I'm trying to decide on my first long gun for home defense and have narrowed it down to a Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump action with a Knoxx Compstock (to reduce recoil for my wife). 

I'll be shooting leftie (left eye dominant) while my wife will be shooting right so the Mossberg 500's thumb safety seems like a good setup for us both.

My question is... should I be looking at the Saiga 12 gauge shotgun or stick to the mossberg?  The semi-auto on the S12 seems like a good feature and appears to reduce the recoil as well.  The Saiga appears to be modifiable to go ambidexterous too. What do you think?

I don't want to spend too much and won't be getting both.  I'll probably stick to whatever I get for a while and take it to the range to practice.

Anyone have experience with both and if so, any advice for me before I get one or the other???

Both good guns in their own right.

I honestly think that if you plan to use it for home defense, a good pump is hard to beat.

The benefit with the Saiga is that it might be banned someday which would drive up the investment value.

I've shot both and noticed that the Saiga doesn't like low recoil loads or bird shot very much.

For the price you'd pay for the Saiga, you could get two Mossberg 500's or 2 Remington 870's.

One in 12 gauge for you and a 20 gauge for the lady.

But for the price of the Saiga, you're getting a reasonably cheap semi-auto. I don't own a Saiga and never shot one but there's one thing I like about it... for home defense (esp. if you have kids at home) you can leave the Saiga out unloaded and keep loaded mags in safe. This keeps you ready and kids safe. I don't like keeping loaded guns out regardless if I have a lock on it or not because I have three nephews in the house and I only have a small safe.

For HD I wanted a 20ga pump because it has more than enough power with less recoil than 12ga.
I wanted something fairly compact without a folding stock.
Got a mossberg 500 mini......perfect. (basically a shrunken 500)
Just to warn you, the mini is small.  It is the smallest 20ga pump on the market if I'm not mistaken.

A Mossberg500 Roadblocker!!! Hahaha nah nah, go with rhe Saiga12 OGC and Xring has them in stock I think... Classic Arms has them for $499!!! Theres no scope rail and markings that came on the ealier ones though, but for HD, Saiga12..

Hi all -- Thanks for the replies.  I've been quiet because I've been reading up on your suggestions. 

For the Mossberg, the 20 gauge option looks like a good idea but just wondering about ammo availability -- 12 gauge seems to be the norm right?  Don't want to be buying accessories for the Palm as opposed to an IPhone.

I'm thinking it'd be best to try it out before buying one.  I'm thinking that a Mossberg 500 should be minimum to test. 

Does anyone know if any gun range here rents out a Mossberg 500 (or Saiga 12) for test firing at a range?. [edit] I just saw that the Saiga12 is available to rent at the RHSC and am assuming that the Mossberg could be rented at Magnum.  Any other places I should check?

i got a saiga 12 you can try out at kokohead. you bring own ammo.

i got a saiga 12 you can try out at kokohead. you bring own ammo.

I'll bring some ammo, I like try em out too...

Hey, I got a Mossberg 600--that's a 20 ga. pump that you can try.  Only thing is that it's got a 28" barrel and with the polychoke it's more like 30"  A tubing cutter will take care of the excess (that's how I made my pistol grip "cruiser," also a Mossberg but 12 ga.). 

Quote from: AKfortyseven on December 08, 2011, 03:37:47 PM

i got a saiga 12 you can try out at kokohead. you bring own ammo.

I'll bring some ammo, I like try em out too...

Hehehe...... Welcome to the forums AKfortyseven...cool name..

i got a saiga 12 you can try out at kokohead. you bring own ammo.

That'll be great -- thanks, AKfortyseven!  Please PM me (and KingKeoni?) if you plan to head over.  Weekdays are actually good for me... Sundays maybe... depends what time because of church.

Quote from: Kingkeoni on December 08, 2011, 05:43:03 PM

Quote from: AKfortyseven on December 08, 2011, 03:37:47 PM

i got a saiga 12 you can try out at kokohead. you bring own ammo.

I'll bring some ammo, I like try em out too...

Hehehe...... Welcome to the forums AKfortyseven...cool name..

With a name like that, you have instant friends here. Hahaha.

Welcome to the forum.

Hey, I got a Mossberg 600--that's a 20 ga. pump that you can try.  Only thing is that it's got a 28" barrel and with the polychoke it's more like 30"  A tubing cutter will take care of the excess (that's how I made my pistol grip "cruiser," also a Mossberg but 12 ga.).

Thanks, jc2721!  I will look up the Mossberg 600 as well.  Please PM me if you ever plan to head to KH. I should go get some ammos.

The pump shotgun is hard to beat. You can load light loads up to heavies and it will work. Semi Autos will need a little more power to cycle the action. A club member has a Saiga 12 and he has problems with the lighter loads. As for gauge? The 20 GA is a sleeper since there are ammo out there that can almost match the power. 12 GA is standard for personal /homedefense and does has more variety of ammo.  For indoor you have to remember whats behind the walls so slugs and probably even the buckshot might be a bit too much.
I think its basically personal preference with the shotgun you want. Yes its a good idea to be able to try different ones then decide.

I have a Benelli for HD. after years of reading and debating I got a Remington 870 to replace it as the HD gun.