Shotgun choices

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jadebeer

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Who knew shotguns choices could be more complex than handgun choices? I'm pretty new to this and thought a shotgun is a shotgun is a shotgun aside from the action and barrel count. But it's obvious that it's not. Is there a good resource that I can check out to learn more?

The little I understand at this point is that there are defensive/tactical style shotguns, hunting shotguns and clay sports shotguns typically increasing in barrel length in the order I mentioned. Adding chokes for hunting/sport, what else sets these apart? Is there one shotgun that does all? What would be a good all purpose shotgun be that is good in close quarters but also accurate in hunting and clay shooting sports?

Thanks
 
Sounds like you need a 28" barrel 870 express! Then get a plus 3 extension and a spare short barrel.
You will either love it or figure out what you want.

I use the same gun for hunting and 3 gun. There are much finer guns out there but it works for me.

If your really new and just want something to try a Maverick 88 or one of the chinese 870 clones may be worth looking into. For the price of those its not much to get into. Who knows you may not even like clays.
 
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Any semi auto 28" 12ga 3 1/2" magnum will be the closest thing to being good at all the above fields..... people here will suggest pump guns like the 870 or 500 barrel combos; but IMO the semi auto gives you the edge in both hunting and sport.

Chances are a 28" semi auto will give you a threaded barrel for chokes and the ability to buy aftermarket mag extensions for sport shooting. The only use ive really noticed for short barrels is defense. and extremely close engagements in tight spaces.
 
Get a gun that you can throw up to your shoulder with your eyes closed and have it line up every time


Then shoot

I do my best shooting with plain old field grade pump guns. The key is to do enough shooting to GET good


The choice is only as hard as you make it. Hardest part is just having 1 gun
 
Depending on your club, some of the fuddy ones give you the stink eye when you show up to bust pigeons with a short barreled tactical shotgun. I'm no great shot but I've done okay with a Mossberg 590A1 pump on the trap range. Just picked up a Beretta 1301 Comp with 24" barrel for 3Gun.

Someone posted a video in another thread about barrel length not having much impact on the dispersion contrary to myth that an 18" barreled shotgun would disperse shot much wider than a 28" barrel. You're getting a longer sight radius is what it came down to with a long barrel.
 
was in the same boat, ended up getting a mossberg 500 28inch field

i hear there are shorter barrels floating the EE every so often. and ive seen some rifled barrels too.


or get the 1887 lever action, and become the terminator
 
Close quarters is it's own world - what works everywhere else typically sucks at CQ. Take the FAL for example - probably the best all around military rifle of the last half of the 20th Century - it sucked at CQB, it was terrible. In the same way if you get a shotgun that's great for hunting and shooting clays, it will suck at CQ applications. The best "all around" solution is a gun that'll allow you to run 2 different barrel lengths - a 28 for hunting and clays and an 18 - or better yet a 14 for CQ. Chokes are irrelevant for CQ, so a cylinder bore 14 or 18 is the way to go. The cheapest, easiest, most reliable and longest lasting interchangeable barrelled shotgun is the 870. Get an Express, swap the extractor for a Volquartsen and springs for the Police model's, and you'll have a gun that's as good as any - for virtually anything.
 
I went with a Winchester SXP Field mainly for 3-Gun, as it came with an 18" barrel and a 28" barrel. Also game with 3 chokes. Used it successfully for Turkey this spring.
 
You can't beat the 870 for versatility IMO.

I have a lot of barrel options for my 870's. In my experience the handiest barrel lengths are 14" for HD and 24" ribbed for certain hunting applications (but that's an after market Carlson's which adds cost). If going Remington barrel I'd recommend the 26" over the 28". It's a bit handier and you really don't loose anything with the 2"' shorter length.
 
madashell said:
You can't beat the 870 for versatility IMO.

I have a lot of barrel options for my 870's. In my experience the handiest barrel lengths are 14" for HD and 24" ribbed for certain hunting applications (but that's an after market Carlson's which adds cost). If going Remington barrel I'd recommend the 26" over the 28". It's a bit handier and you really don't loose anything with the 2"' shorter length.
Click to expand...

On the short barrel, look for a smooth bore with sights. Then you can shoot buck shot out of it.
 
EL34/6L6 said:
I say an 18.5" 870 Express Tactical is a good choice. Threaded for chokes, both defense capable with increased shell capacity, and hunt capable with the mag extension removed and tube plugged.

http://remingtoncanada.com/en/produ...n-model-870/model-870-express-tactical-detail
Click to expand...

This is probably the best single barrel choice. Not too expensive and can easily cover HD and several hunting situations by investing in 2 or 3 appropriate chokes.

Many show up on E&E too, except they tend to go for new or almost new price. Given that, I'd just buy a new one from a dealer.
 
I highly recommend the 870 as per the other members here. Barrel length and selection. A solid simple design. I like longevity with my tools and the 870 fits the bill.
 
A stoeger M3000 might be a good option for you as well, 3.5" semi, will fit the bill for whatever you want to do with it, especially if you want to to start competing in 3 guns a such, it's a semi game now.
 
You can't beat the price of the Maverick 88 for a multi purpose shotgun. I bought one with a 28" barrel and later purchased a 18.5" barrel. I used it for skeet, bird, and multi-gun. Think of it as the shotgun version of all-season radial tires: It performs well for most conditions but isn't the absolute best for any. It performed great for the 16 years I had it, and is my recommendation if you want to test the shotgun waters without spending much.
 
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