Shotguns, the "Lays Potato Chips" of guns, betcha can't own just one...

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It's funny, I just realized that I have a decent number of shotguns already, but I still want more....

Owned by me;
Mossberg 500 12-gauge with 28" Mod Accuchoke and 18.5" Cylinder Bore barrels
Parker VH SxS 12-gauge

Dad's guns (that I can use whenever I want, he just hasn't "officially" given them to me yet)
H&R single-shot 12-gauge
M.A.V.I. .410 folding shotgun with engraved stainless receiver, vent-rib barrel and really nice looking wood, the more I look at this little .410, the more I like it, it's a classy looking little gun, perhaps it's time to buy a box of .410 shells and hit the range next week, see how it patterns, heck, maybe even shoot a game of trap with it

Its funny, even with all these shotguns, why do I feel the need for another singe-shot, most likely an H&R in 20 gauge... after all, I have a *vastly* superior Parker VH SxS, and I have access to a H&R 12-gauge, why the sudden need for a H&R 20 gauge?, heck, the MAVI .410 should fill my need for a small, lightweight single shot, right?, and the MAVI would make one heck of a good little trunk-gun being as it folds up to a little over half it's unfolded size...

I guess I'm just a single-shot kinda' guy, love the simplicity and reliability of a good single shot...
 
I agree the shotgun is the "do-all" of firearms...however I only own one, and that is a recent purchase. To be honest they don't interest me much as I prefer more accurate platforms...which is to say that I like rifles. I would like a few more, primarily my grandfather's Winchester Model 12 that was "given" to a "friend of the family" a few years back my my step-grandmother (and oh, BTW I am the only grandchild of said grandfather). :cuss: Other ones on "the list" include a SxS 20Ga. for a cheap, reliable HD gun to reside outside the safe, a Taurus/Rossi Circuit Judge (though it is likely to be a .45LC only gun), and possibly a Browning A-5 later on.

:)
 
Hmmm... I've owned just one shotgun for over 50 years. Do I get a prize? Guess that I'm going to have to branch out a bit. :p
 
I prefer my guns to be game-specific, whether clays or feathered, even down to fixed chokes. Along that line then, I NEED at least 1 12 for clay targets (while a 20 CAN do the job, ammo availability and selection is better), and I NEED at least 1 20 for upland birds. Living in the South means close-quarters bird hunting, so open choked 20's as in SK/IC or similar are the norm. For out West, I need more of an IC/M, IC/IM, or M/IM. (Guess I NEED 2 20's!

If I shot more pigeons, I would want a 12 for that game as well; same goes for trap, helice........this could get out of control easily....... :D

While I could use one or two more reality would be more likely upgrading one or two I have now to better brands
 
I'm even worse! I haven't even branched out of 12 ga yet. I've got a mossberg 500 for closer birds not requiring 3.5s, a long range heavy Benelli Nova for the Geese, an old double for flushing birds, a few HD pumps......And I caught myself looking at auto-loading 12s the other day. I haven't even started in on the O/U or smaller gauges yet.
 
I have 13. Four of them were inherited and I bought the rest. They range from an old Stevens single shot 12 ga that belonged to my wife's grand dad to a Browning Cynergy Sporting with adjustable comb, 12 ga. In fact they are all 12's except for one Spanish made S x S double in 20ga. I had a beautiful 20 ga. Remington Wingmaster, but my son claimed it. I was glad to let him.
 
They tend to accumulate around here:
Remingtons:
Model 870 12 ga. Police 20" RS IC
Model 870 12 ga. Wingmaster PD trade in 18"
Model 870 12 ga. Express 20" RS RC (with 28" VR RC extra barrel)
Model 870 12 ga. Wingmaster Trap 30" Fixed Full
Model 870 Youth 20 ga 18.5" VR RC (recently bought for my daughter)
Model 31 12 ga 26" Fixed IC (inherited from my grandfather)
11-87 21" RS RC (with 26" VR RC extra barrel)

Mossbergs:
Model 835 Woodland Camo 24" Accumag VR
Model 500 Woodland Camo 24" Accuchoke VR
Model 500AT 18.5" Accuchoke Heavy Barrel (with 28" VR Accuchoke).

NEF/H&R
12 Ga. single shot break action 28" Fixed Mod
.410 bore single shot break action 26" Fixed Full (bought for me by my grandfather when I was 10).
 
I own 5 at the moment... ...
Mossberg 590A1
Remington 870 20ga
Stoeger Coach gun supreme
Stevens 311E 12ga
Stevens 311H 20ga...
 
I went and chatted with Dad some more about his guns, I get the feeling he's happy that I'm taking an interest in them, the only gun he still uses, albeit intermittently, mainly to get rid of vermin/varmints is his Ruger Single Six .22LR revolver...

I found out a disturbing/scary bit of info about the MAVI .410, apparently, it has a "lazy" firing pin, and sometimes it will stick forward, if you don't notice the pin being forward and you chamber a shell and close the breech, it can slam-fire :what::what:, he claims that it did it "intermittently" and that's why he doesn't use that gun

the H&R (actually a NEF from before the NEF/H&R merger) 12-gauge is a *great* gun though, crisp trigger, ejector sends empties flying with aplomb, and the stock is just the right length for me, perfect LOP, externally, it's in cosmetically "rough" shape, but it's not horrible, especially considering Dad paid $35 for it used at my "fun store" a while back....

So, the next trip to the range is probably going to involve taking the .410 and the NEF 12-gauge, as well as Dad's favorite .22, a Stevens falling-block Favorite with the heavy .22 Short barrel and Williams peeps, wonder if my CCI CB Shorts would work in the Stevens...

Can't wait to get the NEF back out on the range
 
wonder if my CCI CB Shorts would work in the Stevens...
Click to expand...
Sounds like the perfect fodder to me. I realize that I am very likely "preaching to the choir" but just don't use any LR in it.

:)
 
You are right about cant own just one. Thus far I own three and am quite happy with them. They all have their own use. First was the 20ga Mossberg 500 from dad. Its my slug/turkey gun with pistol grip and red dot. Next was my 12ga Winchester 1400. This one was from step-dad. I mainly use it for dove and upland game now but it started as my waterfowl gun. It did ok even with its 2 3/4" chamber limit. Then my wedding present. A 12ga Winchester SX2 3 1/2" Mossy Oak Breakup. This is a bad a** gun and took over my waterfowling. In addition to these I inherited some shotguns from grandpa that currently reside in my step-dads safe. Cause I dont have the room in mine. The two most favorite are the old Browning A5. That gun has won alot of meat in its lifetime! Secondly the old Savage bolt action shotgun. I cant remember what its chambered to but cant wait to clean her up and shoot it.
 
870s do not breed, but they tend to multiply....

Same applies to shotguns in general.

As I tell WW, I may have more shotguns than I need, but not all I want.....
 
I've been trying to "right size" for a few years and replace quantity with quality. Here's where things stand.

12 gauge o/u for clay shooting.

12 gauge semi-auto for waterfowling/back up clay/loaner gun.

12 gauge sxs for upland hunting.

12 gauge pump gun with assorted barrels for farm defense, shotgun-only deer and back up waterfowl gun.

28 gauge o/u for clay shooting and upland.

This is pretty much the bare minimum to do what I want to do and have back ups in the event a gun needs repair.

But if you have the shotgun passion you will never own (or be able to afford) all the guns you want. ;)
 
The most shotgun "toys" win...

After looking at some of the posts I started to count how many shotguns I have accumulated over the last 40 years and, truthfully, I was surprised that I’m one up on Snarlingiron! Well, I guess that’s a challenge to you friend. rantingredneck, it will take two more for you to tie and three to win if Snarlingiron and I don’t do something quick enough. I don't think for a minute that there isn't a more prolific shotgun owner than me. Anyone else want to claim the "most"?

The “Lays Chips” of my shotguns are Remington 1100s - four 12s and 1 20 gauge. One and it’s back up took me to a State Police-Fire Olympic Skeet championship. An English stocked 21" Special that I tote when I “patrol” my 24 acres. Another is a synthetic stocked 12 for duck hunting and a Lt-20 that I occasionally use for skeet and quail. I have more expensive guns, but these are my best friends. They fit me, they balance right for me, I’m intimate with their workings and I’ve found them to be very, very reliable with minimal maintenance. My only gripe is the new stamped fore end support assembly found on the 12s - broke 2 in the past 20 years, but the gun kept on shooting after I shook the broken part out of the receiver.

The only regrettable one is a Saiga 20 I bought new on a lark at a gun show for $200. After fooling with it for a while, I know why the dealer sold it so cheaply. The 20 gauge is a very different animal from the 12.
 
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Aside from the fun, versatility, and power of the shotgun, I think one of it's most endearing qualities is that you can get a solid, reliable gun for a reasonable price, in terms of "bang for the buck" I don't think much can compare to the humble shotgun, where else can you get a shoulder-arm capable of massive, devistating firepower for $50-100 for a good, solid single-shot, or $120-250 for a decent pump (used guns, obviously)

load versatility is unmatched as well, in the 2 3/4" length alone, you can shoot loads ranging from the 7/8 Oz powderpuffs to shoulder-busting Magnums, to say nothing of the 3" or 3.5" loads, want a big, 73 caliber bullet, load up a slug...

My Mossberg 500 can go from an 18.5" HD gun to a 28" hunting/claybuster in a little under 3 minutes with a simple barrel swap, and there's also that black powder barrel for the 500 I've been considering as well....

Versatility, thy name is shotgun...
 
I have several, but this is by far my favorite. It was my dad's Christmas present in 1959 when he was 8. He passed away in '86 and I gave it to my brother who passed away in 2008. His house had flooded and the gun looked like it had been in a field for 30 years. The wood was really scratched and the metal was pure rust. $350 and 8 months with my 'smith and better than new. Jefferson model 358 .410. Probably worth $100 and I wouldn't take $10,000 for it.

DSC00814.jpg

DSC00819.jpg
 
bushmaster1313
Thanks, I thought it might be a High Standard. The extended mag tube threw me off. That ones on my list to own someday. Nice collection.
 
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