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What Mossberg Is Best For Home Defense?

DHonovich

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What mossberg is best for home defense? What are your thoughts?
 
My personal mossberg of choice is the every handy and always reliable mossberg 500.
 
The Mossberg 930 SPX! Definite...Its semi automatic, if you do the switch load it will hold 9 rounds, it comes with the heavy barrel and almost $300 in ghost ring sights...top of the line Mossberg! I sure wish I had the extra $$$
 
My preference for HD, there are a handful of things to consider. I dont like the 930 for HD (though I really REALLY like the 930) only because its a semiauto. HD needs to be as simple as possible because if it ever becomes needed, you need as reliable a defense as possible. Not that the 930 isnt reliable, but the more parts and pieces, the more that can go wrong, malfunction, jam, or induce operator error in an adrenaline filled moment of panic. Keep it simple, and there isnt anything simpler than a pump as long as it isnt short stroked. I prefer a 500, 18.5" cylinder bore, pistol grip, and maybe a light. If not a pistol grip than a 12" LOP stock. If needed in the middle of the night, it needs to be able to be accessed and wielded easily. I dont care what anyone says, an SG needs to be aimed, so hit the blinding led in front of the forend. One can get a clamp and something like a Streamlight Polytac, and the 2 combined would be less than $200, more like $120.

I dont mention any of this to say this is the best set up, and I certainly dont mean to imply someone elses set up for HD is wrong. These are my beliefs and my preferences.

Thanks folks.
 
Lots of variables to consider on this one. Are you going to be the only potential operator of the gun? If you plan on your wife or girlfriend possibly using it, does she know how, or is she strong/coordinated enough to operate a pump action? In my personal situation, I know my girlfriend can't efficiently operate a pump shotgun, so I keep a 930 SPX. The pump action shotgun is simple enough; but for her, if I'm not home, I'd prefer she have access to an autoloader... even then, it's a lot of gun for her to handle; but between that and the 100 lb. German Shepherd, I think she's pretty safe on the few occasions when I'm away.
 
I have to agree with Rossignol about simplicity. I wish Mossberg made a coach gun. Absent that, I'd probably have to go for the tried-and-true pump 590A1 - maybe get the 9 shot just for fun. :twisted:
 
Great question and one that I have been struggling with for some time. I try to train as much as possible with my 590s under whatever simulated stress I can conjure up at a range or a course. Under the stress that exists at a course, I see quite a bit of user-induced failures resulting from short-pumping the gun - I have had my share, and while they are much fewer now, it can still happen.

I cannot imagine a larger adrenaline dump that one would experience than when they are woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of a entrance door/window being taken downstairs, with you and your wife upstairs in your masterbedroom, your son and daughter in their two bedrooms across the hall, your shotgun in the closet, either in a LocBox of some sort or not. Grabbing the children, getting them secured in a pre-set far corner of the master bedroom, taking up a defensive position across the hall of the masterbedroom at the top of stairwell, and then having to fire repeatedly when a bad guy or guys turns the 180 degrees near the top of the staircase, enters the fatal funnel, and attempts to rush the remaining stairs to the 2d floor. Will I have enough muscle memory to work that pump as perfectly as I must? Can I manoeuver it effectively within the confines of my hallways?

Under range/course stress, the 930SPX works like the ARs I'm familiar with, that is, I don't have to think about the unnatural act of pumping between rounds. I am working the autoloader into my training in order to get a few thousand rounds through it. I have had no failures since fixing a minor factory assembly defect. If that continues, I am going to seriously consider the SPX as the HD gun.

Be that all as it may, my Glock 17 with dedicated Surefire X300 is always with me in the house and right at the nightstand when I sleep. I have it with me in my practiced HD scenario above (SafePacker by The Wilderness works quickly and perfectly with PJs) and will have it with me in a real event, and long before I get to the shotgun, however.

Apologies for such a long post and only my second at that, but this is really a great question and one I know I must work out for me and my family solidly and soon.
 
All the 18.5and 20s are good I have an AIMPRO 20. A simple pump may be best depending on experence.
anyones best choice should be the SG they feel most comfortable with, have had the most training with and most importantly, the one that they are not afraid to use if need be
 
smokinjoes said:
All the 18.5and 20s are good I have an AIMPRO 20. A simple pump may be best depending on experence.
anyones best choice should be the SG they feel most comfortable with, have had the most training with and most importantly, the one that they are not afraid to use if need be

clear and concise. I agree.
 
A Bullpup works well , while holding it with your right hand and and snugging it into your right shoulder you can have your left hand free for doors , switches , etc , etc. I often practice shooting one handed like this and it always leaves a bruise.
 
MY prefered HD shot gun is a combination of mossberg products, what I actually wanted does not exist from mossberg.

Its basically a 500 with 590a1 metal parts and mag tube. the bbl is off an 835, since 18.5 590's don't exist.
THe bbl is a "normal profile" and isnt "thick walled", Its closest to a 590a1 18.5 without the weight.
I run a surefire forend for a light and a 4 rnd side saddle.

I also have a 500 20" pursuader with all metal parts and a full stock, 4 rnd side saddle and a stock pack with 10 rnds in it. Its more of a grab and go gun than HD.

For someone getting their first HD shotgun I direct folks tword the basic 500, or even the Mav 88 if the safety is an issue.
There are plenty of used parts to upgrade later if you wish for often less thean the cost of a 590/a1.
Stocks and gadgets are found used and "mounted once and fired 4 times didnt like it" often.

the basic stocked 18.5 or even 20 in gun will do to get up to speed anf trained up, then modify to your hearts desire.
Now for those that have the kings coin abound, just get a 590a1 18.5 and deal with the extra weight up front.
 
Mossberg mark said:
A Bullpup works well , while holding it with your right hand and and snugging it into your right shoulder you can have your left hand free for doors , switches , etc , etc. I often practice shooting one handed like this and it always leaves a bruise.
Ive been looking for a bullpup stock for a 500 for years, just cant spend more than the cost of 2 500's on the ones I have found.
 
hunter72 said:
Mossberg mark said:
A Bullpup works well , while holding it with your right hand and and snugging it into your right shoulder you can have your left hand free for doors , switches , etc , etc. I often practice shooting one handed like this and it always leaves a bruise.
Ive been looking for a bullpup stock for a 500 for years, just cant spend more than the cost of 2 500's on the ones I have found.

I will keep my eyes and ears open for a stock, I am in the market for a "beater" Pup because I hate to take this nearly perfect one on the quad or through the brush(but I do).
 
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Gun porn
 
I shortened the barrel on an old 100% reliable 500. I am very familiar with the gun and trust it to protect my family. $100.00 total investment. I only hope I never have a need for it in the house.
 
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