Posted on 01/27/2013 7:05:07 PM PST by ConservativeInPA
I have been surfing the web looking at tactical shotguns. I really don't care for the term "tactical", but what I am looking for is certainly not a bird gun.
Here are my requirements:
1. Barrel Type: A breacher barrel. Does anyone have experience with a breacher choke tube? Do they work? How much to they extend the length of the gun?
2. Barrel Length: Shorter is better to me as maneuverability is important.
3. Stock/Overall gun length: What are the pro/cons of pistol grip, traditional stock and folding stock? I want something very sturdy, as a primary requirement is the ability to breach.
4. Action: Pump or Semi-Auto. I do not have much a preference as I own both types of shotguns. However, a semi-auto may have the ability to have detachable magazines like a Saiga. Or the possibility of a drum magazine for other semi-auto.
5. Detachable/Drum magazines: If the answer to #4 is semi-auto, is there an advantage to a detachable or drum magazine? How durable are they? Can you get them for 3-inch shot shells? Are they reliable?
6. Accessories: My general thoughts on this is pretty simple so far - maybe a mounted mag light of some sort and something for extra ammo. If there are any other ideas, let me know.
7. I may build/mod using an existing shotgun. This is a financial thing, in which I purchase today what may be banned parts in the future and later use to parts when I build on a completely legitimate/legal shotgun.
I would suggest you start with the workhorse of shotguns the Mossberg 500.
Learn proper shooting technique and master it.
From there you can customize the thung with an adjustable stock and for grip.
I say start with this gun because everyman should learn to shoot a slide action and the maintenance is extremely easy.
Best of all, they are sold many places for $250-$280. It come with two barrels that allow one for home protection, while the other barrel is used for sport shooting, birding, small game and can even be used for large game.
It’s a terrific arm that is so versatile and at a price point anyone can afford.
I started with the 20” Mossberg 500, added an ATI pistol grip collapsible stock (get the angle adapter!). Found a rifled slug barrel for later. Have an ATI heat shield w/ghost-ring sights to add yet.
A breaching-style barrel can be obtained separately if the basic unit is more readily available and affordable.
the Roadblock barrel (looks like a 50cal front end) would be kinda cool, tho’...
This makes it more likely that you will blow it out so the door is no longer held fast.
“Anyone want to talk me out of it?”
why would we. Maximum reliable firepower for the dollar, rock solid design, nothing extra on the basic one and add-on’s galore if that is your thing. Pretty much the most lethality the buck and well build, too.
My local store had a video of one of an SRM 1216, here’s their site... Pretty utilitarian looking :-)
You really shouldn’t have that problem if you drink beer while cleaning yer guns, on the front porch a couple times a week...
LOL
mark
I’ve moved to the double barrel side ... just finished putting rails on a side-by-side with rabbit ears (old west coach style gun). I also cut 2 inches off the stock and added a thick limbsaver butt with five round cuff. The holo sight I’m mounting to the upper picatinny will be sighted to go with the left barrel, which will be the range barrel for specialty (slugs) rounds. A green laser will mount to the end of the bottom rail, for when hip shooting to ‘repel boarders’ and a clip-on sling ring will finish the mods on the lower rail. Found some six round stripper quicks for 12 gauge, for faster reloading. Widener’s may still have a few of the shotties in stock.
I have built my own gas-inpingment M4 clone (16" barrel including compensator, and wrong gas system, so not really an M4) and an M16A3 clone (no select fire). I haven't had any problems, but my shooting conditions are certainly not close to combat.
I reload my own M193 and M885 ammo in addition to some really low grain, fast sh!t for personnel armor penetration (those pesky varmints).
So I am curious, regardless if a weapon is an AK or an M10, is stopping power that different? Is it worthwhile to hump heavier ammo?
I do not recommend a pump for one reason. It is easy to short shuck especially under stress.
They can be mechanically very reliable. When Winchester asked John Browning to design a lever action shotgun, Browning told them that a pump was a much better action. Winchester still wanted a lever action as that is what the company was known for.
Browning did as they asked and designed a lever action repeater. A few years later he patented a pump action then a couple of years after that, patented the model 1897, a true classic.
If you do choose a pump, try to shoot it a lot, preferably in a rural setting and make a habit of immediately shucking a new round as soon as you fire.
I remember my gun club had a Texas Ranger come back to put on a shooting contest. While he was there he did some shooting with a pump. He literally could fire an 870 to where it sounded like a machine gun and he was accurate too.
I have always had great reflexes and have done a lot of shooting but could not even approach his skill level. I believe he could fire that pump faster than I could an auto.
Mossberg 500. Forget pistol grip only option. Looks cool on tv, not so practical on the range. Collapsible stock keeps it short for indoor use, let’s you use a full stock on the range. May want to rethink shotgun though if you don’t live alone. May have situation where someone you care about is too close. Something with a little more precision may be a better choice.
Mossberg 500. Forget pistol grip only option. Looks cool on tv, not so practical on the range. Collapsible stock keeps it short for indoor use, let’s you use a full stock on the range. May want to rethink shotgun though if you don’t live alone. May have situation where someone you care about is too close. Something with a little more precision may be a better choice.
I had the older Knoxx Specops recoil-reducing stock on the Mossberg 500, but as often happens, lost the whole works half way across the river, can’t remember which one now.
For about $350 Bucks TriStar's Cobra Force Pump. It comes with Picatinny rails atop the receiver and on the underside of the fore-end. It has a stock, you just can't see it in this picture.
Twenty years ago I would have used nothing but a standard stock unless concealability was important. If so I would have gone with a folding stock.
Since I have gotten arthritis pretty bad, I need a full pistol grip and also a complete rubberized butt stock and with a cushioned butt pad.
I had no intention of buying one of those hard rubberized pistol grip Until I used one and discovered it fit my arthritic hand far better that standard stock.
One of our guys shot a dude ten feet away, four times in the chest. The guy ran away. Not, limped, not crawled, staggered...RAN. Of course the guy was wearing body armor - if you count a tshirt as body armor. A lot of those guys were hyping up on meth, injecting adrenaline, or on other drugs. You needed the heavier bullet to damage larger areas, or more rapid blood loss.
Not to mention the yaw is more violent on a 7.62x39 bullet than a 55.6x54 - it opens more flesh. At the time we weren't issued AP rounds, but 'lucky' for us some of the dead haji had some. (for those reading that want to jump on me about what "haji" means or political correctness - yes, I speak the language, and no I don't care)
Now, that I just said the heavier round is worth the weight, that doesn't mean all the latest whizzbang gadgetry is. The saying goes ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. The more you have to carry the harder it is, the slower you go, and the more fatigued you get. But, I would forgo half the other tacticool stuff, and even more of the other stuff in the pack in favor of 7.62x39 or 7.62x51 (.308).
One of our guys got shot in the back of the leg and the hole in the front was nearly large enough to stick your fist in. That cause a large amount of blood loss in a short period of time. I'd say pretty effective. For those wondering, he lived. Well he died, had his Last Rites read to him, and then he came back to life and lived.
Disclosure - I nearly had repeated jams of an M16 cost me my life. I am highly biased in favor of the AK. Yes, I will admit the M16 has tighter tolerances and groups and is more accurate at longer distances. You can hit your target pretty effective at 500 yrds with an M16 and you want 300 or less with an AK. That said, I have never been in a firefight beyond 200/250 yds, so I personally prefer a weapon with looser tolerances that can better withstand heavy sustained firing, mud, water, and sand and has a heavier round.
From a personal stand point (since I am not equipping an army or a Marine Corps), 7.62x39 is also cheaper than 5.56/.223 and the weapon systems are generally cheaper too - I was able to buy x2 AKs for what my buddy paid for x1 M4. And mine are tricked out with collapsible M4 style stocks, rail systems etc. Dollar for dollar cost was 2:1.
As an added aside, I decided that rather than buy a variety of different calibers, I would stick to 7.62x39, 7.62x54, 9mm, 8mm, and 12 ga. This gave me cost effective ammo I could stock pile in bulk while having a variety of platforms to shoot it. Stopping power is pretty good across the board, although I sacrificed a bit with the 9mm, but I can use that in a CCW as well as a carbine....and quite a bit cheaper than .40 or .45. The 8mm is for the Mauser my grandfather picked up at a beach resort on Normandy.
Any opinion on mossberg 930 spx with pistol grip? Not for breaching but for defense
A 12 ga in and of itself is generally a good choice for home defense. My personal preference is the Mossberg 500 with ONLY the pistol grip and without the fixed stock.
This is 10" shorter than the one you posted
A lot of times, it comes down to personal preference. I prefer to have a shorter shotgun when moving through a house/building as CQB is pretty quick and fluid. Going through doorways and down the hall with a longer weapon is more difficult. Others may prefer the comfort of the stock tight in their shoulder. Some want semi, others prefer pump, or don't care.
However, you pictured a semiauto and I posted a pump action. If I were going to get a semi auto and was looking to spend ball park what that one is priced at, I would get a Saiga 12 with a 20 rnd drum....and see what could be mod'd to make sure there weren't any feeding issues. Of course you could always try to get your hands on a Spas 12 that is selectable pump/semi.
You have to also take into consideration what scenario it most likely will be used for. If it is 2 guys burglarizing your home, a pump would probably suffice. If it is SWAT kicking in your door to take your guns and force you to buy health insurance you may want the semi. I have been pretty pleased with Mossberg shotguns overall, but I haven't used that particular one.
I hope that helps.
Yes home defense. As far as pump vs. semiauto I’m thinking speed. I want to put the bad guys down asap. Seems kinda pricey though.
I’ve never shot a pistol grip like the 500 you mention. Wouldn’t it be hard to control, esp on 2nd shot for perp 2?
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