6 Best Home Defense Tactical Shotguns [2021]

We all want the most effective weapons possible when it comes to home defense. Our lives, our homes, and most importantly our families deserve the best protection. Though this is not the only reason. We are going to explain what is a tactical shotgun? and which are the preferred and best shotguns for home defense, and obviously our favorite ones with all points including prices.

12ga Shotgun Shells

What is a Tactical Shotgun?

Did you know what separates a tactical shotgun from a traditional hunting shotgun?

Double Barreled Hunting Shotgun

There are some different features that make a shotgun ‘tactical’:

18 – 20 Inch Barrel

This exact length of the barrel keeps the shotgun short and fast when used in urgency, like in case of sudden defense. The 18 inches is as short as you can go legally with a shotgun barrel. Moreover, it is enough to go without requiring a tax stamp or any federal registration.

Home Defense Shotguns – Semi-Auto or Pump Operation?

Shotguns have many variations, including pump-action, lever-action, semi-auto bolt action, and single or double barrels. The Pump and semi-auto actions are the only two types that are practical for home defense.

Good Set of Sights

There are many shotguns that come with a single bead at the end of the barrel which acts as a sight.  This type work for a lot of applications.

The Sling Mounts

A sling in the shotgun allows you to attach the weapon across your body.  Which allows you to keep the gun while you do other tasks with your hands, making it difficult for an attacker to strip you of your weapon.

Chambered in 12 or 20 Gauge

12 Gauge is the most famous combat shotgun caliber. Especially when it comes to semi-automatics guns. 12 gauge is a powerful and reliable option as well. It also makes the firearm heavier, larger, and recoils viciously. The 20 gauge is still a very potent round and is much friendlier for smaller people or beginners.

12 Gauge Speed Strips

The capacity of 4+1 Minimum

Shotguns use quite large shells, therefore most shotguns are limited in their capacity.  The capacity of 4 +1 will settle most encounters, however, preferably you are using more akin to 7+1 to give yourself that extra edge.

The Stock

Any shotgun needs a stock. The Pistol grip-only shotguns are good, fun, and pretty handy in some situations. However, the shoulder stock makes a shotgun much easier to hit the target accurately with more comfort.

What Can the Shotgun Do?

Why is a shotgun are known to be so effective?

The first thing is versatility, it is possible to fire the various projectiles from a shotgun. Also, from engaging anything from pests like possums to two-legged varmints, and even creatures big as bears.

Types of 12ga Shotgun Shells vs Bullets

The shotguns have three primary loads:

The Birdshot

A load is filled with tiny pellets, they range between dozens to hundreds depending on the particular load used. It is designed to hunt down birds, clay pigeons, and other small games. However, these are not very effective for the home defense.

12ga Birdshot

The Buckshot

Buckshot is a load of larger pellets than the birdshot, they commonly range in caliber from .24 (No 4 Buckshot) to .36 (000 Buckshot).  Additionally, the number of pellets varies per load and caliber of the ball used.  Perfect for medium game and tactical applications.

The most common is 00 (“double aught:) buckshot, this is equivalent to 9 lead pellets with 9mm in diameter.

12ga 00 Buckshot

The Slugs

Slugs are Solid projectiles, around 1 oz in weight.

The slugs are Often quite larger, heavier, and powerful.  They additionally allow you to extend your effective shotgun range.

12ga Slug

The Best Home Defense Tactical Shotguns

With all these factors in mind, let’s take a look at the top tactical shotguns available in the market.

1. Mossberg 500 Series – Recommended Home Defense Shotguns

If you want to have one of the longest-serving combats and police shotguns, the Mossberg 500 is the best choice for you.

Mossberg 500

The big difference from the Remington 870 (other popular pump-action shotgun) is the safety is on top of the receiver and accessible with your thumb.

Mossberg has built a big variety of different configurations for the 590A1 model. Which includes night sights or Ghost ring sights, collapsible or fixed stocks, and a capacity of up to 9 rounds. Regardless of the functionality you choose, you are getting one of the best pump action combat shotguns ever designed.

Mossberg-590a1

It is specifically built for the dangers involved in military life, the Mossberg 590A1 is a solid combat shotgun. You can also mount a bayonet to it as well, in case that floats your boat. As a pump-action shotgun, it can handle everything from powerful magnum loads to the lightest reduced recoil ammunition, and even less-lethal ammo types.

2. The Remington 870 – Recommended Home Defense Shotgun

Combined with the classical Remington 870 platform, with a classic hardwood stock and pump design that has lasted the test of time. The Remington 870 gives you 6+1 capacity with an 18.5-inch barrel for maneuverability. You get a front rifle sight, so it is suggested to add a nice adjustable rear sight.

Remington 870

The main difference from the Mossberg 500 above is that its safety is a button near the trigger.

The 870 design is so well known and so popular that there are tons of different accessories for it available.

This includes numerous different designs of sight saddles, lighting options, and even scope mounts for a red dot.

You can swap the barrel as well with any other 870 barrel without modification.

3. Benelli M4

Benelli M4 innovate and grow shotgun technology with every design.  What makes the M3 stand apart from other shotguns is its operating functionalities.

Benelli M4

The Benelli M4 can function as both a semi-auto shotgun and a pump-action shotgun with just a twist of a ring. It easily changes from semi-automatic to pump action to for handling lighter loads, or less-lethal ammunition.

The semi-auto mode reduces recoil and is known as one of the fastest cycling operations of any shotgun. As a Benelli you know it’s built to fight, and built tough enough to be a legacy weapon.

4. Hatsan Arms Escort Slugger

If you are looking for something that is affordable as well as super durable, then the Hatsan Escort series of shotguns may be for you.

Hatsan Arms Escort Slugger

The Escort Slugger has two types it is either a 7+1 capacity and comes with a 20-inch barrel or 5 + 1 with an 18-inch barrel.

The thing that is important to mention here is that the low price is not because the shotgun is poorly made.  In fact, the Escort has a chrome-lined barrel and components made of metal. It is designed with durability with simplicity in mind, the Escort Slugger is built to work harder for you. The blade front sight is fixed, and they are large and easy to find in low light. However, isn’t as silky as a fiber sight. The sling studs mounted provide solid attachment points for various slings and tethers. Moreover, a soft rubber buttpad absorbs recoil and improves shooting comfort.

The pump actually passes the receiver when used.  The shotgun is available in both Marine-grade finish and standard between $300 to $450 dollars.

5. Maverick 88

Maverick 88 is essentially a clone of the Mossberg 500. It is made by Mossberg and the primary difference is that its safety in front of the trigger.

Maverick 88

Alone this fact cuts down the price and the 88 can be had for under $250 if you look around. However, because in the reality it is a 500, so it fits almost every kind of relevant upgrade. Also, the shotgun has a 7+1-round capacity featuring a bead sight and cylinder bore choke. Considered one of the best home defense shotguns as they are light weight and affordable.

6. Mossberg SPX 930

The Mossberg SPX 930 ($833) is the tactical derivative of the Mossberg 930 series.

The good thing about this Mossberg SPX 930 is that this shotgun is ready to rock and roll on the tactical shelf. Mossberg SPX 930 is also considered one of the most reliable semi-auto shotguns for home defense with affordable price.

Mossberg SPX 930

Model 930 SPX is topped with an amazing set of sling swivels, sights, 7 +1 capacity, and a rail for adjusting an optic.

Mossberg products are well known for their quality firearms and backed by an excellent warranty.  The 930 SPX is built like a tank, as the semi-auto action reduces recoil to a pleasant thump.

Conclusion:

A tactical shotgun is a perfect weapon for home defense.

As the tactical shotguns give an absolute power a shoulder-fired weapon can have. On the other hand, if you go for the tactical shotguns, remember that like every weapon you need to train with it to be effective. A shotgun is only as good as the experienced shot gunner holding it.

Each year, over 8 million hunters across the United States hit the woods in pursuit of whitetail deer.

The most popular North American game animal, whitetails vary significantly in size across an extensive geographic range. They roam a number of habitats, ranging from thick forested swamps in the Southeast to open cropland in the American Midwest. Because whitetails are so diverse, it is impossible to choose a single best rifle caliber for deer hunting. However, this diversity doesn’t keep hunters from arguing the point.

Heated debates over the best cartridges and caliber have been taking place around campfires and skinning sheds for generations. Some hunters take criticism of their favorite firearms personally. Surely more than a few fists have been thrown and grudges held over differing opinions between hunting buddies.

Listing the “best” calibers or for deer hunting is sure to evoke strong feelings. The purpose of this article isn’t to insult anyone’s favorite firearm. Hunters use an array of effective rifles to fill their tags each fall. However, space is limited, so please don’t consider it a personal insult if your favorite weapon doesn’t make the list.

A NOTE ABOUT “CALIBER” AND “CARTRIDGE”

Caliber is literally the diameter of a projectile, while a cartridge is the whole shebang – projectile, casing, powder, and primer. Like most things in the shooting world, there are no hard and fast rules for language use. Some hunters use the terms interchangeably, at least under certain circumstances.

I understand .30-30 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and .308 Winchester are “cartridges” that all contain the same “caliber” bullet (.308 inches in diameter to be precise). However, these cartridges have vastly different performance characteristics. For simplicity, I have chosen to use the terms cartridge and caliber somewhat interchangeably, despite the technical difference in definition.

THE TOP CARTRIDGES FOR HUNTING WHITETAILS

There are about as many opinions on deer hunting as there are deer hunters. I am just one hunter among millions, and I am not solely responsible for developing this list. After doing some serious industry research (including some impromptu polling of my personal hunting buddies), these are the top contenders for the best rifle calibers for whitetail deer.

.30-30 WINCHESTER

I killed my first deer with a Winchester Model 1894. That lever action relic, chambered in .30-30, was a hand-me-down from my grandfather. I still hunt with it regularly, and have used it to fill plenty of tags.

Generations of hunters have taken deer with a .30-30. For many, this cartridge evokes memories of their first hunts. Even without the nostalgia, the .30-30 remains an excellent choice for whitetails and is still used by plenty of experienced hunters.

The Winchester .30-30 was first marketed in 1895. Despite major modern advances in firearms and ammunition technology, the .30-30 cartridge routinely ranks as a top ten bestseller for many major manufacturers. It seems like this antiquated cartridge should have long since fallen from favor. Modern technology has taken ammo to new heights, and the .30-30 doesn’t produce impressive velocities, doesn’t carry a huge payload, and has a limited effective range (about 200 yards).

So, why is this blast from the past still relevant to the modern deer hunter?

One simple reason: it works!

.30-30 cartridges topped with soft points perform well, the recoil is gentle enough for young shooters, and 150-170 grain bullets produce enough penetration to reach vital organs. If you’re hunting the open plains of America’s Heartland or vast Southern bean fields, the .30-30 Winchester isn’t the best choice to reach out and touch a distant buck. However, if you regularly hunt the hardwood forests of the Eastern Blueridge or Northeast Adirondacks, there’s no reason not to take a .30-30.

Shop .30-30 Rifles

.30-06 SPRINGFIELD

The .30-06 (pronounced “thirty aught six”) Springfield is hands down one of the best deer hunting calibers in existence. Adopted by the United States Army in 1906, the .30-06 may be the most popular big-game cartridge in North America, and a top contender worldwide.

Although this cartridge was introduced when the horse and buggy was the main form of transportation, modern powders and innovative bullet designs have made the .30-06 even more effective today than it was in the past. 30-06 ammunition is readily available and surprisingly affordable. Nearly every popular rifle maker offers a model chambered in .30-06.

Rifles chambered in .30-06 deliver relatively flat trajectories, respectable accuracy, and manageable recoil. They also have an impressive effective range (out to 1000 yards by some accounts, although a shot at that range would require an awful lot of luck and a healthy amount of skill). The .30-06 Springfield also packs a pretty powerful punch, making it perfect for hunters who want to use a single rifle for whitetails and larger species like mule deer and elk.

Shop .30-06 Rifles

.308 WINCHESTER

The .308 Winchester is another popular deer hunting caliber, and for good reason. Basically the civilian version of the military 7.62×51mm NATO, the .308 is a short-action cartridge that produces marvelous ballistics.

Available in a variety of factory loads, .308 Winchester is only slightly less powerful than the .30-06, yet still delivers plenty of deer-dropping power. The recoil on the average .308 is more manageable than a standard .30-06, and in the right hands, the .308 Winchester is deadly accurate. Add it all up and the .308 is a dream to hunt with, whether in open terrain or wooded habitats.

Shop .308 Rifles

7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM

One of the best calibers available for long-range deer hunting, the 7mm Remington Magnum produces blistering muzzle velocities. When paired with modern bullet designs with high ballistic coefficients, the 7mm Rem Mag produces a radically flat trajectory. While most deer hunters don’t need extreme long-range effectiveness, those who want to stretch their shots beyond 250 yards will appreciate this level of performance.

Despite the speed and power produced by the 7mm Rem Mag, it produces significantly less recoil than many comparable cartridges (like the 7mm Weatherby Magnum or the .300 Winchester Magnum). Perfect for long-range hunting, the 7mm Rem Mag is a smart choice for taking game across wide open farmland or waves of prairie grass.

Shop 7mm Rem Mag Rifles

.45-70 GOVERNMENT

Although many deer hunters criticize the .45-70 Government as “too much gun” for deer hunting, these rifles make great brush guns, cutting through thick woods without major bullet deflection. Great for close range deer hunting, the .45-70 Government produces manageable recoil. As a bonus, you can also use the .45-70 for larger game, including elk, bear, and moose.

While the .45-70 does deliver serious bone-smashing power, it does so with a heavy bullet traveling at a relatively modest velocity. So while this caliber hits hard, it will drop deer without significant meat damage. If your main aim is to stock the freezer, the .45-70 Government is just the tool for the job.

Shop .45-70 Gov’t Rifles

.243 WINCHESTER

Developed by necking down the .308 Winchester cartridge to shoot a smaller projectile, the .243 Winchester is a great entry-level rifle perfect for youth, women, and other recoil sensitive shooters. This little cartridge has earned a reputation for being accurate, flat shooting, and highly effective on whitetails. The .243 is also a highly versatile cartridge, with plentiful options available for mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, wild hogs, and even long-range varmints.

Shop .243 Rifles

.270 WINCHESTER

Introduced in 1923 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company, the .270 Winchester cartridge was  derived from the .30-06 Springfield. The case of the .270 is slightly longer due to the necking down process. However, these cartridges shoot smaller projectiles at a higher velocity with a flatter trajectory and less recoil than the .30-06.

While these little gems aren’t capable of carrying as much downrange energy as the .30-06, they are  powerful enough (with the right ammo and a well-placed shot) to drop whitetails well beyond 300 yards.

Shop .270 Rifles

FINAL THOUGHTS

Keep in mind; there are plenty of calibers to choose from for productive deer hunting. While I took the research for this list very seriously, the final choices were not based on ballistic measurements taken in cold laboratory settings. Instead, this list was compiled using history, real world observations, and the experience of successful hunters.

However, no two hunters are exactly alike. The real test for finding the best caliber for deer hunting, is being able to handle that firearm with skill and proficiency. Ultimately, a successful hunt depends more on a well-placed shot than the rifle that fired it.