What is the best shotgun for home defense? What features makes a weapon suitable for not only home defense but recreational use? We’ll explore what to look for in a home defense shotgun for all types of shooters. The best shotgun for home defense is not as simple as finding the biggest gun out there, but rather it should be based on the different intricacies of a gun, including the price.
Keep in mind that this article’s intent is not to choose the greatest shotgun of them all, but rather to inform based on quality and ease of use.
10. Mossberg 500
| Manufacturer | Mossberg |
| Capacity | 6 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5” |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs |
| Price Range | $506.80 |
The Mossberg 500 is the most popular home defense shotgun on the market, and for a good reason. Priced accordingly, the auto shotgun is an affordable and reliable option for the home. With a mid-sized barrel length and relatively light weight, the Mossberg 500 home defense shotgun is an attractive option for moving through tight corridors. As it was designed for a civilian market first, parts are plentiful and easily maintained. In addition, the Mossberg semi auto shotgun makes sure any beginner can keep their home defense gun well maintained and working when it’s needed.
9. Remington 870
| Manufacturer | Remington |
| Capacity | 6 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5” |
| Weight | 7 lbs |
| Price Range | $443.00 |
Remington has been making shotguns for years. Thus, they are rightfully a symbol of quality within the firearms world. With a variety of build options, the Remington 870 home defense gun is almost completely customizable to the owner’s needs, culminating in 67 years of craftsmanship. Accessories are plentiful and often affordable, owing to the legendary stature of the 870 shotgun. It wouldn’t be difficult for an aspiring gun owner to find an aftermarket or police surplus Remington 870 for an even more affordable price tag, along with any accessories. It’s easily one of the most popular and best home defense gun.
8. Ithaca M37
| Manufacturer | Ithaca |
| Capacity | 5 or 8 |
| Gauge | 12, 20 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5”, 20” |
| Weight | 4 lbs, 6 lbs |
| Price Range | $300 – $500 |
The Ithaca M37 is often a runner-up in the eyes of the Remington 870 fans. However, it has remained a home defense staple for many shotgun owners. This is mostly due to its solid construction and respected gunsmith label. While a simple pump action shotgun, the Ithaca M37 excels in its various models, offering variety while still sacrificing nothing. The basic model with its 5+1 shell capacity will serve any beginner or expert shotgunner just as well as the 8+1 model. With a short barrel and light weight, the M37 tactical pump shotgun stands above other beginner weapons.
7. Nova Tactical
| Manufacturer | Benelli |
| Capacity | 4 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5” |
| Weight | 7.2 lbs |
| Price Range | $459 – $669 |
While perhaps more well known for their line of handguns, the Benelli Nova Tactical is as reliable, if not as memorable, as their pistols. The Tactical shotgun model remains affordable but offers more options for the serious buyer. With a flashlight mount and ghost-ring sights, the operator’s aim will be much straighter and formidable. In addition, the home defense shotgun has a completely synthetic stock and the receiver located in one solid piece. The Benelli Nova Tactical shotgun will last. It’s possibly the best semi auto tactical shotgun you can find.
6. Maverick 88
| Manufacturer | Mossberg |
| Capacity | 7 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 20” |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Price Range | $189.99 |
If a buyer is looking for something a little cheaper, the Mossberg Maverick 88 remains affordable yet reliable. Trusted by security and police forces, the Mossberg shotgun even features a completely replaceable synthetic barrel that is compatible with Mossberg’s 500 series. Something especially attractive for the home is the stock choke located on the barrel, resulting in a tighter spread and a more accurate shot in close quarters. It’s easily the best shotgun for the money.
5. Benelli M3
| Manufacturer | Benelli |
| Capacity | 5 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 19.3” |
| Weight | 7.6 pounds |
| Price Range | $1,500 |
While expensive, the Benelli M3 stands alone among pump-action shotguns and its semi automatic peers as the best in its class. Unlike most guns, the M3 also features a convertible cycling design, switching from a classic and reliable pump-action shotgun to a fearsome semi automatic one. After all, why focus on buying the best shotgun for home defense when you can have two? That’s what makes the M3 truly special and one of the best 12 gauge shotgun you can find.
4. Hatsan Escort Aimguard
| Manufacturer | Hatsan |
| Capacity | 5 |
| Gauge | 12, 20 |
| Barrel Length | 18” |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs |
| Price Range | $170 – $300 |
Don’t be fooled by the relatively lower price of the Escort Aimguard. This home defense shotgun has been torture tested and proven to be a reliable alternative to the bigger brand name shotgun manufacturers simply from its sturdy construction and stock features. That includes a built-in choke and aircraft alloy receiver. Consider the Aimguard if reliability is high on your list you’re looking for the best shotgun for home defense.
3. Mossberg SPX 930
| Manufacturer | Mossberg |
| Capacity | 8 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5” |
| Weight | 7.75 lbs |
| Price Range | $800 – $900 |
Another notable Mossberg model is the SPX 930 Tactical. This tactical shotgun aims towards the more knowledgeable gun owner. However, it pays off with the stock features. A semi automatic beast of a gun, the SPX 930 shotgun features standard ghost-ring sights for easy target acquisition. The 930 also comes with two barrels of different length for the owner’s discretion, an 18.5″ model and a massive 28″ version. The SPX 930 Tactical may be on the expensive side, but it will definitely serve an experienced owner well.
2. Stevens 320
| Manufacturer | Savage Arms |
| Capacity | 5 |
| Gauge | 12, 20 |
| Barrel Length | 18.5” |
| Weight | 6.85 pounds |
| Price Range | $236 – $276 |
Definitely lesser known than the bigger competitors but not at all outclassed is the Stevens 320. While the price is by far the most attractive part of the package, the 320 home defense shotgun offers a few more features on top. A carbon-steel barrel and synthetic stock combine together with a rotary bolt design to create a reliable option for the beginning gun user.
1. Linberta 01Lstac
| Manufacturer | Linberta |
| Capacity | 4 |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Barrel Length | 20” |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs |
| Price Range | $469 |
A true unknown, the Linberta 01Lstac is a new favorite in the gun world. Boasting a fully semi-automatic design, the 01Lstac has been proven reliable by multiple users and is quickly becoming a favorite. If a semi automatic shotgun is a necessity for your own personal best home defense shotgun, then the 01Lstac should be on your list. It’s possibly the best shotgun for home defense.
Making The Right Choice
When it comes to the best shotgun for home defense, it’s slightly more complicated than one might think to narrow the list. In the end, it truly comes down to the owner’s discretion as to what they may need for any given situation arising within the home. Is a semi-automatic shotgun a practical necessity for your needs, or will a classic pump-action be all you need for an intruder? Much of this will be up to the user’s discretion, but when it comes to the best shotgun for home defense, it is never too late to start.
