Thanks to choke tubes, an assortment of shell lengths and a variety of shot sizes (not to mention slugs), the 12-gauge shotgun is likely the most versatile firearm on the planet. And, with the recent advent of modular shotgun designs, that’s never been truer.

Take, for instance, the innovative Mossberg Flex System for the company’s Model 500 and 590 pump-action shotguns. The design allows the user to swap fore-ends, stocks, barrels and recoil pads—without tools—to completely customize the shotgun for both fit and desired purpose. Want to defend your home and do a little hunting on the same day with the same shotgun? That’s one of the primary ideas behind the Flex System, and I wanted to see if it worked as advertised.

Hunting or Home Defense

From defense to duck blind, the Mossberg Flex System makes a single example of the company's Model 500 or 590 pump shotgun an excellent tool for any scattergun task.

If you’re an avid reader of Shooting Illustrated, we can assume your primary interest is in the Flex System’s tactical applications, and there are plenty specific to it. But first let’s discuss how this gun is suited to anyone who also has a passing interest in hunting or shooting clays. Perhaps you want to give wingshooting a try, but not enough to justify the price of a second shotgun. For just an extra $60 over the MSRP of a standard 500 or 590 shotgun, a Flex System gun can be tailored to both roles.

Last October, I awoke on one of my favorite holidays of the year: opening day of pheasant season. The Mossberg 500 Flex System shotgun sent for testing was in a tactical configuration, but it was time to go hunting.

So, first I removed the adjustable, six-position tactical stock and replaced it with a standard, camouflage synthetic model. Next I removed the railed, tactical fore-end, detached the 18.5-inch barrel witha fixed cylinder choke, and plugged the five-shot magazine to comply with hunting regulations. All that was left to do was slide a 28-inch ported barrel into place and attach a standard, camo synthetic fore-end. Within minutes, I completely transformed the shotgun in both appearance and handling characteristics.

I’d like to tell you about all the pheasants I shot later that day, but I flushed just one bird—and missed. More importantly, however, I was able to quickly reconfigure the shotgun for personal defense upon returning home.

Plenty of Accessories

“One of the things we looked at while designing this gun is the popularity of the AR-15 rifle platform,” says Linda Powell, Mossberg’s director of public relations. “Part of the reason AR-15s are so attractive to people is because you can make your gun unique to you without a whole lot of additional costs. With the Flex System, you can accessorize a 500 or 590 shotgun without significant extra investment.”

Similar to an AR-15, practically any component of a Flex gun except the guts of the receiver can be swapped out to meet your liking. Most available accessories retail for less than $50. Pricier items include the adjustable, four-position hunting stock ($145-$156) and six-position tactical stock ($108).

Nine different stocks are available, including a pistol grip (no buttstock, a design comparable to the Mossberg Cruiser), standard synthetic stocks in camo or black with lengths of pull of 12.5, 13.5 or 14.5 inches, a four-position adjustable comb stock reminiscent of a Monte Carlo-style design, and a six-position, M4-style adjustable stock.

At the head of the Flex System is the zinc-on-zinc, nonremovable locking key attaching the buttstock (or pistol grip) to the receiver. A quick upward tug and quarter turn allow removal of the stock, and attachment is as simple as following the steps in reverse. Despite the ease of operation, the design provides a secure mount for whatever stock option you choose.

Swapping stocks proved to be quick and easy thanks to a unique, half-moon-shaped locking device in the wrist. I simply pulled up on the lock, turned it 90 degrees and the stock was released. Don’t worry about losing the lock—it cannot be removed. To attach a new stock, I slid its ridged, recessed wrist onto the metal notch at the back of the gun’s receiver. Once I turned the lock and pushed it back into position, it sat flush with the stock and was ready to go.

Attachment and removal of most of my test stocks was completely painless. However, I did have some trouble attaching one of the camo stocks—it just didn’t want to slide all the way into position, but after some effort (including tapping the nearly assembled gun’s recoil pad against my living room floor) it slid right on. The problem did not recur with the stock again and was not experienced with any other accessory I attached. I would certainly rather have a stock that fits too tight than too loose.

Available fore-ends include standard 500/590 designs as well as an intriguing tactical option. The tactical fore-end has three Picatinny rails and two slots for pressure pads to operate lights or lasers. It can also accept a forward pistol grip. The fore-ends attach to an internal frame that rides along the dual action bars. Removal is accomplished by pressing forward on a recessed release button underneath the fore-end.

My biggest concern with the Flex System design is that the gun, especially the fore-end, would feel loose. It’s a pet peeve, but if you’ve ever handled a pump shotgun with a wobbly fitting fore-end, you know how distracting it can be. Given that the Flex System is designed to accommodate a host of accessories, I suspected the quality of its tolerances would be sacrificed for ease of attaching new parts. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Fit and finish on my test gun proved surprisingly good, which gives me confidence in the ability of Flex guns to handle abuse and hold up over time.

“That’s probably the most common comment we’ve gotten, because we recognized that area of potential weakness and put a lot of thought into the strength of these guns,” Powell says. “Particular attention went into the materials used in the construction of the fore-end and stock attachment points. Our engineers tried aluminum, polymer, everything…but eventually they determined that zinc on zinc worked best. Zinc allowed us to incorporate tighter tolerances, and it wasn’t at all affected by the wear of repeatedly attaching and removing accessories.”

In addition to their snug fit, the locking devices on the stock and fore-end do not alter the lines or feel of these guns from a traditional 500/590. From a few yards away, they’re practically unnoticeable.

Military Origins

To remove the fore-end, press forward on the recessed button at its front. This releases the unit from its mount to an internal frame riding on the dual action bars. The author was pleasantly surprised by all tested fore-end options’ tight mounts, resulting in no lateral movement when working the pump.

The excellent strength and overall fit of the Flex guns probably has a lot to do with its early history. Mossberg began quietly working on a modular design in 2005.

“Various ideas were tossed around for it back then,” Powell says. “The biggest question was whether there was a consumer application for it, but the consensus at the time was the market just wasn’t ready for a modular shotgun.”

The idea was shelved for a couple years, but then the U.S. military expressed an interest in a modular-style shotgun that could be adjusted for the size of the soldier using it and tailored for a variety of intended applications. Since Mossberg was already well along on just such a project, it threw its hat in the ring. The gun would have to be right, and soon an early version of the Flex System was unveiled. Unfortunately, the military did not bite.

“Later, in 2009, the project was again resurrected,” says Powell. “We had already invested time and money into designing a very good, unique system with lots of applications, and based on the current civilian firearms market it was a great time to introduce the Flex System. Since its introduction this year, military and law enforcement are also reconsidering it.”

Adjustability

Unlike some interchangeable buttpads, the Flex System versions promise to be more durable thanks to its unique locking system.

Based on the composition of the modern military, it’s little wonder why Uncle Sam would have an interest in a modular shotgun design. The Flex System allows the shotgun to be tailored to the stature of practically any shooter.

This has civilian applications as well. Want to share a home-defense shotgun with your spouse? The Flex is worth considering. No, it wouldn’t be advisable to adjust the gun in the middle of an emergency. However, say, for example, you leave town on a business trip—simply adjust the gun to fit your spouse, and you’ll have peace of mind during your travels.

Obviously the Flex-compatible, six-position M4-style stock is very adjustable, but the three different sizes of standard stocks have nearly as broad a reach. How so? The stocks accept recoil pads of three different thicknesses (.75, 1.25 and 1.5 inches). I’ve tested shotguns designed to swap recoil pads before, but not one quite this user-friendly. All you do is press either of two buttons below the heel of the stock, and the recoil pad pops right out. A new one can then be snapped into place by inserting its polymer pegs into a chassis within the stock. It also seems a more durable design compared to those in which pads are forcefully tugged in and out of place.

The adjustability this affords is significant. I’m 6 foot 3 inches, and the 14.25-inch length of pull stock paired with the 1.5-inch recoil pad was too long for me. On the other hand, the 12.5-inch length of pull stock coupled with a .75 inch recoil pad was too short for my wife. That’s a pretty wide spectrum.

This adjustability will also come in handy for those who intend to hunt with their Flex shotguns. If you’ve never used the same gun to hunt doves in a T-shirt in September and January mallards in a heavy jacket, you’ll find your length of pull changes dramatically.

Barrel Options

A ghost-ring rear sight enables lightning-fast acquisition of the front base, which is a vital benefit on a home-defense shotgun.

Barrels can easily be changed on most every modern shotgun, and the Flex series guns are no exception. Yet, it’s worth noting that Mossberg offers several options for these guns—including two tactical barrels with fixed-cylinder chokes: a 20-inch barrel with a bead or ghost-ring sight, and an 18.5-inch barrel with a white dot sight and breacher tool. I doubt I’ll ever have to breach anything, but hey, it’s a nice touch. Longer hunting barrels are available in 24, 26 or 28 inches with porting to reduce recoil. The hunting and “All Purpose” barrels accept screw-in Accu-Chokes.

As with the Flex-series receivers, a variety of metallic finishes are available for the barrels, including OD green, matte black and a rust-resistant silver version Mossberg calls Marinecote.

Hunting Gun or Tactical Gun?

“Right away we realized the Flex System had a lot of potential for the tactical and home-defense markets,” Powell says. “We knew those circles would embrace a customizable shotgun platform. It was the hunters we weren’t as certain about, but by the time we brought the design to market, we felt we had enough accessories to draw equal interest from both sets of people.”

Based on the current state of the firearms market, it made sense for Mossberg’s bottom line to focus initially on the tactical applications of the Flex System. And in this age of renewed interest in self-reliance and personal defense, there is bound to be crossover from the hunting community into the tactical arena.

Mossberg will soon capitalize even further on this phenomenon with combo packages. An initial introduction, the “Turkey Defense Combo,” is geared toward—you guessed it—turkey hunting and home defense. Two stocks, two fore-ends and two barrels will be included with the OD Green receiver. Look for it in big-box stores this spring.

But will crossover occur in the other direction as well? Are there those of a tactical bent who’d enjoy a shotgun they can also use for a round of sporting clays or even a duck hunt in harsh conditions?

“We’ve heard from plenty of people who own shotguns for tactical use who would love an opportunity for some field activity, but don’t want to buy a whole new shotgun platform,” Powell says.

If you’re one of them, the Flex System may be just the ticket.

This 12-gauge holds 16 rounds in four magazine tubes in a cylindrical fore-end. Molded of strong, glass-filled polymer, this magazine fore-end is manually rotated to bring each four-round tube in line to feed. The magazine is instantly removable and is inserted under the 18-inch barrel with the help of a funnel on the front of the receiver to guide it into place. Removal is accomplished by depressing an ambidextrous lever at the front of the mounting housing. Ambidextrous levers above and behind this release lever pivot down using the shooter’s thumb to unlock and rotate the fore-end.

Incorporating a roller-delayed action in the shotgun’s design facilitates fast cycling while reducing felt recoil.

The M1216 uses a locking system unique among shotguns. It employs a roller, “half-locking” system, much like the Heckler & Koch G3 and its many offspring. The rollers of the SRM M1216 differ mainly in being held in recesses at the rear of the M1216’s hardened-steel receiver.

When loading a full (four-tube) magazine into the M1216, if one of the tubes is in line to feed, the shell retainer will automatically trip to release the shells, with the first shell feeding onto the carrier in the receiver. If the bolt is in battery, it will be necessary to retract and release it to chamber the first round. However, if the bolt is locked back in the open position when the magazine is inserted, the first shell fed into the receiver will trip the bolt hold-open lever and the round will be automatically chambered. When the last shell from that tube is fired, the bolt automatically locks back until the next loaded tube is rotated into position, causing the M1216 to load immediately after rotation. In this system, shells in all four magazine tubes can be fired in fast succession with minimal practice.

An ambidextrous thumb safety on either side of the M1216’s pistol grip is marked in Heckler & Koch fashion and is pulled back for safe and rotated forward for fire, making this easy to remember—back means shells stay back and forward means shells can go forward.

The M1216’s reciprocating charging handle comes mounted on the left side, but can be changed to the right side. The ejection-port cover is then changed to the right side, leaving the port open on the left. Because this steel port cover contains the fixed ejector, the shells will then automatically eject from the left side. However, changing these parts should be done by a trained armorer.

Integral Picatinny rails spanning the shotgun’s 3-, 9- and 12-o’clock positions adds to M1216’s adaptability by allowing the mounting of optics, weaponlights and lasers.

On top and on both sides of the M1216 are steel accessory rails on which the owner’s choice of open sights and/or optics, as well as lights and lasers, can be mounted. Since sights and optics are personal choices, the M1216 comes without them. Many makes of flip-up iron sights can be mounted on the top rail, such as the polymer options from A.R.M.S. and Magpul. SRM also offers optional steel flip-up sights. Ambidextrous sling mounts are also included. Shorter 12-round and eight-round versions of the M1216 are offered for military and law enforcement.

Because of its extra weight, a fully loaded fore-end is more easily inserted into the SRM M1216 than when it is empty. I found it preferable to hold the front of the fore-end for better control. Just push it into place, and the gun automatically feeds. With a small amount of practice, this became almost second nature.

The SRM M1216 will fire either 2 3⁄4- or 3-inch 12-gauge shells, but my test sample would not cycle low-brass shells, and with less-lethal rounds it became a fast repeater using the cocking handle. With all high-brass 12-gauge shells, however, the M1216 functioned flawlessly. Recoil was typical of a 12-gauge shotgun of this size and weight, but the gun’s straight-line design helped to keep the muzzle down. The M1216 comes with a flat, smooth buttplate and a length of pull that may be too short for some, but heavy clothing or body armor will remedy that problem. A good non-slip rubber buttpad might make operating it even more effective.

Patterning with many varieties of shot out to 25 yards was excellent and virtually identical to that of the 12-gauge Remington 11-87P I used for comparison. With an Aimpoint CompM4 red-dot optic mounted, hits with slugs were easily made off the shoulder from 100 yards on full-size silhouette targets. Because there is no gas system in the M1216, the gun remained very clean, and disassembly for maintenance proved utterly simple.

At the heart of the M1216’s versatility is the company’s four-tube magazine that can hold 16 rounds of 2 3⁄4-inch and 3-inch shotshells without sacrificing compactness.

The SRM M1216 amounts to a major advance in self-loading shotgun technology with the ability to carry more ammunition in the gun, where it’s needed. As such, it has great application for military and law enforcement agencies, as well as for home defense.

Specifications

Thankfully, just as a home-defense shotgun need not be fancy, it need not cost $500 either. American Tactical Imports (ATI) of Rochester, NY, proves that with the Sultan P1, a basic semi-automatic with a very reasonable suggested retail price of about $300. (For detailed photos of the Sultan P1, click here.)

A pump gun for $300 would be a pretty good value, but a semi-auto in that price range is a real bargain. How does ATI do it? For one, the Sultan P1 is made in Turkey, where the cost of labor is a real bargain, too. The savings at the manufacturing end are reflected at the retail end. Second, the Sultan is a bare-bones shotgun, with no frills that add to the bottom line.

Neither of these are indictments against the Sultan. Several big-name shotgun companies outsource manufacturing to the Turks because they do quality work at a low price. Just as sensible, a simple home-defense shotgun is better than none at all.

Built with a CNC-machined aluminum receiver, the Sultan uses a traditional gas-piston operating system. The bolt rides on two sturdy action bars, and the recoil spring is located beneath the barrel. There are no high-tech coatings on the internals, and the gun comes with just one piston that works perfectly fine with suitable defensive loads. It’s a straightforward, utterly reliable setup.

A sturdy set of action bars drive the bolt in the Sultan’s conventional gas-piston operating system.

The 18.25-inch barrel is chambered for 2 3⁄4- and 3-inch shotshells and, like the receiver, has a matte-black finish. Sticking with value-priced simplicity, the barrel does not have a choke. I doubt anyone would argue that a fixed, straight cylinder bore won’t suffice for delivering payloads at across-the-room distances. Who changes choke tubes on a home-defense shotgun anyway?

A robust post sits atop a ramp near the muzzle and serves as the Sultan’s front, and only, sight. It’s plain, black and hard to miss—as long as there is enough light to see the end of the barrel. In dark conditions you’re going to need to hold a flashlight in your support hand to get a sight picture, which is a good idea to properly identify a threat in the first place.

Although there is no rear sight, serrations on the top of the receiver reduce glare that may shift your focus from the front post. Instead of being drilled and tapped for a base to allow mounting an optic, the receiver is milled to accept a claw-type mount. It will work, but a drilled and tapped receiver would make things easier.

A rubber-overmolded pistol grip is the only thing fancy about the Sultan, adding a degree of comfort when firing buckshot and slug loads.

Shoving four, 2 3⁄4-inch shotshells into the magazine tube will fill it to capacity. While two or three more rounds in a gun are never a bad thing, an extended tube would likely add to the cost of the Sultan. Besides, by the time you’ve exhausted five rounds, hopefully either the threat is no more or you’ve made it to cover where you can reload. Adding a sleeve-type shotshell carrier to the buttstock would keep a handful of rounds at the ready, just in case.

The polymer buttstock ends in a well designed, rubber recoil pad that is radiused at the heel and scalloped along the edges to prevent it from hanging up during the mount. Finger grooves and ridges on the rubber-overmolded pistol grip almost look out of place on the spartan Sultan, but they make for a comfortable and secure hold. If you prefer a high grip, you’ll appreciate the rubber that extends into the wrist area of the buttstock, as it pads the web of your hand against recoil. The fore-end has a panel of molded checkering on each side, as well as a finger groove along the top. There are no sling-swivel studs, but it would be a simple project to add them.

Controls on the Sultan are conventional and include a crossbolt safety located at the rear of the polymer trigger guard, a bolt-release button on the right side of the receiver beneath the ejection port and a carrier latch on the left side of the receiver near the top of the trigger guard. The safety and carrier latch are small but adequate; practice will go a long way in learning to access them instinctively. On the other hand, the enlarged bolt handle is made for quick manipulation. Like the bolt, it is left in the white and polished.

A simple semi-automatic like the Sultan makes a fine home-defense shotgun, as long as it is absolutely reliable and reasonably accurate. The Sultan exhibited both of these characteristics on the range. After cleaning and assembling the shotgun, I gathered 250 rounds of mixed birdshot, buckshot and slug loads, and proceeded to reduce paper targets to shreds. Included in the two-day celebration of 12-gauge devastation were 2 3⁄4-inch Federal Game-Shok Heavy Field loads, Federal Premium Personal Defense 00 buckshot, Remington HD Ultimate Home Defense, Remington Slugger 1-ounce slugs and Winchester PDX1 Defender, as well as 3-inch Remington Express Magnum No. 4 buckshot and Winchester Supreme 00 buckshot. The solid little Sultan cycled and fired each one with no issues.

The extended bolt handle protrudes from the receiver by about 1 inch for quick manipulation under stress.

At 5 and 7 yards, pattern centers from birdshot and buckshot loads impacted at point of aim. Stepping back to 10 and 15 yards with buckshot and slugs, I found point of impact was about 3 inches low—no doubt because of the high front sight and nothing at the rear to use as a reference. I could keep slugs in 6- to 10-inch groups at 25 yards; with no rear sight, the Sultan isn’t meant for surgical precision at distances beyond those encountered in home-defense situations.

Our budgets shouldn’t get in the way of protecting ourselves and our loved ones, but the bank account often has the final say. With a street price likely to be closer to $250 than $300, the Sultan P1 from ATI gives you a way to keep your household safe and in the black. That’s the best kind of bargain.

Manufacturer: Ottomanguns; Istanbul, Turkey
Importer: American Tactical Imports; (800) 290-0065, americantactical.us
Action Type: Gas-operated, semi-automatic
Gauge: 12, 3-inch chamber
Capacity: 4+1
Receiver: CNC-machined aluminum
Barrel Length: 18.25 inches
Constriction: Cylinder
Finish: Matte black
Trigger Pull Weight: 6 pounds, 3 ounces
Sights: Ramped, post front; no rear
Stock: Polymer with rubber-overmolded pistol grip
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 6 pounds, 10 ounces
Accessories: None
MSRP: $307.95

The double-barreled shotgun has been taking care of business for several hundred years. The Sicilians call it the lupara, and it was their weapon of choice for quite some time. Who knows, it may still be.

In our own American West, the short-barreled shotgun was often called the Wells Fargo shotgun because the company armed its express stagecoach guards with them. Virgil Earp went by the Wells Fargo office in Tombstone and borrowed such a gun just before the gunfight at the OK Corral.

His brother Wyatt used the same kind of shotgun to end the lives of a couple of the Arizona Wild Bunch a short time later.

However, while historical significance is nice, most of us are more concerned with personal protection these days. Well, the double-barrel shotgun can still do yeoman’s work for us. There are a couple of significant reasons why it might be just the right choice for home defense.

To begin with, a person is going to shoot best with the gun he shoots most often. Nearly all cowboy-action shooters use a double barrel in competition, and there’s absolutely no reason why it should be unloaded and put away once they get home. Due to its ease of operation and simple design, the double-barrel shotgun is generally a gun the whole family can learn to handle and shoot well.

This is most important in matters where family members are not really into the shooting sports and just want to be able to defend themselves. A few quick lessons and a few trips to the range will have them up to speed in no time.

Of the short-barreled double guns, my favorites are ones with exposed hammers and double triggers. When loaded, it has no springs compressed. It can literally sit in the corner or under the bed for years without any fear of spring fatigue. Yet, the shotgun will be ready to go by simply cocking the hammers.

Some newer exposed-hammer shotguns, such as the CZ-USA Hammer Coach, also have a conventional tang safety. If, for some reason, you have cocked the hammers, but decide sending lead downrange is not immediately warranted, just engage the safety and wait to see what transpires.

Double-barrel shotguns also have a strong intimidation factor. Crooks will often begin to think peaceful thoughts just by getting a good look at the business end of such a shotgun. The intimidation factor should not be relied upon entirely, of course, but if hostilities don’t cease, two loads of the proper shotgun ammo will generally take care of things. For years, Col. Jeff Cooper collected reports of shotguns being used in gunfights. He once said he had yet to find a case where more than two shots were fired.

As we have pointed out before, buckshot is not the best choice for firing indoors. Our tests have shown it will penetrate several interior walls of an average house, and keep going. At close indoor ranges, a load of birdshot will do quite nicely. But, the beauty of the double-barrel shotgun is one barrel can be staged with a birdshot load, while the other contains buckshot. Should a heavier payload be necessary, the homeowner has two ammunition choices handy, and the transition is instantaneous by simply selecting the proper trigger.

People who live in the country understand what we call “the back-door gun.” It’s there by the back door to take care of poisonous snakes, rabid animals and other undesirable varmints that might wander into the yard. Since exposed-hammer models feature two triggers, different loads can be delivered on the fly, depending upon the size of the varmint in question.

Finally, too many city dwellers live in areas where handguns and semi-automatic rifles are looked down upon. While the kind of weapon a person uses to legally defend himself or his family shouldn’t make any difference, we know it sometimes does. Things might go a whole lot smoother if a jury discovers the citizen used the old family double barrel for protection.

Several companies import decent exposed-hammer double barrels into this country. CZ-USA, Cimarron Arms, Navy Arms and Taylor & Co. all offer quality models, to name just a few. It’s also a good idea to install a butt cuff to carry extra ammunition in case you do need a reload. And, it is also wise to have both birdshot and buckshot loads readily available. Most importantly, the gun needs to be patterned with those particular loads to determine if they throw a uniform pattern and to ascertain the effective range of each load.

So, not to take anything away from pump and semi-automatic defensive shotguns, but you should give some thought to checking out a short-barreled, double-barrel shotgun for your home-defense needs. It’s one of those guns with a long history that is still around for one good reason—it has always been an effective fight-stopper.

The wood-stocked Model 37 continued that heritage, with wartime service in World War II and Vietnam, where it not only survived, but thrived. It may be old school in appearance—even with the polymer furniture—but the sleek lines and performance are timeless.

The Ithaca Model 37 also has some features that may make it ideal for your home-defense situation. For example, spent shotshells eject from the bottom of the receiver. If you’re going to be on the move, it could produce a rather slippery situation, but in home-defense, the first rule of thumb is to bunker down and wait for authorities—not to launch a search-and-destroy mission.

With bottom ejection, the ability to run the gun with either hand is a decided advantage. Even if you’re not clearing rooms after three home invaders strike, consider the moves you must make to secure your safe-room door, under stress and with the threat of incoming fire.

Most shooters will be familiar with the location of the safety, found at the rear of the trigger guard.

Obviously, you’ll use drywall to hide your movement as you make your way to the door. But, if the hinges are on the right and you’re approaching from the right, southpaw shooters have an edge. If the hinges are on the right, and you’re using drywall to the left for cover, with the Model 37 you can transition as needed to minimize exposure and maximize your ability—if needed—to deliver a fight-ending, 12-gauge payload. You’ll be moving fast, but under concealement.

A bottom port also has a tendency to collect slightly less dirt, and for a gun that may sit patiently for months, waiting to be deployed, that’s also a good thing.

Reloads are more traditional, also through the bottom of the receiver. That brings up what may be the only drawback to the battle-proven Model 37 Defense, because grappling with a stoppage may require inverting the shotgun, not just turning it on its side.

After testing the Model 37 Defense, I’m glad Ithaca Gun Company has held on to its rich gunmaking history. Ithaca was originally founded in 1883 in western New York, specializing at first in classic side-by-side shotguns. Some of the guns produced during the company’s infancy were favored by Annie Oakley—who knew a thing or two about guns. In 1916, Lefever Arms Company, which introduced the first hammerless shotgun, became part of Ithaca.

In testing, the author found the gold-bead front sight to be unusually effective in a variety of light conditions.

The company changed hands several times, including in 1967, 1987, 1995 and 2005, when it relocated from western New York to Sandusky, OH, and finally in 2007. The turnover, in part, was due to the challenges of keeping up with modern, cost-effective manufacturing.

A good example is found in the Model 37’s rugged, battle-proven receiver. It starts life as a single block of steel. In the past, that meant it would be processed by hand and no two receivers were identical, so hand-fitting and assembly were also a manpower drain.

Today, Ithaca Gun Company employs state-of-the-art CNC machinery to turn out Model 37s at space-age tolerances that rival Oakley’s legendary accuracy. Since the new ownership took over assets and operations in 2007, modern equipment and manufacturing techniques have been harnessed to improve the lengedary design.

This bears mentioning when we’re talking about a company whose customers also included John Philip Sousa: All Ithaca guns are built in the United States, using parts exclusively produced here. Some claim the Model 37 is composed of the fewest parts of any currently produced shotgun. I can’t verify that claim, but I do know its rugged simplicy is a thing of beauty.

The manual of arms is straightforward on the Model 37 Defense, as it needed to be when cleaning an otherwise dirty trench. The safety is at the rear of the triggerguard. Finding it in the dark is intuitive and will be familiar for most shooters.

To release the bolt and pump the slide, a lever at the top front (right-hand side) of the trigger guard is depressed. If a right-handed shooter has practiced and developed the muscle memory enough that their trigger finger is always horizontal along the receiver until it’s time to shoot, finding it will be natural. As for left handers, a slight modification of your manual of arms will be necessary.

The Model 37 Defense has a 3-inch chamber, so it also handles 23⁄4-inch shotshells. Barrel length is 20 inches and Ithaca Gun Company uses a solderless barrel system, because “soldering warps the barrel and solder joints can fail,” according to the company website.

One of the nice things Ithaca doesn’t do is overwhelm you with company logos on the Model 37 Defense. This touch, found at the bottom of the semi-pistol grip, however, is understated and tasteful.

With fixed-cylinder constriction, I expected a little more dispersion from the Hornady 00 Tap FPD load during testing. I used VisiColor targets, which I admit are a little more brittle than standard paper targets, but at 7 yards, five times in a row, 1- to 2-inch single holes were the result. Yes, you could see the rounded edges of single pellets along the edges, but at room distances with this shotgun and load, if you don’t aim, you miss.

I was also a little concerned about that gold bead for a front sight. But even in extremely low light, the finish reflects a nice corona that quickened my ability to get a good sight picture. The receiver is tapped for the addition of aftermarket sights, a nice touch. I didn’t have any problem delivering fight-ending shots on 6-inch circles using the existing sights.

A synthetic stock modernizes the gun’s looks and a Pachmayr Decelerator pad helps tame recoil. I wouldn’t be signing up for any extended training session with this light of a gun and buckshot, though. OK, maybe I would because it’s cool to pile up spent shotshells at your feet.

Length of pull is 14 inches. Drop at comb is 1.375 inches and drop at heel is 2 inches. The gun came up naturally and pointed well during testing. The 20-inch barrel seemed a little slow, but since you get a 7+1 capacity, it’s a decent trade-off.

Should today’s self-defense shooter consider a gun that served well in Vietnam and World War II? There are reasons it served well—the same reasons it’s a viable home-defense option. It’s simple to operate, it can deliver fight-stopping firepower and fewer parts means there’s less to break or malfunction.

Manufacturer: Ithaca Gun Company; (877) 648-4222, www.ithacagun.com
Action Type: Pump
Gauge: 12 gauge, 3-inch chamber
Capacity: 7+1
Receiver: Machined from a solid block of stainless steel
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Constriction: Cylinder
Finish: Matte blue
Trigger Pull Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces
Sights: Gold-bead front sight; ramp tapped for mounting optics
Stock: Polymer
Length: 39.5 inches
Weight: 7.1 pounds
Accessories: Owner’s manual
MSRP: $519

No one could ever doubt the utility of a short double-barreled shotgun for close-range pest control. It is equally certain, as the years passed, the definition of an appropriate pest broadened considerably.

A compact shotgun is the ultimate close-range weapon, and it’s a staple of the Western film. This takes it well beyond the pastoral settings of Sicily to the dusty trails of the American frontier and arguably beyond. I saw one in the rice paddies of Southeast Asia, and I suspect they’ve been used just about everywhere in between.

My good friend, the late Chuck Karwan, argued that the use of a short shotgun by the second man on Wells Fargo coaches was Hollywood fiction. He may have been right. I often prowl gun shows looking for old hammer guns, finding more of them in long lengths than short. Period photography seldom shows frontiersmen posing with their short shotguns, and I have to wonder why.

This style of firearm holds some inexplicable fascination for me, and I have several of these old warriors in my accumulation of ordnance. I am not alone with my preoccupation. There are several references to them in the writings of the late Col. Jeff Cooper.

As much as I enjoy collecting the shooting veterans of Victorian times, I damned sure don’t shoot them. Almost all of the ones you see have Damascus barrels and aren’t in the best of condition. In short, they are not safe to shoot. Where are you going to get a shooter, particularly the exposed-hammer type?

Cowboy-action shooting involves the use of frontier-type short shotguns, and most are replicas. Several companies import replica hammer doubles, including a superb reproduction Greener from Poland brought in by Pioneer Arms.

Real shotgunners are surely aware of the many solid doubles of various makes that were built in more modern times. Most of these are hammerless (actually, internal-hammer) guns. In one way, the hammerless gun is better than the external-hammer type. When you load and close a hammerless gun, the mechanism is cocked, thereby obviating the need to thumb them back as a separate action. This is marginally faster, but I would not care to store one as a defensive firearm loaded and cocked. On the other hand, a double-barrel with external hammers can be loaded and left with the hammers down—no compressed hammer springs—against the possibility of need.

Somewhere along the way, the sawed-off shotgun got a bad name. At one point, the sawing-off process was thought to increase spread, which it will with the removal of the choke. Even now, the sporting shotgunner recoils at the idea of a short shotgun with barrels that are “ruined.” Quite the contrary; it’s a tool for a legitimate need—a long gun for the guy who has to work close in deadly circumstances. As long as the barrel is longer than 18 inches, the shotgun is legal by Federal law.

Not so many years ago, NYPD detectives were issued a Stevens 311 with short barrels. That’s one remarkable use for an unusual hunk of fightin’ iron.

Remington 870

My ultimate home-defense gun begins with the ubiquitous Remington 870. In so many ways, it can end there as well. From the 870, we take its sleekness of profile, the near-standard cross-bolt safety, its ease of disassembly and even its thread pattern for Rem Chokes.

But more than anything else, I want its numbers—10 million 870s manufactured and counting—because in those numbers lies an accessory aftermarket that rivals the AR-15. Practically anything of any worth manufactured today is made for the Remington 870.

Mossberg 500/590

Like the 870, the Mossberg 500 has proven itself over time. But for the ultimate, we go a step higher, and add the testing protocol that defines the Mossberg 590. According to the company, the 590 is the only shotgun to successfully pass the stringent U.S. Military Mil-Spec 3443 standard.

Within that standard come the following features: heavy-walled barrels, metal trigger guards, metal safety buttons and a Parkerized finish. If it’s tough enough to stand up to the abuse of Uncle Sam, it’s tough enough to be in our ultimate home-defense gun.

And of course, like the Remington 870, the Mossberg 500/590 delivers the production numbers required to make practically any imaginable accessory readily available.

Benelli Innovation—Ruggedness

From Benelli, we take its remarkable approach to making shotguns nearly indestructible, the innovative processes with which it builds them and its merciful enhancements that take away the punishment of 12-gauge recoil.
For our dream gun, we’ll incorporate the Crio System, where Benelli freezes its barrels to -300 degrees Fahrenheit to relieve stresses normally induced during hammer forging. Benelli also claims bore surfaces become more even-grained, exhibit greater lubricity and deliver better shot patterns. The second part of the Crio System is the Crio Chokes, which are longer than standard chokes, providing a more gradual constriction. Benelli cites as much as 13.2 percent more pellets on target delivered by the Crio System.

Less critical, but nevertheless equally welcome, is Benelli’s renowned approach to perceived-recoil reduction. First developed for the company’s Inertia Driven semi-automatics to take the bite out of recoil-operated platforms and enhanced for the new Vinci, the ComforTech Plus system reduces felt recoil and muzzle climb through a unique system of cushions and pads.

The gel recoil pad directs the force to the shoulder over a larger area and over a greater expanse of time. The comb pad cushions the cheek, where we are often most sensitive to bite. And, the stock has those 12 signature chevrons that simply eat up energy traveling to the shoulder.

Reducing muzzle rise can help shooters get back on target quickly for follow-up shots. The ComforTech system isn’t just about taking the big bang out of the shotgun; it’s a system that can enable us to be better shotgunners.

Winchester

From the Model 97, the famed Winchester trench gun of World War I, we incorporate a feature that wasn’t there: the trigger disconnect now standard on virtually all shotguns. The lack of the trigger disconnect on the Model 97 enabled users to keep the trigger held down to slam-fire the next round immediately upon chambering and closing the action. Is this a necessary component for a self-defense gun? No, but it certainly has a cool factor that can’t be understood until you’ve slammed a few rounds downrange.

Of more practical use is the lightning-quick cycling action of the Winchester Model 1300. Innovative in this design is the use of a four-lug rotary bolt similar to that found on an AR-15.

Accessories

The recent explosion in all things tactical, led by AR-style rifles, has infused the shotgun with new legions of products available.

However, the ultimate home-defense shotgun, in my opinion, needs one attachment more than any other—a flashlight. Bumps in the night are just that, an unknown presence in a low- or no-light scenario. Morally, ethically and most important, legally, we are bound to positively identify a potential threat before taking action.

My choice is SureFire’s Shotgun Forend WeaponLight. It replaces the factory fore-end with a polymer unit that has an integrated 100-lumen SureFire light and all switching, so there are no external wires to get hung up.
Take the 870’s receiver, the 590’s battle-proven barrel and metal parts, Benelli’s innovation and manufacturing and Winchester’s speed, then add in the decisive advantage of a SureFire weaponlight, and you have the ultimate home-defense gun. Well, one version anyway. Take the time to determine what you like in the world of pump guns, and see how your ultimate scattergun matches up.

The Model 1897 went on to fight in World War II, but by then guns and parts were wearing out and replacement armament was needed. One of the most unlikely—yet obvious—candidates to carry on the effectiveness of an open-choked, short-barreled shotgun for close-range military use was the Ithaca Model 37, which, sharing a link with the Model 97, was based on the Remington Model 17, both John M. Browning designs.

Up until this time, the Ithaca Gun Company, located in western New York, was known for finely crafted double-barreled sporting smoothbores and superb single-barreled competition shotguns. Founded in 1883 by William Henry Baker, this well-respected company had become a favorite of such luminaries as trick shooter Annie Oakley and John Philip Sousa. But in May 1937, Ithaca introduced the appropriately named Model 37—a single-barreled pump shotgun.

Patented by factory manager Harry E. Howland, and working with Ithaca designer Nestor Smith, the gun was ready in May 1932, but production was halted due to patent infringement. It seemed the hammerless new Ithaca repeater ran afoul of mechanisms used on the hammerless Remington Model 17 as well as the older, exposed-hammer Winchester 1897. Although the Model 17 was discontinued in 1933, the patents did not expire until four
years later.

The Ithaca Model 37 served in a variety of wars, including World War II. Here it's seen in the hands of a G.I. in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army

The Model 37 was a much more efficient design than the Remington 17, although both shared the dual bottom loading- and ejection-port feature. But, the Ithaca was lighter and used fewer parts. Its short-stroke pump was faster, a reversible cross-bolt safety made the gun adaptable for southpaws and unlike the Model 17, the Model 37 was brought out in 12 gauge. A 16-gauge version was introduced in 1938 and a 20 gauge came a year later. Although Ithaca’s commercial firearms production was halted by World War II, it was the Model 37 that brought Ithaca into the government’s arsenal.

By 1940, with war raging in Europe but the U.S. remaining out of the fracas, the Ordnance Department nonetheless realized the need to shore up its lagging supply of combat shotguns. At that time, the Ithaca Model 37 was one of only six commercially produced smoothbores deemed suitable. As a result, an initial order for 1,420 Ithaca Model 37 trench guns—with factory-fitted 20-inch, open-choked barrels, ventilated steel heat guards, lugs for the M1917 bayonet, sling swivels and without the standard Model 37’s takedown feature—was placed in November 1941. One month later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

Rather than being Parkerized, these six-shot, World War II-era Model 37s sported finely blued steel and were stamped with a U.S. Ordnance bomb on the left side of the receiver, along with the “RLB” initials of inspector Lt. Col. Roy L. Bowlin, Chief of the Rochester Ordnance District. Although these Ithaca wartime guns were catalogued as “Riot Guns,” according to “U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II,” by Bruce Canfield, “By the time of World War II, the trench guns were officially designated as ‘Shotgun, Riot Type, with Bayonet Attachment and Hand Guard.’” However, as the Model 37’s combat role continued, a number of smooth-barreled riot guns—sporting 18-inch barrels without trench-gun fittings—were also drummed into service.

Aside from some clearing operations, the open battlefields of the European theater were not conducive to the close-range limitations of the Model 37. But it was different story in the Pacific, where jungle fighting soon put these scatterguns in demand. Plus, a number of were issued for guard duty on military bases. Nonetheless, Ithaca’s Model 37 World War II trench gun tenure was relatively short-lived. After completing its initial contract order of 1,420 units, the company turned its manufacturing capabilities to the M1911A1, making its World War II trench guns an extremely rare collectible today.

The Model 37 trench and riot guns came into their own when called back into action during the Vietnam War. The effectiveness of these six-shot, hand-held firestorms was heightened by the fact that the Model 37 did not have a trigger detent. Thus, by holding the trigger back, the gun could be slam-fired as fast as a “boonierat” could work the pump. The first volley of shots cleared out the brush, vines and spider holes, while the rest of the magazine eradicated whatever—or whoever—was left.

No wonder Model 37 trench guns were issued to the infantry squad’s point man. It was also a favorite weapon for detonating land and water mines, and was frequently carried by the bow sentry aboard watercraft. They were adapted for the same M7 bayonet as the M16, and some guns issued to the Special Forces were stamped USSF on the receiver. A few were even outfitted with shot spreaders that widened their patterns horizontally. Approximately 22,500 Parkerized Model 37 trench guns were produced during the Vietnam era. These guns were stamped “U.S.” on the right side of the receiver along with a “P” proofmark on the barrel and receiver. Many were rebuilt after Vietnam.

In 1987 Ithaca Acquisition Corp brought back the Model 37 as the Model 87, and in late 1996, Ithaca Gun Company resumed manufacture of Model 37. Today, the Ithaca 37 exists in a number of guises, but the glory of the Model 37 trench and riot guns lives on in the revamped Model 37 Defender. Thus, the gun that first served in World War II is still making a mark on the law enforcement and home-defense front today.

Shoot 30 stages of fire with a 12-gauge shotgun over the course of four brutally hot and humid Kentucky days, and one is bound to walk away with a few impressions. I did that and more after stepping to the line for the 2010 International Practical Shooting Confederation Pan American Shotgun Championship. Quite simply, I learned more about shooting and loading a shotgun in those four days than I had in my entire life.

Nearly 100 competitors representing 13 countries battled for individual and team honors during the championship, called Pan Am for short, held July 29 to Aug. 1, at the Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City, KY. Some of the best shooters tested their practical shotgun skills at the IPSC Level IV event.

With a minimum of 365 rounds required to complete the Pan Am’s 30 stages, having shells readily available was a paramount consideration.

A Level IV match is set up with a defined number of short, medium and long courses of fire. For every six stages, the breakdown is three short, two medium and one long course. With a shoulder-numbing 30 stages of shotgun, the breakdown for the Pan Am was 15 short, 10 medium and five long courses of fire.

“IPSC utilizes this format to keep the shooting based on firearms skills and not athletic ability,” said match co-director Larry Houck. “We took that to the maximum with the Pan American.”

To successfully complete the Pan Am, a round count of 365 was required; 285 birdshot, 45 slugs and 35 buckshot. That number, of course, is only possible if you’re talented enough to avoid missing a single shot. Needless to say, I burned through much more than the prescribed round count.

Shooters used a variety of reloading methods to keep their shotguns running. The techniques were as diverse as the means to carry spare ammo, which included belt carriers and even forearm bands.

“We tested every shotgun skill,” said match director Linda Chico. “Pretty much everything you can do with a shotgun, somewhere that skill was tested.”

Needless to say, the Pan Am required competitors to be competent in all aspects of shotgun shooting. However, it was how the stages of fire were presented that set this match apart, from lightning-fast short courses where competitors shredded steel at close range, to chest-pumping climbs over natural terrain to engage stationary and aerial targets.

In short-course design, none were more explosive than stage 5. Set in the woods, eight steel plates were set in a half-circle array requiring competitors to rotate approximately 130 degrees, with targets set 10 to 15 yards from the shooting box. Competitors began with eight rounds loaded in the gun, standing erect and relaxed anywhere in the 9-square-foot shooting box and positioned directly behind a large tree that broke the course into two shooting lanes, one on either side of the tree. The shotgun was held in the ready condition with the muzzle pointed downrange and butt placed along the shooter’s strong-side hip. With the safety engaged and the finger outside the trigger guard, competitors mounted at the audible timer. Reading the stage description took longer than it took Team FNH USA’s Mark Hanish to complete it with a blistering run of 2.68 seconds—with all targets neutralized and no penalties.

Conversely, stage 3, “Blue Ridge Parkway,” which featured the highest round count of the match, was a woods-walk course littered with 18 steel plates, six steel poppers and two aerial clay pigeons, for 26 total targets and a possible 160 points.

To ease the reloading process, many shooters utilized an external, extended feed guide, which helped to quickly load rounds into the magazine tube.

U.S. Open Team member Clint Upchurch ran his Saiga, customized by Robert Wright of R&R Targets, to a time of 29 seconds flat. Finland’s Roger Karp took an extremely impressive stage win in the Standard Manual Division with a time of 37.15 seconds—using a pump gun to outrun the field of semi-automatics by a full second.

For many Americans, the systematic approach, a staple of IPSC shooting throughout the world, is a bit foreign, as most top U.S. shotgunners hail from the 3-gun world, where outlaw matches provide stage designs that are anything but systematic. While many of the Pan Am’s stages at first glance appeared simple, the courses of fire proved a worthy challenge for the best practical shotgunners in the world.

I used all stock equipment. I ran a Remington 1100 Tac4 featuring an eight-round tubular magazine, oversized bolt handle and fiber-optic front sight. Federal Premium Target Handicap No. 7 1⁄2, Federal Power-Shok 2 3⁄4-inch, 9-pellet 00 buckshot and Remington 2 3⁄4-inch Slugger rifled slugs were sent downrange. I probably burned more than 500 rounds through the weekend with only one failure to feed due to a shamefully dirty chamber—remedied with a bore snake and some Rem Oil.

Though a relative newcomer to the practical shotgun scene, the Saiga system’s box magazine offers a big advantage when high round counts are the order of the day.

Luckily, I was squadded with experienced shooters, and all around us were the absolute best practical shotgun shooters in the world. When I needed more shell caddies, a squad member was quick to hand one out. From help with stage breakdowns, to loading tips, to sharing a cold beverage at the end of the day, the willingness to help fellow team or squad members was amazing.

This was hands-down the coolest match I’ve ever shot in outside of 3-gun, period. That said, it had a lot of similarities to 3-gun I don’t think you normally get in a standard pistol match, even though it was a single-gun format.

“I thought the match was phenomenal,” said Joe Satterfield. “A 30-stage match of any kind is a rarity, but with shotgun it is unheard of. This match was definitely a mental and physical marathon. I was fortunate to have recognized that ahead of time and prepared for it.”

Satterfield’s preparedness was evident. The veteran 3-gun competitor, who normally uses a semi-automatic shotgun in competition, seemingly came out of nowhere with a pump gun to turn in the top American score for the match (third-place overall), thereby leading the U.S. Standard Manual team to a first-place finish.

“I came in and shot pump because I knew there was a spot on the U.S. Standard Manual Team, and I really wanted the opportunity to represent the United States,” said Satterfield, a law enforcement officer from Georgia. “Most people don’t realize, because I shoot tactical division in 3-gun, but I have a lot of real-world time with a pump shotgun. I started shooting a semi-auto in competition because the field is usually deeper. At this match though, there were many more international shooters and international teams in Standard Manual, and I wanted the opportunity to shoot the pump. I have trained literally hundreds of law enforcement officers to use a pump shotgun…I am very comfortable with that type of shotgun.”

By requiring the use of cover, the Pan Am course furthered its practical credentials. Though it was a shotgun-only competition, it felt like a 3-gun tournament.

And while Satterfield shot a very even, consistent match, he gave a tremendous amount of credit to his teammates, two of whom are often regarded among the best pump shotgunners in the country—Patrick Kelley and Trapr Swonson. Along with Jansen Jones, the four men came together in remarkable fashion, with encouragement and applause on display throughout the event.

“The biggest factor in my match was that I managed to stay really consistent for 30 stages with only about four that I did not shoot as well as I wanted,” Satterfield said. “I got two stage wins but was really only trying to stay consistent. Patrick Kelley, Jansen Jones and Team Captain Swonson were the best teammates a guy could have, and we all really tried to help each other perform well in our quest to win team gold for the U.S.”

Although normally fierce competitors against each other in national USPSA or 3-gun events, the U.S. team members came together and worked for a common goal. The result: a clean American sweep across all the team categories.

“Standing on that podium, wearing a red, white and blue jersey, and having gold medals hung around my teammates’ necks—knowing I contributed to that is one of the most emotionally rewarding things that will ever happen to me as a shooter,” Satterfield said. “I love to shoot for money and prizes, but shooting for national pride—well, I know a little bit of how Olympians must feel.”

With the Pan Am’s fast-paced action, there were plenty of smoking chambers, hot barrels and reloads.

In the Standard Division, the U.S. captured a team title led by Carl Carbon, Robert Romero, Taran Butler and Kurt Miller. Also competing in Standard, the U.S. Ladies team took first place, led by Tasha Hanish, Dianna Liedorff and junior shooter Katie Harris.

In the individual standings, however, Europeans came in and stole the show. Finland’s Karp bested Italy’s Paolo Zambai by 0.178 percentage points to win the Standard Manual division, with Satterfield coming in third place. While the Americans won the team title, four of the top five finishers were from foreign shores, with U.S. shooters placing five in the top 10.

The U.S. Standard Team fared better individually, taking a team title, but owning the leader board from second through seventh place, including Butler, Chris Sechiatano, Romero, Carbon, Miller and Jeremy Parker. However, the title went to Italy’s Roberto Vezzoli, who outlasted Butler by 0.758 percentage points.

The European dominance of individual awards extended to the Ladies title as well, with Great Britain’s Vanessa Duffy besting America’s top female, Tasha Hanish. In the Junior category, Britain’s Josephine Adam defeated Harris, who battled shotgun reliability throughout the match.

Ultimately, many of the finest shotgunners in the world hail from outside the U.S. “The USA only ‘plays’ the game,” Kelley said. “The international community is the game.”

The notable exception was the Open division, where U.S. competitors swept the first 12 spots on the leader board, taking the team title and thoroughly dominating a small international field that offered up little real competition. Mike Voigt further cemented his status of one of the two (along with Smith & Wesson’s Jerry Miculek) best Open shooters in multi-gun by beating second place James Darst by nearly 100 match points. Clint Upchurch and Robert Wright ran their Saigas to third and fourth place finishes, respectively. Voigt, Darst, Upchurch and Wright also made up the U.S. Open Team that combined for 5237.2855 points, easily topping the Brazilian team that combined for 3252.4342.

By successfully hosting a Level IV match—by all accounts the Pan American was a complete home run— USPSA is now primed to receive a Level V world shoot in the near future. An international rifle, shotgun, pistol or 3-gun shoot are all possible.

For the hunter, a failure to feed means the loss of a trophy buck. For the competitive shooter, the failure to go into battery can become a championship lost. For the defensive gunner, whether professional or civilian, a failure to extract can lead to the loss of life.

So when one understands that escalation-of-need paradigm—the more serious the use, the more critical the function of the firearm—it’s puzzling that defensive gunners often use less than the finest examples of any given platform.

Salient Arms International is addressing this issue in force with the release of its new customized Benelli M2. Taking a standard version of the M2, Salient completely overhauled the shotgun, transforming it into a true high-end custom machine.

“Salient Arms International is a division of Salient Security Services, which is a diversified corporation that has been providing executive and personal protection services to VIPs and celebrities all over the U.S. and abroad,” said Tony Pignato, who runs Velocity Shooter, the primary distributor for Salient Arms. “Rob Melhorn and Fred Lindley are the key members of the Salient Arms International firearms production division and have over 30 years of combined experience in custom and competition firearms. Taran Butler is a professional consultant to Salient Arms international, specifically for the competition firearms production, with his numerous years of experience and product knowledge, he was a perfect choice for USPSA/IPSC and multi-gun product development.”

A Dave's Metal Works magazine tube and nut, and a Wolff magazine spring, at two of the aftermarket enhancements in the Salient Benelli.

With the Benelli, Salient improved the popular platform—one Butler has ran in competition for years—by attacking every problem that inevitably develops when any gun is subjected to literally thousands of practice and competition rounds.

“The Salient Arms International Custom Benelli begins with a standard M2 with a 21-inch vent-ribbed barrel,” Pignato said. “We begin with modifications that include internal operating system upgrades to the bolt carrier, extractor, chamber, recoil-reduction and trigger enhancements.”

Aftermarket products are included in the upgrade. A Dave’s Metal Works (DMW) magazine tube and magazine nut, built to Salient specifications, along with Wolff magazine springs, are solid choices. The safety button, also from DMW, is an oversized model that affords much greater purchase. An Arredondo carrier-release bar completes the exterior modifications and upgrades.

The bane of the competitive shotgun is, of course, loading it. Any 3-gun competitor worth his salt highly modifies the loading mechanisms of every shotgun platform he uses—from the carrier to the entire well area to specific areas around the opening of the magazine tube. “We produce the extended carrier that is designed to provide an increased ease of loading without potential damage to a shooter’s finger during the process,” Pignato said.
Individual competitors and gunsmiths have been removing metal and polishing shotguns in this manner for decades. Salient takes those collective lessons and refines the art, transforming a standard shotgun into one that loads with remarkable smoothness.

Inside the receiver, the bolt carrier—which is ion-bonded for increased lubricity—and receiver walls are thoroughly worked over, and metal is removed from several key areas.

To help realize the full potential of custom upgrades, the Salient Benelli also features a trigger job, one that in operation feels more at home on a rifle than what most shooters are used to on a shotgun. A common threshold among top shooters is if they can “outrun the gun,” meaning they have the ability to manipulate the trigger faster than the gun can complete the full cycle of operation. This feat should prove difficult on the Salient Benelli for even the fastest competitors. “The Salient Benelli M2 has a much better trigger pull—a match trigger. It’s a faster loading gun, the ease of loading is like glass, and your thumb doesn’t get caught on that half-moon cutout on the factory lift gate,” added Butler.

It’s championships that no doubt will soon be falling at the hands of the Salient. Butler is one of several big-time competitors who have already switched over, with more scheduled to follow.

The Salient Benelli M2 retails for $2,000 and is now in full production. The company’s next move, however, is to develop a program where current Benelli M1/M2 owners can ship their shotguns to receive the custom work.

“We will take their current platform and do a complete Salient Performance Package,” Pignato said. “The return product will have all of the performance upgrades that our brand-new Salient Custom Benellis have.”

More information on Salient Arms products and services can be found at www.salientarmsinternational.com. To purchase the Salient Benelli M2, along with pretty much any other gun or piece of gear for tactical or practical shooting, visit Pignato’s Velocity Shooter, the primary source for Salient product purchases, or call (859) 533-3612.