jpg

[500KV]

Thanks for the input fellows.
Sounds like any of the 3 would work for me. The Benelli is about a hundred bucks more but that shouldn't be a big issue. It'll only be shot a little and sit in the corner a lot.
I keep a G21 stoked up in the nightstand but would feel better with a scattergun I think.
These home invasions are becomming an every day affair in my hood, none close to me but you can't be sure anymore.

I was going to get the 18" barrel on whichever.
That's a nice looking gun Fedor.

[Willieboy]

When I lived in Chicago, the houses on both sides of me and accross the street were burglarized, at gunpoint, while the homeoweners were present. Pretty bold. I say burglarized because entry was through a window instead of kicking in the front door.

[Bawanna]

I have a G21 with an X300 light on it on the nightstand as well. Too ugly to pack everyday although I do sometimes but in the dark, who cares about fashion snafus ya know. Use it to get to the Mossberg 500.

[getsome]

+1 on the Mossberg Maverick...Like Bawanna said, the slide release is right where I expect to find it and I also like the cross bolt safety and the price is right... That very shotgun lives right beside my bed where I can get to it quick and that sound of a pump shotgun slide will usually run off most bad guys without a shot being fired...I keep mine loaded in the following firing order, 2 rounds of BB turkey shot followed by 3 rounds of # 4 buck followed by 2 rounds of 00 buck....Most times a round of bird shot at close range in a vital area would be fatal and would not over penetrate sheet rock walls but if the first two BB rounds don't get-r-done the next ones up will.... My son has a model 870 in 20 gauge 28" barrel which he likes alot and the last time we shot it at the range I was very surprised at its accuracy using slugs even with plain bead sights and it sure made some great big ole holes in that silhouette target...I don't know much about the Benelli but I'm sure it is a nice shot gun and would serve you well if the SHTF...Good luck with which ever you decide on...

[ltxi]

As above, any will do. I prefer the 870 partially because it's what I'm used to...requires no thought. I have two, both built using older receivers and Vang Comp barrels. If you want to put the effort and tax stamp $$ into it, the 14" bbl is the best close quarters/tactical choice.

[500KV]

That is an option Lt. Hadn't considered that.
Good plan Getsome.
The 870 and the Mossberg both seem to be sound choices.
They're both fairly popular from what I see on other forums, but like I say, it will just be for emergency use only.

There seems to be some debate concerning pumps and autoloaders as well.
The old Ford/Chevrolet arguments I guess.

[mr surveyor]

the 870 vs the 500 would be more in line with the Ford vs Chevy. Auto transmission vs standard stick is more comparable to semi-auto vs pump:)

[CJB]

Kel-Tec KSG 12 gauge. Fifteen shots, 12 gauge. Switchable magazine cutoff. Upper and lower rails.

http://www.keltecweapons.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/images/KSG_3357web.jpg

Forget the BS reports on the web about the trigger. That as on pre-production display and demo guns at the show. The problem has already been corrected. Forward handgrip will be standard, as also the sling. I got that directly from KelTec's mouth.

Price... $880msrp, around $650ish street price.

Yah, I've got one on order (I'm #12 on the list!)

[mr surveyor]

:popcorn:

[jeepster09]

I would go with either a Mossberg or 870 Remington Pump, no worries of jamming, plenty of parts and readily available used or new. I have the 870 Marine version for it's corrision resistance.

[jeepster09]

Kel-Tec KSG 12 gauge. Fifteen shots, 12 gauge. Switchable magazine cutoff. Upper and lower rails.

http://www.keltecweapons.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/images/KSG_3357web.jpg

Forget the BS reports on the web about the trigger. That as on pre-production display and demo guns at the show. The problem has already been corrected. Forward handgrip will be standard, as also the sling. I got that directly from KelTec's mouth.

Price... $880msrp, around $650ish street price.

Yah, I've got one on order (I'm #12 on the list!)

And maybe in about a YEAR they will be available....:D

[ltxi]

That is an option Lt. Hadn't considered that.
Good plan Getsome.
The 870 and the Mossberg both seem to be sound choices.
They're both fairly popular from what I see on other forums, but like I say, it will just be for emergency use only.

There seems to be some debate concerning pumps and autoloaders as well.
The old Ford/Chevrolet arguments I guess.

Again, it might just because of what I'm used to, but I prefer the pump. Less weight, less length, less to go wrong, and for me working the action is simple reflexive. Given the nature of any short barrel 12 gauge, even using low recoil LE tactical buckshot, I find no advantage to time back on target for the autoloader. That said, second nature confidence with a pump does require practice and the 1100 auto would be a fine alternative.

[CJB]

And maybe in about a YEAR they will be available....:D

I've been told release will be Sept 15, 2011, filling orders as they were placed. Sooooo, yah from introduction in January 2011, to "real availability" we might see a year. Glad I'm #12 on the list!!!!

[jeepster09]

I guess I would rather be further down the list untill the bugs are worked out....

[jlottmc]

I like the pump shotgun with dual slide bars. Nothing beats that, and any of those three will run like a champ. Auto's tend to be a little ammo sensitive, and don't like to mix loads, where a pump doesn't care. Just my 2. BTW, I'll wait till the Kel-tec gets the bugs worked out before I pick one up, hopefully, they'll get cheap too.

[TheTman]

I'm using youth model Remington 870, 20 guage, would prefer 12, the stock and barrel are already short. Got a good deal on a used one at a gun show. That's why it's a 20 and not a 12 gauge. Figure 12 or 20 should do the job. If you use 2 3/4 instead of 3" shells, you can fit an extra round in the tube. And it was WAY cheaper than any "home defense" type of shotgun.

[500KV]

Well I found one right under my nose it seems.

Youngest boy said he had a Mossberg 590 that he wasn't using now so he's letting me have it.
It does have a 20" barrel but the 9 shot capacity and being gratis clinches the deal I guess.
He has an MP-5 that's part of the tools of his trade so doesn't really need the 590 right now.

I'll go put a few rounds through it and park it in the corner.
Didn't realize there were so many options out there.

[Bawanna]

Good for you 500. That 590 is a heck of a nice shotgun. A 500 on steroids basically. It's what most people try to make their 500's into. More capacity, everything shortened up a bit. Perfect for what your talking about.
I don't recall if they come with ghost ring sights but I've seen some with them, maybe put on afterwards.
No big deal really for home defense with a scattergun anyhow.

[500KV]

Worked out O.K. Bawanna.
He's even throwing a couple of boxes of low recoil 00 buckshot in.
You just hope you'll never have to use it; but now days...:mad:

[ltxi]

Good gun. Can't beat that deal with a stick and the ammo's a particularly good choice for home defense.

[morganw]

I picked up a 500 combo. Came with a 28" and 18 1/2" barrel. $379 + tax but you can get them at wally world for $30-$50 cheaper. Its not full synthetic, but I was being realistic in the purchase. I plan on using it for trap with home defense as its secondary purpose. I would never shoot it if it only had a short barrel, kinda pointless IMO.