Choosing a rifled slug shotgun?

I've owned Mossbergs, Remingtons, and Ithacas when it comes to pump guns. I'd pay a premium to get an Ithaca again. I love the smooth action and bottom ejection. The Browning will have the bottom ejection, too.

Keep in mind that most older Remingtons were the Wingmaster series with the fancy wood and deep bluing. Most of the newer ones are the Express series with cheap wood, some plastic, and cheap bluing (if it's even bluing anymore). That is probably why you remember different prices. You can still find Wingmasters (and Deerslayers for the slug guns) if you are willing to pay for them.

Rifled barrels with sabot slugs are far more accurate than a rifled slug in a smoothbore. That's why we pay so much for the rifled barrels and sabot slugs. I get 2-1/2" groups (at 100 yds) with sabots out of my rifled Remington 1100.

I can't give you any personal feedback on the Browning, Winchester, or Benelli pumps, sorry.

where do you live? if it's not a warzone you've got no business buying an assault rifle for home defense. if i had to buy an automatic weapon for home defense I'll buy a Soviet KPV heavy machine gun. if the area is that bad I will probably consider moving first. I don't need an assault rifle for home defense. full auto is for idiots. I think what you're looking for is a military styled sporting rifle or a sporting shotgun that is defense-oriented. since overpenetration is an issue, the AK/AR types are all out,. you can get an AR15 with a 9mm upper or a hi point carbine, anything more will be dangerous due to there's many people in your house. as for shotgun the Mossberg 500, Saiga 12 or Kel Tec KSG are excellent choices.

I would say a Mossberg 500 with a rifled barrel and smooth barrel combo. That should be around $250. You could always go the used root and get a Winchester 1200/1300 with a smooth bore and just use rifled slugs there just as accurate as rifled barrels with sabots. Maybe a Stevens 77 or the best route like you said sounds like a used Remington 870 and putting on a 18.5 inch rifled barrel.

My ANSWER is that at my age and "old bones" condition, I would want a semi-auto 12 gauge, for common availability of ammo components, and for my geriatric safety, LOW felt recoil!!!!!

Also, I would want it's optional and easily switched rifled slug barrel to be pre-drilled for a Weaver/Picatinny rail, to mount a red dot sight on, or whatever else I wanted to fool around with. I offer that sooner or later many shotgunners will come around to this "want list".

you say you HAVE a Mossberg? how about a Mossberg 500 12 gauge? you have the gun you need, now you just need to buy a replacement rifled barrel, install it(pretty easy to do yourself) and your done(unless you want a scope, etc, then get those), nothing more needed.