Pump Shotguns
Sam06
Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
I have 2 buddys who are not gun guys that want to buy a pump shotgun for home defense. Both are good guys but are not really into guns. They have a pistol and maybe a 22 rifle but that is it.
They know I am a "gun nut" so they asked me where they should go to get a Pump Shotgun...........I just started laughing. I told them its really too late to get a good deal on a solid HD Shotgun and if you find it ammo is insanely priced now. I asked one what do you want to spend? He says "$400 or so" again I just laughed.
The thing is I told them both early last year to get a HD shotgun and about 300 rds of buckshot and slugs and also stock up on ammo for their handguns along with some extra mags.
I took them to the auction side and showed them how to find what they want, gave them some tips on what kind of gun and makes that are good for them. I told them don't get hung up on a 12ga that a 20 will work in a pinch and the ammo might be easier to find.
Comments
I saw that Ken and I bid on it a few times. I think it is about right at 400 bucks but will probably go for more as time runs out.
You have any experience with a Mossburg Maverick?
I was looking at reviews and they all seem to be good. I have never dealt with a mossburg shotgun except the 500a and 590. We used 870's and Benelli's as breaching guns. My HD guns are a Wilson 870 and a 1100 that I used when I shot 3 gun.
My benelli nova is still at 255.00, a real bargain.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/893323104
@gjshaw That is a smoking deal I put it on my watch list, thanks.
@KenK/84Bravo I agree $600 would be a great price and it might get there. The guns I have sold through Ricci have gone for top dollar. I am more than doubling the price of what I thought they would sell for.
We have a Bass Pro not too far away and I was going to take one of the guys over there but they are out of stock on everything. No Buckshot no HD shotguns its like folks are preping for the end of the world as we know it, cats and dogs living together the whole nine yards.
I am glad I am set
Yep, glad I'm pretty well set too. For once I did something right.
Folks just don't think. A hack saw on a regular shotgun will work wonders. Cylinder bore choke once cut.
I think 300 rounds of buckshot is excessive. Most people use 12 guage for trap, so Ive found that 12 guage shells are usually the mosl cost effective. If you cant find buckshot, #2 or even #4 will work pretty darn well.
JJ I really don't think 300 rds is excessive. I figure shooting 50 rounds to get used to the gun and the pattern of the buckshot. Now you have 250 rds. Then shoot maybe 5 rounds a month to stay in the groove.
If you store the ammo right it will last a long time.
I would bet 95% of the people who have a HD shotgun have never shot it with buckshot and maybe never even shot the gun, same with their handgun.
If they have shot it they might have put a box of dove loads through it and maybe one buckshot round. They have no idea how it patterns at different ranges. I know inside a house where shots are close its not as big a deal but there are millions of people who think you just shoot down the corridor and the pattern will kill everything in its path.
Of the reasonably priced pumps, if there is such a thing, the Benelli would be my choice. When I was selling, I sent to many of the 870 express models in for warranty and saw to many busted plastic parts on the Mossbergs. I guess Remington figured enough people would never fire their gun and notice the chamber was so rough that ejection of a fired round was impossible. Mossberg must have figured that saving .50 on things like a plastic safety button instead of aluminum would add up to increase their bottom line. I sold a lot of Novas and don't recall any problems and never sent one in for repair. If buck is available I would pass on the slugs for home defense. Way to much penetration for me for indoors. If buck is unavailable, I would make do with heavy field loads in the 4, 5 or 6 range. An ounce and a quarter of #6 at 30 feet should be more than adequate.
Just my 2 cents worth. Bob
"You have any experience with a Mossburg Maverick?"
Those are SOLID shotguns. They are NOT top of the line, but they do their part. I have 2 over the years, shot the "shockwave", and my friends have Mavericks. NO complaints on them. Do NOT expect $2,000 worth of fit and finish. BUT if you want an accurate pump that goes bang and no feed/eject issues then this is your gun. I confess, I do NOT shoot 1,000s of rounds per month so I am sure it will not hold up like a benelli or browning, but for the average person it will last a lifetime.
Mossberg Mavericks are just economy 500's.
I had one in 12 gauge back in the day, that I would use when it was really nasty out. For belly crawling through muddy fields and such to jump ducks and geese.
They work fine for what they are. Much like a 500, they won't win any beauty contests, and the fit and finish isn't all that great, but they work.
"I told them both early last year"
I have the same problems. People look at you like you are crazy, well.....they did a few years ago. Now they ALL wished they had listened.
Its not paranoia when the black helicopters actually land in your back yard :) One of those deals, your crazy till you aint!
I suppose you are right Sam, I wasnt thinking over the long haul. I shoot 50 to 100 rounds of trap a week, and Im rarely more than a half season ahead, and now Im running out of components. I have two pumps that would satisfy the requirements, a Savage Model 30 and a couple of 870s. At my age I rarely shoot anything but the trap guns anymore.
JJ I shoot sporting clays each month and I am running out of loaded ammo. I am going to have to bust out the MEC and get on it but I hate using up components I am not sure I can replace not to mention the high price.
Have you seen the price of shot!! Its almost 2 bucks a pound.
I few years ago i got a great deal at an estate sale on 8 cases of Winchester handicap loads(the black hulls) and have been using them and saving the hulls. I also have a few cases of this Polish made heavy skeet ammo, it shoots OK in my Benelli so I use it on stuff that is easy to hit.
I have plenty of hulls and primers but my supply of wads is running low and I only have a few bags of shot left.
I don't have any experience with Mossberg shotguns, but I think that buckshot for home defense is a bit over rated. I'd guess that your average shot at a bad guy inside your house is 20 feet or less, maximum around 30. Take a 1 1/8 ounce load of number 6's at a pattern board at 20 feet, and tell me that's not enough...
I have a youth 870 in 20 gauge next to my bed, with 5 rounds of 1 ounce 6's in it...I feel pretty safe with that..
wads are the easiest to find. Im down to a bag or two of shot and need primers and powder pretty bad. Shot is available if you want to pay the fiddler. I used to buy a truck load of shot for the club and a lot of guys didnt pick theirs up and I kept it luckily. But its so old its dusty. I too use a Mec.
Well if I cannot find shot or it runs out I have 6 25# bags of number 5 shot I used to load when I duck hunted in the 70's and 80's. I love #5 shot and old Alcan 5 in a AA hull. I had a load that would pull them right out of the sky. Its dusty and old and I use it to weigh down my gunsafe since steel shot became the stupid law.
the newer remington 870s has too much plastic innards, an old Wingmaster was the "bomb". as far as newer shotguns i vote the mossberg 500 based on price and quality. top safety also. browning pumps also has the top thumb safety and bottom eject, but you will pay a lot more for those. benelli novas are quality, i just like wood furniture on my shotguns. 2-3/4 inch 4 buck makes a killer load IMO
don't forget to check your local stores for Turkey loads now , heavy loads of # 4 or 5 will get the job done ,
I just found 2, 12ga. 10 round boxes of Winchester 3" turkey loads at my local WM for $10.97 each and they had a bunch of the black box Win. 20ga. 5 round box for 5.97 each, no per box limit either
I shoot a lot of #5. That's the primary shot I use during my trips to SD for pheasants and grouse. Because of the waterfowl laws I'm thinking of going to all steel though.
With today's prices I would look for an old shotgun without a rib, cut the barrel to 20" and install a bead (optional). Should be able to find an old High Standard, Stevens, Mossberg or some other gun in 12 or 20ga if you shop a little.
I found six pounds of Alcan 5 but Im using it to load handgun loads. Cant find anything else at a price Im willing to pay.
I think that in a situation where you needed to actually fire a shotgun inside your home for protection, that you would not even be aware of the recoil. Shoulder may be sore after the fact but in the heat of the moment it would be non existent as your brain would be in survival mode and would focus on the threat rather than the recoil.