Best Boat Gun

RUPZUK

RUPZUK

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Location
north coast
You always see threads about the best truck gun...
What about a boat gun (or canoe/ kayak/skiff)?
Ground rules for the argument;
-Price is of no concern.
-The gun must be 100% reliable.
-Packable.
-It will go swimming- in salt water.
-It won't be cleaned regularly.
-It has to last more than a few seasons.
-It has to be able to be frozen, filled full of sand, etc... and still work.
-It has to stop everything-now (12g-slugs)
-Simple beats "cool factor"; I gotta pack it.
So I'm looking at a 590/870 mariner to a BPS all weather.
Which one?
Any others?
Why?
 
BPS All Weather is a good gun:

http://www.morrisonarms.com/2012/04/browning-bps-all-weather-20-stainless-barrel/

In my opinion, too big for a boat gun, that needs to be a takedown. It should be 12 gauge, to be able to shoot flares, birdshot, slugs & buck with equal aplomb. It should be a takedown, for the boat space, especially in small craft (very much so in a kayak). That brings me to doubles.

The ultimate, no expense spared boat gun would be a side by side, stainless 12 gauge (doesn't exist), side by side as the shallower opening angle will be easier in a boat. 18" barrels, the whole package would be a foot and a half long, and side by's are known for their reliability (reference African dangerous game doubles).

The discontinued Ruger Red Label All Weather O/U shortened up would get you closer, but not there.
 
I would almost say for the packability and harsh use i would almost go with a cheap as you can get single shot (as long as you don't need a pump or semi) that breaks down into 3 pieces to fit in your pack, and if it falls in, get dirty, rusts, whatever, just get a new one next year if it doesn't work.
I still have my first single shot 20 guage and it has been through snow and sleet and rain, mud, you name it and i feel kind of ashamed to admit it because i am so anal about cleaning some of my guns, but other then the odd patch down the bore i have never cleaned it and it is still going strong 20 years later
 
bainbridge_firing.jpg
 
The answer could be very different depending on where you intend to sail, the west side of Hudson Bay presents different challenges than say the coast of Somalia. But where the problem is best answered by a 12 ga repeater, my life experience suggests that the marine coat Mossberg 590 would best fill the bill. I've seen enough problems with the Remington Marine Magnums in the last week to turn me off for life . . . five out of six that I examined had cracked or broken ejector housings, the ejector housing has a finger that indexes the barrel position, so once gone, only the barrel band prevents the barrel from rotating left and right. By comparison, the barrel lug on the Mossberg indexes with a cutout in the receiver, and is comparably very robust. Over time you might find that the shell stops on the 870 come loose and must be re-stabbed or the action will tie up, whereas the Mossberg's are designed to sit in their recesses and are held in place by the trigger group. Finally, the ejector on the Mossberg is solid and held in place by a screw with no spring, and can be changed out with only a simple screw driver.
 
whitetailbuck said:
only if glock made a shotgun that would be your best bet lol
Click to expand...

Not to stir a hornets net but I've had multiple glocks- both broke at the range...

Ardent said:
BPS All Weather is a good gun:

http://www.morrisonarms.com/2012/04/browning-bps-all-weather-20-stainless-barrel/

In my opinion, too big for a boat gun, that needs to be a takedown. It should be 12 gauge, to be able to shoot flares, birdshot, slugs & buck with equal aplomb. It should be a takedown, for the boat space, especially in small craft (very much so in a kayak). That brings me to doubles.

The ultimate, no expense spared boat gun would be a side by side, stainless 12 gauge (doesn't exist), side by side as the shallower opening angle will be easier in a boat. 18" barrels, the whole package would be a foot and a half long, and side by's are known for their reliability (reference African dangerous game doubles).

The discontinued Ruger Red Label All Weather O/U shortened up would get you closer, but not there.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree on the 12g for all the reasons you mention,I don't need a take down, it will stow in a scabbard and needs to be available at a moments notice.
The BPS has my attention as parts of it are stainless and I had a BPS bird gun before and it was a very refined shotgun. The sight I'm not so sure of- it looks like something could get hung up and snagg, or break. I'd really like to handle one before I spend...

Boomer said:
The answer could be very different depending on where you intend to sail, the west side of Hudson Bay presents different challenges than say the coast of Somalia. But where the problem is best answered by a 12 ga repeater, my life experience suggests that the marine coat Mossberg 590 would best fill the bill. I've seen enough problems with the Remington Marine Magnums in the last week to turn me off for life . . . five out of six that I examined had cracked or broken ejector housings, the ejector housing has a finger that indexes the barrel position, so once gone, only the barrel band prevents the barrel from rotating left and right. By comparison, the barrel lug on the Mossberg indexes with a cutout in the receiver, and is comparably very robust. Over time you might find that the shell stops on the 870 come loose and must be re-stabbed or the action will tie up, whereas the Mossberg's are designed to sit in their recesses and are held in place by the trigger group. Finally, the ejector on the Mossberg is solid and held in place by a screw with no spring, and can be changed out with only a simple screw driver.
Click to expand...

Gold! thanks, narrows one out of the running:D
With the 590 mariner; does the mag tube spring and plug come out the front (cleanout) or is it like the 500 (bolted- must remove the mag tube to clean it) ?
I have a 500 now and while it has seen a whack of abuse there are things I just don't like- they barrel retention bolt is one, and the cheap plastic forestock is the other (does the 590 use the older metal sleeve under the forestock?)
Seems like the mariners I've seen stocked or advertized have 9 shot mag tubes and fancy sights & stocks- This is not what I need, a shorter mag with a plain bead (a tritium would be a plus but I haven't seen anything like that) and perhaps a speed feed stock - or plain.
Also, is the 590 an aluminum receiver or steel?
Also, doe it use chokes (I would consider this a bad thing)?

It would be so much nicer to have a shop that stocked these things so a guy could get to touch them before dropping cash...
Thanks
Oh, and an Iowa class drafts to much water, the Dillon Aero looks like it could work- do they come in stainless,lol...
 
Hemingway kept a Mannlicher Schonauer 6.5MS carbine on his boats which even he admitted was "too nice a rifle to keep on a boat" but it shot so well and it reminded him of so many places and peoole that he liked to have it nearby.
 
You could grab a 18.5" 590 and arma-coat it if the 20" bbl and 8 rd mag tube is too much for your needs. Theyre also alot cheaper with the 18.5" bbl. They have an aluminum reciever and fixed cyl. bore. I agree with the 870 comments, and add that theyre not the "uber reliable" juggernaughts of the shotgun world. They just get propped up as people bang the Remington drum. Those days are over.
 
Boomer said:
The answer could be very different depending on where you intend to sail, the west side of Hudson Bay presents different challenges than say the coast of Somalia. But where the problem is best answered by a 12 ga repeater, my life experience suggests that the marine coat Mossberg 590 would best fill the bill. I've seen enough problems with the Remington Marine Magnums in the last week to turn me off for life . . . five out of six that I examined had cracked or broken ejector housings, the ejector housing has a finger that indexes the barrel position, so once gone, only the barrel band prevents the barrel from rotating left and right. By comparison, the barrel lug on the Mossberg indexes with a cutout in the receiver, and is comparably very robust. Over time you might find that the shell stops on the 870 come loose and must be re-stabbed or the action will tie up, whereas the Mossberg's are designed to sit in their recesses and are held in place by the trigger group. Finally, the ejector on the Mossberg is solid and held in place by a screw with no spring, and can be changed out with only a simple screw driver.
Click to expand...

Those 870s must be used often? 2000-3000rds a year?

My experience has been that it takes about 10 000rds before any of those problems occur (If they ever do. Most people don't even put half as many rds thru their shotgun in their entire lifetime!). In most cases where the ejector housing tab breaks, the cause is the mag tube cap/ mag extention not being properly tightened which causes too much play where the barrel and reciever mate. Recoil causes the barrel to twist in the reciever and eventually it cracks/shears off the tab. Keep the barrel tight and the problem is virtually non-existant. Even the newer thin ejector springs have an average 8000rd life expectancy (which is similar to the firing pins)...although I will admit I have seen one ejector spring break with as little 2500rds rounds thru it.

As for the shell stops...even if they do come un-staked it will absolutely not tie-up the gun. They will be held in place buy the trigger housing. Fore and aft movement is/will be prevented by the front trigger housing retaining pin as seen in the pic below.

30d9vh3.jpg


Edit: resized the pic so it wasn't so damned big! LOL!
 
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