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

[Buck1950]

Narwhal, I have an Hatsan 14" Marine Guard (SS) pump for close and personal. I've prob run 50 or so rounds through it with no probs, still a good gun for $300. This summer I tried it at 25 & 50 with slugs, OO-buck Fed (Personal Defense) and #4 field. I just have a bead on front and for the multiple shots fired Off-hand as soon as I drew bead. Still fairly accurate, the silhouette first 3 @ 'heart' then 2 @ head (I pulled one to the right); the other targets at Red Dot. And the wads went thru with some of the shots. That #4 @ 25 wouldn't be good re 'Liability' for "over-spreading" so smaller shot likely spread worse at that distance? And the Slug dropped quite a bit @ 50. Note- All those distances are 'not defensive' unless being fired upon.

 

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

There is an amazing deal at wolverinesupplies.com right now for a standard black or cerakote mossberg 590 shockwave for $399.

Will need a decent stock it though as it's just a nub handle thing. I bought two of them a week ago and put a magpul sga stock on one and a mesa tactical/magpul set up on the other. Note if you want to run the magpul forend on these the do need a little bit of dremel work. Great shotguns though.

Edit: looks like the black ones are sold out but there are some of the grey cerkote ones left

This listing? It actually comes with the stock looks like. EDIT: Oh I see the one you mean to, with no stock and just the hand grip for 400$.

Man, it's tempting. I like more black guns though for sure, argh. Is it like, amazing deal levels or just OK deal? I might get it despite it not being black.

What is the rope loop on the pump/foreend used for?

 

[mcpiper]

Remington 870s are great guns but I prefer the design of the Mossberg 590A1, tang safety, easy to dual load. Good enough for the US military

 

[Buck1950]

The 'loop' on the slide is to keep your hand 'on it' vs recoil.

 

[Zulu10]

There is a good reason why most police forces in North America used Remington 870’s before the AR platform became the go to long gun 25 years ago. Not sure on the latest Remington iteration but the older 870 police models were super reliable and robust and after some training, relatively easy to load, shoot and hit what you were aiming at. Keep it simple - for close quarters a 14 inch barrel with a bead sight and surefire or stream light still works as well today as back then. Whatever you buy, get some decent 8 pellet reduced recoil 00 buck like federal flight control. Lastly, don’t forget to go to the range and pattern your SG at various distances once you settle on your gun and ammo.

 

[hobit]

I would personally reconsider the birdshot idea, wouldn’t likely have the desired effect.

 

[Chase.adams]

This listing? It actually comes with the stock looks like. EDIT: Oh I see the one you mean to, with no stock and just the hand grip for 400$.

Man, it's tempting. I like more black guns though for sure, argh. Is it like, amazing deal levels or just OK deal? I might get it despite it not being black.

What is the rope loop on the pump/foreend used for?

View attachment 835918

I agree the black dose look better but the cerakote one is more weather proof. And the strap is just to keep your hand from sliding off when racking

 

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

I agree the black dose look better but the cerakote one is more weather proof. And the strap is just to keep your hand from sliding off when racking

I think I'm going to order the 400$ one and get a stock I like. Screw it. It will be a nicer shotgun than I thought afterall.

I had one question though, if I ever want to make it more purposeful (for example I start to hunt in future) I can always swap barrels right instead of buying another shotgun? This is basically like a basic 590, just with shorter barrel and no stock?

 

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

There is an amazing deal at wolverinesupplies.com right now for a standard black or cerakote mossberg 590 shockwave for $399.

Will need a decent stock it though as it's just a nub handle thing. I bought two of them a week ago and put a magpul sga stock on one and a mesa tactical/magpul set up on the other. Note if you want to run the magpul forend on these the do need a little bit of dremel work. Great shotguns though.

Edit: looks like the black ones are sold out but there are some of the grey cerkote ones left

Oh shoot I never read the other half of your comment I was so ecstatic to see what you showed me hahaha.

Yeah I was actually wondering for the forend, as I think I'd like to have a light up front, thanks for the info at least you can make it fit. And was still not sure what stock to get but that magpul one was also in my sights. So much to choose from it's almost confusing. And then the shell holder although realistically a fanny pack is better, but it adds to the look. But then I see you can get some stocks and holder combos to.

I'm probably up to ~ 600$ now, ahhh oh well, at least I'm sure this one wouldn't get ban, or maybe not.

 

[cosmic]

If you ever get around to shooting clays at your club, shooting at stationary targets will be like watching paint dry. And, a short barrelled tactical shotgun is certainly sub-optimal for the clay games. Oh, make sure your gun comes with choke tubes...

 

[enefgee]

You can't go wrong with a good quality 12 gauge pump - Mossy or Remington. I'm an 870 guy myself, but either one with a 14 inch barrel used by someone who aims, not points, will solve any problem that could possibly need solving. Pardon the expression, but they won't cost you an arm or a leg either. Use "00" (aka SSG) or slugs for predators, odds are exceptional that you'll need exactly one round per predator.

 

[Chase.adams]

I think I'm going to order the 400$ one and get a stock I like. Screw it. It will be a nicer shotgun than I thought afterall.

I had one question though, if I ever want to make it more purposeful (for example I start to hunt in future) I can always swap barrels right instead of buying another shotgun? This is basically like a basic 590, just with shorter barrel and no stock?

Not to sure, I think you can but would need to change the mag tube as well on this one

 

[Chase.adams]

Oh shoot I never read the other half of your comment I was so ecstatic to see what you showed me hahaha.

Yeah I was actually wondering for the forend, as I think I'd like to have a light up front, thanks for the info at least you can make it fit. And was still not sure what stock to get but that magpul one was also in my sights. So much to choose from it's almost confusing. And then the shell holder although realistically a fanny pack is better, but it adds to the look. But then I see you can get some stocks and holder combos to.

I'm probably up to ~ 600$ now, ahhh oh well, at least I'm sure this one wouldn't get ban, or maybe not.

Will not be disappointed if you go with the 590, there great shotguns. And at $600 would still be less the retail anywhere else. Anywho, good luck with your purchase and whatever you decide.

 

[AikiNut]

DON'T shoot buck or birdshot out of rifled barrel, you will ruin the lands of the rifling.

AND the spin imparted on the load by the rifling will cause a wider shot pattern. I thought most shot loads were in a sabot of sorts, wouldn't that plastic engage the rifling?

 

[Butcherbill]

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?

The amount of aftermarket parts, stock sets, barrels etc etc for the 870 far outweigh any other make and model of 12g pump gun. You can find barrel’s from 12.5”-30” for them, get a 12.5”-18.5” for “defense” and 20”-28” for hunting and clays.

You just have way more options for how you can set it up with an 870, it’s endless. They’re well made and will last a lifetime if taken care of.

 

[Butcherbill]

Here’s a good video series that explains the 870 and how it works, breaks down and reassembles.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzPVXnz7gkEXSPRg6bGdbquEwfJFupUYL&si=zrZcXRWrEvq-eWDV

 

[9.3mauser]

AND the spin imparted on the load by the rifling will cause a wider shot pattern. I thought most shot loads were in a sabot of sorts, wouldn't that plastic engage the rifling?

Most modern shotshells use a plastic cup for the mutual protection of barrel and shot. With steel shot the cup protects the barrel from gouging from the shot. With lead, the cup prevents damage to the shot which would result in larger, inconsistent patterns. The wads are fairly thin, and not designed to engage rifling.

While I'm here I might as well add another vote for the 870. A vintage wingmaster is slick and reliable, and with a few extra barrels you can turn it into almost anything.

I dislike the top-mounted safety of the Mossberg; I just find it slow and awkward to use.

 

[Grouse Man]

Mossberg 500 has been around since 1962. Pretty much well proven design.

 

[Wallenstein]

If you ever get around to shooting clays at your club, shooting at stationary targets will be like watching paint dry. And, a short barrelled tactical shotgun is certainly sub-optimal for the clay games. Oh, make sure your gun comes with choke tubes...

Buy the Maverick 88 Combo, Wolverine sells it.

Long & Short barrel, one gun to rule them all.

 

[old303]

Some folk will load a shotgun with alternating birdshot and buckshot or slug so that even if the first shell isn't the right one for the job there's a followup shot coming right along that'll do it.