Ok, FRiends - have at it!
Both hold 5 shells, BTW.
You can’t go wrong with a pump shotgun.
Nothing wrong with an auto either.
It’s more a matter of aesthetics.
I prefer a pump myself, but I own both.
Pump. 870 or 590 and you got all you need.
My Winchester 1300 Defender consumes 1-3/4” shells perfectly.
The advantage is it only holds 7 2-3/4” shells, but it will hold 10 1-3/4” shells, and they are plenty powerful enough for defensive purposes at the short ranges you would be shooting inside your house, and they aren’t as loud.
The pump. Ratcheting in a shell makes a very intimidating sound
If you get a pump, make sure you practice. It takes some range time to get used to pumping the action immediately after you pull the trigger. The best way is to go skeet shooting and only pull doubles (two skeet targets per round). I say this because doubles go fast and your brain will train your arm to immediately reload.
That being said, I don't know your living situation, but if you live with other people or have other people over somewhat regularly, I would suggest you get an AR-15. If you're trying to shoot someone who is standing next to someone you're not trying to shoot, a shotgun is the worst gun you could use.
In general, that is going to lead you to a pump rather than semi-auto. Semi-auto are simply more complex and thus higher cost for the same level of quality and workmanship.
I love my Mossberg pump. It has never hiccuped on me no matter what ammo I've put in it. I'll admit I did buy the pistol-grip only model 'cause I thought it looked cool. Yeah, looks cool, dang near impossible to shoot well - real life isn't Hollywood, imagine that. I bought and adjustable stock for it - much better.
Pumps are tough to beat. One or two shots will end a conflict, unless you are dealing with a body-armored threat, in which case an AR rifle is in order. I’ve seen 40-50 year old Ithaca 37’s and Remington 870’s function flawlessly. They are a safe bet.
Semi-autos are pretty reliable these days.
870 or go home.
I love the pump, the sound alone will give anyone pause.
An auto, which I have never owned in shotgun form, ideally could be brought into action with one hand to load.
I could see being stuck in a constrained place without room to operate the slide of a pump with the authority needed (very neglected) to keep running.
Not switching, but if I were, this is what I would think about.
I think he refers to it as "pullrack."
Semi-auto. One less thing to do in the heat of the moment. Bennelli M1 Super 90 is my go-to.
Pump all day every day for a defensive shotgun. Semiautos are fantastic for hunting, sporting clays, and 3-gun matches.
However, they are too unreliable and ammo-sensitive for home defense. For home defense you want something that goes *bang* every time you pull the trigger, and a pump shotgun will do that. light load, heavy load, dud load, you rack the slide and you get a fresh round in the tube.
Now, if you were experienced enough with firearms, their operation, and their limitations to not have to ask this question in the first place, then a semiauto shotgun for home defense may make sense for you. But since you have to ask, then the answer is pump.
The 870 Wingmaster was popular because of the double action bars instead of a single and the ease to interchange barrels and with a machined steel receiver. The next best 12 Guage pump was the Winchester Model 12. Pumps are much more reliable especially for people that do not clean their weapons or get them dirty in the field. Decades of hunting I have witnessed several Rem Model 1100's and Browing Auto 5's jam or fail to extract shells. I have never seen an 870 jam or fail and after 50 years have never had a failure to cycle or fire and mostly with reloads.
As far as the myth about speed, I automatically begin to cycle the chamber as soon as the trigger is pulled. This is so fast that often burnt powder residue flies in my face. Someone that shoots often will cycle an 870 pump as fast as any auto, not that a split second matters when with both weapons you are recovering from recoil to sight again. I find that cycling the round pulls the muzzle down faster with a pump after shooting to get back on the sight picture faster than with an Auto.
Neither as a primary home defense weapon as, unlike a handgun, it’s impossible to have a shotgun on my person or within reach 24/7 while at home.
I have my .38 Special revolver on me as I type this. I wouldn’t have a shotgun within reach right now and I can’t picture myself mowing the lawn or doing other chores carrying a shotgun.
A long gun may be a viable option as a backup. I’ve considered a shotgun for my wife because she doesn’t have the inclination to put in the time to become reasonably proficient in handling a handgun. And that shotgun would be a break action single shot because she doesn’t have the inclination to become proficient in the handling of a pump or semi-auto. The single shot is almost 100% reliable and and is the easiest to train with. I wouldn’t pick a single shot as a primary, or any long gun for that matter, but for my wife to use as backup for me, it would work.
I have a semi-auto. Have no idea why it might be unreliable.