by Pat Cascio, Survival Blog:

Not all shotguns are created equal. Some are meant for sport hunting, and some are designed for self defense. Today we’re checking out the Stevens Model 320 Security shotgun.

Shotguns
A lot of people find most shotguns pretty boring, and I might just be in that crowd these days. There are so many different models and makes of shotguns out there, and many look the same as the next one or the one before it. Most folks who purchase a shotgun do so with the thought of upland bird hunting or water fowl hunting. I have no problem with that at all. It’s a great sport to get involved in.

Home Protection
Then there are preppers and just plain ol’ home owners who want something a bit “more” for home protection than what a handgun affords them. They chose to go with what we used to commonly call a “riot shotgun”. I’m not quite sure how the short(er) barrel shotgun earned that title, other than I know more than a hundred years ago police were using the short barrel shotgun to quell some labor involved riots that turned into street warfare. Still, many police departments issue a short barrel shotgun, usually with an 18-inch barrel for officers to carry in their patrol cars. It is a force multiplier when you are in a solo patrol car. And it is comforting to have this “partner” close at hand.

Made By Savage Arms
The Stevens Model 320 Security Shotgun under review today is made by Savage Arms. In case you didn’t know, Savage manufactures long guns– rifles– for hunting and long range shooting competition, and their off-shoot– Stevens– is the main maker of their shotguns.

If On a Budget and For Home Defense
Many law enforcement agencies tend to go with the Remington Model 870 shotgun or a Mossberg Model 500 shotgun for their patrol cars, and I don’t have a problem with that. To each his own; however, the Stevens line-up of shotguns shouldn’t be overlooked, especially if you are on a budget and are looking at a shotgun for home defense, or whatever your needs might be.

Overview of the Stevens Model 320 Security Shotgun
The Stevens Model 320 Security Shotgun comes in 12 GA, which is pretty much the standard chambering in a shotgun designed for security/law enforcement work. Additionally, there is a wide selection of 12 GA ammo out there that will fill your needs, from birdshot for target practice to 00 Buckshot for serious self defense, to a rifle slug for taking some of the biggest game around.

Barrel, Dual Slide Bars
The 320 comes with an 18.5-inch barrel, and it can chamber either 2¾-inch or 3-inch magnum shells. I’ve never seen the advantage to going to the heavier recoiling and much more expensive magnum shells, and most law enforcement stick with the 2¾-inch shells. However, it’s good to know that the 320 can take the bigger shells. However, be advised your magazine tube will be downloaded by one round, because the magnum shells are longer and the magazine only holds 5-rds plus one in the chamber of 2¾-inch shells.

I like the dual slide bars on the Stevens Model 320 for fast action. Some pump shotguns only have a single slide bar. If you find yourself “pumping” the slide bar too fast you can literally bend the single slide bar, putting your shotgun out of service, which is not a good thing to have happen. The 320 also has a proven rotary bolt that operates smoothly. That’s a very nice touch. Their magazine tube is bottom loading, and ejection is from the right side of the receiver. The barrel material is carbon blue, and the receiver is aluminum with the stock manufactured out of black synthetic material for the roughest weather.

Pump Forearm
The pump forearm itself is also black synthetic, and, this is my one complaint– it is too long. You can’t mount a side shell carrier with five or six rounds on the left side of the shotgun. Otherwise, when you pump the action to chamber another round, it won’t allow you to do so. The rear portion of the pump forearm will hit a side saddle carrier. I was able to place a side saddle carrier with two rounds on the rear of the receiver and another shell carrier than holds 6-rds of spare ammo on the right side of the butt stock, plus a sling on the shotgun as well.

Read More @ SurvivalBlog.com