Best all around Shot Gun

BoogerChew

BoogerChew

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Innisfil, Ontario
Good evening all.

I am new to hunting and weighing my options for guns. I first started thinking about a 30-30 or 30-06 for deer, moose, beer, etc. Then due to the communist province we live in ( Ontario ) and all of there regulations, I decided that would also probably need a shotgun for the controlled hunt in my zone. Looking at a rifled barrel for distance. I really like the Deerslayer III.

Then I would also need a Turkey Gun and possibly a duck, goose gun.

That adds up to 3 or 4 guns. Although I could afford it. The Scottish in me makes me rethink things and makes me wonder if there is not a better solution. 4 guns is going to cost $4 - $6000. They are each going to be used once per year for a week.

Would it not be better is 1 or 2 guns could do it all?

If you had to pick 1 gun for everything (deer, moose, beer, turkey, duck, goose). What Shotgun would it be?

If you had to pick 2 guns for everything ( 1 shotgun and 1 rifle ). What would they be?

I would rather by 1 or 2 expensive guns that were more versatile than 4 guns that would barely get used.
 
Expensive doesn't necessarily translate into versatile. There are lots that come in well under $1000, particularly if you look at the used market. I don't know the model#, but Mossberg sells a shotgun that comes with 3 barrels ... a rifled barrel, a short smooth bore, and a longer smooth bore. It also comes with screw in chokes for the smooth bores. One of my sons bought a used one for around $400. The Remington 870, especially the Wingmaster is a great shotgun ... lots of after market stuff available for them including a variety of barrels. That's only 2, there are plenty more, which I am sure will be mentioned when others chime in. There are lots of rifles in a multitude of chamberings that would meet your requirements for big game hunting. Though I don't usually use one, a 30'06 is one of the most versatile cartridges. Others will point you at the .270W, .260, .270. .280, .308, or any one of a host of others that will do the job. The best advice would simply be to shop around, find something that you like, that fits your budget, and that you feel comfortable with.
 
You may wish to consider the following....three long guns - a semi-auto shotgun, a Centrefire Rifle, an in-line Muzzleloading Rifle...

Semi-Auto: Something such as the Benelli M2, Browning Maxus or the Baikal MP-153 (least expensive but very good)) will cover Upland, Waterfowl, Turkey etc.

CF Rifle: Something in a .30 cal will cover all big game needs in rifle WMUs

ML Rifle: An in-line will cover Controlled Hunt WMUs and will also provide better range and accuracy.....besides, sabot/powder will be far less expensive than sabots for rifled bbl shotguns.
 
For shotgun, sounds like you need a 12 gauge chambered for 3 or 3 1/2 inch rounds, and with adjustable chokes, including at least a turkey choke (or at least extra full) and a modified choke. This will take care of your duck, goose, and turkey needs. Something like an 870 Express Super Magnum would work.

In Ontario, deer and black bear would be okay with a .30-30 but for moose I might go up a notch to the calibres icedog mentioned. You might also think about sizes such as 7x57 (Mauser) or 6.5x55 (Swedish/Mauser). You can usually get military surplus bolt action rifles chambered for these cartridges for about the same as a basic .30-30. Another possibility is the .303, since it's so easy to pick up a Lee Enfield.

But I would think first about a .22 for small game. You can learn how to aim at low cost. There are many economical bolt and semi-auto .22s that would be good to have some experience with before trying to hunt larger game, and .22 typically costs less than 10% of any centrefire hunting round.
 
Try to find yourself a 3inch magnum capable M87 Ithaca in 12 gauge. The dismountable barrel on the older turkey gun can take removeable chokes so you can make it steel capable for waterfowl too. Then a deerslayer barrel will give you big game hunting use at closer ranges in our dense forests.

Effectively a four use gun when you count upland game such as grouse, pheasants or rabbits/hares.
You can make that five if you keep the turkey choke and hunt coyotes with Dead Coyote T shotloads.

This would be the one gun choice. In the two gun choice you could do very well in North America with this mentioned shotgun and a good 30-06 calibre rifle.
 
remington 870 super mag, you can pick up cheap rifled barrels for them for deer as well, mosseberg is 535 is a good combo deal but i know a few people who have had alot of problems with them, cant go wrong with an 870 i dont know a person who dosent have one in their gun safe!
 
I have many shotguns but if I was to name one as most versitile, it would be my 870 combo. Has a short smoothbore with iron sights, and a 30" vented waterfowl barrel.
 
BoogerChew said:
If you had to pick 1 gun for everything (deer, moose, beer, turkey, duck, goose). What Shotgun would it be?

If you had to pick 2 guns for everything ( 1 shotgun and 1 rifle ). What would they be?
Click to expand...

(1) Baikal MP153 or Benelli Nova, have both & use the Baikal the most, Nova is the back up gun...
(2) Baikal MP153 and a bolt action 308, maybe a Tikka...

Lots of nice shotguns & rifles to choose from, so try them to see if they fit you & then buy.

Cheers
Jay
 
Sounds like a shotgun will do it all for you. If your option is to spend $4,000+ on many guns, then spend $1,000 or so on a very nice shotgun to do your chores. You need a rifled slug barrel and then a standard 26-28" smoothbore with choke tubes. Personally I don't see the need for a dedicated 'turkey' barrel at all. Now here's the thing - get a good semi-auto. They are very well made today and very reliable. They are handier for waterfowl shooting, but even more importantly they allow you the opportunity to do a lot more clay target shooting comfortably. I assume you are new to shotgunning entirely. Yes, you are going to have to LEARN and PRACTICE your wingshooting skills. As a duck hunter, skeet is your friend. Trap helps more with pheasant, sharptail and jump-shooting ducks as those targets will all flush away from you. Ducks come at you from all angles, like in skeet. But sorry, I'm not sure which semis have a rifled slug barrel as an option, Moss 930 I think.

Added, SX3 does, same Beretta 391, Rem 11-87, not hard to find out.
 
My choice if I was so limited ( and thankfully, I'm not ! ) would be a 3" chambered Remington
870 Wingmaster pump, and a Remington 7600 pump in either 270, 308 or 30-06. The 270 would
be my first choice ... and it is "good to go" where you can hunt with rifles in the areas of the
south restricted to a caliber of .275 or smaller. Either the 308 or the 30-06 with 165 or 180 grain
bullets will otherwise work just fine for either deer or moose.

I'd want at least Cylinder or Skeet, Improved Cylinder & Modified choke tubes for the shotgun, and
would a detachable sling and mount a good quality 1-4x or 2-7x scope on the rifle.

I have both guns in my cupboard now (and have had for many years) ... but also have others to play
with, including O/U's, SxS's, autoloaders and a few bolt action rifles in different calibers.
 
My opinion would be the 870 for an all around gun. So many barrel combos you could hunt pretty much anythign with it. If I could only add one rifle, it would be an 06 or a .308. Tons of different bullet weights and they're not a fortune to shoot.
 
Remington 870 Wingmaster with an extra turkey bbl and a nice bolt action (Winchester M70) should be around $2500 after you get the scope on the rifle and the extras you need (slings, cleaning kits, cases, etc.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom