Suggest a simple (cheap) home defense shotgun.

[hardcore302]

I have a handgun (job related), but like the idea of a shotgun for home defense. Can you guys point me in the right direction for one? Nothing fancy, no lights or lasrers or extended ammo.. just something functional and inexpensive. American made is preferred. Thank you!

 

[Stewart Fan]

Remington 870 Express

 

[DrDusty86]

Rem 870 X100000000 I have several in my collection. All work well

 

[typ901]

Agree with Remington 870, but I would suggest the compact. Easier to move around the house with, and depending on your family situation these are easier for wife/kid to use. http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/compacts/compact-shotguns.aspx

 

[DrDusty86]

In my apartment I have a 5 shot matte black 18.5" HD model.. 870

 

[hardcore302]

wow. i guess it's unaminous!

 

[DrDusty86]

yep, simple, cheap, decent quality and DEAD reliable.

 

[Oregoonian]

Mossberg....puts out a reasonably priced shotgun. I would also suggest a short barrel...for home defense.

 

[MNgopher]

Think you've gotten your answer. A version of the 870 will fit the bill well.

 

[typ901]

Originally Posted By: hardcore302

wow. i guess it's unaminous!

However this appeals to me too.. Yeah I know it shoots just a .410, but I had to post this! http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm

 

[hardcore302]

i've been looking at the judge. really cool!

 

[typ901]

Yeah not sure if the judge is what you want, for home protection but you can shoot .45LC with it too! Something about cycling the pump on a shotgun gets everyone's attention. Kind of a universal language...

 

[OldCowboy]

This is the perfect home defense weapon: http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/New/55340.jpg

 

[greenaccord02]

Go to any pawn shop and buy a used Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870. Get it in 12ga. and with as short a barrel as possible (no shorter than 18", of course). You want a cosmetically ugly one that hasn't seen much action. If you pay more than $150, you're doing it wrong. (At least down here, NYC is probably different) Long barrels can be made short with a hacksaw and a bit of sandpaper. When you cut, remember that length is measured from the face of a closed bolt. Leave an extra .5 inch. Measure 5 times, cut once.

 

[JimPghPA]

At close range 20 Ga is enough to stop a NFL line man. And if the gun might have to be used by your wife, 12 Ga. is too much.

 

[hardcore302]

thanks for all the responses!

 

[pottymouth]

I don't think you can make a bad decision between the Remington and the Mossberg. I prefer the 870, but it's just a personal preference. If you live in Middle Village, theres a decent chance you share interior walls with you neighbors. If so, pay attention to what shot you select. You don't need 00 buck for effective home defense use. #4 would be plenty effective at typical HD ranges. It's true that even #6 birdshot can penetrate drywall, but I feel there's at least a little greater margin for error with #4 than 00 or slugs.

 

[Dakota1820]

I have my mossberg 410 shotgun for home defense. She is like 70yrs and still works good. Why not a 22? Quick easy cheap and reliable. Smaller but of imagine it would get the job done.

 

[greenaccord02]

It's true that a 20ga would probably be sufficient and would work better for smaller users, but the 12ga is a more versatile round. It might be better to keep reduced recoil rounds in the 12, both for smaller users and decreased chances of over-penetration of walls. Generally, on the used markets 12s are more plentiful and therefore less expensive. Again, this is my experience in this area. Yours may be different. Edit: Something else to consider: Using the reduced recoil rounds gets you the ballistics of a 20 with the pellet count of a twelve.

 

[UncleS2]

The Mossberg-made Maverick is available locally for less than $200 brand new in an ideal "house gun" configuration: blue steel 18.5" cylinder-bore barrel & regular length magazine tube(total capacity 5 + 1 with 2 3/4" shells), black synthetic stock. It's very similar to the Mossberg 500, but has the safety button on the trigger guard(front, like the old Winchester pumps) instead of the top rear of the receiver like the Mossberg. For a new gun, the Maverick is time tested & excellent value for the $$. I believe it's assembled in Mexico from USA-made parts. For some more $$ you can get the Mossberg or the Remington 870 Express mentioned above. The Remington also has the safety button on the trigger guard, but on the rear. For used, it depends what you can find, but the Remington 870 would be at or near the top of my list. I've owned a 20 ga 870 since my 12th Christmas- and that was a very long time ago!