by AWR Hawkins, Breitbart
When out and about in our daily routines, concealed carry is a critical facet of personal safety and civic responsibility. And I’ve written on a number of great handguns for that purpose, and plan to write on many more.
But when we look at home defense, it’s difficult to beat a pump shotgun. Don’t get me wrong, a handgun will work and is used by many for home defense every day and night. However, a pump shotgun in the hands of someone who’s well acquainted with it provides overwhelming force.
In large part, this is because a handgun shoots one bullet at a time-a single projectile-while a shotgun blasts out numerous lead pellets, called “shot,” all at once. The amount of force expended to blow the shot out of the barrel is what gives the shotgun its classic kick, or recoil. It’s also what literally drops intruders in their tracks.
Two classic, dependable shotguns I will consider here are the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870.
Both are 12 gauge weapons, and before demand went through the roof following Obama’s re-election and all the gun control talk, you could purchase either of them in the $400 to $600 range. I’m sure those prices have risen as the guns have become scarce in places.
If you can’t afford the Mossberg or Remington, and you can set political biases aside for practical concerns, you can get a sturdy and reliable Chinese-made clone of the Remington 870 built by a subsidiary of Remington, for around $200 or less, from places like Dick’s sporting goods.
It is called the H&R Pardner Pump Protector 12 gauge. With the exception of the hump at the back of the receiver, it looks at first glance exactly like an 870.
Many who have owned all of these brands rate the Pardner Pump Protector 12 gauge as better built than the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 Express grade, with thicker-steel receivers and barrels. To get a better-built shotgun, it has been said, you would have to upgrade to a Mossberg 590A1 or Remington 870 Police at roughly three times the cost of the Pardner Pump.
The only reliability issues I have heard about with the Pardner Pump are with the plastic shell follower in the magazine tube, which has worn out and cracked in some cases, reportedly after thousands of rounds fired. This part could be upgraded at low cost to a sturdier after market part, if longevity is a concern, As the gun is a clone of the 870, the majority of 870 accessories will fit it, with the exception of barrels, which require some modification.
There are positive reviews all over the web for the Parder Pump Protector (aka P3), including many by LEOs. It is becoming a popular choice for a low-cost, reliable, beater shotgun or home defense weapon.
mossberg 590a is lovely,,,,,spend the money and pick it up
I believe that gun itself is not a bad thing. What makes it bad is when we use it to kill innocent people. A gun can be used for defense especially if someone tries to do something cruel to you.