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Home defense shotgun

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12 comments

  • toad67
    I am looking for a home defense shotgun. I own many shotguns for hunting but nothing with a shorter barrel. I have looked at the Mossberg guns. Should I consider the 590A-1 or just go with one of the less expensive Mossberg guns? I like the 9 shell capacity but is it worth the price?
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  • 317wc
    I have a 870 20 gauge with 21" barrel and extended mag tube, wood stocks. Its built on a smaller sized frame than the 12 gauge.Short, points well, reliable. I would think most major manufacturers would offer shorter barrels for their more popular 20ga guns.
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  • savage170
    After my step son moved up to a 12ga I started using his old Remington 1100 youth for that role nice compact unit
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  • dcs shooters
    Any short bbl 20works good [;)]
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  • gary wray
    Funny that you asked, just today I took my HiStandard M-107 Riot 12g out, greased her up, tested her, and giving to one of my SIL's who h asked for something for "home defense" as he just built a nice home on 6acres out in the middle of nowhere and is gone a lot leaving my daughter and two grandsons alone. Going to be under the tree. I keep a single shot HR 20g in the garage for critters and such.....lightweight and accurate little gun but for home defense can't beat a pump...something about hearing that wonderful sound of a shell being "racked" that works magic on folks on the other end[^][;)]
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  • Ray Boone
    I see after market barrels, grips, etc that are for small frame pumps, so you should be able to get a 20 ga outfitted as you desire. It makes more sense to me to use a 20 rather than a 12, due to the decreased collateral damage- remember they are in your house. those shot that miss the bad guy hit something that you might not want to have hit.
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  • charliemeyer007
    Mossberg has a home defense 20 gauge. I think lighter loads out of a 12 would be better if you are worried about recoil. I really like my combat 870, 20" barrel with a pistol grip and an extended magazine.

    Plan for a couple 100 rounds of training at room distance (hip or hand held shooting), even thought it's a shotgun you still need to point it properly to be effective.

    Factory buck 3" 18 OO or 41 #4. I only load 2.75: so 12 OO, the 540 grain Lyman sabot slug or 1.25 ounces of shot on top of 3.75 Dram Equivalent. Rock Salt only worked for me with black powder 50 grains or so.
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  • 1BigGuy
    Not to sidetrack the subject, but perhaps to broaden it:
    What would you chamber in your home defense shotgun? Rock salt, 00 Buck, Slugs?
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  • tsr1965
    ANy shotgun, that has the ability to interchange barrels, can be a good home defense gun.

    I personally, have an 870(yes I like my Remington 870's), Express Turkey gun, in 12 gauge. It has a 21" VR barrel. Take out the Extra Full Turkey choke, and stuff in the IC tube, and wella, you hade an HD gun...it is also one heck of a ruffed grouse gun.

    You can accessorize it any way you want, with pistol grips, side saddle cartridge holder, laser, etc. Remington, does, infact make 20 gauge versions of that. You might just find a slew of them on the auction side.

    Best
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  • 317wc
    quote:Originally posted by 1BigGuy
    Not to sidetrack the subject, but perhaps to broaden it:
    What would you chamber in your home defense shotgun? Rock salt, 00 Buck, Slugs?


    The topic of home defense ammo for shotguns has been beat to death, but still, its a good discusion for the newbie. Experianced shoters already are usually set in their ammo choices. Number 1, forget about rock salt. That is a myth right up there with the sound of the gun being racked, as far as acting as a deterrant. If the situation is serious enough, that you have to drop the hammer on a bad guy, you want every advantage you can give yourself. That is not found in loading rock salt, forget about it. Personally, I use a 12 guage, and I like 00 buckshot. It has a record as a proven man-stopper for many decades. 000 is good also, and #4 buck works well also. My 20 is usually loaded up with Rem. Deerslayer slugs, I believe 7/8 ounce. They would perforate a bad guy well, like a .44 mag.

    Remember, whatever you choose, practice! People have to wrong idea about shotguns. Its not this lead net you can just toss at the bad guy, and expect to hit him. You must practice, at hallway ranges, patterns are still small, you must hit as near center mass as possible, it is not good enough to point your shotgun at him, expecting a clean hit, its not likely. Only my 2 cents, YMMV
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  • nmyers
    Yes, we have sufficiently flagellated this departed equine.

    I recommend that the OP do a SEARCH on this forum (Search button at the top of the page) for "home defense". No point in wasting bits & bytes rehashing the same topic.

    Neal
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  • toad67
    I did that before I posted this but there wasn't much about 20's

    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    Yes, we have sufficiently flagellated this departed equine.

    I recommend that the OP do a SEARCH on this forum (Search button at the top of the page) for "home defense". No point in wasting bits & bytes rehashing the same topic.

    Neal
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