clueless about shotguns.

[p89cajun]

I am an avid pistol shooter and carry one daily. The only long gun I own is a marlin 60 .22 caliber that I use for a little squirel hunting. Now I am in the market for a new shotgun but am so confused as to everything about it. I know I want a "service model" and am looking at the maverick 88. I know it is a cheap gun but entry level is what I am looking for just to get started and later, if I like shotguns, will move onto a mossy 500 or a 870. This is about all I can find doing research but I know there is a lot to learn about choke tubes(I have no ideal what those are) and different loads(slug, buck, birdshot.) I want to keep it loaded with something that will do some damage but do they also make a 12 gauge load that is light enough for squirels or will it just demolish the meat. Any info will be greatly apreciated or if you could just point me in the right direction to a place where I can learn.

 

[bowfin]

I would skip the Maverick and go right to nicer shotgun. Don't forget the browning BPS and Ithaca M37 along with the Remington and Mossberg. Moreso than rifles and handguns, how a shotgun "feels" when you handle it will determine how well you shoot it. I am not wealthy by any means, but a good shotgun will last generations, might as well pass down an Ithaca as a Maverick, now that Ithaca is back in business.

A 12 gauge is perfectly suitable for squirrels. A Game load of 1 oz. of #6 shot will work very well, as would a Field load of 1 1/8 oz. of #6 shot gives some added punch. The larger Fox squirrels have a surprisingly thick hide for such a small animal.

Buckshot is used mostly for defense and deer hunting in the Deep South, as well as coyote hunting. 00 (double ought) buck for the deer and people, #4 buck is what is commonly used here for coyotes, with Hevi-Shot "Dead Coyote" shells (T shot, two sizes down from #4 buckshot) becoming wildly popular.

Slugs are devastating on all the game I have seen hit with it, but accuracy out of a smoothbore barrel can be hit and miss, especially if you do not have sights, but just a bead as most field shotguns do. Also, you only have a single projectile to hit your target, so if you are going to fire a single projectile, might as shoot it out of a pistol or rifle. Inside a dwelling, those squirrel loads mentioned above are 100% sufficient for any man walking at across the room ranges. The pellets would still be inside the shot cup or wad, and it would be like hitting the guy with a very explosive slug.

Hold the shotgun firmly and get your cheek down on the cheekpiece, and recoil should never be a factor. Start out with the squirrel loads mentioned above, and then if you want something with more oomph, you can try some of the heavier shells.

Just my two cents.

 

[bowfin]

Oh, and choke tubes are a way of keeping shot together for more effective range as with a full choke, or letting shot spread quicker for shorter range shooting, as with an Improved choke.

Look up shotgun chokes on the Internet, you can read all night on that subject

 

[sm]

p89cajun,

Welcome to THR!

Take a deep breath, and get a batch of gumbo and red beans and rice ready to ship my way... noticed the username...

New to shotguns:

-Shotgunning The Art And The Science - Bob Brister.
This book will answer most questions you will have, or will encounter.

-Do a Search under Dave McCracken , Lee Lapin, kudu, mnriverat, PJR, HSMITH...etc for specific questions.

-Go with an experienced shooter to a skeet/ trap club and TRY a bunch of different guns for fit, how they operate, and lessons on safety and shooting.

GUN FIT is that important!!

Learn a basic bone stock shotgun for CORRECT BASIC Fundamentals.

WE have a HUGE amount of knowledge on THR and TFL available using the Search feature.

You may find a member near you that can assist you. Not uncommon for a member to meet another and assist - be it shotguns or something else.

Do not buy before you educate your mind, body and try a variety of first.

Be it shotguns, handgun, rifle, knife, holster...anything.

Steve

 

[cosine]

-Do a Search under Dave McCracken , Lee Lapin, kudu, mnriverat, PJR, HSMITH...etc for specific questions.

Like usual, sm's too modest. Don't forget to run a search under his username too in order to find answers to your shotgun questions.

Also, search for "101" under "Dave McCracken." Most everything you want to know about shotgunning can be found there. I just learned that yesterday, and thought I'd pass the help along.