The 5 Best Home Defense Shotguns

You’ll never convince me there is a better home defense firearm than the shotgun. The projectiles are less likely to over-penetrate (putting fewer innocents at risk), you are more likely to hit your target (due to the increased number of projectiles), and you’re not sacrificing effectiveness (many shotgun loads will quickly stop a threat). Many good home defense shotguns are on the market, but I’ve rounded up the top five to help you narrow your choices.

The 5 Best Home Defense Shotguns

When buying a home defense shotgun, I look for several features, including reliability, fit/handling, mag capacity, and patterning/accuracy. I prefer to stick with established brands, but many new or lesser-known firearm manufacturers make excellent shotguns.

Benelli M4 – Best Overall

Pros:

Leading shotgun manufacturerReliable (approved by the U.S. Marine Corps)An 18.5” barrel is excellent for close-quartersQuickly get back on targetComes with Ghost-Ring sights

Cons: 

ExpensiveLower magazine capacity

Benelli is the leader in shotgun manufacturing and is known for its high-quality products. The Benelli M4 is no exception. The M4’s Auto-Regulation Gas-Operated system (ARGO) was designed for and approved by the U.S.M.C., so you know if the Marines can trust it, so can you.

Two features I appreciate the most are the 18.5” barrel and the pistol grip. The shorter barrel allows you to maneuver better in tight spaces, making it less likely you’ll get the barrel snagged on something or give your position away before you’re prepared to fire. The pistol grip helps make the recoil even more manageable so you can quickly get back on target.

The stock ghost-ring sights are great because you can adjust them to match the shotshell pattern perfectly, but if you don’t like them, the Picatinny rail on top makes mounting your favorite sights a breeze.

While this shotgun is great, there are a couple of cons. The first is the price tag. Benelli is known for being the best and making your wallet much lighter. The second is magazine capacity. I’m all for having as many rounds as possible when defending your home, and 5+1 leaves me wanting a couple extra shells.

Despite these setbacks, the Benelli M4 is the best home defense shotgun on the market.

Mossberg 500 ATI Tactical – Best Budget-Friendly

Pros:

Trusted brandAffordableReliable & fits a wide variety of peopleLooks cool

Cons: 

Low magazine capacity

The Mossberg 500 is one of the best-selling shotguns ever because it’s affordable and reliable. The Mossberg 500 ATI Tactical is a unique spin-off of the 500 series specifically designed for home defense.

I love the 6-position adjustable stock, pistol grip, and Picatinny rails for sights, lasers, and flashlights. The adjustable stock and pistol grip ensure the shotgun fits your unique body style and remains under your control.

While looks don’t count for anything when defending your home, you’ll get some street cred when practicing at the range. Just because this is a budget shotgun doesn’t mean it’s plain Jane.

Since this is a budget-friendly shotgun, you can add a JK 195 VERSAX 12 suppressor to increase the look and help reduce the potential for hearing damage. You will need a choke tube adaptor or get the barrel threaded to install it. While more expensive, the SilencerCo Salvo 12 is an excellent shotgun suppressor option. Silencer Shop makes getting suppressors easy and you can buy the mentioned suppressors from the links below.

Pros:

Trusted brandDurableReliableHigh mag capacity

Cons: 

Less customizable than the 500 ATI Tactical

The Mossberg 590A1 builds upon the 500 series but has increased its durability and magazine capacity.

The heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard, and Parkerized finish all contribute to making this gun look tough and actually be tough. The high-quality parts also make it more reliable. One often overlooked feature of Mossberg shotguns is the ambidextrous safety, which I stinking love!

Another great thing about the 590A1 is the adjustable stock, which ensures a good fit when shouldering it. The biggest advantage of the Mossberg 590A1 is the higher magazine capacity. 8+1 shotshells are ideal for protecting your home from a threat.

However, I was surprised to see that even though the 590A1 is more expensive than the 500 ATI Tactical, it’s less customizable. If you just plan to use the stock gun, this isn’t a big deal, but if you enjoy customizing your firearms, this could be a deal breaker.

Still, the increased magazine capacity is a big enough pro to overlook this minor con and why I consider the 590A1 the best home defense pump-action shotgun.

Remington 870 Tactical – Honorable Mention

Pros:

It’s the legendReliableDesigned for home defense

Cons: 

Poor press in recent decades

Any best shotgun list would be incomplete without the Remington 870. This legendary shotgun has proven itself ultra-reliable in the field and at home throughout the years, and the Remington 870 Express Tactical was designed for home defense.

Yes, Remington has had some well-deserved bad press over the last couple of decades, but it recently changed ownership and has made great strides in producing high-quality firearms once again.

The 870 Tactical has an 18.5” barrel, adjustable stock, pistol grip, and 6+1 mag capacity, making it a solid option for anyone needing a home defense shotgun.

Winchester SX4 Defender – Honorable Mention

Pros:

Trusted brandReliableDesigned for home defense

Cons: 

Low mag capacity

I’m excited that Winchester recently added the SX4 Defender to their lineup. They took the SX4 platform and added a few things to make it geared toward home defense, starting with the sights and Picatinny rail, then the shorter 18.5” barrel and pistol grip.

The Active Valve Gas System cycles well and fast. This shotgun’s ergonomics are incredible, with the pistol grip and raised comb for better cheek weld and sight alignment. The oversized bolt release button and larger bolt handle make operating this gun easier in an intense situation.

However, I was a bit reluctant to add it to the list because of the low magazine capacity. At 4+1 rounds, you would be just as well off using your hunting shotgun with the plug removed.

Even with the lower mag capacity, the Wincester SX4 Defender is worth considering because of its reliability and ergonomics.

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