A shot gun that can do it all!

i dont know why people say that an 18" or shorter barrel isnt going to be good for birds on the wing, or shooting clays ...

ive dropped plenty of ducks with an 18" cylinder choke 870 .. and even with my 12.5

and range isnt reduced with an 18" because all your powder burns, you get max velocity of the shot .. the only thing i would recommend for an all round shotgun is the addition of chokes.

and then people will say that a short barrel messes up your "swing" .. whatever that is .. if you're tracking a moving target then you'll be tracking at the same speed no matter how long or short your barrel is.

when people say that you need a 24-30" barrel for hunting and clays its because their either a dusty old fudd who likes things their way, or they just flat out dont know any better.

870 with 18" inter-choked barrel gets my vote
 
Fenix.NZ said:
i dont know why people say that an 18" or shorter barrel isnt going to be good for birds on the wing, or shooting clays ...

ive dropped plenty of ducks with an 18" cylinder choke 870 .. and even with my 12.5

and range isnt reduced with an 18" because all your powder burns, you get max velocity of the shot .. the only thing i would recommend for an all round shotgun is the addition of chokes.

and then people will say that a short barrel messes up your "swing" .. whatever that is .. if you're tracking a moving target then you'll be tracking at the same speed no matter how long or short your barrel is.

when people say that you need a 24-30" barrel for hunting and clays its because their either a dusty old fudd who likes things their way, or they just flat out dont know any better.

870 with 18" inter-choked barrel gets my vote
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I've shot clays one-handed with a 14" 870, and have video on YouTube to prove it :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON1S0sfJSv0

It can be done, but gimme something with longer barrels anyday. The Brits had a formula for handiness that said that half the weight of the gun should be in the middle third, and 25% in each of the outer thirds. I do find that my 28:-barrelled 20-gauge, which comes closer to that than my 870 with the 14" barrel, feels better balanced than the 870, and it comes to shoulder faster, right on point of aim, to the point where I really prefer it for grouse and bunny hunting. And it doesn't swing too fast, either.

Another problem with the shorter barrels is noise. It's not an issue with hearing protectors, but if you're hunting something where you need to listen, like rabbits or grouse, the blast from a short twelve can be hearing-damaging levels of loud. A twenty isn't quiet, but it doesn't sound like Thor popping a champagne cork in your ear like a short twelve does.
 
I have to agree with Feniz_NZ. "Swing" is all subjective to personal experience and taste. Guys that have been shooting long bbl shotguns all their lives have grown accustom to swinging that longer bbl around. Then picking up a shortie is where that "whippy" feeling comes from. Anything can be mastered and with some practise those same guys could track with a shortie just as good as with a long bbl. Of course you may develop, or have a long time preference for one or the other, but both can get the job done. The long bbl will do it better but that doesnt mean a shortie cant point, shoot and down its target.
 
Rdelliott - i hear where you're coming from too.. from my experience 18-22" in the happy medium .. i find any longer in a hunting shotgun becomes cumbersome .. and any shorter in a hunting shotgun is just showing off :D ( again, in my experience.. we shoot from thick scrub and out of boats alot.. shorter helps )

i just meant to put up an example that a short barrel shotgun isnt useless by any means when it comes to hunting or clays .. especially if you shoot clays for fun rather than in a club situation
 
Fenix.NZ said:
Rdelliott - i hear where you're coming from too.. from my experience 18-22" in the happy medium .. i find any longer in a hunting shotgun becomes cumbersome .. and any shorter in a hunting shotgun is just showing off :D ( again, in my experience.. we shoot from thick scrub and out of boats alot.. shorter helps )

i just meant to put up an example that a short barrel shotgun isnt useless by any means when it comes to hunting or clays .. especially if you shoot clays for fun rather than in a club situation
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Not trying to argue, but I wonder why all those world class trap and clay and skeet shooters use 28" to 32" barrels? I mean, those guys will do everything they possibly can to increase their score 1%. So if the short barrels were better why aren't they using them? Maybe they don't know wtf they are doing. Idle speculation of course.
 
jethunter said:
Not trying to argue, but I wonder why all those world class trap and clay and skeet shooters use 28" to 32" barrels? I mean, those guys will do everything they possibly can to increase their score 1%. So if the short barrels were better why aren't they using them? Maybe they don't know wtf they are doing. Idle speculation of course.
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Perhaps because they never have to deal with foliage or bushes while swinging on clays at a range?

just a guess.........
Edit: Barrel length differs considerably with your receiver length as well.
Example, my 20 gauge O/U with 26 inch barrels is only 2 inches longer than my M37 Ithaca Deerslayer w/20 inch barrel.
To myself, these two firearms are almost equal in balance points.
But that is not always the case, so in these discussions, hinge action, pump or semi makes a big difference in OAL.
 
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jethunter said:
Not trying to argue, but I wonder why all those world class trap and clay and skeet shooters use 28" to 32" barrels? I mean, those guys will do everything they possibly can to increase their score 1%. So if the short barrels were better why aren't they using them? Maybe they don't know wtf they are doing. Idle speculation of course.
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competition shooting is much different than hunting.
 
ranger_scout said:
Yeah this is why i seem to be leaning to the R870 or mossburg as mentioned lots of chokes and barrels but other shotgun options are out their and i don't want to ignore other options. Not sure i want the bennile i am no expert but the lack of chokes are not out their? I am willing to send about 700$ or so on the shot gun and barrels/tacticool accessories if they are needed. (i am a minimalist in add ons for weapons). Waterfowl, turkey, skeet, target are all things i will use for so the need for choke and barrels are good as their is no limit on barrels.

More info on limit kinda off topic
Also i can't just hide one in the back of my closet for a few reasons. My closet is really small. It is full with the current 2. My dad is a cop and is a bit investigative i wont get it past him. Don't worry about my limit of guns unless you have a solution, but their no convincing that solves my mom's issues with an arsenal of guns. I tried everything but my mom is scared of guns and does not no anything about them. Seems odd my dad has one and works with them and i have 2 and also work with them in the reserves but oh well. Dad enforces the limit because it the whole husband wife thing i am sure the married type know...
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Maybe its time to get your own place..
 
THEY will get used to you owning firearms if there is no bullsh^t while you own them. my parents freaked a bit when i brought the first one home (mainly mom) dad thought it was pretty cool, and they slowly get used to it, i own 6 now and no probs, just buy your second one and when you get more $$$ later buy a next , just dont let mom find out and tell dad..... oh btw, if you wanna save some money buy a mossberg 500, the remington i find a bit better quality, but more money, but thats also my opinion and preferance....
 
supernova said:
competition shooting is much different than hunting.
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Somewhat, but the idea is to hit the target in both.

I've used 20 " shotguns on birds. In thick cover I'll take it over the long barrels. In a duck blind or when cover isn't too thick I'll take a 28" barreled shotgun every time because I can hit more with it.
 
The idea of a short barrel seems interesting because if i can make a short one work then why get a long one? That being said if i get the longer one i feel will hit more and then i can get different chokes in each barrel which seems smart to me. Because each barrel will do different things.

Moving out will not happen as i am in college and it is much to expensive per month. This means instead of dealing with the stupid rule and putting all my money in the bank essentially. If i do this then when i get a stable full time job i will literally buy a #### ton of guns. Not to mention the truck again i want one so i can get to the range more often and out hunting. I can store one gun in their to and the problem is solved. I know you don't make money off a car in the long run but it will solve a lot of problems and still be cheeper than renting which also gets you no where.
 
ranger_scout said:
The idea of a short barrel seems interesting because if i can make a short one work then why get a long one? That being said if i get the longer one i feel will hit more and then i can get different chokes in each barrel which seems smart to me. Because each barrel will do different things.

Moving out will not happen as i am in college and it is much to expensive per month. This means instead of dealing with the stupid rule and putting all my money in the bank essentially. If i do this then when i get a stable full time job i will literally buy a s**t ton of guns. Not to mention the truck again i want one so i can get to the range more often and out hunting. I can store one gun in their to and the problem is solved. I know you don't make money off a car in the long run but it will solve a lot of problems and still be cheeper than renting which also gets you no where.
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Do they teach spelling in college? Just askin'
 
ranger_scout said:
The idea of a short barrel seems interesting because if i can make a short one work then why get a long one? That being said if i get the longer one i feel will hit more and then i can get different chokes in each barrel which seems smart to me. Because each barrel will do different things.

Moving out will not happen as i am in college and it is much to expensive per month. This means instead of dealing with the stupid rule and putting all my money in the bank essentially. If i do this then when i get a stable full time job i will literally buy a s**t ton of guns. Not to mention the truck again i want one so i can get to the range more often and out hunting. I can store one gun in their to and the problem is solved. I know you don't make money off a car in the long run but it will solve a lot of problems and still be cheeper than renting which also gets you no where.
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It's not a great idea to store a gun in a vehicle for long periods of time. Vehicles tend to collect a lot of moisture. Condensation forms with the repeated warm/cold/warm cycles that happen in vehicle interiors. I've seen more guns damaged by rust inside vehicles than any other cause. If there's no way you can keep it in the house, go with your first plan of storing in a friend's house.
 
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P90Puma said:
I have done both with my m4, My best is 18/25 on trap(done like 10 rounds ever) and the only round of skeet I have ever done was a 5 with one stage being a perfect 4.

It takes chokes (mod is factory) and 18.5" is more then enough barrel to get enough velocity to take down anything, well past "25 yards."

But since the OP only has 700$ this discussion is moot.
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I shoot mud disks with a full turkey choke, walmart shells and 28" barrel... I can smash them past 60 yds for fun... so easy it's almost boring. I'm glad u like your benelli, I like my SBEII too... but a short barrel is not as capable, it's just handier. I think the op would be better served with an 870 and multiple barrels...
 
jethunter said:
Not trying to argue, but I wonder why all those world class trap and clay and skeet shooters use 28" to 32" barrels? I mean, those guys will do everything they possibly can to increase their score 1%. So if the short barrels were better why aren't they using them? Maybe they don't know wtf they are doing. Idle speculation of course.
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never said a short barrel is better .. just said it isnt worse

plus the OP is trying to pick an all round shotgun .. so that rules out a 28-30" barrel.. as they arent going to be any good for slicing the cake around corners in a 3-gun/tac match
 
sulisa said:
I bought a Remington 870 Combo from Lebaron, about $500, I think.

It came with:
- 20"? Turkey barrel with fibre sights and turkey choke
- 26"? Waterfowl barrel with top rib and steel-friendly choke
- 24"? Rifled barrel with cantilever mount for deer

Plus, if I use the turkey barrel with a Rem Breecher choke, I can use it for competition, SHTF, etc, etc.

This shotty does pretty much everything very well. It does not have flashlights, lasers, folding stock, collapsible stock, bayonets, bipods, Huey door-gun mounts, etc (I had one like that, but it "felt" horrible to shoulder and fire. This gun fits me perfectly.)
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Yes, Lebaron is getting another batch for around May and are taking pre-orders. I think the "trio" is about $550 + tax.

It comes with three barrels. Each batch seems to have some variability with regard to barrel lengths, but for the most part, you get a 26 to 28 inch vent rib barrel with modified choke (good for skeet, trap, waterfowl, etc.), a 20 to 23 inch rifed barrel with cantilever scope mount (good for deer, predator, etc.), and a 20 to 22 inch barrel with a full choke and fibre optic sights (good for tough fowl, or buckshot for home defence). You simply cannot beat this deal.

I mounted a 1x28 Bushnell Trophy red/green dot scope on my rifled barrel, and it holds zero perfectly, and is dead accurate at 50 metres.

Just give them a good coat of Rem-oil after each cleaning/outing, and you won't have any rust. The 870's are extremely durable, and look great IMHO. See my photo below.

Of course, you could spend far more to make yourself feel better, and get far less shotgun for the money. Its your wallet.

4988133435_67a724e274_b.jpg
 
Fenix.NZ said:
never said a short barrel is better .. just said it isnt worse

plus the OP is trying to pick an all round shotgun .. so that rules out a 28-30" barrel.. as they arent going to be any good for slicing the cake around corners in a 3-gun/tac match
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Well you misunderstood then. I said the shorties ARE worse at some things, and better at others.

And I don't think the OPs stated intention was to enter an "all round shotgun" in a 3 gun match. Stretching it a bit, don't you think?
 
jethunter said:
Well you misunderstood then. I said the shorties ARE worse at some things, and better at others.

And I don't think the OPs stated intention was to enter an "all round shotgun" in a 3 gun match. Stretching it a bit, don't you think?
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well, no.. he wants all round.. so the 3gun thing was just an example, not saying hes actually going to.... but he could :D

my all round shotgun is ( at the moment ) an 18" 887 nitro with mod and breaching chokes ( useless but came with it ) .. i shoot skeet, ducks, and do some tac shooting with it.. works great..

DSC00611.jpg


so this is what im recommending as an all rounder..
it doesnt do everything perfectly, but it does do everything pretty damn well
 
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