Shotgun Help: Benelli or Remington

[Hilbert]

There was a Home Defense shotgun thread a few months ago but I opted to create a new one rather than add on to it as this one focuses on two specific choices.

I'm looking over different shotguns for home defense usage and have narrowed my list down to the Benelli M3 and the Remington 870, both of which I know to be fine weapons.

A good number of my friends have vouched the Remington 870 while another said he'd take a M3 over the 870 or Mossburg 500 anyday. On one hand I like the Benelli's Semi-Automatic Feature for fun at the range while still being able to switch back over to pump action but on the other hand I'm tempted to go with the 870.

Does anyone have experience with either of these models? Assistance would be appreciated, the last thing I want to do at this point is spend hundreds of dollars on the wrong choice.

Thanks in advance,
Hil

[Mundzos]

I own Remington 870 and I am very impressed with it. As a home defense weapon, it is one of the best....I never had any kind od stoppage and I shot over 200 shells out of it...It is very well made and simple to use...Remington has my vote.

[Masai]

Benelli and Remington are both good brands IMO, would you be able to organize a range day with both models ?

my father-in-law has an old lee enfield 303 rifle, i shot it once and fell in love with it.

[James]

I don't have any experience with the Benelli, but the Remington is very solid, very simple, and very reliable. It has my vote.

[orionhawk]

agree with James. the Remington 870 is a very old, well-established design. you can get a good one cheap, and do all kinds of stuff to it to make it more "tactical". you can also send one to Wilson Combat/Scattergun Technologies and have them turn it into just about the ultimate home-defense shotgun... or just buy one from them.

[tomonator]

I love this shotgun. I keep the ss on a boat. Great defensive weapon.

Winchester 1300 Coastal Marine shotgun &

Winchester 1300 Defender shotgun,

[OhioSquid]

Another vote for the 870.

Mine is a trooper. Good shooter; it's had a few hundred 00 buckshot rounds through it with no problems.

[Laconian]

I'm a big fan of simple. If you want a semi-auto shotgun, buy a semi-auto. If you want a pump gum buy a pump gun. Things designed to do a little of both or two things well, usually don't.

+1 on the 870. I've been using a Rem 870 in various configs for about 18 years, my current runs a 14.5" bbl. Never had a problem with them. There are an infinite number of cool things you can stick on it to make it a gen-u-wine zombie killer.

[cavtroop4]

I say go with the 870. I own a Benellli M3 and its going to give you the same thing with out shelling out about a grand.

[KEEPER0311]

870 has my vote aswell. Not only is it just a solid weapon, but I've never had any problem with it as far as feeding or jams.

[Silent 6]

I own an 870 Wingmaster that was given to my Dad when he was 15-16, he's now 62. The 870 is a premier shotgun. I've NEVER had any problems with the gun.

My advice to you, avoid anything that says "EXPRESS" on the receiver of the gun. They're cheaper parts, cheaper manufacturing process, IMHO. If you're going to drop the $$$ get the real deal. You'll never be disappointed.

Shotguns are great for home defense. The unique sound of a shotgun being loaded or the action being cycled is often a HUGE deterent to an invader. No badguy, in his right mind, is going to fvck with a homeowner using a shotgun.

[gaijinsamurai]

Another vote for the 870 here. Unless you REALLY want a Benelli, save your $$$ for other weapons.

[Hilbert]

Alright, thanks for the heads up and advice everyone. Assuming I am able to make the go ahead with getting a shotgun I think I'm definately going with a Remington unless I find a really nice deal on a Benelli.

Thanks again!

[Roy Batty]

We use 870s as our shotgun at work. I love the hell out of them.


and you can do some cool sh*t to them;)

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6523/largegl3.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2818/p1020005kz3.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5457/p10002531un2.jpg

[guest]

We use 870s as our shotgun at work. I love the hell out of them.


and you can do some cool sh*t to them;)



http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2818/p1020005kz3.jpg




So, how many ducks you bag with THAT one, Sig? p-)rofl

[Roy Batty]

It comes with a handy carrying thingy....:lol:

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9370/customholster018fe8.jpg






It's not mine...but maybe after roto..lol

[maw]

if you go for the 870. make sure you get one with a steel receiver as opposed to an alloy one.
you know, as long as we're talking home protection you might want to consider a 20 gauge instead. still plenty of knockdown but much less recoil. within the confines of your house you just don't need the extra range the the 12 offers. 20 gauge buckshot contains six 30 caliber pellets, plenty to make hamburger.

if you're stuck on a semi, i'd strongly recommend the fn police semi. i have one with a 22" bbl and i can't rave about enough about it. the other choice would be a saiga 12 gauge.

[StukaJr]

Do you live in an Urban or Rural "home"? I realize that living in a Rural home means having a number of various jobs in defending a home that Urban homes don't, yet having different (litigious) considerations in mind...

I'd say, if you are buying one shotgun - buy an 870 simply because you can own 3 870's for the price of one Benelli and even better if buying used. If you want solid and well suited gun for self defense, you could spring for a Police model with Surefire fore end, ghostring sites, extended mag and still few hundred less than Benelli... Given choice in aftermarket barrels - you could have a 870 with a couple of barrels for about any job...

I personally think that Benelli is a shotgun for a person whom already owns a pump-gun.

[Icarus1]

Own a 870 and work with the 870. Good, reliable, and we use the 870 Express 7+1, which is not too large. I'm very happy about it. The Benelli i hear just good stuff too. But the price of the 870 is not that high.

[TacoDelRio]

Out of both, I'd say 870. I've put mine through a lot of abuse, and it still works. I woudl not do the same to a Benelli, so i can't say, though I know them to be fine, and it's unlikely a home defense/general recreation shotgun is going to go through lotsa dirt and stuff.

If I had the money and liked guns enough... didn't have ANYTHIGN else to spend the difference on... I'd get the M3. The 870 does the job just as well, though.

[I'mOnlyHalfPolish]

870 and in the least spring for an 18 1/2" barrel or whatever is legal in your state :)

[Mark Sman]

One more vote for the 870.

I use the same gun for skeet, sporting clays and home defense.

I go though 250 round boxes at least two a month now. I have no idea how many shots this gun has fired. And you know what? Clack, clack bang.

Get one you can shoot skeet or somesuch with. Then fire a few thousand shells at little clay disks going 30+ mph.

When the zombies come crawling out of the sewers you will be ready.

[TacoDelRio]

Get one you can shoot skeet or somesuch with. Then fire a few thousand shells at little clay disks going 30+ mph.

When the zombies come crawling out of the sewers you will be ready.


'specially them damn flying micro-zombies. p-) Headcrabs!

[BillySing]

Well, you seem pretty set on either a Benelli or a Remington, though might I suggest another scattergun that may suit your requirements?

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/940/purdey20fullprofileom7.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=purdey20fullprofileom7.jpg)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4428/purdey20gauge2xh8.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=purdey20gauge2xh8.jpg)

A superb example of smoothbore craftsmanship from one of England's most prestigious gunsmiths. Traditional rose and scroll engraving, superb piece of black streak and swirl walnut with elegant borded Fleur-de-lis checkering. A lively little 20 gauge that comes alive in the hands of the scattergunner.

[kerfuffled]

Well, you seem pretty set on either a Benelli or a Remington, though might I suggest another scattergun that may suit your requirements?

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/940/purdey20fullprofileom7.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=purdey20fullprofileom7.jpg)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4428/purdey20gauge2xh8.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=purdey20gauge2xh8.jpg)

A superb example of smoothbore craftsmanship from one of England's most prestigious gunsmiths. Traditional rose and scroll engraving, superb piece of black streak and swirl walnut with elegant borded Fleur-de-lis checkering. A lively little 20 gauge that comes alive in the hands of the scattergunner.
Nice piece but kimda fancy-shcmancy for home defense...
Dad had an 870, seems like the natural choice. :)

[Jippo]

Ehhm, it's a Purdey. It'll cost a fortune, I think he was being ironic.

http://www.purdey.com/guns.pdf

[BillySing]

Ehhm, it's a Purdey. It'll cost a fortune, I think he was being ironic.

http://www.purdey.com/guns.pdf

Not Irony, more livening up the thread with a bit of variety. p-)

That particular model will cost about $43,000.

[TacoDelRio]

Not Irony, more livening up the thread with a bit of variety. p-)

That particular model will cost about $43,000.

I can afford this. p-)

[tactical73]

I have the benelli M4,but for home defense the 870 is the best ;)

[Asheren]

Never had oportunity to use Benelli but Remington is quite reliable thing. One i was using on range few times had its buttstock replaced two or three times and was still working like a little wonder.

[chop shop]

i own one of each. they are both very high quality, durable and reliable. if i were to only pick one for general use i would choose the 870. it's cheaper and parts are more readily available. if i wanted to shoot fast, i would probably take the benelli. the only downside to the benelli i've experienced is that it's hard to get used to the way you go about adding shells after you've shot one and the mag still has some in it. with the remington, you can just stuff more in.

[Remington Rand]

Nothing bad to say about Benelli, but the Rem 870 is bulletproof. I have had one for over 10 years and hunted with it in dirt, mud, salt water, sandy areas and every other environment that can kill a weapon. Grand total of ZERO misfeeds in thousands of rounds. The action is just reliable. Downside is that it is heavy and doesnt exactly swing beautifully. I'd trust it with my life though.