Defensive shotguns: What do you have?

[mctowalot]

I decided to go Old School. Real cool old school.

Scariest of all!
What is it, was it issued with the bayonet?

[Xander]

My Mossy 500, the Tactical Persuader variant.

[KBCraig]

I decided to go Old School. Real cool old school.

Scariest of all!
What is it, was it issued with the bayonet?

Winchester Model 1897 "trench broom" (or a Norinco copy). Yes, the bayonet was standard issue in WWI.

[mctowalot]

Sweet! Can you imagine the look on on the face of of a home invader staring at that thing? Put a laser on the bayonet!
Seriously, thats a really nice combo.

[Moonpie]

Yep. It's a Norinco repro of a Winchester Model 1897 Trench gun w/ M1917 bayonet.
Of course the bayo is just for show.

[JLaw]

Mine is pretty plain jane but I like it. Standard Rem. 870 Express, factory wood stocks, aftermarket 18.5" barrell, +2 mag extension, fiber optic front sight, and 4 round 'side saddle' for extra ammo...like you'll really need another 4 rounds of 00 buck after firing off the first 6 in the tube, but you never know.

JLaw

[KD5NRH]

Yep. It's a Norinco repro of a Winchester Model 1897 Trench gun w/ M1917 bayonet.
Of course the bayo is just for show.

Think of it as an aiming device; jab it in about an inch below where you want to hit, then fire.

I consider the bayonet on my M44 to be a last-ditch boar spear for hog hunting.

[Texas Armadillo]

870 Marine Magnum

[USMC-COL]

For a purely defensive shotgun, you can't go wrong with either a Mossberg 500/590 or a Remington 870. All utterly reliable and reasonably priced. All have seen and still see lots of combat. My Mossberg 500 Persuader w/ 18.5" barrel, TruGlo Fiber Optic sights, and 6+1 capacity w/six in the side saddle has been with me for almost 20 years and has never had a hiccup. It sleeps next to me. My Mossberg 590 w/ 20" barrel, GR sights and 8+1 capacity with side saddle has been with me for several years and has been fantastic in in practice and 3-gun competitions. My Remington 870 w/ factory extended tube for 6+1 is also utterly reliable with a Knoxx Spec Ops adjustable stock, which absolves up to 80% of felt recoil, TruGlo Fiber Optic sights, and side saddle is a true chapion and has done well in competitions. Either Mossberg or Remington will do you well for the money.

I also have 5 different barrels for my Mossberg 500 for different applications, including a ML barrel which effectively turns it into a fairly decent inexpensive muzzle loader.

[Thane]

Stevens 520-30 riot gun from WWII, or
Remington BPRAS (A-5 clone, pre-model 11) with a riot barrel.

Either loaded with 00 Buck, standard recoil. Although honestly, I'm more likely to grab a pistol when I hear something go "bump" in the night; I really don't want anything to happen to either of those shotguns.

[Snake Doctor]

Does anyone know if these guns are legal in Texas? Just saw them while perusing the Mossberg website.

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

*Sorry, pictures are way too large to post.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I believe it's legal. It has the correct barrel length. If the overall length is 26" then I think it's still legal, even with the pistol grip. Not positive though, so don't quote me. You could still get it, just have to go through class 3 dealer and pay the extra $.

[dustyb]

Jim Pruett's Gun Store in Cypress was advertising them a year or so ago, when Mr. Pruett caught flack for calling the Katrina transplants in Houston "Katricians". I think he advertised the shotgun as a "Looter Shooter". I sure miss hearing Mr. Pruett on the radio.

[Thane]

Does anyone know if these guns are legal in Texas? Just saw them while perusing the Mossberg website.

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

*Sorry, pictures are way too large to post.

Yes, that shotgun is perfectly legal. Not sure I'd want one, though - firing 12 gauge from a pistol grip hurts. Plus, I prefer the anchor point of a shoulder stock for aiming; "shooting from the hip" isn't always that accurate.

[USMC-COL]

I agree. Completely legal. Mossberg has been selling that configuration under one model name or another (usually as a combo) for decades. Have had one for 20 years, which came as a combo. I think the pistol grip is useless except under some scenarios. May be restricted in Californoa and elsewhere, although when I purchased mine long ago, I was in CA.