Firearms

[Xernex]

I'm getting the itch again - I've got a few things stashed away, my main shooter is a SA 1911, but I've been looking at XD Mod2's this week because I need another 9mm to keep in the house.

 

[HIM_Tattoos]

Can someone suggest a modestly priced shotgun for home defense? Preferably US made. I have an old 1930's era side by side bird gun, but I'm not sure what gauge shells it takes (until I take it to the gunsmith).

Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 are going to be your two most common answers to this question. I too suggest both, however, on the even cheaper side, check out the H&R Pardner as well as the Rockriver Armory. They're both exactly the same as the 500 or 870, accessories are mostly interchangeable, but they're cheaper, and made cheaper as well. (I'm not knocking them.)

Edit:
I don't suggest a shotgun as a home defense weapon. Buckshot and the like will penetrate walls, and possible injure the people you're trying to protect. Yes, handguns and rifles will as well, but it's one round instead of multiple. Just my additional .02

 

[arcorey]

Only thing to ever slow down my gun obsession was brewing. I am a recovering gun whore. I still hunt, but not as much as I did. Older age and brewing again have slowed me down. Most all of mine are for hunting or target. A few defense pistols and very few collectibles. I primarily hunt predators, whitetail deer, turkeys, groundhogs. I did shoot some informal steel rifle matches, but it got too expensive and time consuming to continue.

My RRA A4 Varmint 223rem. Have swapped the rings out for Nightforce highs since the photo. As you can see, some add ons have been done.

A blizzard red fox. One of two that day called into range of the Remington model 7 in 17rem.

Ruger MKII slabside and a few limb chickens.

One of a few spring gobblers that have gone to the freezer. This one fell to the Baikal IZH-94 O/U at about 10yds while on video .

One to the Mossberg 835. 19.5lbs

Customized Remington 243win on a R700SPS action. Everything has either been redone or replaced. This is my gopher getter and steel ringer. I've run it out to 900yds on a 16" plate with 87gr. V-max bullets and have several groundhogs killed beyond 500yds with it including one at 585yds.

Ruger Redhawk 41 mag. Shot a wild boar with this one.

Took this public land 9pt with my muzzleloader that I duracoated. It is a T/C Omega 50cal thumbhole in French army camo pattern. One of many it has put in the freezer.

A coyote called in and taken with T/C Contender in 223rem. Was a big coyote for around here.

Have another rifle I'm trying to get up and running for groundhogs and predators. It is a partly home built AR in 17rem with a Shilen select match barrel and collapsable stock. I am in the load development stages now and it is looking pretty good .

 

[Maylar]

SA Trophy Match 1911. Modified with a 4 lb trigger, white dot sights.

7 rounds of 230 gr at 25 ft.

 

[Lefou]

Looked at those, but they seem a little more hunting oriented, and a bit out of my price range.

If the Mossberg 500 or 590 is out of your price range and not the right fit, maybe an older Ithica Model 37 might do. New ones are priced in the same range as the Mossberg models, but finding an older Ithica would be the trick, especially if you live in NY.

 

[KayaBrew]

If the Mossberg 500 or 590 is out of your price range and not the right fit, maybe an older Ithica Model 37 might do. New ones are priced in the same range as the Mossberg models, but finding an older Ithica would be the trick, especially if you live in NY.

What about something like a Mossberg 88 cruiser?

It's similar to the 500, and there's a used one for sale locally for $249.

 

[Lefou]

Maverick 88 comes in three different models, the All Purpose, the Security, and the Slug gun.
The All Purpose comes in 12 and 20 gauge. The Security has two versions in 12 gauge that give you six or eight shot capacity. The guns retail on Mossberg website for about $293.
The only real difference between the 500 and 88 is the location of the safety switch. The 88 safety is near the trigger guard.
I'd say $250 was great price if the shot gun was in good shape.

Me, I like things with warranties ... and semi capability ... and combat toughness. But if you can find the ammo and afford the gun, go for it. It's hard to put a price on peace of mind and security.

 

[mongoose33]

I'm going to throw out a different idea for home defense. I have an 870 with the shorter barrel, and if I didn't have anything else, I'd be OK with it.

The problem w/ long guns for home defense is that if someone gets in the house, and you miss the first shot, they can be inside your radius and now there you are with a metal club the bad guy has ahold of.

Now, this is just me--and I do defensive pistol training which others may not have as an option--but given a choice I'd much rather have a .45 pistol for home defense than a 4-shot shotgun.

I could either use my 13+1 XD-45, or my 7+1 1911, and not only would I have more rounds available, I can hold the pistol in one hand and fend off a bad guy with the other.

If you don't have a pistol, or can't get good practice or training with it, or are lousy with it, then a shotgun may well be a much better option. And a shotgun is surely better than nothing, far better.

But if I hear noises in the house and want to investigate, I'm grabbing a .45, not a shotgun.

Have at--I'm sure there are differences of opinion on this.

 

[schiersteinbrewing]

But if I hear noises in the house and want to investigate, I'm grabbing a .45, not a shotgun.

Agreed. When I go to bed my .45 goes on the nightstand. When I am in and around the house my .45 is on me.

When I leave my property I have my S&W M&P Shield 40 tucked away for CC

 

[KayaBrew]

The Maverick comes with an 18" barrel and a pistol grip.