Getting a shotgun - first gun.

[The_Captain]

Well found a remington 870 at wally-world for 257. Going to shop around but heard it is a reliable shotgun. This will be mainly for home defense. Well it will make me feel better about working late and leaving my girl home alone. I plan getting it next Friday (payday). Then I plan on shooting practice Sat. so, any advice?

[DucMan]

shop around, I got my 870 for $180 after all rebates. Dicks is always runninng some sort of promotion, that is where I got mine.

[Kachad]

I have an older 870 for hunting and a Mossberg for SD. If you have the patience, you may want to wait for a local gun show and get an older model - from what I've seen they are a bit more rugged in construction than the new ones. However, with that said, y'can't go wrong with an 870. Have Fun!

[The_Captain]

Thanks for the input. don't know when the next gun show will be here... I still need to check Academy

[TexasRedRock]

Academy had one last week for $160 something, it wasnt an 870, Mossburg I think. I have had 870's for over 15 years, cant go wrong there. Went to a local gun show last weekend, (Austin) everything there was way overpriced. Good luck to ya.

[The_Captain]

So, any brand or model that I should stay away from?

[AK4Dave]

Well found a remington 870 at wally-world for 257. Going to shop around but heard it is a reliable shotgun. This will be mainly for home defense. Well it will make me feel better about working late and leaving my girl home alone. I plan getting it next Friday (payday). Then I plan on shooting practice Sat. so, any advice?

Well, seeing that it's already Sat. you may already be practicing with your new scattergun. Above you mentioned that it would "mainly" be for home defense. Does that mean that you do not hunt, or shoot clay birds...??? What I'm getting at is, are you going to get a full sized shotgun with a standard (28-30") barrel? Or does the 870 you're looking at have a short (say 18") barrel? If the shotgun you plan on getting will only be for home/self defense, then I suggest an 18-20" barrel. I saw a new 18" Mossberg the other day at a gun shop for $235. As you can imagine short barrels are faster swinging, especially inside a house. They are also easier to carry if you want to strap one to your back when you go camping in bear country. So if you haven't made up your mind already, be sure and keep this in mind.
Good Luck....:thumbsup:

[The_Captain]

Yeah, I would have got the shorter barrel, but I plan on going out to the range to practice. I found a maverick 88 for 147 at wally-world and with my girl's discount I couldn't pass it up. 164 for shotgun, 00 buckshot and 50 bird shells for practice.=D It can use mossberg 500 stocks and barrels without any modifications ('cept forearm)... It came with a 28 barrel, but I have only one "hallway" (three feet long) in my apartment, so that isn't much of an issue yet. I do plan on getting a folding stock w/ pistol grip though.

[AK4Dave]

Yeah, I would have got the shorter barrel, but I plan on going out to the range to practice. I found a maverick 88 for 147 at wally-world and with my girl's discount I couldn't pass it up. 164 for shotgun, 00 buckshot and 50 bird shells for practice.=D It can use mossberg 500 stocks and barrels without any modifications ('cept forearm)... It came with a 28 barrel, but I have only one "hallway" (three feet long) in my apartment, so that isn't much of an issue yet. I do plan on getting a folding stock w/ pistol grip though.

So there ya go, altho I'm not familiar with the maverick, it sounds like you got something you were looking for.
It's always nice to have a longer barrel.....who knows you may take up bird huntin' someday and you'll be all set. As a kid I cut my teeth duck and pheasant hunting and I miss it terribly.
Good Luck...!!!:thumbsup:

[Lorrel]

Yeah, I would have got the shorter barrel, but I plan on going out to the range to practice. I found a maverick 88 for 147 at wally-world and with my girl's discount I couldn't pass it up. 164 for shotgun, 00 buckshot and 50 bird shells for practice.=D It can use mossberg 500 stocks and barrels without any modifications ('cept forearm)... It came with a 28 barrel, but I have only one "hallway" (three feet long) in my apartment, so that isn't much of an issue yet. I do plan on getting a folding stock w/ pistol grip though.

Talking about a Mossberg 500, I just picked one up for "HS", as I believe for home defense, a nice short barreled shotgun has it all over a hand gun.
Been trying to find a Winchester NRA Defender, however there are none to be had in my area. After about an hour on the phone, I found that right now, tactical shotguns are hard to come by. I scored a Mossberg 500 Persuader, with an 18.5" barrel. It's a matte black finish with the composite stock, pump, and came with a pistol grip. Holds 6+1, and feels good to handle. Already went out and put about 20 rounds through it. 10 with the stock and 10 with the pistol grip. Here's a pic of what it looks like with the pistol grip, heat shield and flash supressor.
18395
Already got the heat shield in a parkerized finish on order and looking for the supressor. It looks like the kind of weapon that won't even be needed to be fired if someone enters the house and see's it pointed at him.