5 Best Home Defense Shotguns

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 10/25/2017 | J McAdams

[w1n1]

A good shotgun is a powerful defense tool in the right hands. Here’s our list for the best home defense shotguns. Though they don’t come without shortcomings, a home defense shotgun can be incredibly tool for defending your family. However, like any tool, you need to use the right one for the job. Yes, you can drive a nail with a screwdriver, but a hammer is a much better choice. By the same token, a shotgun specifically designed with home defense in mind is a much better choice for that sort of work than your trusty turkey or duck hunting shotgun.

Whatever home defense shotgun you end up choosing, your work is only beginning once you actually obtain your shotgun. It can be extremely effective in the right hands. Without further adieu here's our choices for the best home defense shotguns.

Winchester SXP Defender

It is reasonably priced, lightweight, very handy, and can hold 6 (5+1) 12 gauge shotgun shells. The fact that it is manufactured in Turkey is a strike against it in the eyes of some, but make no mistake: the Winchester SXP Defender is an excellent shotgun for defending your home.

Benelli M4

It has such an excellent reputation for reliability and durability that it is used by a number of military and police forces all over the world, including the U.S. Marine Corps

Remington 870 Express Tactical

No list of the best home defense shotguns would be complete without a Remington 870. The pump-action 870 is the best selling shotgun of all-time for good reason: it works. That’s why it is such a popular shotgun for hunters, for police, and for people who want a reliable shotgun to defend themselves from both 2 and 4-legged predators. Read the rest and full description of the 5 best home defense shotguns here.

[DCBryan1]

1) The one in your hands when you need it
2) The one in your wife's hands as she covers your six
3) The one that is loaded with #4 buck for inside work
4) The one that has 00 Buck as last 2 rounds
5) The one that goes BANG when you want it to.

[Dusty Road]

It seems they’ve left off one of the finest and that’s the Ithaca Model 37. I have a 18.5 inch 5 shot riot sitting to my left, a 20 inch 8 shot defense in the corner by my bed and an original 20 inch 8 shot that was issued to special OP’s during Vietnam. Compared to what’s on the market now I’ll just say they ain’t pretty nor do the have that tacticool look but they’re smooth reliable and have more than proven themselves in combat.

[GOP Poet]

Yummy :D.

[This_Dude]

Saiga 12 with a 20 round drum.

That’s what’s up.

[Fireone]

Summed it up perfectly! Thanks!

[faucetman]

Remington 1100. 12 gauge.

[catman67]

The Ithaca model 37 is an excellent gun. Ejects out the bottom so it’s good for lefties and you can slide fire it like my old Winchester 1897.

[who knows what evil?]

Mossberg 590 Shockwave.

[Jim Noble]

Mossberg SA-20 tactical. 12 gauge is very action hero, but Massad Ayoob recommends 20 for home defense, and, actually, if you can’t get the job done with a 20-gauge semi-auto you aren’t going to do better with 12.

[cymbeline]

A relative who was a small-town police chief said a shotgun is best for home defense because the pellets, unlike a solid round, are not going to go into a neighbor’s house.

[cymbeline]

How about a pistol that accepts shotgun cartridges like the Judge? Rifles are kinda large.

[BluH2o]

Have the Mossberg 590A1 Tac ... 18.5 inch barrel.

[upchuck]

I'll put in a vote for the Mossberg 500 HS410 Home Security.

Capacity 6, light and easily manuverable in tight spaces. Minimal recoil but will get the job done.

[JimRed]

Pistol grip = scary looking = illegal in N.J.

[Yo-Yo]

Mossberg 590 Shockwave.

Only when loaded with Aguila mini-shells and a Laserlyte Center of Mass laser.

[Eagles6]

The revolvers are "novelty" guns.

They have a rifled barrel to handle the .45 LC which spins the shot cup and scatters the shot.

Friend had one and you couldn't reliably hit a man sized target at 10 yds.

[Georgia Girl 2]

We have a Mossberg 500 tactical. $300

[cymbeline]

“They have a rifled barrel to handle ...”

You’d think they’d would make a version with a smooth barrel.

[nonsporting]

Article has wrong pic for Rem 870 Tactical SG.

Here is the correct one with mag tube extension -- capacity 6 x 2 3/4" shells.