this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
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I'm thinking of buying a shotgun - despite having been in the national guard my capabilities and experience with guns is pretty limited. What can I get that can take the abuse of a newbie man-handling it and still be dependable in action?
Edit: Also, how do I know if I got the stock and general setup correct for comfortable use? Do this vary from weapon to weapon?
Why a shotgun over, say a pistol or rifle? There's nothing wrong with shotguns but they do have limitations. Less ammo capacity, higher recoil and relatively complicated reload process. My point is it takes a lot of training to get good with a shotgun.
It's hard to go wrong with a mossburg, they are proven and used by many professionals. In general guns are tough and as long as you don't drag it though saltwater sand or mud you don't need to worry too much. Just read the manual or find a youtube video for cleaning and you're good.
Feel can definitely vary and is something you kind of have to experience for yourself. You can go to a gun store or to a range that lets you rent different guns. Length of pull (how long the stock is) is a big factor. That's why almost all AR stocks are adjustable. Hope this helps!
Frankly if it ever gets to the point I'm using it, I know I won't have a reason to use it at long range - I wouldn't shoot at someone in the middle of street, they'd have to both be a threat and at my door. I could never hit a target past 200 yards anyway. If you're in a confrontation with one person, neither of you need much ammo to resolve the situation. If you against multiple people, you'd be lucky to get a shot off before an entire armed group does. In short, if I need to fire, it will be at short range, and it needs to count.
I'd expect a pump-action would be easier to get operator error with, is there a specific semi-auto you'd suggest?
That's fair...but don't sell yourself short on how well you can do even if it's only on the range for fun.
Mossburg 990 and 940, Beretta A300 and 1301. Benelli M4 is also nice but the price is the biggest barrier there.
What features made you pick those over other options?
Capacity, barrel length, availability and well known companies that are likely to follow through with warranty requests
Gotcha, thanks for your help