Pros and Cons on Home Defense Gun

[BrianJ]

I am just looking to compare two 20 ga shotguns for HD and occasional fun shooting. The Mossberg SA-20 (semi auto) 20 inch cyl bore and a Mossberg 500 20 ga (pump) with 18.5 cylinder bore or 22 inch barrel with chokes. The length of the barrels is not a big issue to me as it only varies from 18.5 to 20 to 22. The chokes will help when practicing with the gun on trap & skeet range. dependability is a concern.
I know a lot of you will recommend the 12 ga w/00 but I would rather stay in the 20 ga.

Any help, pros and cons, appreciated.
what add-ons are also helpful down the road.

 

[John A.]

While semi auto's can be very reliable/dependable, I prefer a pump because I can manually cycle it much harder if necessary than a fixed shotgun shell.

I know many who will say that semi's are just as reliable, and in many cases they are also correct, but I like a pump better for that role.

Semi auto's can get more rounds off in a slightly shorter amount of time, and stay on target a little better due to not having to pump the gun (which moves it around a lot), but that can be worked through with relative ease once you are intimately familiar with it.

 

[GunnyGene]

The only opinion that counts is yours (your money after all). Many gun shops will allow you to test fire guns, much like car dealers allow a test drive. I suggest you do so.

 

[BrianJ]

GunnyGene

I have fired both and both can do the job. the problem is I have also had some FTF with a semi. only used a pump once but I understand they are less prone to hang as they are less complicated.
The semi is nice and steady though as John A. mentioned.
Great advice. Thanks
BrianJ

 

[NYmossyMike]

I always felt pump for HD for the reliability aspect. No gas system, simple cycling. Not that the semi-autos are unreliable by any stretch but I feel like Murphy's law when it counts.

Preparation is really key with either. I doubt a home invader will like having either of them fired at him.

 

[breakingcontact]

If you jam a pump, it may jam real bad.

 

[MikeD]

Shoot what you are comfortable with. Getting rounds on target is more inportant than the size of the round. A 20G is more than adequate for HD.

Whichever gun you decide upon, practice with it until every action becomes natural and you no longer have to think about it.

I would take a .22lr over a much bigger gun that I could not shoot as well.