Folks, I'd be interested to know what you experienced Shot-Gun owners thing about the pro's and con's of pump vs semi-auto shotguns (puting aside the cost difference)...Mostly home defense and sports shooting.

 

Thanks,

Semi auto is nice for clays. I use a Remington 1100. I would not trust my life on a semi auto shotgun though,. Just get a pump 870 or mossberg 500. Very reliable and will run any ammo. Some Semi auto's have problems cycling light loads.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

Semi auto is nice for clays. I use a Remington 1100. I would not trust my life on a semi auto shotgun though,. Just get a pump 870 or mossberg 500. Very reliable and will run any ammo. Some Semi auto's have problems cycling light loads.

 

**Devil's Advocate**

 

Why would you run light loads for defense anyway?

 

My Remington 11-87 doesn't cycle well with light target loads. I need higher FPS loads (Above 1200FPS) for it to cycle properly. However, with buckshot, it cycles without issue... even when I put on the 18.5" Police barrel.

There are semi-Autos with which you could trust your life. A bone stock Remington 1100 is not one of them. It is a great clays gun though. FN and Beretta make nice, reliable semi-autos. Remington and Mossberg make functional ones.

If you ever plan to shoot clay sports where a second bird is released on report or even at the same time as the first, a pump is a big disadvantage. Otherwise it is fine. I will agree with RayRay though (which means disagreeing with lots of others) and say that a 3.5" shell pump is not necessary and can even be a disadvantage because it is easier to short stroke it (think of the difference between the throw on a 308 bolt action and a 30 '06 one and you will know what I mean). A 2.5" shell filled with 00 or 1 Buck is plenty powerful to stop an intruder.

I would certainly trust my life to a Benelli M4, thousands of Marines do. But unfortunately, I live in New Jersey, so I'll stick with my Mossberg 500.

 

Note that would rather have 8 rounds of 00 Buck in a pump-action than be restricted to 5 rounds of 00 buck in a semi-auto. But if I lived in a free state, I would certainly consider an M4 or Mossberg 930.

I would certainly trust my life to a Benelli M4, thousands of Marines do. But unfortunately, I live in New Jersey, so I'll stick with my Mossberg 500.

 

There's a Benelli M4 model that's NJ legal:

http://www.benelliusa.com/zoom.php?z=silo_4000_m4_nfa_12_syn_standard_defense.jpg

 

There's a Benelli M4 model that's NJ legal:

http://www.benelliusa.com/zoom.php?z=silo_4000_m4_nfa_12_syn_standard_defense.jpg

 

Yes everyone was shooting mine at the meet on Sunday!

A pump gives a little better control over where your shells end up. An autoloader will fling the empties 10ft to your right (and hit whoever's standing there) every time unless you buy a shell deflector.

 

I believe a pump gives more options for switching between sporting and home-defense setups; the Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 barrel change is a snap.

 

That said, sporting clays or skeet would be much easier with an autoloader or over-under. Also, shooting an autoloader is fun.

A pump gives a little better control over where your shells end up. An autoloader will fling the empties 10ft to your right (and hit whoever's standing there) every time unless you buy a shell deflector.

 

 

I had to laugh at this and I can see what your are thinking, but really, in a Home Defense situation, I really thing where the spent shells are going is probably really low on your priority list of concerns..

You can get 7 rounds in an M4... I do it in mine. Just have to float a round. Otherwise, if you need more than that in HD, then there is a prob...

 

I would certainly trust my life to a Benelli M4, thousands of Marines do. But unfortunately, I live in New Jersey, so I'll stick with my Mossberg 500.

 

Note that would rather have 8 rounds of 00 Buck in a pump-action than be restricted to 5 rounds of 00 buck in a semi-auto. But if I lived in a free state, I would certainly consider an M4 or Mossberg 930.

That's not the NJ legal one I believe.... too short. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I have a pic of mine in the show your sg section which depicts the right one.

http://njgunforums.c...s/page__st__630

 

 

There's a Benelli M4 model that's NJ legal:

http://www.benellius...ard_defense.jpg

Something else to consider in a home defense frame of mind - if you lose the use of one of your arms you will still be able to fire any remaining rounds in an auto loader's magazine, assuming you can prop the shotgun on a piece of furniture or on your feet while laying down.

 

I have a Benelli M2 that I've run over a thousand rounds through - the only rounds it has ever choked on were light power "less than lethal" sandbag and rubber buckshot rounds.

I had to laugh at this and I can see what your are thinking, but really, in a Home Defense situation, I really thing where the spent shells are going is probably really low on your priority list of concerns..

 

OP wants to use the shotgun for things other than defense.

OP wants to use the shotgun for things other than defense.

 

Whoops, I read that and we just got into talk HD I forgot about that.. Well at least I got a chuckle out of it..

That's not the NJ legal one I believe.... too short. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I have a pic of mine in the show your sg section which depicts the right one.

http://njgunforums.c...s/page__st__630

 

That is the legal one

I know, that's my photo... lol.. Prior to buying one, it was hard to find a photo of the NJ legal one which was nothing more than having the standard field stock and 5 shot mag. They only showed the pistol grip model on the Benny site. I'm happy with it so far. Sweet sg... So easy to break down and clean, no tools. Almost just as easy as my M1A Socom II...

 

 

That is the legal one

 

 

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Typos courtesy Apple...

Whoops, I read that and we just got into talk HD I forgot about that.. Well at least I got a chuckle out of it..

 

No biggie; I'd agree with you if it were just HD. It's definitely a concern when shooting with people to your right, though.

 

Also, an auto doesn't allow the option of racking the slide to scare/warn an intruder. Not to debate either side, but that may be a factor in decision making.

 

No biggie; I'd agree with you if it were just HD. It's definitely a concern when shooting with people to your right, though.

 

Also, an auto doesn't allow the option of racking the slide to scare/warn an intruder. Not to debate either side, but that may be a factor in decision making.

 

Ya cause if you were that guy racking a slide trying to scare me I would just shoot in that direction! I'd rather have anything in the chamber come up on his ass then make him open his mouth! Just sayin stealth is what you should be goin for he is

+1. Guns should be in a ready position of they may need to be used. I am not waiting to rack a pump shotgun so some bad guy can hear it. Fugg him. He doesn't deserve the notice and I'm not interested in adding an action (one that can be botched, by the way) to the already nerve wracking process of trying to save me and my family's lives.

 

X2, Im also not interested in giving the BG a heads up on where Im at

thanks for everyone's views...Well, I am going to get one of each pump/autoloader:

 

1) Rem-870, magpal furniture - ordered - should have it in about 2 weeks.

2) Benelli M2 - probably not available till March or so...

 

I can hit the bad guy with 5 shots of semi-really fast, then switch to the pump if needed....How is that for a plan?

If he's still walking after 5 rounds, you better run like hell because you just met the Terminator and he'll be back!

 

thanks for everyone's views...Well, I am going to get one of each pump/autoloader:

 

1) Rem-870, magpal furniture - ordered - should have it in about 2 weeks.

2) Benelli M2 - probably not available till March or so...

 

I can hit the bad guy with 5 shots of semi-really fast, then switch to the pump if needed....How is that for a plan?

If he's still walking after 5 rounds, you better run like hell because you just met the Terminator and he'll be back!

Well, If he is one of the neighborhood 20ish year-olds with an AR and Body armor kicking in my front door, I want some back-up :-).

Well, If he is one of the neighborhood 20ish year-olds with an AR and Body armor kicking in my front door, I want some back-up :-).

 

What are forum members doing breaking into your house?

 

Learn to aim for the head. No need for shot number 2...

 

Well, If he is one of the neighborhood 20ish year-olds with an AR and Body armor kicking in my front door, I want some back-up :-).

OOOOOOOOOOoooooo...Got to fondle my new 870 with Magpal furniture today....

 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet...

 

I was amazed at how light she is - really...Almost as light as my marlin lever carbine and much lighter than an M1A.

 

I was woried that Magpul stock would look dispoportanally big...Not the case looks really nice.

 

Going to make a great Room-Broom....Can't wait to ger'er home.

Nothing scares the crap out of a criminal like the sound of a pump shotgun rackin a round

Nothing scares the crap out of a criminal like the sound of a pump shotgun rackin a round

 

While its a intimidating sound, and we do have a person or 2 on the forum that had a would be problem think twice after hearing it, Jon's right, skip having an unloaded and ready gun just to make a sound that you think scares them only to give away your position and if they are closer to you, you would rather pull a trigger than have to rack the dang gun as they grab it it of your hands because you weren't ready.

 

 

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Most criminals are not smart enough to know what you know, and if im not mistaken once you rack a round the gun is ready to go.

Most criminals are not smart enough to know what you know, and if im not mistaken once you rack a round the gun is ready to go.

 

Should be ready to go if its you home defense shottie..

 

 

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