Posted on 11/05/2008 7:44:40 PM PST by Westchester
First-time poster with honest question. I'm buying a shotgun for home defense and hunting purposes should the need for survival arise soon (have numerous rifles already but no shotgun).
But it's been a LONG time since I've been around a shotgun and I have several extremely basic questions. First, will the Mossberg 500 do me fine for the two purposes above or do I need to upgrade to the 535 because it can use up to 3 1/2 inch? Second, what's the difference and why do I need to care? Keep in mind I only need it either to unload on an intruder or to kill birds and whatnot if I have no other food source.
The next question...I was in a hurry to buy ammunition tonight after the things I've read in the last 24 hours. WalMart has Federal 12-gauge shells, 2 3/4 inch, 8 shot for $4.67 a box so I bought a bunch of boxes just now. Is this usable stuff for the reasons I need it or should I make the next batch something different?
Thanks in advance for all your help. I know how enthusiastic about guns all of you out there are, but please bear in mind I need ONLY these questions answered. :)
This is one area that I will admit to wearing a tin foil cap, I would hate to think its the future but if I was part of an agency that was told to gather information to find gun owner holdouts the internet forums would be the first place to run to.
I think this actually was implemented in Australia years ago and most likely is used right now on a daily basis in the UK.
This same question gets posted about once a week here on FR. In my small mind, it would seem that FR should have some sort of stickies in the bang list so that we can refer these new postings to the already posted stuff. I don’t know whether FR supports that or not but it may be worth a try.
I love my Judge. Had never heard of the “Box of Truth” but checked it out, and thought the review reasonably fair - “useless” seems a bit harsh.
The one different experience I’ve had from that review is with the 2 1/2” 000 buck shells. They are readily available online (CtD, Midway, etc.) At 30 feet, I get minimal spread on the 3 pellets. They basically go through the same hole. I got better penetration than the BoT review also.
I keep mine loaded w/ 3 .410s 000, followed by 2 jacketed hollow point LCs. Want to handload some #4 buck shells just to see what they’ll do.
Sorry I have ZERO confidence in that website. Bullet performance has a lot more to do with actual tissue damage than penetrating plastic jugs filled with water.
Although the Taurus may actually be a nominal performer for inside the home due to an even slightly increased range, when it comes to the job for which it was designed (specifically car jack deterrence) it does just fine IMHO. Even if the shot pattern fails to result in an instant kill, I kinda doubt most punks will be willing to press an attack with both eyes and most of the facial tissue removed by the trauma. If it will work at that range, it will work for a homeowner or apt dweller that has a bad guy closing to that same range. There will also be less chance of a miss as might happen with a single projectile. The barrel characteristics have been specifically designed to encourage the pattern to open faster than a normal smooth bore shotgun.
To reiterate, I think the "Box O' Truth" is a "Box O' Crap."
Remington just came out with a tactical essentially 870 with 18” barrel and a 3 shell extension tube. Matte finsih and now in 20 gauge. I travel and the 20 is a whole lot easier on recoil for my wife, especially with the lightness and short barrel. I bought it new from a dealer for 402 buck including tax. You may find the Mossberg 500 series about the same price .... but I was sold on the 20 gauge. Of course I don't use it dualpurpose.
I also have a taurus judge ... Fun to shoot. I carry it with me on the jogging trail. For home it is velcroed to the bedpost .. 3 #6 shot and two 45 hollow point. The only issue I had with it was getting used to the counter clockwise rotation of the wheel. The advantage for me is we live in a circa 1850 house with 17 rooms. Short little hallways with multiple doors makes maneuvering even an 18” barrel precarious.
To answer YOUR specific question for dual purpose I would probably go with an 870 12 with two barrels, the tactical one being 18” ... you can still get in under 500 bucks.
Good advice on shotgun muzzle velocity .. few people know that.
And I always get a kick out of people saying “racking” a pump is going to make an intruder “wet his pants” first. I’m not willing to take that chance. I want every second of advantage I can find.
I was raised with a 1911 in condition 1. And that is where I stay with both my CCW and my home defense .. shotgun or 45. There just isn’t time to fiddle far around in an emergency.
Ever shoot an 870 and a Benelli M2 back to back? The Benelli feels like a 22 in comparison. The Benelli is inertia operated in a unique mechanism that is much more reliable and MUCH softer in the recoil. But even the old fashioned gas operated Remington 1100 has an unbelievably soft felt recoil in comparison to ANY pump or side by side on the market.
haven’t shot an m2 yet but i’ve tried the browning auto and rem 1100. i’ve been reading up on them and one of the benelli inertia drive shotguns and is on my list of guns to get next year. right behind a BFR but in front of a more accurate centerfire rifle.
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