Why a shotgun?

[GJM]

Commenting since we have this thread. A big cow moose has been hanging around the house this evening, as darkness fell. I tried to shoo her away, as we had stuff to do, but she wasn't budging from eating the remnants of our fireweed. Since it is getting towards bed time, needed to let the dog out. I got pretty much whatever I want available, but I grabbed my 870 with Brenneke slugs and the Surefire fore end to escort her out.

That shotgun has aperture sights and a generation or two old SF fore end, with +/- 125 lumens. Of course I took some sight pictures around the yard, and I don't care for aperture sights in low light. Additionally, 500 lumens would be mo better outside in the dark. Would rather have my Trijicon HD sight arrangement and at least an X300U for low light.

[Drang]

If I may be so bold as to risk a slight diversion (on the Internet? Say it ain't so!), do any manufacturers sell a 20 gage outfitted for the home defense/tactical role?
Maybe it's just a devotion to Tradition!, but I would like to equip Mrs. Drang with a scattergun. It'd probably be cheaper than the AR she wants me to build her. (Dura-coated lavender. Or was it teal? I forget...)

[UNK]

One of the thoughts that has been is expressed is shorter is better. Semi auto "Tacticools" run about a grand or better except for the Mossberg. There is also the Rem1100 tactical which runs aprox 600.. Another thing that has been questioned is current QC at freedom group companies which I believe includes Remington and Mossberg. Beretta is getting top billing. Not sure of the gauges......but there has been a post already with pics....I'd take this any day over a tacticool...I've seen a bunch of 1100's online for less than 500 and plenty of 20 guages.....The 500 hundred dollar ones are in perfect condition...slight pitting runs about 350. However when I searched locally I found 1100's in 12 gauge in very good condition for 350.00. http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.p...-Why-a-shotgun

If I may be so bold as to risk a slight diversion (on the Internet? Say it ain't so!), do any manufacturers sell a 20 gage outfitted for the home defense/tactical role?
Maybe it's just a devotion to Tradition!, but I would like to equip Mrs. Drang with a scattergun. It'd probably be cheaper than the AR she wants me to build her. (Dura-coated lavender. Or was it teal? I forget...)

[Jay Cunningham]

Rob Haught used a 14" 870 in a class I took.

[NH Shooter]

I noticed the choke. Is that screw in? What type of shooting do you do and what is your barrel length.

The 1187 was originally purchased for informal clay pigeon busting. The barrel came from the factory as 26" with Remchokes and their gas-compensation system, which is essentially a kind of relief valve mechanism built into the barrel that allows the use of 3" magnum loads in a barrel with ports large enough to cycle lighter target/small game loads. Only select 1187 barrels come with the comp system, and none of the shorter barrels do. The shorter LE/slug barrels have smaller gas ports with no pressure comp system, requiring the use of full power loads to reliably cycle the action.

I had the 26" barrel cut to 18-3/4" and the Remchokes reinstalled and have an improved cylinder choke installed. The barrel still allows the action to cycle with loads lighter than a slug barrel due to its larger ports and I can still use 3" magnums (which I do not use) as the excess pressure from the large ports is bled off through the pressure comp system in the barrel. I also had the stock shortened by about 1" to a 13" LOP, which fits me better and makes the SG all the more maneuverable and fast-on-target.

The SG is mega-fun to shoot with the Fed LE loads - the recoil is more of a soft push as opposed to a sharp jab, making follow-up shots quick and comfortable. The Brenneke field magnum loads makes it snap back a little more, though. ;-)

[UNK]

How visible is the FO at night when the flashlight is on?

The 1187 was originally purchased for informal clay pigeon busting. The barrel came from the factory as 26" with Remchokes and their gas-compensation system, which is essentially a kind of relief valve mechanism built into the barrel that allows the use of 3" magnum loads in a barrel with ports large enough to cycle lighter target/small game loads. Only select 1187 barrels come with the comp system, and none of the shorter barrels do. The shorter LE/slug barrels have smaller gas ports with no pressure comp system, requiring the use of full power loads to reliably cycle the action.

I had the 26" barrel cut to 18-3/4" and the Remchokes reinstalled and have an improved cylinder choke installed. The barrel still allows the action to cycle with loads lighter than a slug barrel and can still use 3" magnums (which I do not use). I also had the stock shortened by about 1" to a 13" LOP, which fits me better and makes the SG all the more maneuverable and fast-on-target.

[NH Shooter]

How visible is the FO at night when the flashlight is on?

Very! It's like a green Aimpoint. :-)

The FO bead glows nicely outdoors when there is no reflected light coming back into my eyes. Indoors, the bead still appears as a black solid against a brightly lit target.

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How many rounds does it hold?

Very! It's like a green Aimpoint. :-)

The FO bead glows nicely outdoors when there is no reflected light coming back into my eyes. Indoors, the bead still appears as a black solid against a brightly lit target.

[John Hearne]

Semi auto "Tacticools" run about a grand or better except for the Mossberg. There is also the Rem1100 tactical which runs aprox 600.. Another thing that has been questioned is current QC at freedom group companies which I believe includes Remington and Mossberg.

I'd have to dig for the link but there was a guy who was making 20 gauge Remington 1100's that were setup primarily for small stature folks with a defensive orientation. The details were on one of the Masaad Ayoob Podcasts. The shotgun setup looked "optimal" but was over $1000.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

There were/are 20 gauge Winchester 1300's around in their self-defense configuration. Nice smaller gun in a pump. My 12 gauge 1300 with a fiber optic has been fine in a couple of shotgun classes (last was Givens). However, both convince me that while I can handle the gun, when the zombies mass - I go to the AR.