[confusion]

i need a home defense shotgun. The only hunting shotgun i have is to long to fit through my tiny little hallways, so after a quick google search, i've determined that it'll be either the Benelli M4 or M2 tactical.

Everyone seems to prefer the gas-operated M4 over the inertia operated M2 because it allows a more diverse group of rounds to cycle.

My question is: will self defense require a gun with the capability to cycle such a vast arrangement of rounds?

the only thing i'd end up using is your everyday buckshot, maybe some ruber bullets if i feel inclined

 

[ullie]

Everyone seems to prefer the gas-operated M4 over the inertia operated M2 because it allows a more diverse group of rounds to cycle.

My question is: will self defense require a gun with the capability to cycle such a vast arrangement of rounds?

...to answer your question...NO...i would use "standard" full power loads...but not magnum loads... for self defense use...



...i personally don't feel a "shotgun" is a good choice for home defense...that said...

...i would recomend a Benelli M1S90 Tactical...argueable the best defensive shotgun ever produced...

...for shells i would use "standard velosity" 2 3/4 inch #1 buck...16 pellets...if over penetration is a concern i would go with "standard velosity" 2 3/4 inch # 4 buck...27 pellets

...no "rubber bullets"...if you're *justfied* using deadly force to protect yourself and your family against a threat...use it without hesitation ...your lives may depend on it...

 

[psuminer]

I know this is an older post but I'm in the market for a shotty and am leaning towards the same two options. Couple questions:

1) Used M1 vs Squeaky-new M2? My understanding is the M2 is a new-and-improved M1. Am I mistaken on this?

2) As I will only be allowed to own ONE shotgun (isn't marriage great?!), I need the shotgun to have the capacity to serve not only as a tactical/defensive shotgun (love the tactical look ), but I also want something that I can hunt and participate in sporting clays and such with. I really like the gas-operated feature of the M4 (much less recoil yes?) but I like the fact that you can equip the M2 with either an 18.5" barrel or a 26" barrel, tactical (and collapsible) stock w/ pistol grip or the ComforTech stock. Can you do the same with the M4?

Conversely, the M4 comes equipped with picatinny rail, Ghost-ring sights, etc. I assume you could comparibly equip an M2 in a simialr fashion?

All things considered equal, I'd prefer
A) the softer-recoil option.
B) I prefer auto over pump

As for the hunting part, the shotgun needs to be able to handle everything from doves to geese and everything in between.

Thanks in advance all!

 

[Clyde]

I own one of these tactical shotguns, and it fits the bill for what you're seeking [home defense and skeet/trap] {sorry, don't hunt anymore, but this gun is certainly capable}:

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firea ... gid=FNG002

I actually love pulling this thing out in front of all the haute tautes at the local skeet/trap events [some Southerners can be so "plantation aristocratic" sometimes] while they smirk and snicker at the "low-heeled cad" with the tactical black long gun daring to mingle in amongst the hand engraved and inlaid gilded over and unders they've inherited, and then watch them go all slackjawed and stupified when I unleash ceramic annihilation with it, followed by the "What kind of gun is that you're shooting there, young fellow?" mystification that inevitably ensues...! :roll:

It has the fastest cycling action on any semi-automatic 12 gauge on the market today, it has won more 3-gun tactical shooting champoinships than any other shotgun, and won the Golden Bulleye Award from the N.R.A. as the 2009 Shotgun of the Year. Weaver rail, red fiber optic front sight, and folding rear sights included on the gun, along with a hard FN Herstal gun case, choke wrench, and two gas pistons. Cost is only $950, and the gun rockets out eight rounds in under 2 seconds! :shock:

Yeah, it's all that, and a bag of chips! No other 12 gauge shotgun can touch it. And that is not just my opinion - read the reviews, or better yet, watch the videos. Plus the $500 bucks you save off the Benelli buys you a year's supply of ammo to shoot in the wickedly fast shooting beast!

WOO-POW! You owe it to yourself to handle this gun first (or better yet, shoot one) before you buy any other 12 gauge -- no bullshit. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK IT OUT!

Just so none of you think I am an FNHUSA employee or some kind of fanboy (I'm way too irreverent for that anyway!), I also own a Remington 870 Marine Magnum equipped with a Surefire foreend, and two Mossberg 500 pistol grip "Just In Case" [Sandstorm and Mariner versions] emergency backups I just purchased to keep handy in the ATV/RUV and boat.

Here's a linky to the Mossberg 500 Just In Case series "just in case" you're interested ($400 for the Sandstorm, $425 for the Mariner) - kinda cool and a lot of gun for the money:

http://www.mossberg.com/products/defaul ... n=products

Clyde, flying down the slide with his eyes open wide!!!!!!!

 

[psuminer]

VERY nice! Me likey! Thanks so much for the info! I have to go out and find one to try on for size. How does it kick in comparison to some of the "softer" shotguns out there like the Xtrema2 / Xplore?

 

[Herky]

While that shotgun seems sweet, I'm not sure about it's hunting roots if you will. It says it has an 8 mag capacity which is illegal in probably about 85% of the situations you might find yourself in around the country. You could probably put in plug and fix the problem but I'm not sure.

If cost is an issue, and I can only imagine it is with the "one gun" limit, I would recommend the 870 in a home defense/hunting combo. They sell them in a two barrel combo so you can keep the shorty on at home and then change out barrels for the range or field. Cost for total package will probably be about half of the FNH.

Just something else to consider.

 

[psuminer]

Thanks for the reply Herky. All the same, I'd prefer auto vs. pump. And it's not necissarily a money issue. It's more of a "I'm your wife and guns scare me" issue. :roll:

One of the hunting expiditions I'm interested in doing is dove down in Mexico and/or Argentina. You're talking about greater than 1,500 shots each day. I want to make sure that the gun I choose will allow me to have a shoulder left when I'm done littering the ground with birds, feathers, and empty shotgun shells! :twisted: Magazine capacity only becomes an issue if I can't load enough in... I'll check with Texas and Louisiana regs but I'm not sure there are capacity limits in these states (I could be WAY wrong on that...)

That's why I'm concerned about the felt recoil. That's also why the Xplore is so favorable even at $1,600. I just don't see an Xplore being the gun of choice for a three-gun competition which I would also like to try. Unfortunately for me, the shotgun of choice has to be able to be used at sporting clays, three-gun competitions, dove hunts, and the occasional duck and turkey outing. I currently don't have any plans to hunt dinosaurs but with the Xplore I guess that's also an option... :shock:

Throw two more caviats to throw in there: Useable for home defense and I prefer a "tacticool" looking gun over a pretty one. Just one man's opinion but while I'd love to have a nice, engraved over-under, say Beretta Silver Pigeon, I'd be afraid to get it dirty. I'm not asking for much am I???

 

[Clyde]

Buy your wife a Ruger 10/22 and introduce her to shooting. Women find it amazingly empowering (you have to be very patient with her, and make her feel comfortable -- no yelling, no teasing her when she messes up, total encouragement with kindness -- otherwise she will storm off the range and you are toast). Get her into it, tell her what a great shot she is, buy her the gear she needs too (let her shop for it and pick it out) and once she decides it is okay, she will be more understanding. Then she will stop objecting, and either catch the bug and want to get her own weapons, or else will be okay that you haven't joined forces with the Dark Side and let you "go do your man thing" without her....

She could also turn out to be a great shooting buddy, but accept the fact -- most women just aren't into guns that much -- they grow up collecting Barbies and plush toys -- we grow up socialized to enjoy guns, hot rods, motorcycles, and other guy stuff.

Then, if you only get her to wear some camo outfits to bed, preferably cut off just above the midriff -- ooh la la -- but hey, that's another story! :lol: 8)

 

[ftboomer1]

I hav owned a M1S90 for about 15 years now. It is the baddest long gun I own for 0-60 yrds. I have nothing bad to say about them at all.

However:
1. Chambering a round in the M1 is not very intimidating.

2. Shooting clays with the ghost ring sites sucks. I try too hard to get a good site picture with the rings and it screwed me all up. The bead is so much better.

3. I am a lefty and I hate cross-bolt safeties no matter what the gun. It is hard to get away from but I truely detest them.

So, for reasons 1,2 and3 I ended up buying a 590 mariner as the primary home defense weapon and part time clay killer. If I was defending the home against the Zombie hoards, the M1 is THE TOOL for the job. I am happy to have both of them.

One an only one scattergun? Hmmm, I agree with the person above that you need to get her shooting. Chicks dig clays so you might try takin her out a couple of times with a borrowed shotgun and see if she likes it!

 

[psuminer]

HA! While I truly appreciate your words of advise and positive outlook on things that could be, y'all have NO idea who I'm dealing with!.... Let me put it to you this way: If there was a town called Green Town, USA with streets paved with granola and a tree on every corner to hug, my wife would be mayor! I'm lucky that I have succeeded in the compromise that I have with her and I truly am greatful that I am able to consider anything really. I will still try though...

 

[ftboomer1]

HA! While I truly appreciate your words of advise and positive outlook on things that could be, y'all have NO idea who I'm dealing with!.... Let me put it to you this way: If there was a town called Green Town, USA with streets paved with granola and a tree on every corner to hug, my wife would be mayor! I'm lucky that I have succeeded in the compromise that I have with her and I truly am greatful that I am able to consider anything really. I will still try though...

OK. I roger that but I have a question. How did you get away with a SIG 556? I mean really. They are great rifles but they look like they would be used by Vader's personal stormtroopers, especially with the forward rails. It is the very essence of a non-PC rifle. I have shown leftys pictures of mine and they ran screaming from the room with a trail of urine down their jeans.

I could see you getting away with a mini-14, sorta-kinda looks like a ranch rifle but has the heart of a black-gun, but a SIG??? Please explain how that happened!!

 

[PGT]

I'd love another shotgun but then I realize it's $1/shell for slugs (if I actually WANT to shoot it at the range).

My buddy has a Tromix Saiga-12, so, I take his instead. $50 worth and my shoulder is purple :lol:

 

[psuminer]

The compromise that we agreed to was that I was allowed to get:

1 pistol for home defense: Beretta PX4 Storm
1 rifle for hunting deer and exotics: Tikka T3 308
1 rifle for hunting hogs and varmints and such: Of course has to be semiautomatic so I naturally went with the best that research lent itself to and that was the SIG 556 8)
1 shotgun: currently in the market for

All of this for agreeing to upgrade her diamond at our 6-year anniversary instead of waiting until our 10-year like we had talked about. Wanna hear the REALLY crappy part of the deal? The diamond was purchased with joint funds while I get the "privilege" of buying the said list of guns with my OWN "lunch money"! :roll: How the hell does THAT work?...

Anyways, that's how the SIG is mine. I love my wife! (yes. she's standing right behind me at the moment...)

 

[ftboomer1]

LOL. Great stuff! Every relationship has its own rhythm, I am glad yours is going well and you get to have some "fun" with your own lunch money!

Do either of the Benelli options have a rail only option? This way you could not use the ghost rings and you would be able to get the clays in and use a red-dot for tactical applications. I am not sure how they are spec'd now.

 

[flascot007]

Do the Benelli m4, you will be happy and can dress it up how ever you like. I found it hard to do with my m2 and sold it for the m4. As far as hunting, I am sure I could do as much damage as most any other 12 ga if I saw fit. I have owned every brand listed here so far plus some that were not. I have done the research and this is what I have. You only get one due to your situation, so make it the best even though it has a steep $ tag. Just find a newer regular m4, don't try to get the 1014 which everyone thinks is made of gold. Just make sure it has the updated gas system to shoot lower recoil ammo. Good luck! Sounds like you need it...

 

[ilintner]

If I could only have one, I'd keep my M4... I dressed it up with a titanium magazine tube, aimpoint, surefire light, collapsible stock etc, and it is definitely the coolest and most functional shotgun I own. Here it is with my m1 entry:

sorry for the crappy iphone picture

 

[Clyde]

Here is a link to the FNH USA web site to view a video on the FN SLP Mark I. Click on the Product Video (the Action Video is cool):


http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firea ... id=FNM0019


I think this says it all pretty effectively (sorry dial up guys...)!

Like the man says, buy this shotgun, the rest will be left on the rack.

Psuminer -- pretty petite lady shooting a 12 gauge on this action video. Although from the sound of things, you may not want to teach Mrs. "I will take my ten year anniversary diamond ring four years early" how to shoot - she already knows how to negotiate well! :lol: :wink:

 

[ftboomer1]

OK. I looked at the video and you have me curious about the FN. I will try to find if a friend of a friend has one we can go warm up the barrel with.

(Full Disclosure: It does not take too terribly much to make me want to go shoot.)

 

[siggy556cent]

hey..

have any of you ever shot/owned a binelli M3 "auto-pump"..? i was wondering what your opinions on it were.

thanks

 

[ullie]

have any of you ever shot/owned a binelli M3 "auto-pump"..? i was wondering what your opinions on it were.

...yes...the convertable model is a nice novelty...i would pass...