Which would you want for self defense.

Benelli M2 semi auto with 14 inch barrel?

Or
Mossberg 590 pump action?

Have always wanted and M2. Not a sbs though. Likely will never own one.
Have both a 500 and 590. Great shotguns. 18" They function great. The 500 has a slick action. Like butter. The 590 will get there with more shooting. I am a huge 500 series Mossberg guy.

quote:

Originally posted by 808:
Which would you want for self defense.
Benelli M2 semi auto with 14 inch barrel?
Or Mossberg 590 pump action?

I don’t have the cash for an overpriced Benelli. They may be the best thing since sliced bread but if you can’t afford one, you can’t afford one.
I DID have the cash for a Mossberg 500…it stands next to me when I’m sleeping.

I’ve run pump shotguns for over 40 years or so and I’m not worried about the “pitfalls” of short stroking it.
They do well when you pump them like you’re trying to break it!

Ive got both and recommend both.

We live our lives differently than those in action movies. That said, I just rewatched ‘Homeland’ a few days ago.

I do have an M2, but it’s more of a hunting shotgun, spare barrels expensive. For the home defense I normally prefer a handgun for conceal ability. Yes it’s home, but the event may not be a real threat.

Then we have the short, lightweight ARs, lever guns and my Mossberg 500. I’ll say my 18.5” 500 is my official HD shotgun, plug out.

Not to re-open a big old can of worms related to pumps vs. semi auto home defense shotguns but allow me to contribute to your thread with this comment/thought:

Wife and I are both in our 60’s now and about two years ago when we were at the local gun range practicing with a Mossberg 500 defender pump and a Benelli 12 Ga Nova (long pump stroke compared to the Mossberg) and my wife “short stroked” the Mossberg several times causing the shotgun to jam or not load a shell. Some here will say this just cannot happen, but it can and did for Ms. Sigarmsp226.

As a result I purchased a Benelli M2 Tactical and after several range trips, dummy rounds from a SigForum friend that allowed us to do a lot of back yard and patio practicing and dry firing (with a blanket on the concrete to catch the dummy rounds), we now utilize the M2 as our primary home defense shotgun. I will guess and say it has over 200 rounds through it now from birdshot to slugs to buckshot with ZERO failures or issues. I also tried five different home defense rounds and our M2 really likes and patterns the Federal Flight Control eight pellet buckshot well, and it is lower recoil than many other buckshot loads on the market today.

We purchased our NIB fixed choke M2 Tactical for just under $900 shipped just about two years ago on GB and have been very happy with it.

I own a Benelli M2 and it is a fantastic shotgun. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Mossberg 590.

User proficiency is key and can be attained with either platform.

While I own several M2's, one could buy 2 or even 3 500's for the same money and stash them everywhere.

I had a very nice customized Remington 870 with the vang comp ported barrel. The bee's knees. Took a shotgun class with it, did great. Took a more advanced shotgun class with it, short stroked under pressure.

I traded it for a Benelli M1 but I hated the recoil. I had a FN SLP Mk 1 but didn't like it. Now I have a Beretta 1301 by LTT and it's the best gun I have.

I have a KelTec KSG but for 100% self assurance, the 1301 is it.

The M2, if that's "your" autoloader, then absolutely get that.

I don’t have an M2 but I do have a Beretta A300 (somewhat comparable) and I do have a 590A1. If I had to pick one I’m going A300 all day long, nothing wrong with the 590 it’s just the A300 imo is better.

I've got a 590A1 SBS and love that thing! Although its a bit on the heavy side, it feeds everything and I really like the ghost ring sights.

Benelli M2. Same manual of arms as the pistol that you most likely shoot much more. 20+ years in law enforcement and I am more confident in that position each year that goes by. For a general purpose shotgun, I.e. something that you’re shooting buck or slugs through and not less lethal I heartily believe that a modern semi auto is vastly superior to a pump.

quote:

Originally posted by 808:
Benelli M2 semi auto with 14 inch barrel?

For self defense, this by a country mile.

To piggyback onto sigarmsp226's post, I had a 590 as a home defense gun until I discovered the 1301, and quickly became a convert to the semi-auto platform. I have short-stroked the 590 on some quick-shot drills on the move, and for me the 1301 takes the user error out of the equation. A dozen years ago, I would not have considered the semi auto shotgun for defense, but they have come a long ways since. Plus staying on target and quick follow up shots are key advantages for me.

Always wanted an M2. We're trying to trade in our 27 year old M1 Super 90s with 14" barrels. lol

I’m a huge KISS fan.

I’ve used the REM 870 (when in the service) and the Mossberg 590 (or 500). I’ve seen some weird stuff and it always happens to me. So I settled on a pump, bc I once was shooting my FILs 1301 and it began malfunctioning.

Plus, my mossberg also shoots short shells.

I’m a huge fan of buckshot and the lethality of the round, I also recognize that Mrs. MIke isn’t a gun guy, so there’s an AR pistol in the corner for her.

But out of the 2 choices-I’d choose the pump every time, until the recoil or my ability affects my use of it-then I’d move to the semi-auto.

I have grown up on pump guns and personally, prefer them. The 590 is no slouch and a great gun that just works. There are many variants depending on how much you want to spend. I like pump guns as you can use any round you like in it and it will function like it should. With semi-autos, you need to try different rounds to make sure they will work/function in the gun.

The Benelli is a fine gun and quality made. If you have the extra money to spend on one, more power to you but comparing a semi-auto and a pump gun, is difficult because they each have their pros and cons.

I have the Benelli M2 tactical and it will walk circles around the Mossberg.

Many people with a short memory forget that the Benelli M2 was the 3 gun shotgun of choice for like a straight decade (Before the Betetta’s arrived) with many shotguns having hundreds of thousands of shells down range. Reliably.

Doesn’t directly answer your question, but once it had proved its reliability with an absolute grab bag of various shells, an A300 replaced my 590.

Manual of arms with the beretta is the same as my hunting shotgun, so skeet and trap reps are complimentary to defensive reps.

I’m odd, that’s a given. I want a early Winchester Model 12 in riot gun configuration.

What about M2 vs M4? The gas operated M4 would be less sensitive to variances in loads, and have less recoil.