Help a newb decide on buying his first shotgun.

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BlakeFst

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Hi all, this is my first post. I joined today. I need some help/advice in choosing a shotgun and I'm going to have lots of questions as well regarding them. I have very little experience with a shotgun including knowledge. (but that's why I joined this Forum.) I am not a novice however when it comes to rifles.
I'm looking for a few things in a shotgun. (these are subject to change as I learn more!)
-I want an all-rounder, Ill be using it at the Range and hunting.
-want a pump action
-on the smaller side (barrel length)
I was thinking of the Mossy 590 (Mossberg Item#50668). I don't like the 870's safety/release. I might do a little clay shooting but not much with it. Mostly medium range targeting and deer hunting.
Ill start with that and a budget of ~$600 at the top end, but am willing to look.
Thanks in advance.
 
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The Mossberg 535 ATS comes with 3 barrels

deer barrel, fully rifled with cantilever (for mounting optics)
Turkey barrel, fibre optic sights with turkey choke
waterfowl with front fibre optic bead sight

Also includes accu choke (IC, Mod & Full) and is in full camo. Accepts 2 3/4 upto 3 1/2.

The main criticism that I have seen is that people feel its a cheap feeling shotgun. I personally love it and it doesn't cost as much as the 870. Does weel for trap, hunting, pretty much anything.
 
Thanks, I never thought about having Multiple barrels, I'll consider it. What if I wanted to stay with a single barrel. Rifle or ghost sights, and I prefer a matte black finish?
-Is having say a 20" barrel going to affect accuracy a great deal as compared to a 24"?
-What could be the max effective range of a shotgun be, to take down a deer?(shell being a slug/sabot/shotshell, doesn't matter) This is where I want to learn what the limitations of a shotgun could be.
-Is it unreasonable to think you could efficiently take a deer at 40-50 meters/yards with the right equipment?

I'm also trying to decide if I should buy a shotgun or save and buy something like the Remington R-25 in .308 chambering. :confused:
 
Good question. Max effectiveness depends on the shotgun/barrel-choke/slug/size of the game. There are rifled shotgun barrels designed only for shooting sabot and a few other type of slugs. I would say there max effectiveness would be 150 yards depending on the size of the deer your confidnce etc Companys are starting to make these shotguns like savage arms they have a slug gun series/slug warrior series. If you were using a regular 12 gage mossberg you will most likey have a IC or MC which meens you can only shoot foster slugs, buck shot, bird shot. Very versatile. I would say max effectivness after practise would be 100 yards with a foster slug (regular remington, winchester, federal ammo) As for the 4 inch difference on the barrel I personally think there is no difference in acuraccy. I would lean more twoards a 20'' barrel due to the fact I perfer short barrells. Slugs are alot easier to shoot then people think Its not hard to hit a small-medium size pumpkin (barely bigger than a human head) at 80 yards prone. I hit these targets 4/5 times with my 18'' mossberg special purpose pistolgrip with the ar-retrctable stock (my fun gun) But for deer I use my Ithica 12 gage, you can find them for a pretty decent price and there a great reliable pump gun, eject from the bottom so it works great for right or left handed shooters. I personally wouldnt go past 80 yards even though I know I could make the 90ish yard shot but I could easily sneak up a little closer and make my mind feel a lot more comfterable.
 
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I'm starting to lean towards making this my "practical tactical". Something I can enjoy at the range mostly and hunting the odd time. I like the idea of a shorter barrel, I like the matte black. I might want to add a 1x power red dot at a later point... maybe. I would really like the opportunity to use the Sabot slugs as well. As far as I can tell the gun I mentioned in my first post the Mossberg 590 #50668 has a cylinder bore. Is it possible to add a choke to any shotgun, I don't think so. They have to be threaded for it right? Is there a way to check and see if the #50668 can accept a removable choke. Thanks for the help.
 
I am almost certain you can get any choke in there installed by a gunsmith. Atleast I would think so! if not you could most likely purchase a new barrel but I dont know why it wouldnt be possible to get it installed. I have always been under the impression that I could get a choke installed on any shotgun barrel thats in realtivly good condition. Yeah I love the tatical/practical shotgun. I bought my mossberg 500 from the shop and it looks like a the mossberg 590a1 special purpse but mine has a bead sight. and its a mossberg 500. I wonder if the shop owner decided to put a stock on it or what, kinda conufses me some times but Im glad its the way it is I couldnt handle a shotgun with out a stock. I took my stock off for a day and after 70 shots I put it back on it hurt the first 20 after my wrist got use to it or numb I dont know what came first I put another 50 through it and then I wanted the stock back on lol so i just screwd it back in.
 
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Okay, now I'm set straight on the choke options. Are there any other brands I should consider or stay away from as a rule of thumb? Or are they all similar? I was looking at the Remington 870 but it's just not 100% right for me. I do like the interchangeable choke on it though. What should i look at if i wanted to step to a Semi-Auto? Thanks again.
 
I bought an 870 Express combo with a rifled deer barrel for my first shotgun because it was a good deal at the time (and my then girlfriend was with me and she encouraged me - a lovely person.) I would say an 870 would do very well for your purposes, but from everything I hear about them, a Mossberg 500 or 535 would do just as well, doesn't cost any more, and if I had to do it over again I'd get a Mossberg because I don't like the safety on the 870 either.
 
You can buy an 870 Express combo package for under $600 and that'll get you a rifled barrel with sights as well as the vent rib barrel. Or you could buy the plain 870 with the vent rib and add accessory barrels like crazy.

If you just want it for "shotgunning", then I'd save a little more and see if a Benelli Super Nova can't be in your price range. It'll wind up closer to $700 though, and while it is an awesome shotgun, accessory barrels aren't nearly as cheap as the Remington.

Just not a fan of the Mossbergs.
 
Winchester Super X Pump (Black Shadow Field)

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/itemimagedetail.asp?cat_id=512&type_id=251

From website:
Rugged reliability with a non-glare matte finish on the barrel and receiver that won’t cause birds to flare. The durable composite stock and forearm are up to tough conditions. The hard working SXP action fires all factory 2 3/4" and 3" steel, tungsten, bismuth and lead loads through a new, chrome plated .742" back-bored barrel with Invector-Plus™ chokes, ensuring optimum patterns. Choose a tough 12 gauge with 26" or 28" barrel. MSRP $359 usd

(also available as a "Defender" model)
 
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