What's a good affordable must have pump shotgun? Alien defese/general purpose

TheMidnightNarwhal

TheMidnightNarwhal

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Hey all, I'm slowly getting back into guns after my PTSD :ROFLMAO: (OIC ban and freeze, AR banned and avoided guns in fear of losing more) and bought a Kodiak WK181 a month ago.

Last time I went out to the range to shoot it, some folks made me shoot their pump action and semi shotguns and wow, what a different experience it was and I want one. I see you can buy some pump Mossbergs brand new for like 500$, so I figure why not. I'm also thinking it could actually be a better choice for alien defesne if I am ever in a situation like that because my WK181 is really long. I'm not seriously or in need of home defense, like I don't live in a ####hole place, just as a why not you know.

Now the issue is I know nothing about shotguns so I was hoping some folks could share some advise. For example, if I were to just buy the cheapest pump Mossberg they sell, is that a good buy? Or I should look at a certain models or? Thank in advance to all!

EDIT: Got a Winchester SXP and just posted about my range day at end of thread.
 
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smokeater40 said:
I agree 870 is great, I have one with multiple barrels, but a Mossy 500 will do the job too. They just a little rattly for my taste. :)
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RichardK said:
Remington 870 is the best for price and reliability by far IMO
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Just to help me undesrtand, I was also eyeing a Mossberg Maverick 88 Security, it's so cheap at 350$. EDIT: Actually just found one for 320$ on sale.

What is like the difference between that and the 870 or 500? Does it range a lot in terms of quality and finish or they all pretty close? And just barrel lenghts?
 
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fire@will said:
As smokeater said, the Mossberg would get the job done, but like the others have said - get the 870. Might cost a few more bucks, but there's a reason it's the most popular pump shotgun around.
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Tbf I'm not familar with popularity, I thought Mossbergs were the name people went for with shotguns.
 
TheMidnightNarwhal said:
Just to help me undesrtand, I was also eyeing a Mossberg Maverick 88 Security, it's so cheap at 350$.

What is like the difference between that and the 870 or 500? Does it range from quality and finish or they all pretty close?
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Personal taste. Mossberg don't have lifter that you need to depress to insert the shells. But I found with the action bars that could pivot on my 590, that I twisted the pump a bit more than on my 870.
 
OkayShooter said:
Personal taste. Mossberg don't have lifter that you need to depress to insert the shells. But I found with the action bars that could pivot on my 590, that I twisted the pump a bit more than on my 870.
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Ooo ok thanks. I guess I'll look up all these models and grab a drink and watch some videos then! Since shotguns are more common, I probably have the chance to try them in person at my local stores.
 
If you like the Mossberg and $ is a primary consideration - then buy it. It won't blow up on you and will likely work well for you. For myself, I would spend 500 on an 870, before I would spend 350 for a Mossberg. I don't own a Mossberg shotgun, but I have had a couple of their rifles. Functional and all that, but left me with the impression they were a "bare bones" type of gun. If you're looking for an opinion, most will fall on the 870 side - but there's still a crap ton of Mossberg pumps out there, that others are happy to own.
 
TheMidnightNarwhal said:
Just to help me undesrtand, I was also eyeing a Mossberg Maverick 88 Security, it's so cheap at 350$.

What is like the difference between that and the 870 or 500? Does it range from quality and finish or they all pretty close?
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870 has a trigger guard mounted safety button. 500 has a top tang safety. 500 is a straight push of the shell into the magazine whereas the 870 has a loading cover (wrong name) that you have to push up with the shell. Mine pinches my thumb every time. As has been said, the Mossberg is more prone to rattling because of how the forearm bars engage the bolt. Does not affect function. Replacement barrels for the 870 tend to be harder to find and are more expensive.

For ease of use and speed, the Mossberg wins. The Maverick 88 is good now with two action bars. The old Mavericks only had one (this is going back a lot of years now).
 
TheMidnightNarwhal said:
Just to help me undesrtand, I was also eyeing a Mossberg Maverick 88 Security, it's so cheap at 350$. EDIT: Actually just found one for 320$ on sale.
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Nothing wrong with the Maverick. It's a reliable basic shotgun. I have the longer-barrel one that I take out when the kids are with me; it's seen hundreds of rounds, infrequent cleaning and still works.
 
Ok all I appreciate the comments, As long as it's not a pile of crap I'm happy. Since it's my second gun and introduction to shotguns, I'll probably go with the Maverick version of my liking and I can see from there.

With that said tho, as I'm learning with shotguns, looks like I need to decide if I want rifled or smooth bore. Can I shoot both slugs and buckshot/birdshot no matter what and it's just more efficient for one type of ammo?
 
If it's general use, rifled slugs will do and keep it smoothbore. If it's hunting, rifled barrel. I spent such a short time in the reserves but I was told that the way to load a shotgun for that type of use was alternating SSG, slug, SSG, slug, SSG (IIRC SSG is a load of .32 diameter balls) But if you're shooting slugs it may pay to have minimal (no) choke...
 
Get more info about slugs vs shot. And rifled barrels shoot Sabot-slugs much more accurately than 'rifled slugs'. The rifled slug just has 'ridges' that 'look like' rifling - I don't know if it really 'spins' the slug. Try to find some Fed Tru-ball, said to be more accurate than many others, but research b4 you buy a bunch of anything.
 
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