Shotguns

In the scheme of things, the defensive shotgun is the problem solver for homeowners, ranchers, ship captains, zookeepers, and anyone in need of decisive stopping power. In personal defense, area defense, and defense against animals, the shotgun reigns supreme. Powerful, effective, and versatile, the 12-gauge shotgun is an awesome defensive tool. The question is often whether the self-loader is the better choice, particularly since most of us use self-loading handguns and rifles. In this test we put two well-known and popular brands, Remington and Mossberg, to the test. We fire a version of Big Green's most popular service-grade pump-action shotgun — the Remington 870 — against the Mossberg 930 self-loading shotgun.

There are important differences and similarities between the shotguns, other than the operating systems, self-loading and manual. Each featured plastic furniture and bead front sights. Each was drilled and tapped for an optical sight.

Both shotguns produced similar patterns with Federal, Remington, and Winchester 2-inch full-power 00 buckshot loads. There was no difference in the patterns worth mentioning when the guns were fired at 7, 10, and 15 yards. Reduced-recoil WinLite loads showed the best pattern at short range, as they often do, while Federal Magnums began to show an advantage at 15 yards. We also fired a limited number of slugs and learned that the Remington fired to the point of aim with Federal slugs at 10 yards.

The Remington was simple and rugged, but the 930 was also a capable and effective choice. In the end, a single feeding bobble separated the pair:

Members of our staff have been afield hog hunting and walked into a mess of quail and wished for a shotgun to knock down a bird or two. Or weve been grouse hunting with a shotgun and saw a nice rabbit pop out 45 yards away, making us want a rifle. The solution in both cases would have been a combination rifle and shotgun. Though far less popular in the United States than in Europe, combo guns such as the Savage Model 24V, .222 Rem./20 gauge, $400-$425 and the Baikal Model MP94 #489330 223 Rem./12 gauge, $790, have a legitimate place in the birding/game sportsmans gun closet.The 24V and MP94 are break-action firearms with two barrels in an over-and-under configuration. One barrel is a rifle barrel, the other is a shotgun barrel. Combo guns are designed for hunting, and depending on the caliber and gauge, a variety of game can be stalked, from rodents in a barn to whitetails in the big woods, or perhaps pigeons, pheasant, or ducks. They are guns for opportunistic hunters, since the barrel set up allows the hunters to bag a squirrel, or if by chance a grouse, or whatever game the hunter happens to comes upon. In that respect they are flexible, but since a rifle is aimed and shotguns are pointed, their features compromise elements of both firearms types. Getting the balance right is the trick.Probably the most common combination gun manufactured in the U.S. was the Savage Model 24, an iconic firearm that was first produced in 1949. We were able to lay our hands on a Model 24V specimen built in 1968 to test as a used gun versus Baikal MP94, which was first imported from Russia in about 2001. The reason for that pairing: Savage doesnt continue to make a larger-bore shotgun model to compare to the 12-gauge Baikals. Savage has only one combination gun still listed on its website, the Model 42, a 22 LR or 22 Magnum over 410-bore gun that lists for $485 (#19666). We hope to put Savages smaller combo gun up against Baikals #489392, the MP94 set up as a 410-bore/22 LR ($562) or the #489394, a 410/22WMR ($511). Interestingly, Baikal still produces several combo guns, our #489330 12/223 Rem., the #489338 12/30-06 Springfield, the #489334 12/308 Rem., and the #489342 12/7.62x39, all $790. We reviewed and recommended the European American Armory-imported Baikal IZH94 12 gauge/7.62x39mm in the July 2002 issue, when it sold for a paltry $425.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Americas oldest family-owned and operated firearms manufacturer, is following the lead of several other firearms makers by adding new or expanded manufacturing capability in a firearms-friendly state.

Newer versions of this famous shotgun use roll pins instead of screws to hold certain action parts. Here’s how to convert early Auto-5s.

'Higher velocities mean shorter leads, which are necessary for fast-flying waterfowl,' said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. 'We want to give the consumer what they want, and that's why we're expanding this popular waterfowl load.' …

TriStar Arms is announcing its new Raptor ATAC Turkey shotgun in 12 gauge just in time for the 2014 turkey hunting season.

We compared four 12-gauge pumpguns in in the October 2013 issue. They were the Benelli Super Nova Tactical No. 29155 pump-action 12 Gauge, $559, and the recently introduced Stevens Model 320 Home Defense No. 19495, $270; the CZ Model 612 Home Defense No. 06520, $290; and the CZ Model 612 HC-P No. 06510, $349.

At a reader's request, we selected several new models of self-defense shotguns that carry low to moderate price tags and pitted them against one of the popular veteran self-defense shotguns to see how they would perform.

(GunReports.com) — Here are more 2014 SHOT Show videos added to the GunReports.com YouTube channel this week.

(GunReports.com) — Stoeger Industries’ new Stoeger M3020 is a 3-inch, 20-gauge, semi-automatic shotgun that handles loads from 2¾-inch up to 3-inch Magnums without adjustment.

Franchi’s Affinity Sporting shotgun is now available in 20 gauge.

If you are in a situation in which the firearm need not be concealed, such as on a big boat, in a home, or if the piece is carried behind the truck seat, you should use a long gun instead of a handgun. For home defense, a single-barrel shotgun, a double barrel, or a self-loader are all viable, providing the user is familiar with each. But for most of us, the humble slide-action shotgun is the best choice. Simple to use and reliable with a variety of shells, the pump-action shotgun has a long history of efficiency. A sporting shotgun is useful and has been used many times in home defense. But for dedicated personal-defense duty, the 28-inch-barrel bird gun is a bit long. An 18- to 22-inch barrel is faster handling in close quarters. And though the single-shot design is a viable home defender against one burglar or intruder, the pump action, when properly designed and used, may move up a niche to the combat shotgun designation. No, the humble pump isnt a SPAS 12, but it is a very good defensive weapon, with some qualifications.You could fertilize a pasture with half-truths concerning the shotgun. Although the shotgun is a great defensive firearm and is effective in trained hands, it is not a problem solver that will work in untrained hands - far from it. But for self defense, we are willing to admit that a cheap shotgun usually works better than a cheap rifle or cheap handgun. But weve got to agree the shotgun cannot cover a house with shot - there isnt enough payload, so you must aim the shotgun just as carefully as a rifle at personal-defense ranges. And not having the power of a crane, they cannot knock a felon off his feet. You can miss, and you will miss, if you have not practiced enough to become used to the recoil of a shotgun.The difference in sporting performance and personal defense is profound. A sporting shotgun must deliver a few pellets to drop a bird, rabbit, or squirrel, or even a large goose. In personal defense, we wish to hit with the whole payload. Though an argument may be made for the smaller gauges and the larger 10 gauge as well, we feel that the 12 gauge chambering is an ideal choice, in part because more readily available loads in 12 gauge. And because we want to save Gun Tests readers money wherever possible, we wanted to focus on scatterguns that we could buy for less than $300. Guns in this price range do not incorporate a light rail or a means of mounting a red dot scope.So with a tight budget in mind, we put on our Bargain Hunter hats and chose two shotguns to test due to their similarity in price, location of the safety, and other features. The question was, for the money, should you choose a name-brand used shotgun or a modern economy shotgun? To answer that question, we bought a used 12-gauge Winchester 1300 Slug Gun for $250 and pitted it against a Rock Island Armory M5 Matte Nickel Shotgun #51329, $242.

The 36th edition of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) is ongoing through Friday at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Here are some of the more interesting shotgun introductions we’ve seen so far: