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Posted: 1/27/2026 4:57:34 AM EDT
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So i have a few shotguns but I am considering trying to find "the shotgun". Now that does not mean the most expensive or most exotic or most collectable. It just means the right one for me. I dont mind having a bunch of shotguns for fun or hunting. But it would be nice to have one that i know inside and out and feel like i can use it blind folded. Kind of like how i feel working with an AR or a G19. I like shotguns, own a few good ones and think they have a place defensively. But one thing i noticed when i started buying different types is that many have some slight nuances to how they function. Things like loading, unloading, bolt releases and stuff are different on different guns. I dont trust myself to remember all the different shotguns under stress. I figure it it best to pick one and practice with it. I am happy to keep my others for fun, collecting, hunting or as back ups. But I would like to find "the one". This is what I am looking for. Something for HD/self defense. We live rural so it might be outside the home. I am short with short arms and need a short LOP. I am 5'6" and 130 pounds, probably the size of your wife or kids. Roughly 12.5" or less LOP is nice for me but it depends on other things as well. I know some guns dont lend themselves to the shorter LOP. Good ergonomics, i know this is subjective. 14'-18" barrels, I would probably go 14" barrel. It just fits me better and works better for me. But I have some 18" that work well also. I want semi auto. Semi auto just runs more naturally for me than pumps at this point. Maybe that would change with training but it feels more natural and easier for me to concentrate at getting back on target. Mostly i want something reliable, durable and that will be around a long time. Two of the shotguns I own that i have the most time with are a SBS 870 and a M1S90. I know either would do the trick. If by chance i went pump, I cant see going with anything but 870. For me its the pump I have used the most. I could just buy lots of ammo and run the crap out of the 870. Its a older 870 with short LOP furniture and a factory 14" barrel. Simple and works. The M1S90 is a god one also. 18" barrel with ghost ring sights and chokes, 7+1+1 capacity (if i remember right), i shortened the stock to fit me and it just runs and runs. But the 870 is a pump and the M1S90 is over 20 years old. Fewer parts for it and 14" barrels are hard to find. I could pick up another M1S90 to modify but they aren't cheap, support is getting thin and i figure there might be better stuff available. What would you guys recommend? |
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Stoeger has a M4 style tactical shotgun that is pretty good. I have a couple variants. Stoeger shotty Compact stocks are available. One of mine is the 3020 20ga which is super light and handy.  I also like the Benelli SuperNova for a pump gun. |
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I have a Beretta A300 Ulitma Patrol 12 gauge. It has an 18ish barrel but a 13" LOP. You can get a Mesa Tac stock or a Chisel stock to get the LOP you desire. The new 20 gauge Ultima Patrol comes with a stock (what I will call the "new stock") that can be adjusted to be less than 13" LOP . What I am going to do is wait for Beretta to release the new stock as a part and I will be putting it on my UP. Mossberg is coming out with a SBS based on the 990. It's new and so it hasn't been fully vetted. Many people love the A300 UP as an alternative to the more expensive 1301 (which can take stocks which will be within your LOP requirement, including the reasonably priced Magpul stock ). |
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Originally Posted By SteveJobs: Beretta 1301/Benelli m4 for semi auto Mossberg 590A1 for pump. Theres lots of shotguns available, but these are "the" shotgun. 870 if you can find a good one. I hear you on the 870. I had an old wingmaster that was good. Shouldnt have sold it. I bought a new Express a long time ago. Just checked the serial number and it was right when freedom group bought things. I think i bought it around 2007, still made in the new york factory. Its a SBS, not as nice as my wingmaster but it has always been good. |
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Originally Posted By FredMan: M2 all the things. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50815481611_28e0c28c0e_h.jpgM2 SBS by FredMan, on Flickr I have been considering the M2. Looks like it has decent suport and should be around for a while. Maybe a used hunting one could be cheap enough to serve as a starting point. Dont really know hownit stacks up to a A300. A300 might be cheaper by the time i mod the M2. One other thing about using the M2 as my primary. I could mabe make the M2 my primary and the M1S90 a back up. If the manual of arms and operations are exactly the same. |
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14” Benelli M4 I have a 1301 and A300 Patrol as well. If I had to pick only one… this one. Attached File |
Surprise, Speed and Violence of Action
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Beretta A300UP. Light & fast-handling but w/light recoil, does everything I need it to do. Attached File |
Eternity is coming for us all. It cannot be denied, debated or avoided.
We would do well to ponder how we're going to spend that eternity, because eternity is a long time to be wrong.
We would do well to ponder how we're going to spend that eternity, because eternity is a long time to be wrong.
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Easy Shotgun drill day Attached File |
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Nice! Details on that choke tube? |
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Originally Posted By FredMan: M2 all the things. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50815481611_28e0c28c0e_h.jpgM2 SBS by FredMan, on Flickr I always enjoy seeing that setup. |
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Panzer M4 SPEED. I mean, I would a Benelli M4. But I ain't paying what they charge for a shotgun. Attached File |
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Thanks for all the good suggestions, but i have reconsidered. I think I would be better off on focusing on the rifle/pistol system. It would give me more time to practice with just the two platforms. I could spend the shotgun and SG ammo money on pistol/rifle ammo, I kind of figure for me the shotgun was going to fill a niche and i still needed the pistol/rifle. The pistol/rifle would still be my Go To if things went bad. I do still have some good shotguns, M1S90 and a 870 SBS. I think i could fill most of the shotgun niche with those two. It wound be as good as getting to one and done shotgun. But I think it will be serviceable. |
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