18" 870 for rabbit hunting?

[md7]

just out of curiosity, how would an 18" rem. 870 do for rabbit hunting? are the 18" barrels modified, or improved cylinders, or what? most of the time i am in the middle of thorns, trees and vines, trying to twist around to get a shot off and a short barrel would be great if it would keep a good pattern for at least 12- 15 yards.

anybody here hunt rabbits and use this type of setup?

 

[foghornl]

Probably either plain cylinder bore (no choke) or improved cylinder. Still ok for your close-range (under 25 Yds) shooting.

 

[kmrcstintn]

up the length by a mere 3" and get a Remington 870 21" turkey barrel and you have the option of interchangable chokes; your tube is still much shorter than the usual 28" field barrels and you can customize the pattern and load for a great variety of hunting/defensive activities

 

[ArmedBear]

Note that a receiver adds 3-4" to the overall length. A break-action gun (single, O/U or SxS) is a good deal shorter for a given barrel length.

An inexpensive SxS coach gun (Stoeger or Spartan) can be had with 20" barrels and choke tubes. A Spartan 220 is about the same price as a basic 18.5" 870, but it's 2 3/4" shorter, even with the longer barrels. Quicker and lighter, too.

Added pluses: 2 really quick shots, with different chokes if you want, so you get a tighter pattern for a followup shot on a rabbit running away, or a wounded rabbit.

Another interesting option is the Stoeger Condor Outback, a short O/U in the same price range. It has sights (kind of express style) so it can double as a slug gun, turkey gun, etc.

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/condor-outback.tpl

 

[Okiecruffler]

I used to hunt rabbit in much the same conditions. My beloved SXS with it's 28" barrels became a hinderance. So I found an old western field single shot 16ga for $45 at a pawn shop. Cut the barrel back to 18". Thing was just murder on rabbits in the brush. Hammer springs finally gave up the ghost so it's sitting in the gun cabinet now. Never could find springs for it.

 

[Starter52]

I find the 18" barrel ideal for rabbit hunting. My 18" 870 barrel has an improved cylinder choke and I use high-brass Remington shells with #6 shot. Works great for cottontails.

 

[collector14]

I've been thinking about a shorter barrel for rabbit hunting too. I've been using a Remington 870 with a 28" barrel.

 

[Tom Held]

Check your game laws

Might want to check your local game laws to see if the 18" barrel is legal for hunting. Tom

 

[md7]

the gun i saw was a .20 guage that had the magazine extension. can the magazine extension be removed? would i have to get different magazine springs and a cap to make it work?

armed bear and okiecruffler,
good ideas. i had not thought about those. they would be pretty handy in the woods.

starter52,
does your barrel have screw in chokes?

 

[Dave McCracken]

It'll work.

 

[collector14]

Speaking of rabbit hunting, I've got to show a picture of my Beagle. Nobody, and I mean nobody, loves to go rabbit hunting more than this little guy.

 

[Starter52]

md7 - no screw-in chokes. Just a plain ol' fixed-choke barrel with a bead front sight.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I mean nobody, loves to go rabbit hunting more than this little guy.

I don't know how to tell you this, but that ain't no rabbit.

In my favorite rabbit hunting area having a single shot was no handicap. If you missed the first shot, there was no second. Thorns were so thick I had to cut my chow out of them one day. More than a few times I had to crawl on my belly under the nasty stuff to retrieve a rabbit. Unfortunately after dad sold the old homestead to a cattle rancher he sold it to a land "devoloper". First thing they did was bulldoze a few hundred acres of trees and fill in 4 ponds to make room for folks who wanted to live in the country.

 

[ArmedBear]

In my favorite rabbit hunting area having a single shot was no handicap. If you missed the first shot, there was no second.

I know that all too well.

Sometimes, I get a second. Not a 3rd, though.

 

[Okiecruffler]

You know, if I would have had a short SXS or auto I may have gotten a few second shots. But I'm pretty slow with the old slide gun. Would have come in handy since alot of time you'd run them up in pairs.

 

[ArmedBear]

Yeah, some people can pump an 870 really fast. But not THAT fast.

 

[md7]

okie, thats sounds about right where i hunt too. the brush is so thick most of the time that one shot is all you get. every now and then you might get a second shot. sorry to hear that your huntin grounds got all chewed up too.

i have been using a winchester 1300 with a 21" or 22" turkey barrel. it is a very good gun, and in 12 years of use it has never failed or been any trouble. thing is, i've heard parts are harder to find for it because it is no longer being made, and it is the only shotgun i own. i want an 870 and get the 18" barrel and a 26" barrel, so i will have a little variety.

one can never have too many good shotguns.

 

[md7]

double post.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Md7, 1300s do not break a lot. If you are concerned, pick up a spare bolt and TG. With care, yours should last for a century or two.

 

[md7]

dave,
thanks for the advice. i'm not too concerned about breakage, but it does bother me a little that the 1300 is no longer being made.

and the another reason for wanting the 870 is to be able to have another shotgun in the stable.

 

[ArmedBear]

I thought that FN still makes the gun as the Tactical Police Shotgun.

http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF004&gid=FNG002&mid=FNM0007

Or did they have a batch of actions made before shutting down the USRAC plant?

 

[Sagetown]

md7 ~ These little 20" historic external hammer SxS's like this EMF are pretty cool for the Briar Patch Cottontails. I doubt if it is as light as the 870 though.