Which Mossberg for home defense?

[theBo555]

I’m looking to pick up a Mossberg 500 for home defense, but man, I made the mistake of deep diving into the research, and now I'm confused.
There are so many different versions out there that I honestly can't tell the difference between them or which specs actually matter for a house gun. Does anyone have a recommendation on a good starter model that keeps it simple?
This is my first time buying a gun, and I'm just looking for something reliable that gets the job done without overcomplicating things. What would you guys pick?

 

[Alan]

Go with a basic 500 with an 18½″ barrel and bead sight

 

[shotgunTeam]

Honestly, for a first gun, just go simple. Just look for a Mossberg 500 Persuader or a basic 7 shot security model. an 18.5 inch or 20 inch barrel will be just great.
Anything longer is for hunting birds and is a pain to move around corners in a house

 

[red8aron]

In case you want to save some cash for ammo and practice, check out the Maverick 88 Security

It’s made by Mossberg and fits almost all the same parts, but it’s significantly cheaper. The main difference is the safety location (trigger guard vs. top of the receiver)