Camp/Survival Shotgun

Thanks for the light recommendation.

Good to know about cutting the barrel myself, wasn't sure I could do that "legally" or not.

Haha...I will be leaving the butstock alone...never knew the pistol grip was so frowned upon!!
 
The best one is the one that you enjoy packing on top of all your gear. Go and handle a bunch at a gun store and choose based on your preference for the manual of arms, then choose a barrel and magazine configuration based on how much extra weight you want to pack. My impression is that the large majority of pump shotguns are pretty good- such that you have to be really trying to pick a lemon, so you might as well go for the one that you like, rather than the one we like.

For the short barrelled Norincos, I personally think that if you're backpacking, they're pretty heavy for what you actually get. I just got my new 5 shot Ithaca 37 in the mail today and I'm probably going to start packing that instead of my 12.5" HP9 since they feel about the same weight. This is mostly because I don't often hike through veg thick enough to make length a real concern though. YMMV.

That said, if you're looking for a budget beater gun to drag over hill and over dale, I really don't see how you could go wrong with a Maverick 88.

Whatever you get, keep it light and handy. Get a sling and call it a day. Load the mag up with slugs, and keep a birdshot in the chamber for small game.
 
My vote is for the BL-6

Its a remington 870 with a 6.5 inch barrel with the full stock non restricted because it's 26 inchs long.. small light and not a norinco..

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chalkriver said:
You can cut the barrel yourself, you dont have to go to a gunsmith.
As long as it is over 18 in , go for it with a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. After cutting use a round file to the inside of the bore and a flat file to the outside and then touch it up with some blueing .
Click to expand...

I thought overall length for a shotgun was 26''?
 
for a 'survival gun' id simply go with a lightweight .22LR. a 12ga is heavy, especially when you factor in the ammo.

if you are dead set on carrying a shotgun, and you want something short and compact, an 8.5" Grizzly with a short LOP stock will be right at 26" and yet retains full functionality.

IMHO PGO shotguns give up far too much in functionality. folding stocks all have their issues - i have yet to find a folding/collapsible stock that is as solid, gives as good/consistent a cheek weld, and is as comfortable to shoot as a traditional stock.

at the minimum 26" length, you can either have an 18" barrel and PGO stock, or an 8.5" barrel and a full stock. personally, id much rather have the latter and retain the shotgun's full functionality/versatility. PGO shotguns are ideal for LEO/MIL breaching, or as just something different for some range/plinking fun, but IMHO they are ill-suited for any defensive role.
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with a cylinder bore, an 8.5" barrel has noticeably more spread with shot at even short ranges (~15 feet). depending on your intended use, this may be a good thing. if not, then you can have the barrel threaded for chokes - there is plenty of meat in it. slugs with a short barrel and bead sight arent the most accurate, but you can remedy this by installing aftermarket ghost rings.
 
Sounds like you are looking more for a camp gun to keep dangerous critters at bay with than a survival gun to use for feeding yourself over an extended period. I also seem to recall that cheap was a benefit.

As such, I recommend the Maverick 88. % rounds fit in the mag tube and it is quite light. Mossberg 500 barrels and buttstocks will fit as will some internal parts. I've had mine since 2006 and use it as my bear/ burglar/ zombie gun and have no complaints other than the reciever's finish is a bit thin.
 
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