Do-it-all 12 gauge for a cheapskate

[2500]

Howdy,

I've been hunting grouse with a break-action 410 for years. I'm getting tired of losing game when there's a few twigs in the way of the 410, and so I want to move up to a 12 gauge to get more punch. I considered a 20ga but it seems harder to get ammo now. So now I'm looking for a CHEAP break-action 12ga, single or o/u, hopefully not too heavy, and with changeable chokes (so I can go cylinder bore for bear slugs). Any suggestions?

 

[rmsg0040]

Cabelas has the girsan mc312 for $540 plus tax right now

 

[Jake1911]

I believe cylinder bore or rifled barrels are the best for slug accuracy but they will sail through most any choke without a hitch, LOTS of inexpensive sxs's kicking around, can't remember who's got the best selection but intersurplus was the first to come to mind. Any new gun is going to be substantially more $

 

[Grizzly Adams]

For what you do, I'd get a 20, lighter and shells aren't that hard to come by.

Grizz

 

[heliace]

Maverick 88 and pick up an extra cylinder bore barrel. Great for home defence too.

 

[conor_90]

The Charles Daly 101 everyone has for ~150 bucks are real rough

 

[themachinist]

Dominion Arms single shot break actions used to sell for 150 bucks on canada ammo. Maybe theres some used ones still around for sale.

 

[conor_90]

The best stuff was always from corwin arms. I miss their cheap Turkish gun days

Can’t remember the brand they used on it but their hammerless break actions with the bottom lever like the beretta singles were solid guns

 

[Dogleg]

Find an older 870. They tend to go cheap with a fixed choke, and 2 3/4" chambers even cheaper.

 

[Butcherbill]

I’d buy a Cooey 84 and have the barrel threaded for chokes in f I was set on a break action single shot, otherwise whatever cheap pump gun I could find with extra barrels would be my first choice.

 

[huntingfish]

I got myself an H&R Pardner Pump for something like 200$. Goes boom everytime, gets scratched up when walking and I don't care. Put a rail on it with a reddot and it's awesome for deer/turkey.

Fish

 

[memaquay]

Second on the Maverick 88.

 

[AdamRoby]

I got myself an H&R Pardner Pump for something like 200$. Goes boom everytime, gets scratched up when walking and I don't care. Put a rail on it with a reddot and it's awesome for deer/turkey.

Fish

Hah, I thought I read "awesome for deer / turkey and fish. I was like, wow, now there's a hard-core hunter even shooting fish with a shotgun!

Bit of a side question: If he did buy an old SxS like mentioned from Intersurplus for example, can those old guns be used with new ammo? For example, if using that for Turkey, it may need to support magnum shells, if doing waterfowl then it needs to support steel shot. I was considering one for myself, but most older shotguns have some pitting, small cracks, some looseness... how safe are they for these kinds of activities? I'd like one for hunting, so I can keep my pretty O/U for shooting clays.

 

[Kenny_G2]

For what you do, I'd get a 20, lighter and shells aren't that hard to come by.

Grizz

This is my experience as well. 12 ga tended to mash up my birds too much. 20 ga can bust brush but not fill the bird with too much lead. Have a buddy that does well with a 28 ga, those can be tough to find.

 

[cosmic]

Hah, I thought I read "awesome for deer / turkey and fish. I was like, wow, now there's a hard-core hunter even shooting fish with a shotgun!

Bit of a side question: If he did buy an old SxS like mentioned from Intersurplus for example, can those old guns be used with new ammo? For example, if using that for Turkey, it may need to support magnum shells, if doing waterfowl then it needs to support steel shot. I was considering one for myself, but most older shotguns have some pitting, small cracks, some looseness... how safe are they for these kinds of activities? I'd like one for hunting, so I can keep my pretty O/U for shooting clays.

Well - The Intersurplus guns are chambered for either 2 1/2 (older) or 2 3/4 inch. Assuming you get a 2 3/4 inch gun in good shape, it would be fine with any 2 3/4 inch modern lead loads. Steel would be risky, as a minimum the tight chokes would blow the pattern. Alternatively, you may end up bulging the muzzle.

 

[brybenn]

Stevens 301. Light trim single with choke tubes and ejector

 

[regulate34]

I had a H&R pardener single shot 12g.
Great light gun for sure. Wish I didn’t sell it.

But I have a H&R 410 single shot. Compact.
It’s been my go to chicken gun for 12+ yrs.

#7.5 3” I’ve been really happy with. 25-30yrds
I tried #6 thinking it might push trough twigs better. But the gun doesn’t patter them well and I missed way more.

I’d like a 28g OU for a grouse gun one day.

 

[0faustus0]

I had a H&R pardener single shot 12g.
Great light gun for sure. Wish I didn’t sell it.
...

I second the H&R Pardner single shot 12g.

Cheap, reliable and lightweight ...

And if you want an al-round beater 12ga .... for waterfowl as well .... the newest arrival on the Canadian market .... a "Blue Line Pump-Action Shotgun" with 28" barrel and removable chokes ... This is basically a Norinco (Hawk Industries) 870 clone .... for CAD $370.- dollars ...

I recently bought one of those Blue Line 870 copies .... and I was impressed with the quality and fit and finish ....

https://ww w.cabelas.ca/product/148916/blue-line-pump-action-shotgun

 

[Ravage]

You can get those backpacker single shot ones for like 200-250 in 12 or 20 ga and they come with chokes

https://westrifle.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21

 

[brybenn]

Tenda had some Charles Daly pump on sale for like 179 bucks. 12ga with choke tubes not sure if they still do