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On a whim on the way home from the lake I decided to stop at a Pawn Shop see what shotguns they had. I've been wanting one for a long time and looking to get a feel for prices. I ended up walking out with this Mossberg Maverick 88 for $147. They had wanted just over $200 until I told them you can guy it brand new from Academy for $189.

Anyways. I DO have questions which I'm sure have been answered before but the answers are old and I'm having trouble following links (a lot of dead ammo links).

First question: Ammo?
What are people feeding their home defense shotguns these days? I am interested in low recoil so that my wife will feel comfortable using it and practicing with it every few months. Then also what else should I have "on hand?" I am hoping to get a 26-28in barrel for Christmas maybe so I can use it for clay every once and a while.

Ok, actually thats really my only question right now. Looking on sites like cheaper than dirt or Ammo to go there are just so so so many options for ammo that I have no idea what what to choose.

Also, I live in a house and the houses here are close but not really really close together so I'm not worried about over penetration in that case. Coming out of the bedroom the front door is left and back door is right, with the kids bedroom straight ahead, so I'm not worried about missing the door and hitting a bedroom.

EDIT: also this is my first shotgun ever. My only other guns are the .38special snub that used to be the home defense tool (soon to be replaced by this 12ga) and the .32 I carry.

I like federal 00 buck reduced recoil loads for mine.

Sputz

OO buck. 2 3/4"

This stuff is cheap and works well I think. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/290085 ... -9-pellets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but any 2 3/4 OO buck will be great for home defense. 9 pellets each bigger than the bullet of a .25 auto with loads of energy and the 2 3/4 won't kick hard.

12 gauge Federal "flite control" 00 buck. Holds a nice tight pattern at in home distances.

Some folks will also recommend lights, side saddles, buttstock cuffs, etc. I like a nice light gun, so mine has none of that on it. Keeps it handy and quick to use.

Congrats on the new purchase!

Nice shotgun! I prefer the Federal low recoil 00 buck too. I managed to get a Mossberg at a good price awhile back that I bought for my boyfriend as a surprise. We took it out to the range one day and he taught me how to shoot it. I was a little frightened to shoot one myself. There were smaller women than me shooting Winchester PDX1. Once I saw they could do it I figured so could I. Just tell her to hold tight to her shoulder and lean into it and she'll be alright.

I am going to order some of the federal ammo today. Thanks.
My other question I forgot I had involved trigger locks.
I dont want to buy a safe and I don't want to keep it across the room in the closet. I wanted to keep it by the bed, under it or slightly behind the headboard. My wife takes issue with this as we have a 5 month old who will, before we even know it, be crawling around and walking around and such (and I agree, we DO need it locked). I would like some kind of combination lock for the gun. So I can keep it loaded and ready but unfireable for a toddler.
Any suggestions?

knotquiteawake wrote:I am going to order some of the federal ammo today. Thanks.
My other question I forgot I had involved trigger locks.
I dont want to buy a safe and I don't want to keep it across the room in the closet. I wanted to keep it by the bed, under it or slightly behind the headboard. My wife takes issue with this as we have a 5 month old who will, before we even know it, be crawling around and walking around and such (and I agree, we DO need it locked). I would like some kind of combination lock for the gun. So I can keep it loaded and ready but unfireable for a toddler.
Any suggestions?

Yes put it in a quick access safe..

We raised two boys, both grown men now........ either of which had the inquisitiveness and ability to do unwanted things with a long gun left out in the open, trigger lock or not.

If you just can not, or will not use a safe, even a simple locking cabinet to keep little hands from grabbing and dragging your trigger locked shotgun outside to play with the kid next door...
Consider a breech lock
http://www.gunvault.com/gun-locks-breechvault-bv01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is something that is absolutely useless at keeping thieves from taking your guns, but is cheap, easy to install, out of sight and will keep little hands from the long gun.
Can be opened in the dark, with a key attached to a wrist band or otherwise kept at hand when needed.

Stack-On IWC-55 Full Length Wall Safe
http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-IWC-55-F ... ackon+safe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If not an installed version, get one of the free standing ones and hang a cloth over it, use it as a alarm clock night stand, ...if this is an option at all.

There's also this thing called a Ridgeback Rack. It's a rack you can hang on the wall that locks the trigger but still allows easy access when in need. A friend has one for an ar-15 but they make all different ones.

http://www.ridgebackracks.com/shop/shotgun/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I just want to thank you for the reminder.

THE local pawn shop in my little town has been "sold out" of all guns except 1 since just before 2008 when ... I forget what happened that year, but they've been sold out of guns.

Been so long since I visited one, I had actually forgotten that's a place one can purchase at decent prices sometimes. When I make a trip to Austin/Houston/Lubbock I need to stop in some. (But not the 30.06 posted ones)

Avoid a trigger lock like the plague. They set you up for a ND. If you want to disable the shotgun yet keep it handy use one of the cable type locks and pass it through the ejection port and out the bottom of the gun. A cable type bicycle lock with a combination would be ideal if you can't find a gun lock with a combination. I don't like anything inside the trigger guard of a firearm except my trigger finger.

knotquiteawake wrote:On a whim on the way home from the lake I decided to stop at a Pawn Shop see what shotguns they had. I've been wanting one for a long time and looking to get a feel for prices. I ended up walking out with this Mossberg Maverick 88 for $147. They had wanted just over $200 until I told them you can guy it brand new from Academy for $189.

Anyways. I DO have questions which I'm sure have been answered before but the answers are old and I'm having trouble following links (a lot of dead ammo links).

First question: Ammo?
What are people feeding their home defense shotguns these days? I am interested in low recoil so that my wife will feel comfortable using it and practicing with it every few months. Then also what else should I have "on hand?" I am hoping to get a 26-28in barrel for Christmas maybe so I can use it for clay every once and a while.

Ok, actually thats really my only question right now. Looking on sites like cheaper than dirt or Ammo to go there are just so so so many options for ammo that I have no idea what what to choose.

Also, I live in a house and the houses here are close but not really really close together so I'm not worried about over penetration in that case. Coming out of the bedroom the front door is left and back door is right, with the kids bedroom straight ahead, so I'm not worried about missing the door and hitting a bedroom.

EDIT: also this is my first shotgun ever. My only other guns are the .38special snub that used to be the home defense tool (soon to be replaced by this 12ga) and the .32 I carry.

Good for you! I came across one at my local pawn shop and got them down to 145 inluding tax and they gave me a nice soft case for it which I wasn't expecting (i really didn't need another SG, but it called out to me ) Mine had a 28 VR barrel, if I keep it I will get an 18" but I'm looking at a trade right now for a 1960's era Rem 1100 20ga. If I still have it around Christmas maybe we can make a deal for the barrel.

Three used SG in my local pawn....
1200 defender, moderate wear.. $344 (willing to go $324)
MDL 500, no wear $330
MDL 500, very little wear..$325

I just can not find these deals others do at a pawn shop.

Take a look at this for securing your shotgun to a wall.

how far away are you guys shooting with defensive shotguns that pellet flight patterns matter? No matter what ammo brand you run the spread will no be much different coming from a 18.5" barrel from my experience.

Anyway, I would just buy whatever decent brand name OO or even OOO buck you can get in your area. That way you can run a couple boxes of them to check for proper feed in your shotty. Not that I would expect any issues if I was you out of any brand name buckshot.