As the title suggests, I’m debating selling one of my shotguns since I don’t get to the range nearly as much as I used to. If you could only keep one, which would it be and why?

Edited to add: I don’t need the money that either shotgun would bring, it’s merely a question about streamlining my collection.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Spiff_P239,

Beretta 1301 without a doubt. For self defense purposes a semi auto shotgun simply does the job better. If it was more a general purpose, do it all shotgun then an argument might be made for the pump, but it doesn’t sound like your 590A1 is really setup as a general purpose shotgun anyway. Especially if you don’t shoot a shotgun a lot, a semi auto is just the way to go. Same manual of arms as all the other weapons you are likely to use for self defense (i.e. just pull the trigger to fire, no need to rack the pump between shots) and a quality shotgun like your Beretta is completely reliable.

I’d keep both. That way you have one pump and one semi auto. With those models, best of both worlds.

1301 Mod 2 by a country mile. It has replaced my Mossberg 590 as H.D. long gun, I'm actually giving the 590 to my son.

^^^^^^^^

I've been wrestling with the idea of retiring my old 870 for a 1301, but having a bit of trouble justifying the $1,700 cost vs real world benefits. For gun gamers, there is absolutely no doubt. The 1301 is going to work better. Average dude buying it for home defense? I'm not so sure. The 1301 is going to win on paper specs, but to get to those extreme margins of performance, you've already crossed a whole bunch of somewhat unlikely thresholds.

You are on the receiving end of a home invasion> You manage to access your long gun> Gunfire is exchanged> Multiple rounds fired.

Sure, all of that is possible, but your 590 would be on equal footing up until the last point of multiple rounds fired.

OP: Would one of the sales/trades bring significantly more cash than the other?

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
^^^^^^^^

I've been wrestling with the idea of retiring my old 870 for a 1301, but having a bit of trouble justifying the $1,700 cost vs real world benefits. For gun gamers, there is absolutely no doubt. The 1301 is going to work better. Average dude buying it for home defense? I'm not so sure. The 1301 is going to win on paper specs, but to get to those extreme margins of performance, you've already crossed a whole bunch of somewhat unlikely thresholds.

You are on the receiving end of a home invasion> You manage to access your long gun> Gunfire is exchanged> Multiple rounds fired.

Sure, all of that is possible, but your 590 would be on equal footing up until the last point of multiple rounds fired.

OP: Would one of the sales/trades bring significantly more cash than the other?

The 1301 is definitely worth more than the 590A1. Also, gun games aren’t a consideration for me.

For cost there's always the Beretta A300.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
For cost there's always the Beretta A300.

I currently own both shotguns so the A300 isn’t a consideration.

I have an 870 and 1301 amongst my shotguns. I did that because like another poster said, I wanted one of each action.

For the price of 870’s I SHOULD own one. Kinda like anyone owning a 10/22.

The 1301 is by far my favorite shotgun but they are not meant to be on the same level in my safe.

If I HAVE to answer your question I would 100% keep the 1301.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
I've been wrestling with the idea of retiring my old 870 for a 1301, but having a bit of trouble justifying the $1,700 cost vs real world benefits. For gun gamers, there is absolutely no doubt. The 1301 is going to work better. Average dude buying it for home defense? I'm not so sure.

I don't compete in 3-gun or anything like that. My 1301 is my favorite gun to shoot nowadays and as an H.D. shotgun, it is better for us than the 590- followup shots are more controlled, keeping on target much easier, with less felt recoil than a pump. My wife can shoot it without much difficulty while a pump was a little awkward for her.

If you have to get rid of one, keep the Beretta. I have pumps only because I teach my kids, and just like having them learn on a stick shift the pump is the way for that.

But went the thought of reducing the collection comes up, the 1301 is absolutely staying.

You are going to regret selling either one. That’s just the way it is. If you don’t need the money, don’t sell it. If you hold a gun to my head, I would say sell the 590.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
You are going to regret selling either one. That’s just the way it is...

I never understood this mindset, and I see it time and time again. It's not "the way it is". Just because you feel a certain way does not mean everyone else feels the same. I have disposed off tons of guns, and never once have I had any regrets. If I did, it was very temporary.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
You are going to regret selling either one. That’s just the way it is...

I never understood this mindset, and I see it time and time again. It's not "the way it is". Just because you feel a certain way does not mean everyone else feels the same. I have disposed off tons of guns, and never once have I had any regrets. If I did, it was very temporary.

Agree. I’ve sold/traded more than I currently own (plenty). Would I be happier if I had double my collection right now and it was comprised of guns I didn’t even like? Nope.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
You are going to regret selling either one. That’s just the way it is...

I never understood this mindset, and I see it time and time again. It's not "the way it is". Just because you feel a certain way does not mean everyone else feels the same. I have disposed off tons of guns, and never once have I had any regrets. If I did, it was very temporary.

Disposed of, he says!
Spoken by the most outrageously generous member of Sigforum, with your countless firearm karmas.
God bless you Doc.

That vintage of 1301 is now unobtainium from Beretta. Any future 7+1 1301 will most likely speak Tennesseen as well as Italian thanks to the bright boys down at the ol' ATF after over a decade finally figuring out that there's a tactical version of the 1301 and that the dreaded ol' 922R applies to it. I don't know if that would have any weight in your decision, but I'd keep that wonderfully operating Beretta merely on that point alone.

However I DO likes me a pump. I also have a manual shucker Mossberg 500 and and thoroughly enjoy the versatility of that thing. I can use it as a field gun thanks to its relative inexpensive 28" replacement barrel, or just return it to its original 18.5" configuration. It even came with the silly-painful pistol grip...not that I'm looking to break my ever more feeble wrist anytime soon. In theory the 1301 Tactical could be converted to the competition configuration, but it probably wouldn't be cheap.

And pumps are typically seem as being the more reliable option (as long as you don't have a habit of short-shucking), not that I've ever had a problem with my own 1301. As for your 590A1, I admit that I prefer the balance of the lighter barreled 590 but the heavy-duty nature of the A1 is what makes it the beast that it is.

I will go against the grain here. Both great guns. So it boils down to preference. For me it would be 590A1. I like a pump action as a home defense shotgun. Reliable, intuitive for me. I don't have a 590A1 bit do have a 590 security. Great guns. If you decide to part with your a1 email me. Best of luck.

I'd keep the auto and sell the pump. A previous poster said a pump is as good as an auto for SD. Other things being equal I would disagree, for the reason another poster stated about recovery and following shots, but also because if you don't train under pressure with the pump, you don't know if the pump will work for you or not under extreme stress. I had to quit using a pump on fast doubles on clays because under stress I was short shucking, dropping unfired shells, and pulling the trigger on an empty chamber.

If I can't reliably fire a pump in a shooting game, I can't depend on it in a SD situation, which is WAY more stressful than doubles in any clays game.

I think most shooters think they're good with pumps for SD, but I don't trust that thinking until you've proved it to yourself under speed and as much stress as you can safely simulate.