Battle of the Defensive Shotguns

[ECS686]

Tactile feeling stock is better on the 1301 but side by side with the A300, the A300 cycles humanly just as fast. 1301 may shoot a little softer but c’mon, man up!

Yeah skne fokks get wrapped around the axels on that stuff like if you are running a bazillion rounds out of it in a class I might get it but for what normal earth people do you will be fine.

Like I get a striker fired ks maintenance free and great for a 1,000 round 1 or 2 day class but tj say a 1911 or wheelgun will get you through a defensive incident with on tap ammo and 2 reloads it will be fine! Even though your hard pressed to find a reload in a non LE shooting but fokks like their what if

 

[BarryinIN]

So many questionable parts of this evaluation, but any test that has an “aesthetics” category on equal footing as reliability, or for that matter anything, gets disregarded by me.

 

[ECS686]

So many questionable parts of this evaluation, but any test that has an “aesthetics” category on equal footing as reliability, or for that matter anything, gets disregarded by me.

I am the same way with that and the whole cyclic speed . Just watched one where the Beretta A300 won over the Mossberg 940 pr tactical and the main reason is he **** the Beretta faster. While if your a high class competition dude OK but for mere earth people doing earth people stuff the Mossberg cyclic speed will be just fine for dispatching bad guys.

But the go fast fairies are everywhere

 

[BarryinIN]

I am the same way with that and the whole cyclic speed . Just watched one where the Beretta A300 won over the Mossberg 940 pr tactical and the main reason is he **** the Beretta faster. While if your a high class competition dude OK but for mere earth people doing earth people stuff the Mossberg cyclic speed will be just fine for dispatching bad guys.

But the go fast fairies are everywhere

Same for those who get excited over a slam-fire Ithaca. Show me a legitimate use for that. I love the 37, but that’s not why.

 

[HayesGreener]

Same for those who get excited over a slam-fire Ithaca. Show me a legitimate use for that. I love the 37, but that’s not why.

In WWI U.S. troops used the slam fire feature of their Model 97 Winchesters to clear enemy trenches. The shotguns were so effective the Germans claimed they violated the Hague Convention agreements. In WWII during Pacific Island fighting U.S. Marines used the rapid slam fire feature of the Model 97 to clear Japanese caves and bunkers. It was also used to counter ambushes in the jungles of Vietnam. Reliable semi autos have taken center stage. The experience of the effectiveness of rapid fire shotguns in close quarters is good foundation for development of the current Benelli M4. A Marine with a shotgun intent on killing everyone in the room is a frightening thing.

 

[ECS686]

In WWI U.S. troops used the slam fire feature of their Model 97 Winchesters to clear enemy trenches. The shotguns were so effective the Germans claimed they violated the Hague Convention agreements. In WWII during Pacific Island fighting U.S. Marines used the rapid slam fire feature of the Model 97 to clear Japanese caves and bunkers. It was also used to counter ambushes in the jungles of Vietnam. Reliable semi autos have taken center stage. The experience of the effectiveness of rapid fire shotguns in close quarters is good foundation for development of the current Benelli M4. A Marine with a shotgun intent on killing everyone in the room is a frightening thing.

Respectfully I would say there’s a big difference. While I get the history and the validity of utilizing that feature in WW1 Trench warfare as Joe homeowner defending himself not really making a difference. And Military when you are there to eliminate the enemy and have a squad with you I would say that’s different like Rules of engagement vs legal use of force or suppressive fire bs deliberate legal decisions making that each shot is needed and legal!!!!!


That said I have a funny Winchester 1897 story on how I was educated on the slam fire feature.

I was 13/14 and hunting with our 1897 (my Dad had 2 guns a Win 1897 and a Remington Nylon 76 the 76 was the lever action version of the 66 that was everywhere)

Anyway rabbit hunting kicked one up shot at it once then it went off again then a third time but vertical was recoil kept moving it up then it clicked take your finger off the trigger dummy.

I don’t even think I got the rabbit. I told my dad that little feature I discovered and he was like Oh yeah I should have told you, how many shells did you waste was his only question! LOL

 

[HayesGreener]

Respectfully I would say there’s a big difference. While I get the history and the validity of utilizing that feature in WW1 Trench warfare as Joe homeowner defending himself not really making a difference. And Military when you are there to eliminate the enemy and have a squad with you I would say that’s different like Rules of engagement vs legal use of force or suppressive fire bs deliberate legal decisions making that each shot is needed and legal!!!!!

Yes, we don't send Marines with shotguns to domestics or burglaries!

What a surprising way to learn about slam fire!

I could just hear my Dad asking, how many times did you shoot at that rabbit? Probably why he gave me a bolt action .410. But he expected a rabbit or squirrel for each shell expended. I still rarely came home with any ammo, too many fence posts and tin cans and other targets of opportunity out there.

 

[ECS686]

Yes, we don't send Marines with shotguns to domestics or burglaries!

What a surprising way to learn about slam fire!

I could just hear my Dad asking, how many times did you shoot at that rabbit? Probably why he gave me a bolt action .410. But he expected a rabbit or squirrel for each shell expended. I still rarely came home with any ammo, too many fence posts and tin cans and other targets of opportunity out there.

I don’t think this had anything to do with it other than timing he was looking to get me my first hunting gun but I did get a used Savage 24c camper with a 22LR and a 20GA

But I was a later in life kid and Dad being a kid in the depression so he was very tight we will say. He only allowed me to use 22 or most of the time running the fields. I could only take shotgun rounds when squirrel and rabbit hunting.

That was his biggest concern was “how many shotgun shells did you use”

 

[dadoser]

1 - I am not a shotgun guy.
2 - I've owned and sold 2 versions of the Mossberg 500 in the past 25 years.
3 - I never warmed up to the pump actions of those 500s.
4 - Picked this Beretta A300 Patrol up last April. I feel it will more than adequately do whatever I would need a shotgun to do for my limited purposes. It is the only shotgun I currently own.

This thing shoots fantastic and the recoil is not bad at all.

 

[negolien]

1 - I am not a shotgun guy.
2 - I've owned and sold 2 versions of the Mossberg 500 in the past 25 years.
3 - I never warmed up to the pump actions of those 500s.
4 - Picked this Beretta A300 Patrol up last April. I feel it will more than adequately do whatever I would need a shotgun to do for my limited purposes. It is the only shotgun I currently own.

This thing shoots fantastic and the recoil is not bad at all.

View attachment 100764

Looks fantastic but the prices on auto's are redonkulous lol. I'll stick to my 870 clone LOL. I think I paid like $175 bucks for it about 10 years ago. Thing runs like a champ for what I use it for which is strictly home defense

 

[Chris39]

I haven't fired anything other than my 590S, and I don't really feel the need to. Love that thing.

 

[Ethan Sackett]

Remington 870, but I really miss the Ithaca 37. And yes the lack of a disconnector in the 37 has its benefits. Like laying a lot of concentrated fire down quickly.

 

[FNFAN]

I jacked up some bad hombres and went into some dark dangerous unknown places with an 870 in my hands. I always felt I had the power to deal with whatever arose. It pays to train with the shotgun to build skills and confidence. It is not intuitive. A simple 870 will get the job done but I added a few accoutrements to this one based upon past experiences. I ran a defensive shotgun course for security officers for years and often got "I didn't know you could do that with a shotgun" from students. Current semi auto combat shotguns have a lot to offer but the old pumps will hold their own in trained hands.

870's are fabulous tools. The most recent standout use was LAPD canoeing a hostage taker's cabeza. IIRC it was a domestic dispute where the guy took his lady love hostage. One component that adds value to most shotguns is the Federal Flight Control buckshot that adds a good 5-7 yards of range toward keeping all pellets on a B-27 target. Like Winchester67, I've got big feelings for the venerable Model 12. I had one of the Y model trap guns for years, still own my Dad's solid rib field gun and have an old retired gunsmith's fighting gun.