Budget 12 gauge

[HenryAKirk]

I am on a pretty tight budget and am in the market for a home defense shotgun, I have been drooling over a Remington 870 with an 18" barrel but it's just out of my price range.  There have been three armed robberies in the last three nights in my formerly nice neighborhood witch has my lovely wife on edge.   I am interested in the H&R Pardner Protector with an 18.5" barrel it looks like a Chinese made clone of an 870 but I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with one and could give me a review.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

   
Thought about the Maverick 88 shotgun? 

It's Mossberg's lower cost version of the 500.  Heard good things about them, and the price is right. 

I wouldn't scrimp too much.  When it comes down to self-defense, I doubt if going cheap is a good idea.     

[Doc Wesson]

Pardener pump will do the trick.... But it is CHICOM ....  CF is on with the Mav 88...  Or, why not look for a good used 870?  I have a couple police trade ins  that work great for less!  Search your area for trade ins

[FighterDoc]

I'd like to put an extra vote for the used Remington 870.  Most used guns don't get a lot of love, which is why they are sold or traded in, and this knocks off a fair amount from the price.  I love my 870, and plan to have it for a long, long time.  It's the 870 with 6 round mag and 18.5 barrel ... loads of fun!

[HenryAKirk]

Ill look for an 88 but i have been to well over a dozen pawn shops and gun stores in the San Antonio area and the only 870s i can find either have rusted barrels or actions that feel like they have been stored in a child's sand box. I don't like the idea of a 20 GA either they are everywhere and are running from 250 to 375 used the price is a little higher than I want to pay but I want a full 1 1/2 oz payload instead of a smaller 20 GA load. I know that the H&R PP is a China made gun and I prefer to buy American but I don't think I can beat the price How is the 88 vs the 500 I have shot the mossberg 500 and it's an awesome gun but I don't know anything about the 88 other than I heard the Gunfighter Cast podcast say that it was not as goo as the 500. Please enlighten me I am uneducated in the ways of the shotgun I only have a single shot break open 12 GA and I am not to fond of it.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

   
Well...

The Mossy 500 and the 590 are damn fine guns, so... if the 88 is a step down, it may still be worthwhile gun. You'll have to determine that. There are plenty of web reviews that say the 88 is solidly in the "Good Enough" category.   

If you're looking for used... don't ignore the Mossbergs.  I've got a 590 20" Special Purpose/ Persuader.  It's been used and abused, and never bobbled. It also has IMNSHO superior ergonomics to the 870s (and Maverick 88s.) Chiefly, the Mossbergs have a tang mounted safety, much better than the cross bolt safety ahead of the trigger guard. 

Luck!

[justin_kenney68]

Another vote for a used 870