looks matter to me but the feel and function are far more important.
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I have an 870. It’s a couple decades old but I’d recommend it.

As far as pistols I can’t recommend enough to find a way to shoot some. There is so much variability in the way pistols shoot it’s hard to explain to a novice.

If you’re looking self defense, it doesn’t matter what you get proficiency through practice is what matters, regardless of the gun. Otherwise you’ll just be blowing a hole I know yourself or a loved one.
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Oh. And looks don’t matter to me. Only the shooting experience. Shooting a nice smooth operating weapon and getting rounds on target is so much fun, it gives me so much more utility than looking at a cool gun.
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If you're inexperienced, then a simple shotgun would be your best bet for sure. Can't go wrong with the 870.

For pistols, I'd recommend looking up local shooting ranges. Many will rent guns on location, so you can try a few different ones and see what works for you. I'm not a huge fan of the 1911 outside of nostalgic purposes. 7 round mag, so you don't have a ton of capacity. But if it's just for a home defense gun that you'll likely never have to use, it's not that big of a deal. Whatever you get, just practice with it a bunch and focus on safe handling.
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Biggest difference between a automatic pistol and a revolver in a home defense situation.
Revolvers do not jam.
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But they do take longer to reload....
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Thats true.
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Definitely true, however the odds that you will be facing a true "gun fight" in a home defense situation are pretty slim IMO. Once rounds start going down range most of your basic shit bird burglars are going to beat feet.
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True, but a good pistol is not going to jam often either. I have put several thousand rds through my Sig M18 and have had only one jam and that was from a box of very cheap range brass.
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This is what I have behind the night stand
https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/others/shockwave.html
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Alright, good info. Thank you, thank you.

I'm not involved in any nefarious shenanigans and I'm a city slicker so I can't imagine I'd need more than 6 rounds or so from a pistol in a home invasion. Plus, ideally, I'd have the shotgun for home defense if necessary in a sticky situation.

I do wonder about how quickly I'd be able to load up a revolver in a stressful situation, though, given the fact that I'm not an expert. Seems a semi auto might be a little more convenient in the dark and in a pinch..

Maybe I will reconsider the 1911, but will definitely make sure to test it, along with others, before I make the choice.
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But it jammed..
Trying to clear a weapon when you're probably half awake with God only knows who is in your home.
That situation is eliminated with a revolver.

You also.need to think about neighbors if you have them?
If an attacker breaks into my house and comes up the stairs after us ( split entry ranch home) my neighbors children's bedrooms are going to be right in the line of fire.
So my bedroom gun is a Moss 835 with a short turkey barrel and the first round is loaded down 6 shot.after that its military grade buck shot I bought from Walmart.
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I figured it'd be between the Remington or the Mossberg. Looks like you can't go wrong with either choice.
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I have considered this, actually. I live in an apartment right now and that's the reason I do not own a gun yet. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt someone who didn't deserve it.

I live in a nice area but I'm risking the biscuit with this lil janky ass pocket knife I keep by the bed. Any burglar is gonna get charged like butt ass naked Viking berserker with 3 inches of cold steel if they find themselves in my place lol

I am planning to get the guns for the future when I will move into a house.
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Ya that's a perfect home defense weapon there SM- Timbers.
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