Best shotgun for home defense. First firearm ever.?

15 Responses

1. Lovinglife

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   The first thing you should do no matter what kind of firearm you buy is to take a safety class. The NRA offers many classes, and local DNRs offer some too. I don’t care which one you take, but please take one.

   There is no "best" firearm, just like there is no "best" shoe size. You buy what fits you and suits your needs.

   Recommending a firearms is a lot like recommending shoes. You have to try it on first, and the kind of shoe you get (dress shoes, sneakers, flip flops) totally depends on what situation you will be using it in.

   Once you have a general purpose for your gun you need to think about experience levels and calibers. If you are fairly new you’ll need to start off with a smaller caliber so you don’t develop bad habits like flinching and expecting recoil.

   After you know what you want and what caliber you should start thinking about what kind of features you like. So you like single actions, double actions, revolvers, autoloaders? You can find out what kind you like by going to your local range (do a google map search to look for a range in your area) and renting a few different guns.

   See what feels the most comfortable and what you like the best, then write up a list of what you want and how important it is to you. For example the list might look like the following (this is just an example, not necessarily what you would want):
   1. 12 gauge
   2. 6 shot tube
   3. bead sights
   4. long trigger pull
   5. under $400

   Take this list to a few gun shops. The staff there will be able to narrow down the selection to a couple of things that you might like. I usually try not to buy one right there and then, I sleep on it and think about it for a while to avoid making a rash decision.

   Once you have it narrowed down to 3 choices or so, try renting those particular guns at the range and giving them all a try. See what feels natural and comfortable to you.

   Once you know which gun you want look around for the best pricing. Check the internet (gunbroker and other gun shops), but keep in mind that you will need an FFL transfer and shipping if it is out of state.

   Check local gun shops, pawn shops (often times overprices), and gun shows (you really have to know what you’re doing at a gun show).

   After all that the only thing left to do is to go and buy your new firearm, always operate and store it safely, and be a responsible gun owner.

   EDIT: Ash<3Zoe, I’d like to see if you feel the same compassion for felons while they are raping/robbing/murdering you or your loved ones. I love my family enough to kill a murder to save their life.

2. badass

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   remington 870 12 gauge. Cost about $280-300 dollars! Very reliable shotgun.

3. RDG78

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   Or, you could go with a Maverick 88 pump. These are usually available for $250 or less. They’re about 98% the same as the Mossberg 500 which at least one other person will likely recommend, and all the suggested accessories for the 500 will fit the 88..

4. BeenThereDoneThat

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   Remington 870 express

   Extremely reliable, you could own this shotgun the rest of your life with no malfunctions.

5. roger c

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   Remington 870 or Mossberg Ulti Mag I have both and neither out performs the other, both are very good shooters and dependable.

6. AKpilot

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   All brands aside, You want either a 20 or 12 gauge, whichever is more comfortable for you, and anyone else who lives in the house to practice with, Pump action, 6-shot magazine, and an 18" barrel. Finishes, brands, stocks, all that is up to you, and it really doesn’t make any difference.

7. newtoguns

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   I like everything Lovinglife said, but want to add that one thing should factor into your buy. Will the shotgun be used much for other things, or will it mainly sit in your house, as insurance? If you think you might get into using it, and using it for things like trap shooting or hunting, look into the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. If it is going to mainly sit around, and you will use it only occassionally to keep familiar with it, then get the Maverick 88, like RDG78 recommended.

8. Ash<3Zoe

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   Wtf. I’m a respectable Australian and I truly think anyone who would pick up a gun against another human is really sick. Especially a shotgun have you seen the holes they put in people? Jesus just bash the invader with a stick. How could you live knowing you actually shot someone who was probably hungry or poor, someone who you would ignore if they asked you for money? And then shoot them.
   You Americans are a weird bunch. Obama’s really cool though, best thing that ever happened to your sorry mess of a country.
   Thanks for the economical crash!

9. gunplumber_462

   February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   There are several good answers already, just need to ask how using a firearm in self defense is considered "sick" to an Aussie but doing the same thing with a stick is sane?

10. Gus!

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Remington 870 12-gauge pump action shotgun.
    Millitary’s all over the world use them.

11. agentboehm

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    I like the remington 870 shotguns, they are 12 ga. good solid gun if you take care of it.

12. rotorhead

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    remington shotguns

13. bobbo342

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Mossberg 500…but if you do not have a handgun look at that first…

    Both have their roles in home defense.

    The shotgun’s role is holding down the fort such as a safe room where only one door has to be guarded.

    The handgun’s role is searching the home, gathering family, etc.

    A handgun requires one hand to operate making it usable while on the phone with police, finding family, holding a flashlight, opening doors, etc. A shotgun would have to be lowered to make one hand usable.

    Also the handgun does not need to be lowered or raised to look around corners (you would not want to have the barrel of a shotgun peak around the corner giving away or position and then stick your head out). A handgun also gives less to the intruder to grab onto if they get close enough to grapple with you and the weapon. A shotgun will give him or her more to hold onto.

    If you are going to buy one or the other I would start with the pistol and then buy the shotgun. I would also look at other options for the handgun. Glock make good guns but not good for first-time buyers. I would suggest Springfield Armory XD which has external grip safety and indicators letting you see the gun is loaded and hot.

    I hope this helps. The Shotgun v. Handgun came from Guns and Ammo: Book of Personal Defense; The Role of the Handgun. I forgot the authors name and the page number. I lent the article out to a friend.

14. Slim W

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Remington 870 Express 12 Gauge with bird shot.

15. dca2003311@yahoo.com

    February 15th, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Mossberg, Rossi, NEF.*

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