The Combat Trifecta thread got me to thinking about shotguns for defense.
Texas Tactical puts on several matches every year that include some defensive shotgun Courses of Fire. I learned early on that shotguns were a weak point in my overall training repertoire. This caused me to dive
into obtaining more training and also find the shotgun that worked best for me. As a Range Officer and Match Director, I started noticing a trend with myself and others related to shotgun use under match pressure and stress. The tendency was for shooters to forget to rack the action after every shot. I have come to the conclusion that this is caused by 3 things:
1. Lack of training and weapon familiarity.
2. Lack of practice.
3. Shooters conditioned by using semi auto handguns and rifles, then jumping to a manual loading firearm.

Based on my observations I chose to go with a semi auto shotgun. So now whatever the situation and whatever firearm I grab, handgun carbine or shotgun, they all fire when the trigger is pressed. The last thing I want to do in a high stress situation is forget to rack the action. These are some of the reasons I chose a Semi Auto shotgun (Benelli M1 Super 90) over a manually operated shotgun.
What shotgun do you use for defense and why?

High Standard Model 10A Bullpup. Semi Auto with built in tac light.

How are the sights on this shotgun? I owned a Mossberg bullpup that I loved for close quarters
but had a real problem attaining a good balance of speed and accuracy due to the short sight radius and the offset of the sights over the boreline.

Very good point!! That is one of the drawbacks to the autoloader. Ammunition testing is a definite must with an auto loader used for defense!

Lets put it this way, it shoots trap as well as my mossburg 500a did. It's really funny when i can hit those clays as well as some guys with big money trap guns.

I'm always a little surprised about the failure to rack issue. I have never seen anyone do this (fortunately I have only had to deal with this in hunting and sport shooting), although I did see a friend short stroke and boggle his gun all up hunting, I think the deer even laughed at him. My theory is that he screwed up because he usually shoots a semi shotgun. I only use my shotguns for shooting at small woodland creatures and clay pidgeons, but I'd feel confident in my 870 if I had to use it for self defense.

I have an M1 Super 90 w/Surefire for many of the same reasons. I've done the click-no bang! thing in competitions several times with my pump action. So for home defense I chose a semi-auto and my Benelli eats everything I feed it. I use Federal Tactical 00-buck Low Recoil and Remington Low Recoil slugs as my standard defensive ammo. Low recoil is nice since the Benelli is sucha lightweight gun compared to my Mossy or a Rem 870. It saves the shoulder, and gets me back on target faster for a quick follow-up shot.

But when I want an outdoor, nasty, cruddy, ok to muck it up and get it dirty shotgun.... then I chose my Mossberg 590A1.

P.S. A shout out to Chimborazo with the fabulous signature picture again. [:D]

there is one factor about a pump that you guys are ignoring.

Every Bad guy knows the sound of a shotgun racking. They don't call them a Steel Laxative for nothing.