[flipper35]

Originally Posted by brainz01

This is spot on.

If home defense is your sole objective, I'd buy the12 ga Mossberg 590 as above. That's a police/military grade shotgun and is very functional and reliable for the money.

If you want the gun to do double duty as a part time skeet/trap/sporting clays rig, then consider the Mossberg 930. It's semi auto and will make you faster in follow up shots. I'n my experience, however, it does require periodic (every couple hundred rounds) cleaning of the gas system in order to maintain perfect cycling reliability. Otherwise its a great value semiauto with good aftermarket support.

For any gun, black plastic stocks are likely slightly more durable (especially in the wet), but for shotguns I find them less "sociable", particularly on the sporting clays course - - all the fancy guys will have Berettas and Brownings and other guns with real wood. Just a consideration as most shotguns can be had with wood or plastic furniture.

Full disclosure, I prefer Mossberg to Remington mostly because I prefer the thumb safety on top. Others may prefer the crossbolt safety in the trigger guard that Remington uses. Both make fine shotguns in your price point.

Plastic/composite stocks aren't always that great. This one broke while he was pumping it. He is a Marine so...