Chokes for the door buster! I also like to have a Comp on mine for 3 gun stuff.

 

I like the versatility of a smooth bore shotgun for a fighting gun. Birdshot for plinking and general trigger time practice, 00buck for HD and slugs for longer shots when society breaks down lol.

Most shotgun engagements when used for self defense are at close range maybe 7 to 10 yards (basic indoor house distances). At those distances your pattern will not spread wide like Hollywood would like you to believe. Under stress, adrenalin and fear people have still missed bad guys during a home invasion. I wish I had the news video clip of this exact event that happened a while back.

A man was sitting on his toilet and heard a crash at the back door. The man ran to his bedroom and got his shotgun. By the time he grabbed his gun and made the first hallway corner...there was a man in his face who grabbed the muzzle of the shotgun and knocked him down and ran away.

While on the floor from the knock down the man took a shot at the fleeing bad guy and swore he hit him. (I probably would not shoot a man in the back personally but he did just do a home invasion). When he got up to check, there was a basketball sized pattern 3" from the door in the wall and the bad guy got away without a scratch.

Now I dont know if the shotgun had a choke or not but he did say it was his hunting shotgun? Shotguns will miss even at close range.

Would I be happy with a choke? Sure especially if it were removable. But I dont feel I absolutely need one.

 

I assume by "smooth barrel" you mean a fixed cylinder choke. "Smooth" is usually used to designate that a barrel is not rifled, not that it's not choked.

Choke tubes give you a bit more versatility. Some slugs may work better through an IC choke. But at typical home defense ranges it won't make much difference.

These might interest you:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot45.htm
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot44.htm

I'd be happy with a short cylinder barrel for HD, especially if I could get a longer barrel with tubes for field/clay use.

 

Thanks for all of the input. And yes, I meant fixed cylinder bore. I'm trying to decide between getting a benelli M2 tactical or a Mossberg 930 SPX. From what I've read, the benelli is an outstanding gun. I've also heard that the Mossy is also outstanding. The money is not an issue. For the type of shooting that I'm going to be doing (mostly range), I really don't see a need to a choke and will probably get a 930 SPX and a Benelli Nova Pump.

 

Get the Mossy 930 SPX and with the $300+ you'll save but ammo for the range!

The Guinea

 

Thanks for all of the input. And yes, I meant fixed cylinder bore. I'm trying to decide between getting a benelli M2 tactical or a Mossberg 930 SPX. From what I've read, the benelli is an outstanding gun. I've also heard that the Mossy is also outstanding. The money is not an issue. For the type of shooting that I'm going to be doing (mostly range), I really don't see a need to a choke and will probably get a 930 SPX and a Benelli Nova Pump.

Thats funny you say that because I am in the exact boat. I already bought the 930 SPX and love it. I also am dead set on getting the Benelli Supernova pump since I really like the mag stop feature for loading a different type of ammo without chambering a round from the mag. Thats just an awesome feature. Plus its a Benelli (aka Ferrari of shotguns) for a decent price.

As soon as I sell my Mossberg 590 and SW40VE I am getting the Supernova and a bunch of ammo!

 

I've mostly used fixed CB barrels for HD type applications - or rather training for an actual one and having fun. Last year I bought an 870 Tactical that came with the breacher. I took that off and now use screw-in chokes. I really like the versatility that this affords. However, a straight CB is fine for about any HD type shooting inside of 25 yards.

I've been on a decade long quest to reload my own BK and create the tightest patterns that I can - the chokes help with that. Perhaps it's not even practical.