I'd plan on using it for home defense and probably get either Hornady TAP shells or 2 3/4" or 3" mag shells. Someone breaks in they'll be burning in hell before they know what hit them.

 

Seriously, #4 is just fine for that at close range down your hallway or in your kitchen, and there's plenty of knock down power in a 2-3/4 shell.
You may not mind the exit wound on your unwanted house guest, but you may mind if it goes into/through your walls, cabinets, fridge. I think with a shotgun, it's more of the impact and knock down power that you are looking for in the home defense. I got the 870 for hd b/c of the all the strict handgun laws and paperwork out here.

 

Out here? You live in Cali don't you? But yeah, 2 3/4" is plenty of knockdown power at hallway distance.

 

No, Connecticut. Cali is nice to visit, but I would not want to live there.
As for shells, I'd stick with Remington or Federal, even Winchester...just from what I've shot.

 

Cali sucks *** as far as gun laws! Cant wait to get out of this crap hole so I can buy assault rifles and a 50 cal. Not to mention run strait pipes without a muffler/cat. !!!

 

^ Move to Montana. Montana = no emissions and very few gun laws

 

I'm thinking of getting a Mossberg 500 soon, because I want a cheap pump action shotgun. I'm not a huge fan of pump actions, I love my automatics, but they are a versatile weapon and much lighter, not to mention easier to clean.

 

A scope on a shotgun? That seems a bit odd. Maybe a laser or dot sight (I'd go for the laser). A Surefire flashlight, maybe. But a scope?

With ya on the hd stuff, B. Some say just the sound of a pump action chambering a round is deterent enough for some.

Shotguns are pretty much room cleaners - not precision instruments and that's a good point on the load power - I've got pheasant hunting rounds #2's I believe.

What load is good for skeet?

 

^ Actually we had some friends whose house was being robbed and her husband was away. She called the police but it was taking them a while to get there since we live in the country. She took out her husband's shotgun, stood and the top of the steps, and racked it. After that she heard quick footsteps. They heard the gun, **** their pants, and ran.

 

I have a red-dot scope on my shotgun. Funtimes