870 Home Defense Shotgun Suggestions?

granola

granola

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Hello Everyone,

I’m still fairly new here but I’d like some input if you don’t mind….

We (my wife and I) are looking to purchase our first “tactical” shotgun, which would be used for home defense purposes. While I have several shotguns for hunting, the short-barrel tactical models are a bit unfamiliar to me (us). What we consider as “requirements” are:

· 12 gauge (of course)

· Pistol grip

· Buttstock

· A rail to mount a light

· Reasonably priced

While I have several Mossberg 500’s, I believe I’d like to have a Rem 870 this time.

Suggestions without breaking the bank?

Thank you in advance!
 
If you’ve never shot a pistol grip 12ga before, you may want to shoot someone else’s before you buy one. Or get one of those with the straighter angle grip instead of a full blown 90 degree pistol grip.
 
Get one with a stock. My Benelli Tactical came with the full stock with pistol grip, I replaced it with a standard stock.
I'm a fan of Winchester & Benelli, the bolts rotate and lock into the barrel.
You can pick up one with a 18" and longer barrel as a set for defense and hunting.
 
I've shot an AR platform (with grip) 12 gauge and enjoyed it. I'm curious why those that have replied don't necessarily care for them.

This would be a dedicated home defense item.

Thank you for the responses!!
 
I have a 12.5" 20ga 870 that I keep ready. Very handy inside a house.
 
I have an 887 Nitro that I like quite a lot. No pistol grip and I don't think I'd want one.
 
Is your wife experienced with shotguns especially a 12 ga? Is the length of pull on a regular shotgun going to fit your wife’s arms? That might shift my thoughts.
 
The AR style stocks are not known for holding up well to use....

I have a police trade in 870 wood stock 20" barrel with rifle sights that I added a light to using a quality mount that fits the bill just fine.

An 870 is a great HD weapon but does require some training to use to it's full potential. To defend against a single person with little idea of how to truly fight with a gun in a home environment not so much.

If this is going to be primarily for her to use make sure the length of the stock fits her as stated above.....it's easier for you to wield a stock that's to short vs her handling a stock that's to long.
 
I believe seeking a true police model is worthwhile
They can be found as trade ins very reasonable, then add what you need
I've messed with bunches over the years, if you can find a 70-80 vintage police they make the current production express look like a different gun...ymmv
 
I would steer clear of the pistol grips or even pistol grip stocks. The pistol grip stocks look cool and I've shot a few but not ideal IMO.

It's tough to go wrong with an 870 model 5077 w/ a Youth stock. Below is what I did with mine.

Model 5077 18.5" bbl, incl mag tube extension
Tacstar side saddle
Rem Youth butt stock
Fiber optic front sight
Hiviz mag tub follower and HD spring
Streamlight light mount (mounts to the magazine tube nut so it's out of the way of the handguard, https://shop.opticsplanet.com/strea...MI6OOfnZe51wIV2AeBCh3LZQuYEAQYAiABEgJf_vD_BwE)
This is a ~$400 setup, really tough to beat.

The only thing I would add to mine if my wife were shooting it is a better recoil pad.
 
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Thanks to all that replied! This thread has certainly brought up some things that I hadn't previously thought of, including the stock length (I really should have thought of that). This would be "our" HD item so it would need to work comfortable for both of us. Luckily, we are close to the same size (I'm 5'8", she's 5'7") and when she shoots my rifles with adjustable stocks, she prefers them where I set things, but this is a different animal. I'm more concerned with it fitting her. I'll "work around it" if need be.

While she is a good shot with a handgun, she has pain in her wrist from a previous injury which prevents her from doing a lot of training with them. The thought was to transfer the energy from her wrists to her shoulder. She's not shot a shotgun before but is not intimidated by recoil.

Does any of that make sense?
 
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I went for the shortest "legal" overall length I could find. I don't want to be bumping into walls and stuff in the dark. Also, if she has wrist issues, is racking the gun going to be a problem for your wife? If you already own some larger shotguns, how 'bout having her shoot those just to verify she can operate the action before buying another, smaller one?
 
I recently got a 20GA 870 Junior Compact (18" bbl, 12" LOP) and added a +2 magazine extension. It's a great size and weight for HD. With #1 or #4 buck I think it would be plenty effective in the HD role.
 
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Jeppo said:
I went for the shortest "legal" overall length I could find. I don't want to be bumping into walls and stuff in the dark. Also, if she has wrist issues, is racking the gun going to be a problem for your wife? If you already own some larger shotguns, how 'bout having her shoot those just to verify she can operate the action before buying another, smaller one?
Click to expand...

I should have mentioned this. Her shooting one on my others is absolutely on the to-do list before I lay down the cash. She can rack it though - no issues there.

Now that I've started looking into this, even if she decides that this isn't for her, I may get one anyways. I have a funny way of talking myself into things like that....
 
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So, like any red blooded American male on the search for a new firearm, I’ve been reading about this all morning. This would be purchased new (most likely) so, I think I’ve narrowed things down for a starting point.

Remington 870 Express. I * believe * this is what Jerzsubbie started with.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/95077


Remington 870 Express Synthetic. I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between this version and the model above.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/95549


Remington 870 Express Tactical. Not sure the extra expense is justified here…

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...70+Express+Tactical+12ga+18+Ghost+Ring+Sights

Thoughts?
 
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First thought is, once you've narrowed it down and before buying online, PM @knifeman32 to see what he might be able to do for you. Not sure whether he's in the scattergun biz but it's worth a shot (see what I did there?).
 
jebfour said:
While she is a good shot with a handgun, she has pain in her wrist from a previous injury which prevents her from doing a lot of training with them. The thought was to transfer the energy from her wrists to her shoulder. She's not shot a shotgun before but is not intimidated by recoil.

Does any of that make sense?
Click to expand...

Makes sense to me. I would go with a 20ga and fit the stock’s length of pull to her. A shorter LOP will help her mount the shotgun better for recoil and cycling the pump action while it will also actually give you a more compact shotgun for moving thru your house and not change much for you. As to going a little smaller than the 12ga you mention in a home defense roll a 20ga with #4 Buck (24 pellets) will handle the job just fine.

As to make and model 870s are solid shotguns and you can build a nice 20ga one to what you want by going with a youth model and adding what you want ... or ... go with a Mossberg Bantam Tactical setup with a short LOP, ghost ring sights and extend mag out of the box for about $400-425 (MSRP IS $505) and be done with it ...

http://www.mossberg.com/product/500-tactical-8-shot-54300/
 
jebfour said:
So, like any red blooded American male on the search for a new firearm, I’ve been reading about this all morning. This would be purchased new (most likely) so, I think I’ve narrowed things down for a starting point.

Remington 870 Express. I * believe * this is what Jerzsubbie started with.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/95077


Remington 870 Express Synthetic. I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between this version and the model above.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/95549


Remington 870 Express Tactical. Not sure the extra expense is justified here…

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...70+Express+Tactical+12ga+18+Ghost+Ring+Sights

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Yes the first one is the one I was recommending I see they changed the mag tube a bit, now only a +1 makes it even with the barrel vs a +3.
The second one is the same as the first only with the old style mag tube.
The 3rd just has ghost sights w pic rail and muzzle brake. Not worth the money IMO.
 
20ga Compact is what I'd look at, and add a mag tube extension.
 
The Mossbergs don't work well with a pistol grip because the safety is on top, you can't work the safety with your firing hand without moving it off the grip. The 870s have the button safety you can work while using a pistol grip. Looks like you've already picked an 870 variant, but if nothing else if you want to try running a pistol grip you've picked the right platform.

I have 2 M500s from way back in the early 90s, and both came with pistol grips. Those things went away long ago to be replaced with traditional (plastic) stocks. Pistol grips seem cool at really short range, but as soon as the targets are any distance away I prefer the regular stock for control and recoil management.

For HD use I used to have a speed feed stock and a side carrier, slugs in the stock and 00 on the side. Ran it this way after I took a shotgun class and it worked well, no having to remember if it was the first two or the last two shells on the side carrier that were the slugs. Now I just run the side carrier and don't have any slugs on board. I know my limitations with no actual sights and if something is far enough away to warrant a slug, I shouldn't be trying to hit it. Maybe if I had ghost rings or a red dot I would care more about slugs, but if I have to leave the house for some reason it won't be with a shotgun in hand for a variety of reasons.
 
Which ever shotgun you choose I would look at MagPull's forearms for around $30. Mount a section of rail and add your light. I run 870s at the house. Picked up a NEF Partner Protective Pump (870 clone made in China) for the house gun. Got tired of continuing reconfiguring my old 870 Wingmaster Magnum parkerized that I got from the SAPD back in the late 80s (got 4 barrels for this one)

CD
 
I have an 870 Youth Model 20 gauge with an SOE six round velcro shotgun card on it, I just got a very good deal on a Wingmaster on Gunbroker and have sent it to Wilson Combat for the "Remington Steal" upgrade. All together I will have less in it than brand new 870. I'll use the Wingmaster at the house for me and the wife likes the 20 gaugeWing.PNG
 
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Michael Gibbs said:
I have an 870 Youth Model 20 gauge with an SOE six round velcro shotgun card on it, I just got a very good deal on a Wingmaster on Gunbroker and have sent it to Wilson Combat for the "Remington Steal" upgrade. All together I will have less in it than brand new 870. I'll use the Wingmaster at the house for me and the wife likes the 20 gauge
Click to expand...

And just why can’t you send hers to Wilson after yours comes back? Is she not worth it too? ;)
 
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