Need help buying a pump 12 g

Remington 870 Marine Magnum.

 

Can't go wrong with a Rem 870 or Mossberg 500.

For your price range, you could get an 870 Wingmaster or Police. Or the Marine magnum mentioned above.

 

Mossberg 590 Tactical

 

UTAS-15! 15 round, bullpup design, easy to manoeuver. It's a great gun around the $1k mark.

 

Does it have to be a pump? I have been very happy with a Mossberg 930. Semi auto, can hold up to 9 2 and 3/4" shells with a tube extension, will take 3" shells if you want and you can interchange the barrels. I have a short home defense barrel, a medium length rifled slug barrel for deer and a long smooth bore for skeet and duck hunting. Decide what you want to use the gun for and put the right barrel on.

 

Remington 870. I love mine and for home protection pump is the way to go. The sound is unmistakable so just hearing you rack it should let an intruder know you mean business.

 

Bingo for one of these, and more in the magazine is always a good thing.
$500 should do it.

 

Used to have one of these, bought it for less than $500 way back .... Sorry to say they are over 2 K now. I miss it as much as my 328 Waaaaaaaaaaa.
Fun wind up toy and 12 rounds in about 3 seconds, plus the visual impact worked well.

Google research says $1500-1600 today.
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Check out the Standard DP-12

 

I had a Benelli Nova (composite) a few years back and for the price it was a great gun. Just don't try to fire 3"ers... I can still feel it. Imagine your whole body firing a .38+P Airweight.

Used it for clays, skeet, and Wobble with IC and could do 25s all day long. It even fed shorts with no problems, so leading a predatory target through your house should be no issue

Prices have gone up, but still a very simple and damn near indestructible piece.

I like the nickel finishes though...

 

Also Greg as noted in the guns, guns, guns thread a M-16 type gun is also recommended for home defense. Details are on that thread.
Like you I always loved my M-16, 30 years after ETS got a bushmaster M-4 type, short barrel and was shocked. I could still take the damn thing apart with my eyes closed, and it felt like a long lost friend had returned. It felt instantly comfortable and I felt confident just holding it.

 

Good call. I love my 870 although in different spec than yours. It's powerful but you can shoot it all day long.

 

Always used Mossbergs and Remingtons in the Navy, but I'd sure like one of these around the house:

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