Pack Shotgun

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DFerguson

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Hey CGN,

I am new to CGN, sorry if this isn't the place to post this question. Wondering if anyone could recommend a small legal compact shotgun to carry for protection when shed hunting, hiking, etc. Was considering the Canuck Defender. Any thoughts or recommendations?
 
As I posted in the home defence thread down below, if your life is at stake, go with something proven; Mossberg 590a1 14" barrel or 870 Police 14" barrel.
 
DLask makes a fine 870 based shotgun. I'd take one of them over a factory Mossy or Rem shorty any day, all day.

https://dlaskarms.com/product-category/shotguns/

The older (no longer imported) Grizzly 870 clones were also rock solid. If you can get one in good shape, and are even slightly handy, you can work one up into an awesome bush shorty that just won't die.

grizz_left_s.jpg


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The last pick is the gun in the carry bag for a folding camp chair, which is a handy way to tote it around when you're in more public camping areas and don't want to freak out the granola munchers.

I swapped out the furniture with some wood from a surplus Loomis 870 security that someone else was giving the tactical plastic treatment to, replaced the recoil pad with a nice natural rubber one, got a leather shell holder/cheek pad online from a dealer in the Ukraine, XS sights tritium front post (you need a raised front post on the shorties to fix POA/POI issues), upgraded no-jam follower and spring (which you should do on a factory 870 or Mossy anyway), stoned and polished the internals to make it race gun slick.

All in, it came in under $400 for the gun NIB, and the upgrade parts.

It comes down to the traditional triumvirate of value:

Good. Cheap. Fast. Pick two.

You can have a good gun in your hands fast, but it won't be cheap.

You can have a cheap gun in your hands fast, but it won't be good.

You can have a good gun for cheap, but you won't have it fast, because you'll have to put the time into making it good.

Cheers.
 
What exactly do you mean?

Seems your responses are rather tactical.

If you want something for emergency in your pack instead....how about a beater cooey single shot 20 ga. A few slugs, buck, and birdshot. Set fòr defense and emergency. Broken down in three pieces, rolled in raingear. No panties in a knot in the parking lot.
 
madashell said:
Given the OP said "anyone could recommend a small legal compact shotgun to carry for protection when shed hunting, hiking, etc" I'd say he needs something ready to go vs broken down, and seems to me a repeater for follow up if needed vs single shot.

That's what I got from his post anyway ..
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Yes
 
I would pick up a grizzly with a 12.5” barrel or an 870 and look on the ee for a 12.5” grizzly barrel, give it a detail clean and polish the internals with some oil and wetdry sandpaper. Start at 600g and work up to 1000g, hit the action bars and the tracks inside the receiver and polish it the bolt/breach block. You’ll get it operating as slick as snot once it’s oiled and back together, add an upgraded follower and mag spring and you’re good to go. Maybe a police extractor if you feel like it, I’d take an 870 receiver over a Grizzly due to weight. An 870 express with a Rem synthetic stock and a 12.5” grizzly barrel weighs around 6.5lbs unloaded, it will hold 4+1 shells.

The benefits to an 870 over a mossberg is aftermarket and parts support, the benefits to an 870 over a grizzly is any Rem 870 barrel will fit an 870. An 870 barrel doesn’t always fit or index on every DA Grizzly, if you want to put a longer choked barrel on it for hunting the 870 is the smart choice.
 
Butcherbill said:
I would pick up a grizzly with a 12.5” barrel or an 870 and look on the ee for a 12.5” grizzly barrel, give it a detail clean and polish the internals with some oil and wetdry sandpaper. Start at 600g and work up to 1000g, hit the action bars and the tracks inside the receiver and polish it the bolt/breach block. You’ll get it operating as slick as snot once it’s oiled and back together, add an upgraded follower and mag spring and you’re good to go. Maybe a police extractor if you feel like it, I’d take an 870 receiver over a Grizzly due to weight. An 870 express with a Rem synthetic stock and a 12.5” grizzly barrel weighs around 6.5lbs unloaded, it will hold 4+1 shells.

The benefits to an 870 over a mossberg is aftermarket and parts support, the benefits to an 870 over a grizzly is any Rem 870 barrel will fit an 870. An 870 barrel doesn’t alway fit or index on a grizzly, if you want to put a longer choked barrel on it for hunting the 870 is the smart choice.
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Why would you choose an Express Receiver over a Police?

https://www.rem870.com/2011/06/21/d...mington-870-express-and-remington-870-police/
 
If, hypothetically, the slug launcher is to be used in an emergency where one wouldn’t have time to install ear protection, I prefer at least a 20” barrel to avoid permanent hearing damage. Something to consider.
 
ADK said:
Why would you choose an Express Receiver over a Police?

https://www.rem870.com/2011/06/21/d...mington-870-express-and-remington-870-police/
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Price and I can easily polish and swap out parts myself, I have an Express and it’s been flawless. It hasn’t rusted or had a single malfunction since I bought it and it’s been out in the bush rain or shine, it’s not hard to replace most any part on them. I don’t need to pay more or pay someone else to do it, I’ll take the money I saved and buy some ammo. Everyone moaning about the express needs to give their head a shake and quit being lazy with piling the damn thing.
 
Butcherbill said:
Price and I can easily polish and swap out parts myself, I have an Express and it’s been flawless. It hasn’t rusted or had a single malfunction since I bought it and it’s been out in the bush rain or shine, it’s not hard to replace most any part on them. I don’t need to pay more or pay someone else to do it, I’ll take the money I saved and buy some ammo. Everyone moaning about the express needs to give their head a shake and quit being lazy with piling the damn thing.
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That might be ok for handy people, or some might be ok with spending the extra money on the Police model rather than spending time upgrading an Express to what it should be, given what the OP is asking for. Not saying the Express is junk, but just by your own post, a stock model without upgrades is not reliable or as reliable.
 
ADK said:
That might be ok for handy people, or some might be ok with spending the extra money on the police model rather than spending time upgrading an Express to what it should be, given what the OP is asking for.
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Last one I did took me 2hrs max to detail clean and polish and it was filthy, don’t be lazy and you’ll get a really nicely operating pump gun. Spend the money on a Police model if you want but don’t piss and moan when someone gives an option that doesn’t cost much and gives the same if not better results. Considering the op mentioned a Canuck I’m sure he wasn’t thinking of buying an 870P.

The complete action/receiver cost me $250, I already had a 12.5” take off Grizzly barrel and a take off synthetic stock set from another gun. If you can turn a screwdriver and a forend wrench and use sandpaper you can cobble together a smooth 870, it’s not rocket science.
 
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