Gun to carry on fishing trips advice

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Verteth

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I'm in the market for a shotgun to carry while I'm fly fishing on the east slopes in Alberta. I've been fly fishing for 5 or 6 years now, and finally decided I should get something that offers a little added protection on top of bear spray. I went ahead and got my PAL last fall, and I'd like to pick up a gun before fly fishing season this year. I'm new to guns, I've been doing some research, but I'd love some advice from some people with more experience. I'm not looking to spend big bucks, but I want something reliable that I can carry for years and not have to worry too much about jamming or some other failure at the wrong moment. I think my first choice is the Maverick 88 security, but it seems to be getting hard to find, at least around here. I know there are a few other affordable options, like a Stevens model 320, or a Norinco PD12. I'm wondering what people think of the models I've listed, or if anyone thinks there are some better options out there in a similar price range. I'm thinking an 18.5" barrel, like on the 370 would be a better bet than 14", like on the PD12, but I'd like to hear other's opinions, and not just about barrel length.

Thanks,
Adam
 
Consider a 12.5" dominion arms grizzly in 12 gauge. It's a better choice than what you listed, in my view. If it's not handy enough, you won't have it on you when you need it. 12.5" is as handy as it gets without going with a gun that takes non- standard accessories.
 
Claven2 said:
Consider a 12.5" dominion arms grizzly in 12 gauge. It's a better choice than what you listed, in my view. If it's not handy enough, you won't have it on you when you need it. 12.5" is as handy as it gets without going with a gun that takes non- standard accessories.
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Do you own a grizzly 12.5? If you do, how do you like it? I've been thinking hard about a 12.5 but haven't gotten around to pulling the pin and ordering one
 
Go into the gun store and feel a couple. The maverick 88 is a great gun, mine shoots anything and always works but it might not be ideal for your purpose. If you got a folding or collapsible stock for it might be more suitable, but in stock configuration its a bit long and heavy for your purpose.

You want something light and small, something that is easy to carry on your back all day while you move about with your rod in hand. Durability of finish is good too - sooner or later you are gonna trip or slip and the shotty is gonna get beat up on rocks or go for a dip.
 
I'd probably bring my workhorse Moss 500 18.5" or 590A1 14". I wasn't impressed with my friend's Grizzly that I shot... I'm sure the Mav 88 would be more reliable than that one.

Why not get the best shorty (11" barrel, Non Restricted) you can buy for about a G-note? It's even threaded for chokes and just looks badass!
zoom_STF12_COMPACT_INITIAL.png
 
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gmctech said:
Do you own a grizzly 12.5? If you do, how do you like it? I've been thinking hard about a 12.5 but haven't gotten around to pulling the pin and ordering one
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Yes I have the tube mag version. Very satisfied, great gun. I'd recommend installing a $70 hogue stock set. Makes a good gun into a great gun!
 
Thanks for the advice so far, I guess I still have some research to do. I was thinking that I wanted a good compromise between barrel length and accuracy, which is why I thought going with an 18.5" barrel would be my best bet. Sounds like the majority agree that a shorter barrel is better for my purposes. I will definitely go into a few gun stores and hold a few different models, and think about how easy they'd be to carry all day on my back, and how quickly I'd be able to get to them.
 
st1264 said:
I'd probably bring my workhorse Moss 500 18.5" or 590A1 14". I wasn't impressed with my friend's Grizzly that I shot... I'm sure the Mav 88 would be more reliable than that one.

Why not get the best shorty (11" barrel, Non Restricted) you can buy for about a G-note? It's even threaded for chokes and just looks badass!
zoom_STF12_COMPACT_INITIAL.png
Click to expand...

I'd love to if finances allowed, but unfortunately, they don't right now. That's definitely a pretty badass looking gun, though.
 
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st1264 said:
I'd probably bring my workhorse Moss 500 18.5" or 590A1 14". I wasn't impressed with my friend's Grizzly that I shot... I'm sure the Mav 88 would be more reliable than that one.

Why not get the best shorty (11" barrel, Non Restricted) you can buy for about a G-note? It's even threaded for chokes and just looks badass!
zoom_STF12_COMPACT_INITIAL.png
Click to expand...

I'll admit it looks baaaaaaad a.s.s.ed for sure, but I don't see that thing doing anything my Mav88's can't do (except look way more awesome) for the extra $800 ish canadian peso's....
 
Don't discount an 18.5" shotgun. The Maverick 88 has been a consistent performer for both myself and the people I know that do or have owned them. The comment about them being heavy makes no sense. They're one of the lightest pump shotguns on the market. IIRC around 6 lbs, lighter than a 12.5" 870. Even the 20" is light and the bead sight shoots to POA, th3 18.5 is a touch high with magnum slug loads. A 14" 870 with bead shoots to POA with buckshot but is high with slugs. 12.5/8.5" with bead are useless with slugs. Might as well shoot from the hip for the gross POI difference you get. Ghost ring or rifle sights are IMO a necessity on short bbl'd shotguns. Or atleast a severely raised bead or post to correct POI. Whatever you choose, practise the hell out of it. You need to know that you can quickly hit what you're aiming at, quickly load and manipulate the weapon, know whether or not it has functional issues etc. I've never had a malfunction with an 88 but all my 870s and clones have needed work out of the box to be safe reliable shotguns. You want to find those problems on the range not in the bush when you need to take out a vicious, murderous squirrel before it kills all your friends.
 
Personally, my "bush gun" shotgun is a Grizzly done up with wood furniture I picked up for cheap off someone who was moving his 870 in a tactical plastic direction. I also added an XS Sights Big Dot Tritium front sight, to fix the POA/POI issues (it's a taller front sight, which solves the "shoots high" problem people have with a traditional bead sight on short shotguns).

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I haven't had a single problem with it, and I'm somewhere between 1K-2K rounds through it by now. Last year I made a point of not cleaning it between when it came out of the cabinet in the spring, and when I put it up for the winter, took it to the range on a regular basis to practice - probably put close to 500 rounds through it last year alone. The only problem I had all year was at the end. You know how long it takes to clean the crap out of a shotgun after 500 or so rounds? A long dang time, that's how long.

Keep in mind, your mileage may vary with the DA Grizzlies. A lot of people are in the same boat as me - never had a single problem with them. Some people have had nothing but problems with them. I think the vast majority of people are pretty happy with them. Especially the ones produced within the past 5 or 6 years - the importers have been riding Norinco pretty hard about quality control, and it has had a positive effect.

If I was to reconsider, I would probably head for a Mossberg 590 Mariner. They go for around $700 new, and are built like a tank. Marine coat finish to fight corrosion. Really good choice for a gun that you want to buy once, abuse for life, and never worry about it just working. Don't know of a single person who's ever had a problem with them.

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There are many good options out there. The Remington 870 and mossberg are great because of the amount of aftermarket parts out there to make your gun fit your needs. Personally I'd go with the 870 in whatever length barrel you want and pick up a spare 12.5" grizzly barrel.
 
Mossberg all the way! Hands down. You will not find a better shotgun for the price. Go 18.5 forget all this shorty talk. I have sold my 870P's to run 590-A1's cause they are a better platform, look at want the US milatary has put this platform through. A 500 or 88 has all the same bits and pieces with a lighter barrel and plastic safety and trigger guard. I just went threw this on a build with a hunter fisherman that wanted something to carry for bear. After all the BS with all the crap ideas everyone threw at him I showed him facts gave him articles to read and he has a 20" mossy500 jic for less then $400 out the door new. I'm in the process of tracking down a youth stock for it and that's it. Bead sight nothing flashy and no extras. He has a 590-A1 20" for for him there is no extra training, just a lighter model of what he is use too. Spend some time reading and see what stands up, the 88 will serve you well for a life time. Remember, longer barrel equals more shots! No brainer!
 
The grizzly works but is a bit of a pig, receiver is noticeably heavier than an 870, I used to carry a 12" grizzly in the back country but since I picked up one of the corwin arms 13" folding single 12g, that's what comes with me everywhere.

It's only one shot but it's light so it comes with me even on a short walk from camp, I found myself leaving the grizzly behind sometimes which defeats the whole purpose of bringing a shooter into the woods.

Picked up some 12g adapters for small game and plinking, makes it a very useful tool.

Those Turkish shotguns are night and day compared to the Chinese.
There are some short barrel pumps on their site for handy money also but I have no experience with them but would have no problem buying one if I needed another short pump.
 
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