[rocky]

Usually a Rem. 870 or mossberg 500 for mods. I have all sorts of mod acces. for those 2 guns. Personally I like a short 18" barrel and folding stock for HD. You can add shell holders,heatshield, lights, ext. mag tubes and many other options.
The shorter barrels usually open the patten quicker too. I have a S&W 12 ga. I use right now. As for modding the grips, it's fairly hard to do, the rest are usually easy.
Pistol grips seem much more comfortable holding the gun, unless you are shooting clays. They do transfer more recoil to you hand though.

 

[soflasmg]

A bead on the front and standard stock on an 18 inch barrel.

It's easier to reload and nothing to snag.

 

[Bud White]

i like either a bead or fiber optic and a pistol grip and adj buttstock ..

 

[ExSoldier]

What do you like on your scatter gun?

Ummmmm sometimes a little SALT can add to the flavor....

 

[ExSoldier]

Pistol Grip on a SHOTTIE?

But do many of you perfer the pistol grip or would you rather have the full stock.

I have ZERO use for any shotgun that has only a pistol grip. Full stock is the only way to go. Heck, my Benelli M121 has everything I could want: Sling, ghost ring sights, pro-port job and beautiful wood furniture! You'd have to look carefully to recognize a serious weapon designed for "social work." I think the only thing I might like to hang on it would be a bayonet lug, just in case....

 

[acparmed]

I prefer a full stock to the pistol grip and an 18 to 20" barrel for HD.

One time I fired one of the Mossberg Maverick models with the pistol grip only. I shot, from the hip, a full power 00 buckshot load and thought I had broken my wrist. I'll never shoot a pistol grip only shotgun again.

IMO anything longer than a 20" barrel is too difficult to maneuver around the house with.

I like ghost ring sights with tritium insert in the front sight.

I favor the Mossberg because I like the location of both the safety and the action release controls over the 870.

 

[Euclidean]

I own, as far as I'm convinced, the optimal (not best but optimal) home defense shotgun. It's nothing more than Dad's Mossberg Security with a sidesaddle and a sling. About the only things it could possibly use is a light clamped onto the barrel and/or ghost ring sights.

But it's about as basic as you can get. I don't go in for folding stocks, aftermarket forends, pistol grips, none of that. I'm extremely boring when it comes to shotguns. I like a nice big stock I can actually hold onto in a nice boring configuration I've known since I was a child.

 

[P95Carry]

4my - IMO the best thing you can do with yours is shorten it down to 18 1/2 - keep you safe from cutting too fine and allows for good finish on muzzle. My 870 is 20" and is pretty wieldy - if you lost near 10" I am sure it would be way more handy!

I'd leave furniture as it is but add a slip on or similar deal for ammo holding. Sidesaddle even.

 

[Ride4TheBrand]

I've got a basic, 40+ year old Rem. 870 that I chopped down to a 20" barrel. Beyond that one minute "improvement", I don't see a need to change anything else.

Additional add-ons (to me) are just examples of good money being spent to accomplish the same thing that a stock weapon provides.

 

[Bruces45]

IMHO this is the perfect defence shottie, but I am sorta partial to the Ithicas :hand10:

 

[P95Carry]

That'll do just fine Bruce!!

I was trying to remember - is it CA that won't allow the SPAS? I shot one of those way back - what it lacked in finesse was made up for by looking real evil :18:

 

[rocky]

I've got a basic, 40+ year old Rem. 870 that I chopped down to a 20" barrel. Beyond that one minute "improvement", I don't see a need to change anything else.

Additional add-ons (to me) are just examples of good money being spent to accomplish the same thing that a stock weapon provides.

I have to disagree. A folding stock shotgun is way more handy in confined spaces Also some add ons improve the intended use. Spare ammo handy as well as a mounted light help depending on the task on hand.
finally, and extended mag tube gives you more ammo without reloading.

 

[BigEd63]

Well I like either 870s or 1100s' with a mag extension with a anti-jam follower as I'm one of those big apes that could probably crunch up a 12ga round when my adrenilene is pumping.
I also don't like my barrels any longer than 21" on any shotgun with 18" preffered.
I do like slug sights for a home defense gun as I don't count on the pattern to open too much at inside ranges.
Plus I'm more of a rifleman than a shotgunner though I can point shoot pretty good with a long gun.
But out of habit I still look for the sights and I don't want to spend any fractions of a second looking for something that's not there if you know what I mean.:theyareontome:

 

[QKShooter]

I only have one Home Defensive Shotty these days

My Ithaca 37 with the DS POLICE Riot Barrel & adjustable sights.
It's "BOX STOCK" other than that barrel.
I am SERIOUSLY thinking about buying the CHOTE stock for it.

 

[P95Carry]

I am SERIOUSLY thinking about buying the CHOTE stock for it.

Choate ain't it QK?

Anyways - not sure if my bad searching but - anyone else find Choate hard to find, whereas I see ATI stuff everywhere.

I forgot to mention my one other main addition - which is a mag extension.

I also have Turkey sights on my 870 Mag - and like the sight picture.

 

[QKShooter]

Choate ~ Good Catch Chris

Sure is Choate..........I should be sleeping right now...You know I'm beat.:blink:

It's Choate Machine & Tool...
Click Here For The Link
The links to ALL their products are at the bottom of the (above) linked page.

Here is what I want:

 

[P95Carry]

Thx QK - appreciate that.

 

[falcon1]

I can't claim this is the best, but mine has a six-shell side saddle, a smaller forearm (to work with the side saddle), and an extended shotshell tube (six in the tube, one in the chamber); otherwise, it is a stock (e.g., a full-stock) Remington 870 Express HD 12-guage magnum.

 

['75scout]

I have 1979 870 Wingmaster I bought about 5 months ago. It came blued, rifle sights, extended mag, 18.5 in barrel, wood stocks. I bought it for $285 and it is of way better quality than any new 870. I bought it with the intention of making it into my HD shotty.

I added a Knoxx Compstock and an included Hogue forearm. Its a standard style stock that does a great job of absorbing recoil, much faster follow-up shots. Also added a Mesa Tactical 4 shot shell holder. Very high quality piece of equipment and the best customer service. I am in the process of getting it coated in OD green. My only other mod would be a Surefire forearm.

www.knoxx.com www.mesatactical.com www.surefire.com