Home Defense/SHTF Shotgun?

[SVThuh]

Originally Posted by texas_rebel_1980

LOL

i'll take my 45 when something goes bump. btw that isn't my shotty in that pic. i have a remy 870 express supermagnum. it is a duck killing beast from hell, but way too long to maneuver in my home. maybe if i had a SBS, then maybe, but i can clear my home much better with a handgun.

The 870P express barrels fit. I did this to my Super Magnum, now it is my 18" SHTF shotty. Cant beat having two majorly different purposes for the same gun.

[fivehourfrenzy]

Originally Posted by drgonzo

One more thing: What's SHTF?

The PP about walking through your house with a long gun is a good one. With an 18.5" barrel, I can maneuver pretty well. Another thing I'd suggest is that you try and find a range with a shotgun pattern test area to see how the pattern spreads at different distances. What I found is that even with the short barrel, the spread is pretty minimal out to about 10-15 feet, which is what I consider to be a typical HD shooting distance. Something to consider when you think about 'forgiving' aim with a shotgun.

SHTF stands for Sh*t Hits The Fan. Basically there's HD for burglars/home invaders, and SHTF for zombies.

With an 18" barrel and cylinder choke, you won't get but a 5-6" spread at maximum with buckshot at HD distances. This means that yes, aiming is still very important, but a 5-6" group is better than a .451" group from a .45 handgun. I've heard of using rifled chokes to cause the shot to spread out faster, but I've never tried it for myself. I figure if I can hit a tiny little clay pigeon at 35-40 yards going 10-12mph in the air with a full choke, I can hit a BG in the chest at 15 feet with a cylinder choke. All you need is one well-placed shot over the heart and the fight's over.

[Small Arms]

Originally Posted by yocan

A 500 won't make it for thousands of rounds, but a 590 is the MILITARY shotgun, good for over 2000 rounds of +P 3" buckshot.

I know one guy at my range who's got over 30,000 rounds through his 500 with no problems, and another who has over 20,000 with no complaints.

A Mossie 500 will last every bit as long or even longer than a Remington 870. The 870 looks a little "purtier" as far as the finish, but the Mossberg 500 is the energizer bunny of defensive shotguns. It just keeps going and going and going.

[D-FENS]

The main differences are the locations of the safeties and the Forearm/bolt release. I own both and favor the mossberg slighty, but that's only because I've used them alot more than I have the 870. When I say I favor the 500 alittle more it's only because I feel the controls are laid out a little better.
At least they seem better laid out to my hands. If you do buy a mossberg be aware of the fact that the action bars are built into the forend of the synthetic stocked 500A's. This makes changing the forend a pain, if not impossible.

[Small Arms]

Originally Posted by SVThuh

Like someone said above. The Rem 870 is the ONLY option for a quality SHTF pump 12ga. I wouldnt trade mine for anything!

Unfortunately, the U.S. military disagrees with you. Which is why the Mossberg 500 and 590A1 have been their primary shotguns for years.

As recently as 2005, the Army purchased almost 15,000 590A1's. Remington has repeatedly declined to submit an 870 for military testing over the years, even though it's a very lucrative contract.

[Broadside]

Originally Posted by D-FENS

The main differences are the locations of the safeties and the Forearm/bolt release.

+1

I carried an 870 as a LEO and then Moss 590. Try clearing your house switching left to right handed as you slice the pie around corners. What you will find is having the safety up top on the Moss is easier to operate strong or weak handed then the 870.

[fivehourfrenzy]

Originally Posted by Broadside

+1

I carried an 870 as a LEO and then Moss 590. Try clearing your house switching left to right handed as you slice the pie around corners. What you will find is having the safety up top on the Moss is easier to operate strong or weak handed then the 870.

If I'm clearing anything, the safety is off. Regardless of how well laid out the safety is on a 500/590, 870, whatever, I don't wanna hafta fool with it if a hostile target comes around a corner. My finger stays out of the trigger guard until I need sparky the BG to go bye bye.

[gkelley3]

Originally Posted by SVThuh

Like someone said above. The Rem 870 is the ONLY option for a quality SHTF pump 12ga. I wouldnt trade mine for anything!

[PackerfanXD]

Originally Posted by gkelley3

+1,

[Grip]

my 20" 590A1....now has wilson combat mag spring, Houge foregrip, laserlyte tri-rail mag tube mount, tacstar 6 shot side saddle, redhead 5 shot stock saddle.

it is by my my favorite weapon, 100% reliable and trusty. its my go to gun if SHTF.