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Thread: Inexpensive shotgun

  1. #11
    Modding this sack of shit BehindBlueI's's Avatar
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    How do self loading shotguns deal with neglect? An owner who's not going to lubricate it routinely as it sits in a dusty environment (ie under the bed)?

  2. #12
    S.L.O.W. ASH556's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BehindBlueI's View Post
    How do self loading shotguns deal with neglect? An owner who's not going to lubricate it routinely as it sits in a dusty environment (ie under the bed)?
    Inertia guns are more forgiving than gas guns.
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  3. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by psalms144.1 View Post

    ...For all of the above reasons, I would second (or third, or fourth) an entry-level AR as a MUCH better HD long arm. The AR is smaller, lighter, easier to maneuver, MUCH less prone to user-induced malfunctions, more accurate, MUCH softer recoiling, higher capacity, easier to reload, and plenty hard hitting. It's also much more pleasant to shoot, leading to a higher likelihood of a shooter actually training with their HD weapon (I know, shocking concept!)...

    ...Don't get me wrong, I think a shotgun, loaded with slugs, in well trained experienced hands is as close to the Finger of God as it's possible to get in defensive weapons, but I definitely don't recommend it for new shooters or non-dedicated users.

    Regards,

    Kevin
    I'd like to try to bring some realism to the discussion for a second. I hear the idea that an AR is the "ideal" or best firearm thrown at a person asking a question about an inexpensive shotgun I have to wonder if there isn't a better way to handle the discussion. Long guns have a role in HD, that role most likely does not include maneuverability, ammunition capacity, or how pleasant it is to shoot in the equation when comparing it to a carbine.

    For average Joe Gun Owner, clearing rooms in their home, alone, with an AR or shotgun is ridiculously stupid at best, downright dangerous at worst.

    Long guns serve the purpose of barricaded defensive shooting in my HD plan. If my wife thinks she heard a noise, I'm not going to check the kids room with an AR and a 1000 lumen surefire WML. If all my layers of security have alerted me that someone is in my home, the plan is to retrieve the kids with handheld light and pistol, move kids to safe area, call 911, and wait for the cavalry. While barricaded a long gun would be trained on the possible entry point and used if someone attempts to gain access. I have to believe that a used 870p, 500/590, Benelli M4 or any AR would work equally well in this scenario.

    If you want to buy an AR and take carbine classes and shoot 3 gun DO IT. It is awesome. It is fun. Quality ARs are way more expensive than quality shotguns and pistols. That's just a fact. They are not necessarily better for actual HD use than a shotgun or pistol. If money is a concern and AR is the absolute last thing I would recommend. If you want to defend your home, read all you can about home security. Get a security system, get a big nasty dog, harden your house, buy better locks, film your windows, get better interior doors and locks, get a gun that you can afford to become very proficient with, get a good quality handheld light and keep it by your bed, and lastly build all these things into a plan that makes sense to you and your family and practice it. If an 870 in a safe in your closet makes sense then by all means do it, don't buy an AR or a shotgun or a pistol because it's what the cool kids have. Guns are not magic. If you don't know someone is in your house it doesn't matter what kind of gun you have. You cannot plan for everything, but sticking a cheap shotgun it pistol under your bed should not make you feel safe. Guns are a part of any well thought out home security plan unless you plan to be a victim, but they don't warn you of anything. If money is limited, spend your money where it makes sense.

    If you decide a shotgun makes sense buy the best one you can afford. I like the tang safety on the Mossberg 500/590/930 due to handedness. They are very reasonable and even a 930 Jm pro semi auto is cheaper than a Colt 6920 AR. Used 870s can be found very cheap. Benelli semi autos have a very good reputation for reliability but are very expensive. I hope this helps.

  4. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by UNK View Post
    A co-worker wants to buy a home defense shotgun. $750.00 aprox is his limit. Pump or semi is OK. What are your recommendations and why please.
    Thanks
    Benelli m1 or Beretta 1301, either lightly used will achieve the price bracket.

    Both are reliable and durable and will not allow the user to lock them up via short stroking the action. Pump guns take a shitton of practice to "be as reliable" as an auto because of this. For example, my Benelli have literally never jammed. Ever. Unless I was running 1145fps trap loads from the hip or goofing off, but with any field birdshot, etc fired from the shoulder, never a jam. That's 5 guns over almost 10 years. How many of you can say that you haven't short stroked a pump gun once during your first 10 years of shooting them?

  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by ASH556 View Post
    Inertia guns are more forgiving than gas guns.
    My grandpa had a crapped up 391. It still ran great. Hed had and shot it for years. Didnt even know how to take it apart. Honestly, a good shotgun like one of the Italians is going to be fine unless you literally let it rust until it's locked up. Hard to do with the chrome this and that though.
    Last edited by Unobtanium; 01-12-2017 at 05:18 AM.

  6. #16
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    I'd also like to say, in a post all its own...because I feel that strongly about it...

    Unless you are clearing through a structure to get to and protect a loved one...you're full of Dunning Kruger if you're doing it by yourself.

  7. #17

    Inexpensive shotgun

    Quote Originally Posted by Unobtanium View Post
    I'd also like to say, in a post all its own...because I feel that strongly about it...

    Unless you are clearing through a structure to get to and protect a loved one...you're full of Dunning Kruger if you're doing it by yourself.
    Sorry for the thread drift earlier but I have heard so much about ARs being the Best Gun (tm) for the civilian home defender I just had to say something. I mean maneuverability as an advantage? Really? I get capacity, less recoil, etc. I really do. But when someone asks for a sub $700 shotgun and the answer is "get an AR", we've really stepped in it.

    Back on topic, the 1301 does seem awesome and would be another worthy of consideration for me.


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    Last edited by NerdAlert; 01-12-2017 at 05:37 AM.

  8. #18
    Site Supporter Bigghoss's Avatar
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    Last time this came up the Benelli Super Nova had high remarks for a solid pump gun, but I've got no personal experience myself.

    I would choose a 590 over a 590A1. That thick barrel is heavy. Then again, that would help with felt recoil. Mossberg makes or made a 20" defensive 20ga with ghost rings but to my knowledge good 20 gauge defensive loads are hard to come by.

    That all is, of course, if your friend is dead set on a $750-or-less shotgun and is willing to put in the time to get good with a pump. And even then is more likely to muck it up than an auto choking( if its a good auto)
    Last edited by Bigghoss; 01-12-2017 at 06:50 AM.

  9. #19
    Thanks for all the inputs. I passed along the link to this thread, he has a friend who owns a gunstore and he has the weekend off. When I see him monday I expect he will probably have bought something. This all came about because we started discussing his home gun a J Frame loaded with unknown ammo. So I had the opportunity to share knowledge I have gleaned from here concerning J Frame ammo. That led to a conversation about home defense and was a JFrame only the best option. Then I started sharing info from this thread
    https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....-Why-a-shotgun
    and he decided a JFrame was insufficient for home defense.
    So thanks Tom for this Forum and thanks all for the input.
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  10. #20
    First I will agree with what many posters here mentioned about pump shotguns, and semi auto rifles being easier to shoot and/or manipulate.

    That said, when dealing with a $700 budget, there are a few guns that I would consider.

    #1 thing I would personally do is look at used guns.

    Teaching a person to run a pump gun is not too tough, though yes there are certainly opportunities to short stroke, and cause user induced malfunctions. That said, with just a little practice of being very deliberate with cycling the action tends to alleviate most of this.

    Aside from the obvious 870s, don't forget that there are BUNCH of old Ithaca Model 37s out there. They are easy to shoot well, and if you pick one up with a long barrel, shortening one to 18.5" (or so)is a quick and easy job for anyone with even slight mechanical abilities. There area good number of old Ithaca Police/riot models still floating around for pretty good prices, though generally they are a good bit more expensive than the standard Model 37s.

    I have a buddy who swears by his 37 riot gun, and uses it regularly for coyote and rabbit hunts as well. He calls it "Al" for Al Capone, and runs that thing so fast that sometimes I have a hard time believing he is running a manually operated shotgun. There are also the "Deer slayer" models with rifle sights mounted, if one wanted to add a bit of precision at longer ranges.

    Plus there semi auto guns like the Browning Auto 5, which have been produced in the millions. That gun was designed in the late 1800s and was produced for about 100 years. It is still a brutally effective shotgun, and examples can be found pretty easily for quite reasonable prices. Plus they have some pretty cool history, being used in WW1, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, Not to mention other conflicts such as the war in Rhodesia.

    Additionally the Browning A5 was produced by Remington as the Model 11, and they can often be found for dirt cheap. I know that Savage produced some copies but I really don't recall the model # or how many were produced.

    With a budget of 7 bills, it should not be too tough to pick up a well used A5, add a white light, sling and a case of ammo for practice, and a few boxes of actual HD ammo.

    Personally I find the AR to be an outstanding HD gun, but keep a shorter barreled A5 in a handy location for HD. If I recall, #4 buck has about 40 or so projectiles. With the setup I have that amounts to about 360ish projectiles readily at hand in my personal 9 round gun. A combo of buck and slugs on a mounted external carrier allows for additional options to be readily available too. With a little practice, and knowing some speed reloading/manipulation techniques, I don't feel the least bit handicapped in using an "outdated" old gun, like my Belgian Browning.



    Used shotguns represent a pretty good value for HD, and the very vast majority have not seen enough use to really worry about getting a worn out one.

    Cheers!

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