Home Defense Shotgun

[SigFan229R]

I have been thinking of getting a shotgun as one of my home defense options. We all know the +/- of its use. My question is which one? Pistol grip or full stock? Full tube or accept less rounds with the ability to reduce the barrel to minimum legal length?

Your opinions are appreciated.

[HK4U]

I like the shortest barrel I can get. That would be 18 in under todays laws. The pistol grip would make it eaiser to weild but a regular stock more accurate and more comfortable to shoot.

[oidsailor]

Up until recently I have always used one of my hunting shotgun as a home defense gun, but always wanted something different, but when I put away enough money to ge one I would end up buying a 1911 style pistol after adding a little more money. But I finally bought one a Benalli Super nova with pistol grip, ghost ring sights and 18" barrel I added a tube extender it wiil chamber all the way to a 3 1/2" shell. I use 2 3/4" 00 buck shot, the shotgun shoots great holds a great pattern. I am super happy with it and under $400

[Cooter]

I picked up my Remington 870 Express 12 ga for $250 NIB. It is the home defense model with an 18" barrel and a 2 shot tube extension. I put a top folding stock on it to make it even shorter. I love this gun.

http://www.usacarry.com/forums/gallery/image-remington-870-72/

I also put a heat shield, and a shell holder on it. I originally had the pistol grip forend on it, but I didn't like it. I switched back to the original.
Rem 870 is the top selling shotgun in the world. This little baby is worthy of protecting my family and I, and all for around $325.

[Canis-Lupus]

Howdy SigFan229R, :bier:
I asked myself that same question 4 years ago. I'm not a hunter, not a skeet-club patron, never had the military issue me a shot-gun, and maybe fired other's SG's 10 (tops) in my 51 years of life. Decided it was not a rifle nor a pistol just a small cannon loaded with BB's of various sizes, so I let the idea go until 2004 when I found one in a local FFL store, right after a [older] neighbor's home was tossed with them inside and they got pretty badly beat-up just for kicks as a parting Adios from the never caught perps! So clueless I surfed pages after net pages, and got 'brain-blasted' with just too many models from cheap and ugly double barrel single shot n' cock Wild West 'alley-sweepers' to works of mahogany and silver filagree inlay art worth more than my brand new 4WD SUV! So I went into a local FFL store, told the fella behind the counter this was for CQC only, it must B easy to use, single barrel pump, has to handle well, priced-right ($420 new back then) and go from a rigid stock to a much shorter legal semi-auto-loader in a second. Buy new, or you buy a shotgun that is going thru ballistic PMS. He produced the Mossberg 500A, a 12g pump, folding stock beauty that converts from full length 36" to a weapon more like a heavy-duty long pistol 26" w/the option of shoulder-braced fire or (my fave) two handed 'belt-line' tactical carry. Stock folds with one depress round button on top by the pistol housing area, and locks back to a right side of main frame (main body) under the ejection port position. The butt carries 3 extra shell holders, it was well balanced both extended (36") and in combat mode (26"), came w/no sling so I picked up a decent one ($40) that made it loop around my neck and not drop, or fly out of my hands with recoil or my movement, any accidents. Single round small front 'nipple' sight, but for CQC sights are not IMHO that big a deal. The cylinder bore is 18.5" chambered for both 2.5" & 3" shells. Bought a few boxes of quail-shot for practice and use Federal 00 Buck 2.75" Mag 70mm no-nonsense 1 shot one BF mess take-down shot, for in home needs by my bed E-Z 2 grab 'n go reaction. Recoil is best absorbed with the weapon fully extended and shock transferred to your (padded) shoulder. Same recoil at the sling/tactical 26" long carry w/folded stock back 'n out of the way, but it will make the front end buck-upwards unless U grip fore & aft tight & well. The rear pistol grip is a honey of ergonomic ceramic hard plastic composite design, 4-finger grooves 'n all! Under the pistol grip it has a slide-open container inside for minor items: oil, rags, small brush, etc. It has a top mounted, right over shooting index finger oval slide-safety, forward (RED) ='s it's hot, rear no red dot ='s it's safety is on. Just don't drop it or it may 4-get it has ANY safeties! Also has a shooting hand thumb button easy release 'up-click' for chambering another shell. This is not a gun for left hand shooters, unless U like eating HOT spent shell casings! After maybe 20 fires in both positions you will get it down 2nd-nature, or take it back used! You could add fancy extras to this weapon from under-barrel clip-on Mag-lights © to front-of-chamber 'swap-out' retaining cap lasers sights (dropping your full legal load shell carry by one, or even two), also seen under-barrel sames, those IMHO are almost guaranteed to throw the balance off some, or drop off in the heat of CQC! OR if U have a burning desire to lose an eye, stick a $2K top-mounted fancy optics long-range sight on it, stick your eye REAL close and pull the trigger, then have your M8 call 911 ASAP! At that point IMHO it stops becoming a shotgun and 'thinks' it's an FN rifle! But just that unmistakable 'KA-Chink' of a double-OT shell smoothly sliding into the breach and locking-closed auto-cocking sound may make any perp with half a brain figure he's is up against a weapon not designed to wound! Not a CC carry by ANY definition, it's an at home self defense weapon, a good hunting SG... or so I hear, and only leaves 'me casa' unloaded in a canvas locked carrying case, with the ammo separate in another part of my SUV when I'm taking it to a legal range fire area. Try one out B 4 U buy for around $450 depending on area/mark-ups/extras/ammo/sling, etc. What I think suits me... U may think is a bucking-Bronco rock 'n roller! Hope you find that perfect 'YOU' shot-gun somewhere yelling "Buy me & take me home!"
Thumbs included L-R, all taken B 4 I added a sling, none in stock fold-back mode:
1. Pistol grip/trigger housing close-up w/fold-back stock release bracket.
2. The Mossberg on my carpet full 36" length.
3. Pointing down carry. Patrol carry.
4. Chest carry, 4 a 'bump-away' bash in the perp's face vs. a DOA shot.
5. The sight U never want to be looking at from your position in my home!
Regards,

Canis-Lupus ;-}

[murph50]

I have the Mossberg 500. 18 1/2 " barrel and holds 7- 2 3/4" shells in the tube.
I have tried a couple pistol grips but I did not like them at all (ATI stuff).
I'm looking at getting one of the Knoxx pistol grips at some point but even with the stock stock--that thing sits next to my bed every night

[Daddiolex]

If I wasn't already married, and well....if I wasn't man...


Damn good post dude !!

So, yall are sayin that the 18" length is a Fed law ? I can't find ANYTHING for Kentucky, so I'm safe to cut down to 18 barrel length ?

Also, exactly where does that measurement start and stop on the barrel ?

[Cooter]

Yes, 18" is the federal law. Measurements are from chamber to muzzle.
You can search the BATFE website for further info.


http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/index.htm

[Daddiolex]

Excellent website indeed !

[MufDady]

18" is the Fed law on the barrel, and I was tolld by an ATF agent, that the overall length of the gun had to be at least 29", am I right?