Anyone feel the need for more then one Social Shotty?

[KarbineKrazy]

I've got two, but I'd like a few more.

My first is a Remington Model 11. It's got a 20 inch barrel, rifle sights, cylinder bore, 3 round mag ext, tac sling, 5 round butt cuff.

It's been surprisingly reliable. Only hitch I've ever had with it was with trap rounds. functions great w/ stanard 00 buck and slugs. I initially bought it because it was completely different and I could have it for a song and dance.
The only thing I really don't like is the fact that parts are hard to get, it's only a 2 3/4 chamber and the loading gate is cumbersome.

My second is a '50s era Ithaca M37. It's a migratory game bird edition of some sort. Barrel chopped to 18.5 inches, bead sight, corn cob forend, pistol grip, 6 round side saddle.

I chose the pistol grip because it's more compact and fits in tight spaces better. I just like it. It's not for any more then spitting distance, I take it fishing(for Halibutts and sharks) cause it fits easily in the boat. It serves me well, I just don't try to shoot anything over 15 yards with it.

[KarbineKrazy]

Oh yea, I'd like to add an 11-87 to go with my M11. Something w/ a 20 inch barrel, 3 round ext, side saddle, oversized cocking lever, one of those 3 gun loading gates.

a M37 Riot gun is also on my want list, the one w/ a full length mag tube!

a short double barrel 12 gaue with hammers

and I want an 870 w/ a copstock and surefire forend to replace ithaca for a boat/tight spaces gun. Marine mag model would be nice to.

[R.H. Lee]

I've already got two, an 870 and a Win Defender, both with 18" cylinder bores. Both are 100% reliable.

[orangeninja]

I had 2 870's but sold one. Didn't need 2 since I live in the city. If I lived in the Boonies, I'd keep one in my truck.

[Langenator]

Well, I've got an 870 12ga decked out with Surefire fore end and a pistol grip buttstock right now that's holding down the fort.

I'd like to get a Saiga-20 for the wife (and modify the thing for a pistol grip to maximize its evilness, of course.)

[sm]

I believe in redundancy. I also subscribe to having some stuff off site. Mr. Murphy has been known to happen, good to have a Backup in the event a gun breaks, gets stolen, fire, flood, mudslide, hurricane, tornado or some other misfortune.

Still think having a few single shot shotguns are a good idea...I loaned out 5 once after a tornado wiped out some folks and they needed to stand watch thru the night. They appreciated the 3 old Police trade in K frames I loaned with LSWC ammo too. Not fancy , not high tech, still these basics do still work and always thought stashing these were a good idea...

[Ringer]

I've got two 870's. One has a forend light, short barrel and stock and lives in the bedroom. The other is plain with a 26" barrel and lives in the safe. I use the second one for practice mostly on clays. I have been trying to decide between purchasing a third shotgun or just a shorter barrel for my existing gun. This would take care of redundancy/backup and also I'd like to have a shotgun semi-accessable on the lower floor of the house.

While typing this response I think I just talked myself into a police trade in with 18"-20" IC, now just to find one.

So, to answer your question; Yes I feel the need for more than one Social Shotty!

[Chris Rhines]

You've gotta have a backup or two. And keeping one offsite is a real good idea.

- Chris

[Gunsnrovers]

Hi, my name is Jeff and I have too many riot guns... :o

a 1940 20" Stevens 620A
a 1975 20" Ithaca DSPS
a 1934 20" Winchester 1897
a 1950 Wingmaster with a 22" rifle sighted smooth bore.

True, the Wingmaster does have a 30" tube, but it's dressed up with the HD barrel on a daily basis.

All have lengthened and polished forcing cones. All have been patterned and all shoot roughly the same. Any edge in patterns from one to the other can switch just by changing ammuntion.

None have anything special attached. The Stevens has Kerr SMG sling, the Ithaca wears a side saddle and simple sling, and the 870 has a one shot extension and a CQB sling, but that's it. I don't have any lights mounted, but we have so much light polution here in Los Angeles that my house is never truely dark. At night we pretend the freeway noise is the ocean.:D

I must admit I want one more.... :)

[TrapperReady]

I'm primarily a hunter and clay target shooter. I will admit to having one Winchester 1300 pulling HD duty. It's the Defender model with the "tactical" black finish, 18.5" barrel and green glow-worm bead.

The rest of my shotguns are all long-barreled pieces best suited to putting down feathered foes. Even my cut-down grouse gun has about a 24" barrel. That being said, ANY of them could be used for "social situations".

If I can use a shotgun to drop a grouse about a second after it took flight, then I'd bet I could use that same gun to good effect on an unwelcome intruder in my home. Likewise, if I can use my Browning O/U with 30" tubes to break 90% of the fast-moving 4" targets on a sporting clays course, I could probably hit a much larger target travelling much slower.

I'm certainly not criticizing anyone with multiple defensive shotguns, I'm just saying that I feel comfortable with what I've got right now.

[sm]

Trapper-

These guys forget I shoot pretty much stock guns for everything. Shortest bbl I have at the moment is 28 " .

Well ..err...I dunno what the bbl length is on the Youth 20 ga H&R Topper...fixed mod bbl with real nice factory recoil pad - it is factory stock...only exception on ,my bbl length.

I'll end up with shorter tubes for "bird hunting" . 21 and 23" inchers with external knurled tubes work real well for when the birds get really big. ;)

Honest officer it is my clay, hunting, bird, teaching gun ....nary a evil 'defensive ' gun in the house...

I'm just a dumb Skeet shooter.... ;)

[Lee Lapin]

We must each ask ourselves (and our spouses): "What's NEED got to do with it?" 8^)

I tell people pretty often that with a properly set up 870, one shotgun really, really is enough. The design is so versatile and completely modular that with a reasonable investment in accessories, that really is the case. Of course, that's just to help talk them into getting their _first_ one. As Brother Dave of the Church of the 870 Eternal says so often- "870's don't breed- but they do multiply."

Besides, how do you really perform an adequate personal evaluation of a shotgun if you don't get a chance to use it over time, and how are you going to get to use it over time if you don't own it?

My first working gun was a police trade-in 870 in the early '70s, since then there have been more 870s in and out than I can remember. There are half a dozen or so here now, all set up as working guns in various configurations to include one 20 ga. (field guns are double barrels, after all). Well, there's that stray 1970s vintage Remington Mohawk 48 I brought home but that doesn't count, it will get converted when I can find a short barrel for it.

and in addition to the 870s there are (or were) the following short barreled repeating shotguns in the safe:

Remington Model 11
Remington Model 1100 (for 3-gun)
Remington Model 11-87 (w. extra field barrel)
Browning Auto-5 (w. extra field barrel)
Benelli M1 Super 90
High Standard Model 10A
Winchester 1300/Defender (2, one in 20 ga)
Mossberg M500 (three or four of those)
Ithaca Model 37

Enough shotguns? No such thing...

lpl/nc

[KarbineKrazy]

jealous

[.45&TKD]

I believe in redundancy. I also subscribe to having some stuff off site.

sm, What would be a good or typical "off site" location?

[sm]

Bank Vaults for handguns are used a lot by some.

#1 deal - don't tell folks you have guns, do not advertise you have guns. One never knows whom is listening or watching - and these words and sights will eventually be passed to someone with wanting them. Just a matter of time.

If own a business, a separate safe. Relatives, Gunsmiths, your Attorney , etc. Anyone you can trust, most often the arrangement is reciprocated.

Natural disasters do occur , so having something local is good . Then again I had some stuff kept with someone near Dallas for instance - I used to travel that way often on business.

This is why having a couple of good used pump guns - in stock configuration is a good idea. Med frame revolvers...tube fed .22 rifles like Marlin 60's.

They don't need mags, ammo is affordable and avail anywhere.

Who says a $60 JC Higgens with the blue worn off won't defend. Polychoke blown off shooting slugs...21" bbl now with a bead ...it is a "bird gun" for someone I know sitting at his sister's...Her youth 1300 is at the brother's...got a 20' bbl when fired with mud blew the 26" bbl ...bargains are out there. Hers in a locker broken down with 3 K frames as well. ;)

[KarbineKrazy]

our family has a cabin, think I'll stash a cheap marlin 60 and Western Field pump 12 gauge up there

[sm]

My thinking runs this way-

We speak of "Social" though I have used that term , I prefer "Serious".

I have had to put down rabid dogs , I consider that serious. When Folks went through Tornados and / or flooding , snakes and other critters were a serious concern. Especially some that had to leave and when finally allowed to return...critters had taken up residence in homes, barns, tractor sheds and such.

Serious is more than the escaped convict that hitch-hiked to your house late at night.
IMO.

Find a bunch of rabid raccoons that need attending to...while I train and concern myself with the two legged variety , most folks , civilians like me, will most likely use a firearm for a situation like this. Perhaps one reason I don't have a special tactical shotgun.

I have handled too many targets - As Trapper eluded to earlier - so I feel fine with a stock SG to defend myself...no matter the number of legs, tails, stripes , fangs, nocturnal...

Yeah I know - I get really out of the box at times...

[Daniel Flory]

You need at least two that are extremely similar, if not the same model. When the first one breaks, you have a back up. And if it hasn't broken, you just haven't shot it enough ;)

[Dave McCracken]

Two 870s here fit the box marked "Serious" or "Tactical" if you will.

But, all of them here can be pressed into service as needed.

There's a slug barrel with rifle sights for the 20 gauge "Yute" model 870 and some 3 buck in the Panic Box.

Frankenstein's old 21" barrel can be pressed into service. That one also throws slugs into 3" at 50 yards using the bead. Does a nice pattern with Federal Classic 00 and the Mod tube too.

A caveat, I can grab ANY shotgun here, with the exception of the little NEF single and use it without changing my "Chops". All the 870s have similar controls so I never will have to pause and wonder if the slide release is at the front of the TG or elsewhere. I shoot about 1K of shells at evil clay discs every month now, and an 870 feels like a body part.

There's some logic to brand loyalty.....

[Al Thompson]

The other reason for multiple firearms is location. :)

I have one at either end of the house. If I ever start back on my unfinished upstairs, I'll have one there as well.

Twice I've needed a firearm and not had one available. Sucks. Helps to place them around your abode where you can get your hands on them in a hurry.

Depending on the threat, a handgun in, on or under a piece of furniture or a shotgun tucked behind a door or in a closet can be a life saver.

If children have access to the house, plan accordingly.

Failure to plan is planning to fail. :)

[Tactical Texan]

I bought the Winchester 1300 Defender back when the LA riots were going on.
Nothing fancy. Blued. 7+1 in 2-3/4". Bead sight. Synthetic furniture. Sidesaddle. It stays in my closet.

I picked up the Remington 870P a few months ago. I like her a lot. Parkerized. Synthetic furniture. Imporved cylinder. Ghost ring rear. XS front. Wilson Combat +2 extension. Surefire forend ON/OFF/CONSTANT. Sidesaddle. Eagle Industries shell holder on the stock. She is my bedside gun.

[sm]

Tactical Texan, Welcome to THR !

Great Guns you have btw.

Al -

It "is" amazing how Murphy can work his mischief . When you need a gun and it is "just right there" still 2 feet from reach - might as well be in another county. BTDT.

My saving grace was the Deputy handed me his BUG on one occasion. Another was < sigh dare I admit this> a Backup PGO shotgun under the blanket in the back floorboard of a unmarked vehicle....don't ask. He wouldn't swap for his Ithaca 37 full stocked one - I tried real hard though. :p

I hate "NO CCW " zones.

[Tactical Texan]

Thanks for the welcome and the compliment.
I believe I shall go formally introduce myself in a bit.

[LoadedDrum]

I, myself see uses for two different types of tactical shotguns.

The fully loaded model with all of the goodies for when you do not have access to an EBR for what ever reason.
18.5" to 20" barrel pump or semi-auto with Rifle, Ghost Ring, or Red Dot/EoTech sights, mag extension, side saddle, Surefire responder, Knoxx stock, and a sling that allows patrol carry are my thoughts on the matter.

The cheap, basic model for fighting your way to the gun safe to get the EBR.
18.5" barrel, bead sight, cheap tac light and that is it.

[Moondoggie]

I have an 870, 26" bbl (Poly Choke), 9+1 Choate mag tube, pistol grip buttstock; need to add a lite and sidesaddle.

I also have a BT99, 2 Winchester model 50's, and a Mossberg .410 3 shot bolt action. Definately more smoothbores than I "need".

BUT, for some reason, just before Christmas a 12 ga side-by-side w/18" bbl's (must remember to measure to make sure I'm not in trouble) caught my eye at my local friendly FFL's shop. He offered it to me at cost, it being Christmas and all..I think I might be achieving "prefered customer" status.

It followed me home...honest!

Besides, I only live 30 miles from where the woman was murdered and her 8 month fetus stolen from her body. Ya' just never know WHO might me at the door!