Tactical Shotgun

[redhead_522]

Hello all,
I'm looking for the perfect tactical shotgun, and was wondering if any of you had any suggestions. Here are the requirements...

Pump action
12 gauge
Reliable and rugged
Shoots 2 3/4-3 1/2"
Shoots slug, buckshot, and birdshot
Buttstock
18-18.5" barrel
Magazine tube extending to the end of the barrel (or an optional magazine extension)

Additional features that aren't necessary but helpful are

Buttstock and pistol grip (or can mount a pistol grip)
Side saddle mountable
Left handed (though I doubt I'll find this feature)


So far, the only shotgun that I've found that meets all the required criteria is the Benelli Nova Tactical. The drawbacks are: the stock is permanetly attached (so I can't put on a pistol grip), it's hard hitting, (so I'd need to install the Mercury Recoil Reducer which is an additional $60), to get the magazine to the end of the barrel I'd need the H20 extension which is nickel plated (not a big deal, but it's ugly), and it's made in Italy[:@], not America.

Anyone out there have any suggestions for other shotguns? Thanks

[Solid Liver]

I have a Winchester Defender and it's a great gun. It holds 7 in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. Has an 18 inch barrel. Mine doesn't have the slug barrel but you can put in special choke tubes for that. I'm not sure about converting to a pistol grip, but I think I might have seen one with that when I bought it. Don't hold me to that though.

I love this gun. I usually hunt with an over/under, but this one has actually brought down quite a few birds for me. There is another forum that has a big thread for tactical guns if you want to check that out.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=7

[Nomercy]

Personally, I don't know why anyone would need 3.5" shells in a tactical shotgun? Most tactical shotguns only ever get loaded with the shortest shells they'll reliably feed, here's why, 3.5" capacity is 4 shots, 2.75" capacity is 7...3.5" shells kick like a be-autch, making muzzle hop a lot worse and shot to shot time longer than you want it to be for tactical situations.

The Nova isn't a good tactical shotgun in my opinion, it's not really designed to be one from the get go, and it certainly doesn't balance or recover well enough for my tactical needs. A Remington 870 Police, Mossberg 500 or 590, or Winchester 1300 Defender would suit your needs pretty well. Aftermarket parts are WIDELY available for these guns. Not to mention they run about 2/3 the price of the italian, and will likely hold up MUCH longer than it too.

I've got 870 and a 1300 that I love, I've got an Speed feed IV, vertical grip forend, standard forend, and side saddle for both, and I've got an ATI top folder for my 870, and a stockless pistol grip for the 1300. I've got a surefire forend for the 870 and a light mount clamp for the 1300. I had a laser pointer on the 1300 for a while, but I hunted rabits with it for a while, so I took it off to be legal.

I've got 9rnds possible in the 870, and 8 or 10 possible (depending on extension or factory) in the 1300...that's with 2.75" shells of course, both of mine are 3" capable, but it takes off at least one round capacity.

They're both pretty equal in recoil, they're not heavy, but they're heavy enough to pop lightly on the shoulder.