The fact that he wants a shotgun for both shooting clays AND home defense, means that the 870 or the 500 is the right gun. Almost nobody is going to pick an o/u for home defense.
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Unless you have closet full of them
The fact that he wants a shotgun for both shooting clays AND home defense, means that the 870 or the 500 is the right gun. Almost nobody is going to pick an o/u for home defense.
.
Unless you have closet full of them
I missed the mention of defense in the OP... that pretty solidly nails it down for a 870 or 500. They're great general purpose guns that are good enough at just about everything. For instance, here's my wife shooting some sporting clays with my 870 and 28" vent-rib barrel....Pretty much spot on advice there. The pump gun is going to work for his needs right now. If he decides to really get into sporting clays, the pump gun can be relegated to home defense duty. Granted, I use a semi-auto for home defense (i.e., Benelli M4 that has a SBS tax stamp), along with a couple AR-15 rifles and several handguns.
Over the past two decades, I have been using a Beretta 391 Teknys for sporting clays and skeet. Only time I have been using an o/u is for dove hunting once in awhile and trap.
Cannot remember the last time I actually pulled the trigger on my Browning BPS. It was probably in the 90s.
Did you get one of these?
Unless you have closet full of them
I missed the mention of defense in the OP... that pretty solidly nails it down for a 870 or 500. They're great general purpose guns that are good enough at just about everything. For instance, here's my wife shooting some sporting clays with my 870 and 28" vent-rib barrel....
...And here's me using the same 870 for 3-gun(I kept hitting low with the derned m&p9 compact...oh well).
...for 3-gun I just tossed a side-saddle shell holder on it, mag extension, and 18" fixed modified barrel with tritium iron sights on it that was on sale for $100. Buying the kits that come with both barrels from the factory is definitely the way to go for your situation.
Beretta 300 outlander no love for semi
A semi auto is all I would recommend. Think that might actually fall somewhat within his budget. I bought a Beretta A400 Xplor Action in 28 gauge a couple years ago. Like it just as much as my 391 guns. If I was looking for a "budget" shotgun, the Beretta 300 would be it.
purchased a A400 excel just before lockdown blue receiver . I did get to shoot it one day and a 390 ? i saw no difference other then i could have saved a couple hundred .
Yeah, I cannot bring myself to move from the 391 Teknys to a 400 Excel with the blue receiver. The A400 Action feels no different than my 391, other than it being a 28 gauge.
Woops, had that set to private. It's fixed now. Video of Jenni popping clays works now. Beware of the excited shriek from her twin sis at the beginning. Yup, a semi would offer some good advantages over a pump for speed. Mossberg has a solid offering in the 930 field/security package for the purposes of this thread. It comes with a 18" barrel for defense and a 28" for sporting uses.Video of your wife shooting does not work and it looks like you missed one target with the 870. You would still be smoother with a semi-auto shotgun. Kind of like how you ran the rifle at the beginning. Would love to see that kind of speed out of you shooting your 870.
I bet I could load up my 391 and run through 5 shells before you could run through 5 shells in the 870. With that said, the two guns are at different price points. I would take a Rem 1100 over the 870. Granted, the gas guns need to be kept somewhat clean. The 870 can be thrown in the closet without much care and it will work. Enter the Benelli M4. Again, in a different price range than an 870 or 500.
Woops, had that set to private. It's fixed now. Video of Jenni popping clays works now. Beware of the excited shriek from her twin sis at the beginning. Yup, a semi would offer some good advantages over a pump for speed. Mossberg has a solid offering in the 930 field/security package for the purposes of this thread. It comes with a 18" barrel for defense and a 28" for sporting uses.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/76743
Is the 590 better than the 870 ?? Or is it just preferences ?
It is better if you are a Mossberg guy. It is worse if you are a Remington guy. If you are a Benelli or Browning guy, they both suck.
It is better if you are a Mossberg guy. It is worse if you are a Remington guy. If you are a Benelli or Browning guy, they both suck.
Is the 590 better than the 870 ?? Or is it just preferences ?