Moving into my first home, so I'm looking at upgrading from a pistol to shotgun for home defense. Leaning semi-auto and am torn between the Mossberg 940 Pro Tac SPX and Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol.

The Beretta seems to have a better action, but I prefer the tang safety/QD placement/stock adjustment on the Mossberg. Is there a reason to go Beretta or is there an even better option out there?

Have also seen the Tavor TS12, which is hilarious looking but is apparently very reliable and solves the problem of NEEDING to train tactical reloads since it can internally hold the same number of shots as a typical 18.5" with a 5 round shell card.

I think you’ll be fine with the 940 for HD. The A300 is European style so it has a shell release latch, long story short that means you can do a slug changeover without having to dump two rounds out of the gun, just the one in the chamber. Not super relevant for HD in my opinion but nice for other things. Skip the TS12.

>>63990785
you don't need to train reloads with any shotgun unless you shoot 3-gun, reloading a shotgun in a home defense scenario means you're either fucked and should have had an AR, or you're an astoundingly bad shot
th TS12 is also a huge pile of shit, like the UTS-15
both the A300 and 940 are good go shoot both and see which one you like, because you're going to need a lot of trigger time behind both to confirm your HD shells run reliably in either

>>63990775 (OP)
Between the options presented, the A300 is best. Mossberg tries, but their 940 series is getting increasingly expensive while continually lagging behind Beretta and Benelli.
The A300 is a US made budget version of the 1301, which is very good, arguably the best semi auto combat shotgun available. Unlike the 1301's rotating bolt head, the A300 has a more conventional locking block that pops up out of the bolt to lock into a barrel extension so it isn't as smooth shooting and the A300 also has a less advanced gas system that doesn't cycle as quickly. Neither of these things are deal breakers or really necessary for an HD shotgun, but nice to have if you plan to actually shoot a lot and have fun with the shotgun.

If you are trying to keep things VERY budget friendly, especially considering that there's a non-zero chance of an HD gun disappearing in an evidence locker for God only knows how long if it is ever actually used, then Mossberg's pump shotguns are worth considering. They are a fraction of the price of any non-Turkish semi-auto and absolutely dead nuts reliable. In practical terms, the rate of fire difference is insignificant and the risk of short stroking is overstated so long as you practice with the gun at all. Mossberg 500, 590, maybe a Maverick 88 but that is getting really cheap.
If you do want to roll the dice on Turkshit, get a MAC 1014. It is a 1:1 parts interchangeable copy of the Benelli M4, but you do need to shoot it a lot to make sure you didn't get a lemon and send it in for warranty service at the first hint of trouble. I don't really recommend it because you have a budget for non Turk shotguns, but I have one and it runs great.
>>63990785
Total meme gun, just don't.

>>63991554
I got that Mav88 with the folding stock for under $300 last year, it's insanely good for the price.

The 88 is the same base shotgun as the Mossberg 500, just with some pared down finish (no heat shield, no 2nd bead, etc).

>>63993970
Mostly.

It also has a slightly more unitized trigger assembly that moves the safety from the tang to a cross-bolt position, a one piece for end/action bar setup that isn't as good, top of the receiver isn't drilled/tapped and the finish is much thinner so the steel parts rust much more easily. Still a great gun for the money, but if it is available for only a little bit more, the 500 is worth it.

>>63990775 (OP)
Beretta A300 by far. The only nicer tactical shotguns you can get by spending more money would be Benellis

>>63990775 (OP)
Why would you ever spend more than 400 dollars on a shotgun, and even that's pushing it

>>63990775 (OP)
>Mossberg 940 Pro
I have this, works fine, do you really need to spend 2x to get the same, or a little better? If money is no object you would not be asking.

>>63991554 is correct about the gun being seized for evidence after an involuntary social gathering.

Semiauto A300 is neat. Used ones are about $600 (so long as it cycles and shoots, you're good).

Pump 590S would be a good one, as you can mix minishells and regular shells as needed (but you need to keep track).

Mossberg has a 990 that's slightly cheaper than a 940 tactical, but you don't have a stock and the receiver isn't tapped to take shell holders.

>>63996537
>Why would you ever spend more than 400 dollars on a shotgun, and even that's pushing it
To either get a semiauto that actually runs and won't beat itself to death, or to get a double barrel for clays that won't fall apart.

>>63990775 (OP)
>A300 Ultima Patrol

Just do it. Getting the 1300 is worth the dosh if you have it.

>>63991554
1300's chrome'd (and tapered) barrel is a large plus.