Best most reliable pump shotgun for home defense?

[gqllc007]

Well I purchased a Mossberg 590 A1 18.5" for home defense. It fed from the mag tube intermittently for the first 20-30 rounds and now won't feed from the tube at all. It is on its way to Mossberg. Anyone else recommend something better? Thanks

[Hauptmann]

If this were a previous decade or two ago, I would recommend a Remington 870. However, today I would suggest a Benelli Nova or SuperNova. Outstanding shotgun for the money.

[Mntneer357]

Please forgive my lack o' knowledge on this but, who makes shorter, more defense-friendly barrels for the Benelli Nova/SuperNova? They are indeed great shotguns, but I'm unaware of any makers offering a more advantageous 18" - 20" barrel set up for them. Any direction is appreciated.

[GuanoLoco]

Nova/SuperNova offers an 18" package, replacement barrels usually aren't cost-effective.

[HCM]

Well I purchased a Mossberg 590 A1 18.5" for home defense. It fed from the mag tube intermittently for the first 20-30 rounds and now won't feed from the tube at all. It is on its way to Mossberg. Anyone else recommend something better? Thanks

Replace the Magazine spring with a better quality one from Wolff gun springs. You may want to replace the follower as well with one from Vang comp or GG&G.

Unfortunately both Mossberg and Remington have seen recent declines in quality.

[Shotgun]

I will put a good word in for Nova reliability. I have duck hunted with one for many years. It's been wet, submerged, muddy, and even used as a paddle once. Functions flawlessly so far, but doesn't always shoot straight.

[nycnoob]

I try to take lots of home defense shotgun classes, not sure how my record compares to others,
but I go out of my way for them.

Last few years I have only seen 870's at these classes, very few (if any) of anything else.

Last year I took Jays class (Protective shooting concepts) and Tom Givens, year before I was at Randy Cain's class.

[Dave J]

Perhaps an older 870P from back before Remington turned to crap?

http://summitgunbroker.com/870p-ws.html

[peterb]

I'd be tempted to buy a used Wingmaster and send it off for the Remington Steal overhaul:
http://wilsoncombat.com/new/shotgun-remington-steal.asp#.V1hFV_T3bv4

That said, I've got a couple of older Mossberg 500s that have always run well, and I prefer the safety location to that on the 870. Sounds like you might have had a bad shell stop.

[GJM]

By chance, I was configuring a Nova H20 18 inch yesterday, and I would think it would work fine. That said, a Benelli M1/2 would be my choice in a heartbeat, if you or a family member actually had to deploy it in a home defense situation.

[farscott]

Perhaps an older 870P from back before Remington turned to crap?

http://summitgunbroker.com/870p-ws.html

+1 for this. Mark at Summit Gun Broker is great, and he is always finding LE trade-in 870s. I have bought two from him, including an older 2-3/4" gun that was given the flexitab upgrade and came with a Surefire forearm light and SpeedFeed IV-S stock for $269. If you do buy a used 870, make sure to get one with the flexitab parts (bolt, shell lifter, and bolt carrier). The flexitab parts make clearing a short-stroke or shell that has jumped the shell latches much easier than the earlier guns.

And for those who believe that short-stroking is not an issue, I learned the hard way how a little performance anxiety/pressure was enough to cause me to do it -- after years of shooting an 870 for trap. Practice has helped, but I like the added security of being able to clear the jam without repeatedly slamming the buttstock on the ground.

[OldRunner/CSAT Neighbor]

Being old & raised on a Win. Mdl 12 for bird hunting, I have two identical Vang Comp. 870's.

Both have AP T1's, SF lights, side saddles, MP stocks & I've used both @ HITs & Tom Givens classes.
The older VCS 870 is now a bump in the night gauge & the newer is used for training/competition.

[HCM]

Perhaps an older 870P from back before Remington turned to crap?

http://summitgunbroker.com/870p-ws.html

http://summitgunbroker.com/870-mag.html

A little cheaper.

[SkiDevil]

http://wilsoncombat.com/new/shotgun-standard.asp#.V1kuvJrn9J8

Or an older Wingmaster or Police model (LE trade-in)