Does an all-around gun exist?

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zibzer

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(Edit: I meant "all-around shotgun")


Hello,

New to shooting here so be easy on me!

I am curious if an all-around shotgun exists, let me explain what I'm looking for:

Shoot rabbit
Shoot duck
Shoot birds
Shoot deer
Shoot trap

Originally I was thinking a versa-max.

Then I got to thinking of an o/u like a browning citori

Then I got to thinking of an s X s, a Churchill model specifically (I do really like the sxs idea)

Then I was thinking an 870 Remington

Now I'm not too sure. Perhaps a dedicated deer/rabbit gun (different barrels maybe) and a dedicated trap gun.

Help a newbie out guys!

2000$ to spend
 
I'm only into my second year of hunting. Partridge, duck, goose. I bought a 28" 870 - bare-bones, base-model that I could get dirty and not cry about scratching. I shoot steel through it. Don't even bother changing it up from duck to partridge, save for the choke. Works great. It was better used for walking while hunting, where you have a chance for a second shot. However, I find myself now riding a quad (actually just bought one). Last year, in my buddy's side-by-side, I found I was having equal success with just firing a single shot (since you can't carry a loaded shotgun on a motorized vehicle). I'd just pop the shell in the ejector, slam it forward, and pow - bird in the bag. I never really had to take a second shot when it comes to partridge.

My buddy uses that Norinco 12" coach gun double-barrel. The "Outlaw". I've got one, too. For partridge, it's great. Small, easy to transport, easy to get in and out of the Wildcat with it, perfect for partridge. Obviously not so good for duck.

Mrs. Cannon prefers my Benelli M4 Super-90. Yes, she shoots partridge with it. I've never tried duck (I have a ton of chokes for it), but we do use it for card shooting and actually sometimes win with it. However, at $2200 I almost had a stroke when she tripped out walking this year and dropped it into a muddy puddle during the last week for small game. Not to mention, it's actually heavier than my 870. Not such a big issue driving, but walking it makes a difference.

By new to shooting do you mean new to hunting, as well? Honestly, you may want to just start out with a $400 870. There's a million accessories out there for them. I find I can pump mine fast enough to get a spooked duck on the third shot - I've done it. It's a faithful workhorse. Nothing fancy, and you can get different barrels depending on your applications.

I also like the side x side. I'm going to try that this year, too. For me, I can't see why a single-shot wouldn't work. You generally don't need a follow-up shot for partridge.

I bought my buddy a Remington 870 synthetic pump hunting kit for his birthday. It was in the area of $500-$600. Came with an 870 with synthetic forend and stock, a 26 or 28" barrel (I can't remember), choke, and a shorter rifled barrel for deer, plus fibre-optic magnetic sights. You may want to look for something like that.

I see prices have gone up a bit this year, but here's an example. I bought his from Colby.

http://www.thegunroom.ca/index.php?route=product/product&path=83_102_117&product_id=630

And here it is:
http://www.thegunroom.ca/index.php?route=product/product&path=83_102_117&product_id=631


Just my two cents, anyways.

Cannon
 
My bud does all of the sports/hunting you mention and a few more with an old remington 1187 and does very well with it
Got his deer this year here which is more than many can say
Lots of guys use 870's also
Cheers
 
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0faustus0 said:
If I had to choose a "one gun" for hunting it would be a combination gun, preferably a drilling. They have been used for over a 100 years as the "one" hunting gun in Europe. But unfortunately they are very expensive ...

But Baikal makes a nice combination gun.

http://www.baikalcanada.com/rifles_combo_94.htm
Click to expand...

And the drilling isn't a baikal.
And all you'll have is a baikal.Rob
 
The "all around gun" is a myth....... But, if you want a Swiss Army knife gun, you have come to the right section..... A pump with interchangeable barrels will do all of what you want..... Decently....

But it will not do as good as a gun specialized in performing the tasks you listed...... A pump with interchangeable barrels is a great start..... It was my start, to be honest.....

Buy that multi gun and try all of those disciplines..... And enjoy it.... My 870 express circa 1993 is the oldest gun in my collection, and it now sports a Boyd's stock and a turkey barrel full time.... I could never bring myself to part with it....
 
zibzer said:
(Edit: I meant "all-around shotgun")


Hello,

New to shooting here so be easy on me!

I am curious if an all-around shotgun exists, let me explain what I'm looking for:

Shoot rabbit
Shoot duck
Shoot birds
Shoot deer
Shoot trap

Originally I was thinking a versa-max.

Then I got to thinking of an o/u like a browning citori

Then I got to thinking of an s X s, a Churchill model specifically (I do really like the sxs idea)

Then I was thinking an 870 Remington

Now I'm not too sure. Perhaps a dedicated deer/rabbit gun (different barrels maybe) and a dedicated trap gun.

Help a newbie out guys!

2000$ to spend
Click to expand...
short answer NO

It is like buying a rubber tired backhoe to start and excavation company, It can do everything but is good for nothing.

You will sacrifice a lot trying to use one shotgun for everything with only varying your ammunition choice and not the gun as well.
 
Brian46 said:
short answer NO

It is like buying a rubber tired backhoe to start and excavation company, It can do everything but is good for nothing.

You will sacrifice a lot trying to use one shotgun for everything with only varying your ammunition choice and not the gun as well.
Click to expand...

Quit being a gun snob and enlighten us as to which species or target listed in the OP has not been reliably and frequently taken with a shotgun......in fact, the majority ae shotgun only.....
 
Superbrad said:
Quit being a gun snob and enlighten us as to which species or target listed in the ophas not been reliably taken with a shotgun......
Click to expand...
where did I say something could not be taken? why do you try and put words on my keyboard I didnt type?

I'd use a semi auto 20 ga with scope, short rifled barrel and premium sabots for deer to maximize my results and range.

For waterfowl and trap I would have a longer barrel, 12ga, 3.5" chamber with removable chokes to maximize results and range.

For upland birds, rabbits and skeet I would prefer a smaller gauge over under with a shorter barrel for fast handling and quick followups, again to maximize results.

I never said you couldn't with one gun, just that you would be sacrificing a lot with one gun if you just varied ammunition and nothing else
 
Brian46 said:
where did I say something could not be taken? why do you try and put words on my keyboard I didnt type?

I'd use a semi auto 20 ga with scope, short rifled barrel and premium sabots for deer to maximize my results and range.

For waterfowl and trap I would have a longer barrel, 12ga, 3.5" chamber with removable chokes to maximize results and range.

For upland birds, rabbits and skeet I would prefer a smaller gauge over under with a shorter barrel for fast handling and quick followups, again to maximize results.

I never said you couldn't with one gun, just that you would be sacrificing a lot with one gun if you just varied ammunition and nothing else
Click to expand...

Lol.... How about the first line of your response post where you eloquently stated "short answer No"...... ?

Rabbit.....easily done
Birds... From grouse to geese, the 12 gauge is the go to all around gauge....
Skeet.... Really? You can't shoot skeet with 12 gauge and appropriate barrel reliably?
Deer....OP may be relegated to shotgun based on his location.... But even if he is not, a scoped cantelever 870 barrel will easily get him out to 150 yards reliably...... More than enough....
 
I would get an 870 pump. You change the barrel if you want something different like a rifled barrel for deer. I have one and put about 2500 rounds through shooting trap before I decided I also wanted an over/under. Now I mostly use the Berretta over/under for clay sports but occasionally I will still take the 870 for a change. The put the Magpul stock and forend on the 870 so now it has a changeable length of pull and different inserts to raise the comb height. If I couldn't afford both I would have no problem doing everything from duck to deer to trap with the same gun.
 
Superbrad said:
Lol.... How about the first line of your response post where you eloquently stated "short answer No"...... ?
Click to expand...
Is your attention span that short that you failed to read the long explanation below?

Rabbit.....easily done
Birds... From grouse to geese, the 12 gauge is the go to all around gauge....
Click to expand...
with what? (action type, barrel length, screw in chokes, etc) one configuration is certainly not ideal for all those in the varying types of hunting and terrain, but yes, you can make do like my example in the original post
Skeet.... Really? You can't shoot skeet with 12 gauge and appropriate barrel reliably?
Click to expand...
not with a long barrel, but again, I posted what I would use to maximize my results
Deer....OP may be relegated to shotgun based on his location.... But even if he is not, a scoped cantelever 870 barrel will easily get him out to 150 yards reliably...... More than enough....
Click to expand...
swapping barrels? that is not something that was on the table or that I posted about. A do all shotgun to me is only switching ammo types, not re configuring the firearm at considerable expense for a band aid solution (also not practical while in the field) when a different gun would be a better option for me.

The OP has $2000 to spend, I would buy a good autoloader and a baikal over under in that budget
 
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Brian46 said:
Is your attention span that short that you failed to read the long explanation below?

with what? (action type, barrel length, screw in chokes, etc) one configuration is certainly not ideal for all those in the varying types of hunting and terrain, but yes, you can make do like my example in the original post
not with a long barrel, but again, I posted what I would use to maximize my results
swapping barrels? that is not something that was on the table or that I posted about. A do all shotgun to me is only switching ammo types, not re configuring the firearm at considerable expense for a band aid solution when a different gun would be a better option for me.

The OP has $2000 to spend, I would buy a good autoloader and a baikal over under in that budget
Click to expand...



Is your attention span so short that you didn't read the OP?..... He is a new Hunter and didnt ask what the best for each application was..... Maybe you missed that....maybe you didn't...... He asked if 870 or comparable will do all.... It will

Your clear answer from step one was "no"..... You are flat out wrong......
 
I Would suggest the correct answer is:
The gun out of all the ones you have tried at the local gun club that feels the best, and shoots and fits the best out of all those you have tried.
Choke tubes are a must have.
 
Superbrad said:
Is your attention span so short that you didn't read the OP?..... He is a new Hunter and didnt ask what the best for each application was..... Maybe you missed that....maybe you didn't...... He asked if 870 or comparable will do all.... It will
Click to expand...
just like the example I posted in that same post, one will, but he will be sacrificing a lot

Brian46 said:
short answer NO

It is like buying a rubber tired backhoe to start and excavation company, It can do everything but is good for nothing.

You will sacrifice a lot trying to use one shotgun for everything with only varying your ammunition choice and not the gun as well.
Click to expand...
another line from the op's post, hence my explanation of what I would use, multiple guns, etc
zibzer said:
Now I'm not too sure. Perhaps a dedicated deer/rabbit gun (different barrels maybe) and a dedicated trap gun.

Help a newbie out guys!

2000$ to spend
Click to expand...
 
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Benelli M2 with a 28" barrel would be my choice. It'll work for everything listed. Buy a good use on here for $1300 or so, that would leave enough for a rifled barrel for deer, but you could do with Foster slugs in a smoothbore.

If you find that you really enjoy trap, you can buy a dedicated gun just for that after.

Of course if you want to spend a lot less, and since you're new to shooting, buy a Rem 870 and burn up the rest of the cash on ammo. Assuming your spending limit includes ammo purchase. Otherwise get the Benelli. :)
 
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