Mossberg 500

Again, if you have one of these or you buy one, be really careful. Get the lightest loads you can find, field loads, and try it out and just get a fee...

Now overall, the Mossberg 500 is a great do-all tool.

“Police Magnum” 870 will be fine, regardless of the year of manufacture, but what you really want is a Mossberg 500/590. Purchase a Magpul forend, and stick some kind of weapon light on there. Keep it simple, some will say get a SureFire or Streamlight shotgun forend, but those can be expensive. Magpul forend is an affordable way to quickly attach a light.

Depending again on what you're prepping for, a pump 12 gauge (Remmington 870 is my go to, Mossberg 500 or Maverick 88 if you're cash strapped) will frighten off a crowd (with birdshot), knock down a home intruder (buck or slugs), or take down turkey (turkey loads), small game from squirrels to pheasants (birdshot) to big game such as moose, deer, coyotes, elk and on (buck or slugs). Concealability aside, a shotgun is your best friend. Buy a variety of ammunition for different game or scenarios.

Mossberg 500/590 was always just ok and the first new production remingtons appear to have picked up right where they left off which is to say they're junk. Unless you wanna track down a pre 2010 870 the beretta is the best game in town this minute.

This is my first gun - a Mossberg 500! Nothing special, but I think it's an option that you just can't go wrong with.