Recommended Semi-Auto Shotgun in New Jersey

**veteran-USMC** · 11-09-17, 11:48

Gentlemen 2 days ago NJ elected a new Democratic Gov. who stated NJ will have stricter & tougher Gun Laws-will try to ban AR-15 rifles. I am looking into purchasing a semi-auto shotgun! I follow the rule of buying what my wife(5'tall & 135lbs.) can handle.
What do shooters think of Mossbergs 20SA semi-auto shotgun? Also can a woman the size of my wife handle a Berreta 1300 semi-auto shotgun? Ranges in NJ don't rent shotguns in my area-- so its you have to know for sure what will work for your needs!
Any suggestions on the above along with any recommended semi-auto shotguns that are reliable .This shotgun will be used solely for Home Defense.

PS I am a former Marine Veteran who has a lot of rifle experience & limited shotgun experience!

**Kain** · 11-09-17, 12:42

Looking for hunting or HD guns? I know the Beretta is pretty well regarded. But, no experience with the mossberg model. Also, some light 20s are worse to shoot than a little larger 12 depending on load and buttpad.

Where in NJ are you? I know last few times I been there the stores that I visited had a rather short selection to even handle, tgat said, Sarco has a bunch of shotguns of various models, lots of hunting guns, but others as well and some pretty cheap. They next to the Heritage guild which while theur prices aren't great has a decent gun selection and possibly ability to rent, I dont know honestly. Both right across the NJ/PA border in PA.

**veteran-USMC** · 11-09-17, 13:11

Originally Posted by Kain

Looking for hunting or HD guns? I know the Beretta is pretty well regarded. But, no experience with the mossberg model. Also, some light 20s are worse to shoot than a little larger 12 depending on load and buttpad.

Where in NJ are you? I know last few times I been there the stores that I visited had a rather short selection to even handle, tgat said, Sarco has a bunch of shotguns of various models, lots of hunting guns, but others as well and some pretty cheap. They next to the Heritage guild which while theur prices aren't great has a decent gun selection and possibly ability to rent, I dont know honestly. Both right across the NJ/PA border in PA.

This shotgun will be used for Home Defense. Have you ever shot a Berreta 1301 Tactical? I reside close to Toms River. Thank-you for your attention!

**GH41** · 11-09-17, 14:28

Like Kain said.. Most 20ga guns hurt more because they are lighter. 5' at 135 doesn't sound like she is frail but a shotgun isn't worth a damn if she doesn't practice with it. If it hurts her she won't do much practicing. I highly recommend lightweight 38cal revolvers for smaller people. A 642 S&W would be a good choice. BTW, I wouldn't recommend any Mossberg SA for home defence.

**TomMcC** · 11-09-17, 15:35

deleted

**sjc3081** · 11-09-17, 16:38

I though the Beretta 1301 was a range toy due to the magazine dump button fatal flaw

**Kain** · 11-09-17, 23:56

Originally Posted by veteran-USMC

This shotgun will be used for Home Defense. Have you ever shot a Berreta 1301 Tactical? I reside close to Toms River. Thank-you for your attention!

No idea where Tom's River is. But if you are Close to Easton, it might be worth the day trip.

Originally Posted by GH41

Like Kain said.. Most 20ga guns hurt more because they are lighter. 5' at 135 doesn't sound like she is frail but a shotgun isn't worth a damn if she doesn't practice with it. If it hurts her she won't do much practicing. I highly recommend lightweight 38cal revolvers for smaller people. A 642 S&W would be a good choice. BTW, I wouldn't recommend any Mossberg SA for home defence.

While I don't generally recommend shotguns for anything other than clays or hunting, and I say that having shot an inordinate amount of clays, for a woman, not knowing her proficiency with firearms, a .38 subnose is probably below a shotgun in the guns I would recommend for the same reason I generally don't care for light weight 20s, they recoil and aren't pleasant to shoot. And while something is better than nothing, get the girl something she likes shooting, especially for HD, because then she will want to shoot it and will practice with it.

Anyway, OP, can I ask why the desire for a semi auto shotgun for HD over something else? Like even a NJ legal AR with 15 round mags? Or are you banking on the shotguns not getting ****ed with by the new dickgrabber, I mean governor?

**veteran-USMC** · 11-10-17, 09:02

Originally Posted by Kain

No idea where Tom's River is. But if you are Close to Easton, it might be worth the day trip.

While I don't generally recommend shotguns for anything other than clays or hunting, and I say that having shot an inordinate amount of clays, for a woman, not knowing her proficiency with firearms, a .38 subnose is probably below a shotgun in the guns I would recommend for the same reason I generally don't care for light weight 20s, they recoil and aren't pleasant to shoot. And while something is better than nothing, get the girl something she likes shooting, especially for HD, because then she will want to shoot it and will practice with it.

Anyway, OP, can I ask why the desire for a semi auto shotgun for HD over something else? Like even a NJ legal AR with 15 round mags? Or are you banking on the shotguns not getting ****ed with by the new dickgrabber, I mean governor?

Good Morning Shooter! Presently I own a Tavor X95 -5.56 cal, rifle--sweetest rifle I have shot in my entire life. At 500 yards in the Marines I could hit the bullseye with a Colt M16--this rifle is even more accurate.
A N.J. Dem. Senator -Loretta Weinberg proposed banning the following list of guns in NJ-

w. "Assault firearm" means:
(1) The following firearms:
Algimec AGM1 type
Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder such as the "Street Sweeper" or "Striker 12"
Armalite AR-180 type
Australian Automatic Arms SAR
Avtomat Kalashnikov type semi-automatic firearms
Beretta AR-70 and BM59 semi-automatic firearms
Bushmaster Assault Rifle
Calico M-900 Assault carbine and M-900
CETME G3
Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88 type
Colt AR-15 and CAR-15 series
Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1 and Max 2, AR 100 types
Demro TAC-1 carbine type
Encom MP-9 and MP-45 carbine types
FAMAS MAS223 types
FN-FAL, FN-LAR, or FN-FNC type semi-automatic firearms
Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12 shotguns
G3SA type
Galil type Heckler and Koch HK91, HK93, HK94, MP5, PSG-1
Intratec TEC 9 and 22 semi-automatic firearms
M1 carbine type
M14S type
MAC 10, MAC 11, MAC 11-9mm carbine type firearms
PJK M-68 carbine type
Plainfield Machine Company Carbine
Ruger K-Mini-14/5F and Mini-14/5RF
SIG AMT, SIG 550SP, SIG 551SP, SIG PE-57 types
SKS with detachable magazine type
Spectre Auto carbine type
Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48 type
Sterling MK-6, MK-7 and SAR types
Steyr A.U.G. semi-automatic firearms
USAS 12 semi-automatic type shotgun
Uzi type semi-automatic firearms
Valmet M62, M71S, M76, or M78 type semi-automatic firearms

Weaver Arm Nighthawk.

Thank-fully our past Gov-Christy vetoed this proposal.
A new Gov is in town-Gov. Murphy a Dem. who says he's going to reverse all of Christ's veto's!

My Tavor X95 is legal along with the AR-15 rifles. I wonder if this new Gov bans all AR-15 weapon systems if the companies who made such weapons can make them legal again? A few years ago NJ banned all AR-15 rifles and the companies of these weapons found ways to make them legal again. Truthfully I wish I was better at law so I could understand what just might happen in NJ. This Tavor cost me $1800.00 & I don't wish to lose this fine rifle. I,m just wondering if my weapon ends up being banned if you can still use it for home defense in a lethal encounter.

Your 500% right about points you made about a woman shooting a shotgun verus a Tavor rifle> my wife loves the Tavor and is dam accurate with this beauty of a rifle.
PS Having fought for this country to have freedom is a joke because in NJ they are trying to take away all our 2nd amendment rights. Any opinions you have about the fore-mentioned -please share.

Time for more coffee!

**Arik** · 11-10-17, 11:49

Originally Posted by Kain

No idea where Tom's River is. But if you are Close to Easton, it might be worth the day trip.

It's out by the ocean. Not far from LBI, Seaside Hights, Point Pleasant. If you drew a straight line west you'd wind up in center City Philly. Easton would be about 1.5hr drive

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