+1 on the 870
I just bought my first shotgun for sport shooting but bought a 18inch barrel for home defence. I have only had it 4 weeks, been through well over 1000 rounds (I love shooting clays) and have yet to hae a problem.
like Sixto says, "There is nothing tactical about the word tactical" Just get a shotgun with a 18'' barrel and your good to go. I wanted a shotgun that I could change around for diffrent jobs, and the 870 is great for my needs.
