I've had semiautos too, [Browning and Hi-Standard] and am sort of looking once more. I've got a Mouseburg 500 pump gun, and am after a semiauto for my daily driver runabout, probably magazine-fed. Thinking hard about the ATI *Bulldog* bullpup.
Posted on 10/02/2021 9:37:51 PM PDT by Paul R.
For home defense at a very budget constrained price, what do FReepers (or their sources) think: Semi-auto or pump action 12 ga. shotgun? Semi-auto will deliver the most stopping power in a very short time, but might it be less reliable? Other considerations?
Have you considered just buying an 18” barrel?
Briefly, but, then I’d probably be switching back and forth some, and, my luck would still be the long barrel would be on when need for the short suddenly arose...
If you look at Bud’s Guns online he’s got some Rock Island Armory 12 gauges for about $150 with free shipping. What always stopped me from buying extra barrels was that if I looked I could usually find a whole gun for a little more money.
Yes, that 18.5” pump was what got me started on this. Last month it had a $50 rebate (at least thru one local store, also at the $150 price), but I saw that after the rebate had actually expired. Drat.
CDNN Sports doesn’t look as promising.
Academy Sports looks like it has potential for Mossbergs.
I've had semiautos too, [Browning and Hi-Standard] and am sort of looking once more. I've got a Mouseburg 500 pump gun, and am after a semiauto for my daily driver runabout, probably magazine-fed. Thinking hard about the ATI *Bulldog* bullpup.
I like the pop! of the igniter cartridge of an M2A1-7 flamethrower myself, or the Twang! of the safety lever of a hand fragmentation grenade flying free. especially at night. But that's just me.
Not gonna disagree there!
It’s not too difficult to “short stroke” a pump-action shotgun in the heat of battle. Some are thinking to write saying that what’s needed is training. I am thinking of writing in reply that I know that.
The negative experience I have had with semi-auto shotguns is with fouling. Semi-auto action in the shotgun is not as reliable as after it’s been run for a longish period of time as it is with the rifle. That’s just in my experience.
But for a self-defense scenario, you won’t be running the gun for very long. The issue has only seems to appear at the range for me. I prefer to clean my weapon after I get back from the range, not at the range.
I have a Turkish-made Mossberg SA-20 (semi-auto, 20 gauge) that I’m very happy with.
As Massad Ayoob says, the only difference a 12ga vs 20ga makes in your house is a bigger cleanup bill.
People that have rarely used a pump may short stroke the action. Get a semi and practice. I have a pump i have used for 55 years.
At that price point get the pump. I wouldn’t bet my life on a $200 semi auto anything.
L
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