Ive never owned a gun in my life, ive fired one twice, im looking to get a shotgun. Im looking to spend less than $700. What are my options? I dont like the long barrels and i hear having the pistol grip has a ton of recoil, so those are out of the question. I really dont wanna saw off the end either. So, with that said, what would be a good shotgun for a newb like me?

 

are you planning on using it for home defense or target shooting / to commit crime? if you are using it for shooting clay pigeons and such a 24 inch barrel will work good with a modified choke until you get better than go back to a full choke

I recomend that you try to get a mossberg 500, (12 or 20 guage), with an 18 1/2 inch barrel,like this one

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=5

and add this kit

http://www.arizonagunrunners.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl

 

i would plan on using it for home defense since crime is rapant around here and my apt was already broken into over the xmas break (im in college).

 

The Moss. 500 is a good choice so is the Remington 870..

 

i click on the kit and it says that the shopping cart is currently empty. what kinda kit was it?

 

I wuold go for a Remington 870. Tried and true and been around forever.

here's mine.


Check out this link. This would make for a fine home defense shotgun.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/42057

 

On the winchester site they have a home defense shotgun that is small and compact. It is only like $300-400 i think

 

I agree with SimpleMan. There is no better pump action shotgun made that is better than an 870. They come in every possible configuration possible. With your budget being $700 I'd suggest looking for a 870 Wingmaster Magnum. The 870 wingmaster is made with machined parts, vice the forged parts used in the 870 express, hence the much higher price. Both are excellent weapons and second to none in functionality, but the Wingmaster is just a little higher quality.
The Mossberg 500 is also a good weapon, as is the Winchester Model 12. I always suggest finding some different models/configurations to shoot just to see what fits you the best. Good luck.

 

got a remington 870 20" barrel 12GA and i love it it sits at the end of my bed with a Slug right next to it because someone stole a car right out of my drive way!...then i also have a 7.62 X 54MM rifle next to it when they start getting far away. i love my 870 its nice pretty light...not to acc. pass 50 yards but hey its got a 20" barrle haha. my buddys dad calls it the "hall way gun" i think mine was about 255 or 300 i forget. i love it thoe

 

I can relate to that! Tucked in my mattress is a CZ 75B 9mm chambered and ready with 16 extra rounds in the mag, in the corner is one of my AR-15's with a fully loaded 20 round mag, and then right under my bed is my 870 with 4 shells loaded with steel shot and the fifth shot being a 1oz slug (just in case the 4 shot shells don't put them down.) No way in hell is a man gonna stay on his feet after a 1 ounce slug enters his body at 1700 feet per second.

 

If ya have 700 bucks, the Benelli. For under 300, a Remington 870 pump w/synthetic stock.

 

Simple Man are you a member of the NRA?

 

I'd go with a Mossberg 835. One step up from the 500, and you have your options of a 24" or 28" barrell. You also have more options of camo patterns.

Any preferences on Pump action vs. semi-auto / autoloader??

 

I'm thinkin anything over 20" is unnecessary, and would be that much more difficult to employ in a home defense scenario. I really dig that Special Purpose Mossy 500. I'm thinking about getting that one myself.

 

if you are going strictly for home defense, the remington 870 express is the best choice. at bass pro we order this gun in alot. its the 870 express 7shot with a 18inch barrel all blacked out. i know at our store we dont keep the black version of it at the store but every now and then have the 870 marine magnum which is the same size but nickel plated and cost alot more. you can get a feel for the gun. the blacked out 870 express 7shot is 329.99 i believe, it is also a 12 gauge. very good choice and ive sold a few of them!