I'm rather partial to the 8 shot Ithica model M37,parkerised steel receiver with the distinctive bottom eject.

[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/037/oJ/GT/J6/ry76845.jpg[/img]

I've seen more Benelli's jam than I have REM870's- and that includes shortstroking.

I go REM870-
Becasue unlike the millitary, I don't have to meet a "bid price", so i'm not forced to buy Mossberg. Of course, the SEALS threw thier mossbergs where they belong- in the garbage- and went back to 870's.
Thankfully, i've never made the Mossberg mistake. It's always been 870's fer me.

For defense, I like my Rossi 12G SxS with outside hammers.  

For offense, I like my 8 shot Rem 870.

I only have one shotgun. A Mossberg 500 Mariner.

I am partial to Winchester shotguns. Action is a lot smoother than a Remington or a Mossberg....

Benelli M1 Tactical.

My offensive, defensive clays shooter.

For outright offense, my vote goes to the Benelli M1 S90. However, being the peace loving individual that I am, I would expect to use a shotgun defensively only, so I would go with a Remington 870 with a few choice mods. The bottome line is though, if you're defending youself, a 12 gauge shotgun that works is the ultimate weapon at close range, no matter what brand you prefer.

I've also got an earlier model Mossberg,it was made around 1974.I've had alot of extraction problems with it,I'd sell it but my dad gave it to me.The Ithica has never let me down.

Winchester 1300.  It is every bit as reliable as the 870, and is somewhat less expensive. I own a 1300 and use the 870 at the Sheriff's office.  The 870's only superiority lies in the amount of "stuff" available for it.  Since I am not a big fan of "bolt-on-crap" customizing, that is of no importance to me.  Either the 870 or the 1300 is to be preferred over any Mossberg.  The Beretta/Benelli/HK stuff is nice, but too overpriced.  In the end, it is the projectile that does the work.  A 00 buck pellet doesn't care whether you launched it from a Benelli or a H&R Topper.

Footnote:  I once owned 2 Benelli motorcycles and had extensive experience with 2 more.  They were 4 of the worst pieces of crap I have ever seen.  Overly complex, fragile, temperamental JUNK!  One hopes that they do better on their firearms than they did on motorcycles.

590A1 w/ 9 round tube

Mossberg 590A1.