Winchester's SXP Defender is a 12 gauge pump built around an 18-inch fixed cylinder-bore barrel, a 3-inch chamber, a 5+1 capacity and a bead front sight. The inertia-assisted slide action cycles fast, the furniture is black synthetic, the safety is a cross-bolt, and the length of pull is 13.75 inches. It weighs 6.25 pounds and measures 38.5 inches overall in the Blue/Black finish.

In New Jersey this is a home-defense shotgun rather than a deer gun. The state caps a deer shotgun at three shells, and this one holds five in the tube, so it is configured for the house and the range. The short barrel and short stock help in hallways and tight rooms, the 3-inch chamber handles buckshot loads, and the plain bead is quick at close range. Pattern the load you choose at the range before relying on it, and the synthetic furniture wipes clean afterwards.

Key features

• 12 gauge pump, 18-inch cylinder-bore barrel
• 5+1 capacity, 3-inch chamber
• Inertia-assisted slide action
• Cross-bolt safety, bead front sight
• 6.25 pounds, 38.5 inches overall

This shotgun ships to a New Jersey FFL dealer, who runs your background check before you take it home.