870 7-shot synthetic~half decent as a "platform?"

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys, looking for a few opinions. I'm heading north on a fishing trip in a couple of weeks into an area where black bears (I'm told) are a little too common. I've been wanting an 870, or DA clone of one for some time but as you all know, they're here one day, then gone for months. :confused:

Anyhow, I'm not 100% crazy about having a dedicated "bear" gun, almost can't justify it. However, if I knew I could easily throw another barrel on it for hunting or trap shooting, I could be tempted. For now, bear duty...everything else a year or so down the road. Here is the exact model I'm looking at;

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Is this too tactical to use a "platform" gun? I don't need 6+1 capacity, but do like the look of it. :) My local dealer has one for $377 which seems more than fair.

Slugs~how accurate are they out of a non-rifled barrel? How would a barrel like this pattern with shot, and is it good for any hunting application as is?

Thanks to anyone who wants to take all of this on, I appreciate you taking a moment to respond.
 
I have a similar 870 express with the standard 4+1 capacity, 18.5" barrel. If I do my part I can keep 5 slugs in a pie plate at 50 yards. Cheap winchester or federal slugs.

Works well for a grouse gun with 7 or 7.5 shot.

I have though about getting a longer barrel (26 / 28 or 30 with chokes) for clays but really struggle with the price of a new barrel. Seems to be around $250 or so just for a barrel when you can pickup a complete gun for under $400.
 
That is the exact gun I bought for my canoe trips. Bear encounters are usually kissing distance and as long as the ears are up there is communication going on. When they flatten the negotiations are over.

Shooting a bear is "generally" going to be a close distance to point blank experience. Having said that, I have had them in my camp and not had to shoot them. Normally they wander off or run away when challenged.

The grizzly and polar bears are another matter...
 
I have the same gun as rattle and get as good accuracy. For what you are doing I would have nothing else. The all round reliability of the 870 can't be beat for the price.
 
Throwing another barrel on an 870 with a magazine extension is a pain in the ass. A better option than the highspeedlowdragbadasstacticooooool gun would be the 870 Express combo with a longer barrel threaded for choke tubes and the shorter barrel with rifle sights.
 
I'd go for a regular 4+1 Express and throw a short barrel on it. That way it opens a lot of doors as far as additional capability and accessory compatibility.
 
mikeyb said:
I'd go for a regular 4+1 Express and throw a short barrel on it.
Click to expand...

May as well just by a grizzly or norc to start with. Fit and finish on the griz is on par or better than the express. Unless you want to spend twice as much to end up in the same place.
 
You'd have to plug that giant magazine down to two shots when hunting. Remember, regular pump guns typically hold four in the magazine and one in the chamber for five shots. How many slugs are needed to kill a bear?

If you can put a longer barrel on it (Full or Mod 28"+) for trap, it would be fine.
 
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