Should You Choose a Pump-Action or Semi-Automatic Shotgun for Home Defense?

[Ranger715]

I don't enjoy getting whomped by a 12 gauge, but I'm ready to use it because it's an undeniably decisive fight stopper. I got a Mossberg 500A pump years ago at a gun show for about $275. Seemed so cheap to me, I couldn't afford not to buy it! I chose the pump because I had more training with one. I like the Mossberg better than the Remington for the tang safety and action release location. I keep it in the safe in "patrol ready" condition. I'm only going to get to it if I have significant reaction time.

But I sure wouldn't mind a (relatively) soft shooting, reliable semi-auto like the Benelli. They don't go for $275, though.

 

[mikep]

I know you weren't brother. I was pretty much joking as well.

You've seriously never fired a shotgun? One day on the range with me and you would be addicted. Just today I took a kid who has never fired a shotgun and was afraid to fire a shotgun and turned him into an addict. He's still babbling on to his mother about it right this minute. And I broke him in right. No birdshot. All 00B and slugs.

3/4 full 5 gallon water jugs literally explode when you hit them with the buckshot brother. It is a joy to behold.

Yup. Ran about 20 slugs through my maverick 88 last week. Left the range with a sore shoulder and big smile.

 

[HansGruber]

That’s the great thing about the Benelli Inertia drive…20 slugs or full-power buckshot are a non-issue.

 

[Bassbob]

That’s the great thing about the Benelli Inertia drive…20 slugs or full-power buckshot are a non-issue.

This can also be said about the IWI TS-12, the Benelli M1014 and the Beretta 1301. It can't however be said about the KSG25. I zero'ed it with slugs and by the time I got to about the 8th round I really didn't want to shoot it anymore.

Edit* I misread your post here. I thought you were talking about slugs. Me and the boy put 100 rounds of 00B through the TS-12 today. His shoulder is a little sore, but he never shot a shotgun before. Really I can shoot slugs and buck through both my autos all day long and not feel any discomfort.

 

[Bassbob]

I don't enjoy getting whomped by a 12 gauge, but I'm ready to use it because it's an undeniably decisive fight stopper. I got a Mossberg 500A pump years ago at a gun show for about $275. Seemed so cheap to me, I couldn't afford not to buy it! I chose the pump because I had more training with one. I like the Mossberg better than the Remington for the tang safety and action release location. I keep it in the safe in "patrol ready" condition. I'm only going to get to it if I have significant reaction time.

But I sure wouldn't mind a (relatively) soft shooting, reliable semi-auto like the Benelli. They don't go for $275, though.

I dislike the 870 for the exact two reasons you stated. I much prefer my 500.

I have a feeling the new Mossberg 940 is going wind up around the $800 range. Not quite $275 but still a fair price for a really nice semi auto, probably only bested by the Beretta and Benellis. Just something to think about.

 

[Bassbob]

Yup. Ran about 20 slugs through my maverick 88 last week. Left the range with a sore shoulder and big smile.

20 slugs through any pump will definitely rough your shoulder up a little bit.

 

[mikep]

20 slugs through any pump will definitely rough your shoulder up a little bit.

I shoot my rifles lefty (left eye doninant) but have to shoot my shotgun righty because of a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Hahahaha.

 

[Bassbob]

I shoot my rifles lefty (left eye doninant) but have to shoot my shotgun righty because of a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Hahahaha.

I'm cross eye dominant. I am also semi-ambidextrous. I can shoot rifles and shotguns with equal comfort and skill left handed and right handed. Same with batting ( baseball) or kicking. I box southpaw and play guitar and write right handed. My dad shoots pistols right handed and shotguns and rifles left handed.

I sort of negated the advantage of the Mossberg tang safety by putting a telescoping AR style stock with a pistol grip on it. I hate disassembling the 870. Really I just think the Mossberg is a better gun.

 

[TSiWRX]

Shotgun recoil doesn't have to be painful - for those who have not yet had the ability to try, the pull-push *really* helps, and here it is demonstrated by Rob Haught -

Certainly, it's not going to be the gentle gnat-landing that's typical of the .223/5.56, but know that it's not at all uncommon for shooters of all sizes and builds to run through hundreds of high-brass double-ought -and even plenty of slugs from changeover drills- in novice/beginner-level "defensive shotgun" classes.

Making sure that the stock is properly fitted -including for your shooting technique- will help a lot, too.

 

[javbike]

I do own a one shot gun a marvick 88 I bought 5 years ago 18 in barrel to be totally honest I never shot buck shot out it only slugs that big water jugs sounds like hella fun bass bob oh ya

 

[Bassbob]

Shotgun recoil doesn't have to be painful - for those who have not yet had the ability to try, the pull-push *really* helps, and here it is demonstrated by Rob Haught -

Certainly, it's not going to be the gentle gnat-landing that's typical of the .223/5.56, but know that it's not at all uncommon for shooters of all sizes and builds to run through hundreds of high-brass double-ought -and even plenty of slugs from changeover drills- in novice/beginner-level "defensive shotgun" classes.

Making sure that the stock is properly fitted -including for your shooting technique- will help a lot, too.

Brother, I have been shotgunning a very long time, I am in good shape with good upper body strength and I am intimately familiar with the push/pull method, proper LOP, stance and recoil mitigation techniques with a shotgun and I don't care who you are if you run 20 3" slugs or even the 2 3/4 1600 FPS Truball slugs through a KSG25 or a 500 or any pump gun it's going to get uncomfortable. Painful may not be the right word, but uncomfortable is definitely an accurate description.

 

[Bassbob]

I do own a one shot gun a marvick 88 I bought 5 years ago 18 in barrel to be totally honest I never shot buck shot out it only slugs that big water jugs sounds like hella fun bass bob oh ya

It is a hell of a lot of fun. It's over very quickly and then you are shooting at pieces of plastic jug though unless you only fill it 3/4 of the way up and save the money shot for the 3rd or 4th round.

 

[Recusant]

This started out life as a Mossberg 500 before Cobray installed the short barrel. It won't hurt your shoulder, but it's hard on my right hand.

 

[mikep]

Brother, I have been shotgunning a very long time, I am in good shape with good upper body strength and I am intimately familiar with the push/pull method, proper LOP, stance and recoil mitigation techniques with a shotgun and I don't care who you are if you run 20 3" slugs or even the 2 3/4 1600 FPS Truball slugs through a KSG25 or a 500 or any pump gun it's going to get uncomfortable. Painful may not be the right word, but uncomfortable is definitely an accurate description.

My maverick cycles the minishells pretty good, which don’t have as bad a recoil to them. They’re a gas to shoot.

 

[Bassbob]

This started out life as a Mossberg 500 before Cobray installed the short barrel. It won't hurt your shoulder, but it's hard on my right hand.
View attachment 25931

Now I have no experience with them, but they say the "Bird's head" grip is a lot easier on the hand. It supposedly transfers a lot of the recoil to your wrist and arm. Another very viable option is to get rid of the corn cob forend and put a Magpul forend on it and a vertical grip. I had my 500 set up like this briefly before I ditched the pistol grip only thing for good.

 

[Bassbob]

My maverick cycles the minishells pretty good, which don’t have as bad a recoil to them. They’re a gas to shoot.

Do you have to have one of those adaptor deals in there ?

My KSG25 cycles them very well ( allegedly) but I have never messed with the 1 3/4" shells at all.

 

[mikep]

I'm cross eye dominant. I am also semi-ambidextrous. I can shoot rifles and shotguns with equal comfort and skill left handed and right handed. Same with batting ( baseball) or kicking. I box southpaw and play guitar and write right handed. My dad shoots pistols right handed and shotguns and rifles left handed.

I sort of negated the advantage of the Mossberg tang safety by putting a telescoping AR style stock with a pistol grip on it. I hate disassembling the 870. Really I just think the Mossberg is a better gun.

I too put an AR type stock on my maverick (mainly for the hell of of it). I actually shoot it better with the traditional stock. Easy enough to change back. My primary HD guns are my M&P9 and 1911 so i’m not too worried about by shotgun skills.

 

[Bassbob]

I too put an AR type stock on my maverick (mainly for the hell of of it). I actually shoot it better with the traditional stock. Easy enough to change back. My primary HD guns are my M&P9 and 1911 so i’m not too worried about by shotgun skills.

Mine looks basically like this now except I ditched the vert grip shortly after I put the stock on, ditched the weapon mounted light and added a 7 rd. Esstac card on the left side. I also put an enhanced steel safety on it.

 

[mikep]

Do you have to have one of those adaptor deals in there ?

My KSG25 cycles them very well ( allegedly) but I have never messed with the 1 3/4" shells at all.

I do have an opsol (i think that’s how it is spelled) but it still cycles pretty good without it. I don’t think i’d use the minis if it were my primary HD though.
Nice looking set up there.

 

[mikep]

Mine looks basically like this now except I ditched the vert grip shortly after I put the stock on, ditched the weapon mounted light and added a 7 rd. Esstac card on the left side. I also put an enhanced steel safety on it.

Mine is pretty basic. I may swap out the corn cob.