Can 1 shotgun do it all?

870 Wingmaster with 26” barrel. That in of itself would likely do everything you’d need of it. Anything further just selectively buy additional barrels as required... but in all reality you probably wouldn’t have to... I wouldn’t waste time with turkey barrels, shorter by 6” and fibre sights are nice to haves but certainly not must haves for turkey... the standard 26” wing master with Rem chokes do everything for you well except stabilize sabot slugs.

I’d pitch a three gun solution to all your gun hunting and shooting entertainment needs. Rem 572 Fieldmaster, 870 Wingmaster 26”, and Rem 7600 in either 270 or 30-06. You can hunt everything in Canada with those three guns, and they have the same operating principles and ergos.
 
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huntingfish said:
Hi folks,
I want to purchase my first shotgun. Ok, not actually my first, as I have a Rossi combo 410/22lr, but my first 12ga shotgun. I currently dont really need to be able to shoot birds with it, but would like the possibility. The more pressing matter is to be able to go deer hunting and turkey hunting. Budget is an issue, so I've actually started looking at the Pardner pumps (either the Walnut model with a 28" vented barrel or 22" barrel with turkey choke; neither has sights other than the brass bead), unless my bow sells (shameless plug for it in the EE!).

It looks like no matter what, I will have to purchase either some sights and/or choke to be able to do all that I want to do. And I will probably have to remove any sight I use for turkey/deer to be able to use it for something else (birds). Which seems like a pain. Time is at a premium for me at the moment with university and family / job.

I'm starting to wonder if putting fiber sights (or a 1-3x'ish scope on it) on it and getting an extra choke to be able to shoot slugs through the 22" barrel would be able to handle deer and turkey quite well? Any issue with shooting slugs through a smooth 22" barrel (with proper choke)?

Any reason I'm not thinking about to NOT go with the shorter barrel route? This will mean I'd probably need another shotty one day...but I'm ok with that. I just always thought a 12ga could do it all...and here I am thinking of getting multiple guns for jobs that I assumed one gun could do.

Cheers! Appreciate any input

David
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A pump action 12 gauge with 24-inch or 26-inch barrel will do everything, even ducks. Deer don't require a short barrel, although it makes it easier. Long barrels shoot slugs as well as short barrels, and same for buckshot. For a couple of particularly lean years, I did almost all my hunting with a Winchester 1300. I was broke, but I was afield all the time. Learn how to use your sub-optimal equipment and you'll never have trouble filling the freezer ... and you may find it's much more optimal than the marketeers told ya.
 
If you compare an Express 870 to present day M37 Ithaca Waterfowl (also 3 inch) they both run about 7.5 lbs. Same barrel length.
If you source an older Ithaca Featherweight with factory barrel it's about 7.2 lbs. Also in 12 gauge 2 3/4 only.
 
Sure. While my SBE3 is for waterfowl only, my Stoeger acts as my every day shotgun. I bought a rifled barrel for it as a spare, and its killed everything from ducks, geese, and Turkey to whitetail deer and black bear. It also killed dozens of partridge and pheasant. It does it all. My tactical pump might be better for home defense, but the m3500 would still work fine. I think its hard to beat a 12 guage auto-loader as the best all around shotgun.
 
Many good sugestions on here.
Keep in mind, when your budget pick up a little. the Benelli M4 could be all you need for your lifetime.
 
As much as I love my Benelli M2 for water fowling, if I had to pick one shotgun to do everything from mice to moose it would be hard to overlook the 870. 30 second barrel swap and your GTG.
 
Is 12ga the default for waterfowl? If you wanna shoot deer, geese, ducks, turkeys, and skeet/trap, can one 12 gauge gun fill all roles?

How many barrels?
 
knock-knock said:
Is 12ga the default for waterfowl? If you wanna shoot deer, geese, ducks, turkeys, and skeet/trap, can one 12 gauge gun fill all roles?

How many barrels?
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Two would do you, 26”-28” vent rib with choke tubes and a 18”-20” barrel with rifle sights. Pretty much covers you for anything, throw a rifled barrel in if your dead set on shooting sabots but that’s not a deal breaker.
 
Butcherbill said:
Two would do you, 26”-28” vent rib with choke tubes and a 18”-20” barrel with rifle sights. Pretty much covers you for anything, throw a rifled barrel in if your dead set on shooting sabots but that’s not a deal breaker.
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Thanks

What's the 18-20" for?
 
If I had to have one shotgun, an old 870.

I don't even have one, but I'm not a moron to ignore that it has the capability to fill any role by changing accessories. Two barrels (18.5" police barrel, 26" vent rib), mag extension (and plain mag cap).
Wouldn't need much more.
 
Butcherbill said:
Two would do you, 26”-28” vent rib with choke tubes and a 18”-20” barrel with rifle sights. Pretty much covers you for anything, throw a rifled barrel in if your dead set on shooting sabots but that’s not a deal breaker.
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This X2. No need for a mag extension for any of the things the OP is asking about.
 
I like the concept of having one shotgun to do everything.
So much so, that I own several shotguns that are set up to do everything.
 
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