Suggestions for a shotgun?

Slaymoar

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Ontario
I'm looking for a shotgun to hunt bird (grouse or whatever the small game tag lets me get), or deer / varmint.

The final product I am interested in would be 20 gauge and have an AR grip on it. I am planning on getting a red dot scope for it, so a picatinny rail would be something I would install on it. At this point I want to save as much money as possible, and only need the rifled barrel until hunting season to shoot at the range. What shotgun should I get and where from? I'd like to stay in the 250-350 range.

Thanks
 
AR grip?? I don't think you have seen where ruffies live, or how they break cover. Sometimes, you'll be swingin' that gun like a crazy person. Personally, I wouldn't use a 20 for deer. I know some folk do, but I don't think it's enough gun.

You don't need a rifled barrel for slugs, you can fire rifled slugs out of a smooth barrel, no problem, as long as it's got a pretty open choke. But, if you do go for a rifled barrel, many of 'em come with a cantilevered rail already part of 'em, so no installation necessary.

Imo, something like a Mossy 500 with extra barrels, in 12 ga. is gonna be your ticket. But, you're gonna have to buy used with that budget. For $500, no prob, but for $350, nothing new I know of is available that's gonna do all the things you want it to do.
 
Thanks for the quick answer! I'll keep my eyes open for used, but I think I have found a 500 for $300 range on a few websites.. Just a matter of figuring out if they have a removable choke..
 
You should be able to find a used Remington 870 or an M37 Ithaca for that price. That second fully rifled barrel will be out of that price range though.
Nothing wrong with 20 gauge slug. And another thing, a 20 gauge sabot slug out of rifled barrel with a velocity of 1700 fps or higher, would make a 12 gauge foster slug out of a smoothbore barrel look pathetic beyond 75-80 yards. Lots of American hunters just south of us utilize sabot 20s more so than here in Canada. (deer only) Not too keen on the pistol grips on a full length stock though. I have one on a dedicated slug shooter and it's slower to get on target with IMO.
I have 12s and 20s in my cabinet. The 20s see alot more field time when small game hunting, up here in the boreal forest.
 
You should be able to find a used Remington 870 or an M37 Ithaca for that price. That second fully rifled barrel will be out of that price range though.
Nothing wrong with 20 gauge slug. And another thing, a 20 gauge sabot slug out of rifled barrel with a velocity of 1700 fps or higher, would make a 12 gauge foster slug out of a smoothbore barrel look pathetic beyond 75-80 yards. Lots of American hunters just south of us utilize sabot 20s more so than here in Canada. (deer only) Not too keen on the pistol grips on a full length stock though. I have one on a dedicated slug shooter and it's slower to get on target with IMO.
I have 12s and 20s in my cabinet. The 20s see alot more field time when small game hunting, up here in the boreal forest.

I am the same way, unless i am going for ducks i bring the 20ga 90% of the time. Check for a Mossberg 500 combo, you can usually find them with a smooth and rifled barrel.
 
AR grip, red dot??? :)

Better get a good old side by side.

AR grip?? I don't think you have seen where ruffies live, or how they break cover. Sometimes, you'll be swingin' that gun like a crazy person. Personally, I wouldn't use a 20 for deer. I know some folk do, but I don't think it's enough gun.

You don't need a rifled barrel for slugs, you can fire rifled slugs out of a smooth barrel, no problem, as long as it's got a pretty open choke. But, if you do go for a rifled barrel, many of 'em come with a cantilevered rail already part of 'em, so no installation necessary.

Imo, something like a Mossy 500 with extra barrels, in 12 ga. is gonna be your ticket. But, you're gonna have to buy used with that budget. For $500, no prob, but for $350, nothing new I know of is available that's gonna do all the things you want it to do.
 
The reason for the traditional grips, ie straight or pistol/prince of whales is they work very well for quick pointing at moving or flying game. Optics on a shotgun can be more of a handy cap then anythingfor shooting birds and small game, only one I know of that is designed to work similarly to your bead is a Burris speed bead. Most other red dots will require adjusting the stocks comb height.
Slug guns and turkey guns are a slightly different story.
 
+1 on this one. For a turkey gun, you may have a pistol grip and a red dot and it may actually help with target acquisition. But for upland and waterfowl definitely a red dot and a pistol grip would be a hindrance.

The reason for the traditional grips, ie straight or pistol/prince of whales is they work very well for quick pointing at moving or flying game. Optics on a shotgun can be more of a handy cap then anythingfor shooting birds and small game, only one I know of that is designed to work similarly to your bead is a Burris speed bead. Most other red dots will require adjusting the stocks comb height.
Slug guns and turkey guns are a slightly different story.
 
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