Review: Dickinson Arms Marine Pump-Action Shotgun

We all wish to be as well-armed as possible.

With obligations including housing, a vehicle and, perhaps, an education, a $1,000 firearm isn’t in our sights.

So, how much compromise are we willing to accept?

There is more compromise inherent in handguns, as the less-expensive versions usually offer less performance.

When it comes to shotguns, not so much. The pump-action shotgun is so simple and effective, a downright cheap version works fine.

Benefits of Pump-Action Shotguns

A pump shotgun has a natural point. The action of loading the shotgun and stroking the action are natural. The pump-action shotgun is simple to load.

A 12-gauge shotgun offers proven wound ballistics.

I recently watched a video in which the DNR of the nation involved hunted down a crocodile — not an alligator, but a crocodile — that had killed a local woman near a fishing village.

The official at the helm of a small boat singled out the beast and took aim at about five yards.

A single shot to the head and 1,000 pounds or more of reptile rolled over and died. That is real power.

Of course, a proper load must be chosen. Buckshot or slugs are useful, depending on the problem to be solved.

Dickinson Features and Specs

The Dickinson shotgun illustrated features a marine finish.

This means the shotgun is useful for keeping aboard a boat or in a dwelling in humid parts of the country.

They will withstand a lot of use with minimal maintenance.

With three points of contact, the long gun handles well and swings quickly to get on target.

There isn’t as great a difference between performance of an affordable and a very expensive shotgun as far as general defense use goes.

Either will get the job done if the user is skilled. We are not fighting a war, but a small-scale personal battle.

9mm handguns and 5.56mm rifles seem in short supply, but the supply line for shotguns looks good.

The Dickinson pump-action shotgun is well-made, the action is smooth enough, and the trigger action crisp and clean.

The safety operates in a positive manner. The finish resembles chrome, but it is nickel, perhaps electroless nickel.

It is a bargain and has a pleasing appearance. The Dickinson line features a lifetime warranty.

The tubular, under-the-barrel magazine will accommodate five 12-gauge 2¾-inch shells.

Simply press 2¾-inch or three-inch shells into the loading port beneath the receiver.

The loading port is larger than early generation shotguns, making loading easy enough.

If the shotgun is cocked, press the bolt release and rack the pump action to the rear.

Leverage is good and a lot of effort isn’t needed. When you fire the shotgun, recoil causes the muzzle to rise.

Use this leverage to help rack the pump-action and slam it forward, bringing the muzzle back on target.

You may fire quickly with good control after a bit of practice.

Some shotgun forends are smooth, this one is properly serrated to offer both abrasion and adhesion in handling.

The forend is also longer than most shotguns. Both the bolt release and the safety lever are oversized for rapid manipulation.

Even the knurled knob holding the barrel to the magazine tube is specially designed for easy manipulation.

I find the Dickinson one of the best buys and a great all-around shotgun for home defense.

Load Testing

Leaning into the shotgun and controlling recoil, the shotgun is useful in rapid-fire.

I have tested the new Federal Force X2 buckshot load. This is a nine-ball buckshot load with copper-plated pellets.

The difference, is these balls are segmented so each will break in half, creating a total of 18 wound channels.

This is a purpose-designed personal-defense/home-defense load. The pattern is wider than Federal Flite Wad buckshot.

These buckshot balls will penetrate slightly less and should break up more readily on meeting resistance.

The key to limiting over-penetration is to not miss the target! The pattern at seven yards ran four to five inches, about what Federal Flite Wad loads do at 20 yards.

Buckshot travels in a string and average penetration of this load in gelatin is 9.5 inches, a little less than the standard load.

They begin to segment by five inches penetration. This is a good choice for home defense.

I fired three Federal TruBall slug loads at 15 yards. They grouped into three inches 1.5 inches above the point of aim.

These are useful if greater penetration is needed or defense against large animals is a concern.

Conclusion: Dickinson Arms Pump-Action Shotgun

The Dickinson shotgun is useful, reliable and affordable. In these harrowing times, it just may be at the top of the list to defend the homestead.

What do you think of the Dickinson Marine pump-action shotgun? Let us know in the comments section below!