Help me pick a gun

[Squigs]

So, I'm new to this. Spouse and I are going to start hunting later this year.

He's planning a hunting trip in October for moose. But this may not happen. I'd like something versatile.

I've got someone who is helping me figure this out - but I don't need to bug him with every single question.

I'm looking at buying him a Stoeger 2000 camo.
What is the difference in the 24' 26' and 28'?
Need something in the $500-$700 range so I can buy 2. Otherwise we will fight over it.

If we do have 2 guns for hunting, what would be a nice companion gun for the above.

I do have a number of rifles, but they are too nice to take to the woods. They are being sold and with the $$ I'm buying something that will be more useful for us.

Someone explain interchangable barrels to me and what I should be looking for.

TIA

 

[brenden1669]

thompson centre venture bolt action rifle, very nice and in the 700 $ mark, interchangable barrels are on the tc encore line up and are a single shot rifle so not as practical, wouldnt do that for a main hunting rifle, or you could go with a remington sps aso in the 600-800 range, and the 24 26 28 is just your barrel length, 26 being the most common for larger calibers such as 300 win mag 338 etc, 23 and 24 are common on short magnums, and 28 would be in the single shot you are talking about,

hope thats a little bit of help, i have a few guns for sale pm me if you are interested.

cheers

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Hello Squigs - Welcome!

Basis your post above it is somewhat unclear if the intent presently is to acquire a pair of shotguns or a combination of firearms i.e. shotgun for small game as well as a centerfire rifle for big game hunting.

Should your questions be centred mainly around big game hunting then another new/different post in the Sporting & Hunting Arms Forum (that discuss hunting rifles) will yield more and constructive responses. FWIW, personally, I'd much rather retain those nice rifles that you speak of and derive the pleasure of utilizing those in the field provided those firearms will adequately conform to requirements .

The mention of the Stoeger 2000 (discussion on shotguns are appropriate for this forum) may lead one to imagine that you are also looking for a shotgun (or two) and perhaps leaning towards a semi-auto? The 2000 has mixed reviews from opposite camps with their opinions. FYI, for 2011, Stoeger will also be offering a new semi - the model 3500.

Nevertheless, at this time, the initial questions may be.....

- What would the shotgun be used for? Small Game/Bird hunting? If bird hunting, Upland and/or Waterfowl?
- Will that be used further to shoot clays occasionally or frequently?
- Have you or your spouse had an opportunity to handle the Stoeger to determine gun fit (which is an important priority in the case of shotgun selection) and to ensure that it matches other personal preference(s)?
- Have you had an opportunity to handle/inspect other brands of semi shotguns?
- Should the object be solely Upland Bird hunting, have you considered a different type of action such as a double barrelled shotgun? Or a smaller gauge such as a 20ga?
- Were you planing on buying new or used?

Answer to such questions could subsequently lead to next step in terms of selecting the appropriate shotgun i.e. if you already haven't firmly decided on that Model 2000 .......

 

[Squigs]

How practical is a single shot bolt action for hunting? Maybe that's a dumb question, I just don't expect to get anything on the first shot. I'm assuming I would want to get a second shot in there quick.

I've used a C7 C6 and C9. Military obviously. Anything else I don't have a clue about. Kinda why I'm here.

The 12 gauge Stoeger I'm looking at comes with the different barrel lengths. What's the most common?

 

[Squigs]

Hello Squigs - Welcome!

Basis your post above it is somewhat unclear if the intent presently is to acquire a pair of shotguns or a combination of firearms i.e. shotgun for small game as well as a centerfire rifle for big game hunting.

Should your questions be centred mainly around big game hunting then another new/different post in the Sporting & Hunting Arms Forum (that discuss hunting rifles) will yield more and constructive responses.

The mention of the Stoeger 2000 shotgun (discussion on shotguns are appropriate for this forum) may lead one to imagine that you are also looking for a shotgun and perhaps leaning towards a semi-auto? The 2000 has mixed reviews from opposite camps with their opinions. FYI, for 2011, Stoeger will also be offering a new semi - the model 3500.

Nevertheless, at this time, the initial questions may be.....

- What would the shotgun be used for? Small Game/Bird hunting? If bird hunting, Upland and/or Waterfowl?
- Will that be used further to shoot clays occasionally or frequently?
- Have you or your spouse had an opportunity to handle the Stoeger to determine gun fit (which is an important priority in the case of shotgun selection) and to ensure that it matches other personal preference(s)?
- Have you had an opportunity to handle/inspect other brands of semi shotguns?
- Should the object be solely Upland Bird hunting, have you considered a different type of action such as a double barrelled shotgun? Or a smaller gauge such as a 20ga?

Am I in the wrong section? lol
Let's see - I don't expect to shoot clays. Not a lot of free time so if I'm going out I want something in the freezer.

Never handled the Stoeger. Neither has my better half. 12g would be fine for him, 20g something lighter might be better for me. I don't know. Not impressed with the stores around here - skirt walks into a gun store blah blah blah. Called me sweetheart once and I swore I would never go back.

He is likely to hunt something bigger, moose, bear? I don't expect to go out for anything bigger than a deer. Pheasant, bunnies, etc.

Semi would be nice, but I don't have my rest yet.

 

[pinkmoon]

The Stoeger is very light...but semi-auto shotguns do take some of the recoil away..If you have shot C9 and C6...you may prefer the 12Ga over the 20Ga. I would get out and Handel a few different shotguns that are within your price range and see what you like. There are some good deals on the EE..you may be able to get a better quality used shotgun for about the same price as the stoeger. Shotgun barrel length is not that crucial for the type of use that you are interested in 28 is one of the more common lengths.

I have always told people that if they only have one gun it should be a 12Ga shotgun...it can do pretty much everything. If you can only have two guns then 1. is the 12 Ga and 2. would be a gun in a caliber that will Handel Black Bear , Deer and moose ( lots of calibers fit this bill ).

That way you are set up for nearly everything. Sometimes Gun stores get a bad rep based on who was working the counter on that particular day..

What area are you posted to...I am sure somone on here could point you in the direction of a reputable local shop.

 

[animalamidon]

How practical is a single shot bolt action for hunting? Maybe that's a dumb question, I just don't expect to get anything on the first shot. I'm assuming I would want to get a second shot in there quick.

I've used a C7 C6 and C9. Military obviously. Anything else I don't have a clue about. Kinda why I'm here.

The 12 gauge Stoeger I'm looking at comes with the different barrel lengths. What's the most common?

if you don't expect to get anything on the first shot, then i'd say you should hit the range until you can hit clay disks at 100 yards.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Am I in the wrong section? lol
Let's see - I don't expect to shoot clays. Not a lot of free time so if I'm going out I want something in the freezer.

Never handled the Stoeger. Neither has my better half. 12g would be fine for him, 20g something lighter might be better for me. I don't know. Not impressed with the stores around here - skirt walks into a gun store blah blah blah. Called me sweetheart once and I swore I would never go back.

He is likely to hunt something bigger, moose, bear? I don't expect to go out for anything bigger than a deer. Pheasant, bunnies, etc.

Semi would be nice, but I don't have my rest yet.

As mentioned earlier, separate threads pursued via separate forums (one for rifle, the other for shotgun questions) and moving in parallel will better faciliate in sifting through the information you are most likely to receive .

Reverting to the topic of shotguns - bbl length is almost always a personal preference.

However, different lengths do have some applications. For example, 26 or 28in bbls will generally serve better for Small Game including Upland/Waterfowl. A shorter bbl such as a 24in will be a better assist for Turkey and/or Deer hunting. That is not say that the later won't be doable with camparatively longer bbls.

Deer hunting with a shotgun could involve a few variables and will be dependent on your hunting/shooting conditions in terms of shooting distance/terrain etc. You would need to determine the ones that may be applicable in your particular case(s).

The smoothbore bbl of a shotgun could hurl a slug and take down a deer usually effectively out to 50-75 yds. A rifled bbl attached to a shotgun will take down that deer at a longer range.....again, quite a few variables pertinent to shooter/firearm will be involved in both scenarios.