Do it all shotgun?

[hessy]

I recently borrowed a Remington 1100 from a friend and had a great session at skeet shoot, which I missed since 20 years ago. But 12-gauge beat me up pretty bad. Probably the borrowed gun does not fit me.
The question is: what shotgun should I get to do it all: HD, skeet and occasional IDPA/3-gun? I do not hunt. This will be the only shotgun for me. Money is not a big concern right now. I would like an autoloader to reduce recoil.
Should I look at FN SLP? But they have short barrels. Browning Maxus? But it has only up to 5-rd capacity. Mossberg 930 does not sound too appealing.
TIA

 

[oneounceload]

What you shot will work just fine with the appropriate barrels - you'll want two - one for HD/3-gun, and one for skeet

 

[Naybor]

20 Ga is my gauge of choice and is almost up to 12 ga performance, just not as many pellets. Try before you buy.

 

[Black Knight]

A Remington 1100 or 1187 with additional barrels should do just fine. The 12 gauge is generally considered the all around do everything shotgun, but if it beats you too badly you may wish to look into a 20 gauge. You don't necessarily need extended magazines. For home defense 4 rounds should do it. More than that and you are having major trouble and additional guns may be in order. A good high quality reliable handgun to back up the shotgun is always a good idea. A rifle or carbine may also be good under certain conditions. In my home defense battery I have all 3 types; rifles and a carbine, shotguns, and handguns. If I were to have only one home defense gun the shotgun is very difficult to beat.

 

[BudW]

930spx
mossberg

 

[monduconstruct]

I'm voting FN SLP! That's the autoloader I would get if $$ weren't an issue. Might also take a look at the Benelli M4?


http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/51795
22" isn't that short!

 

[Armored farmer]

If you want to do it all with one gun, make it a 12ga. It can be softened up for light recoil, or sooped up to hunt the big Toms with.
Browning
Beretta
Benelli
Remington
etc....you must choose.

 

[DWT]

I agree with kbbailey; use 1 oz. 12 ga. loads and install a good recoil pad like Kick-eez or LimbSaver.

 

[foghornl]

If the Remington 1100 is beating you up, definitely look into making sure that the gun "Fits" you properly....a MUST with any shotgun.

Also, the Kick-eez or Limb-Saver recoil pads are just the bee's knees for softening up that Mule-kick to the shoulder. I have limb-savers on both my OLD Mossberg 500 and Maverick 88. Since my Maverick is the 18-1/2" barrel sythetic stock HomeLand Security Shotgun, I GOTTA have the good pad on it because I use some serious ammo in that one (3" Mag #4 Buck)

 

[Gordon]

I use an 1100 for all around uses. Mine is an early 1980s 3" with a 28" Vent rib and Rem Choke. That covers waterfowl, upland big roosters with heavy 2 3/4" shells ect. It does NOT work for target loads however. I have a 21" factory Rifle sight Rem Choke barrel with 2 3/4" chamber and the bigger gas ports that works with target loads.
The 1100 is about the lightest recoiling 12ga BTW. I use this gun when I travel to the East Coast and need to have a deer gun, a rabbit gun, a pheasant gun and a duck gun, all in one.

 

[FAS1]

I have a Benelli Super 90 w/28" barrel for my all around shotgun. It was the one that felt most natural to me when shouldering. A side benefit is how clean the chamber stays for an auto loader. One of the best purchases I have ever made. I went to several local gun stores and picked up a bunch and that one just felt right for me.

 

[Virginian]

You are not going to find a shotgun that recoils less than an 1100 that will be good for all those activities. Everyone else may dog it for whatever reason, but that statement is just about a solid fact. And they do work. An old Super X Winchester may edge it by a hair because it was a tad heavier, but the fit is about the same and parts and accessories are no where near as easy to come by. Everyone is going to pitch their favorite, but that isn't going to address your issue. I am not bothered by recoil in most situations, but i know some people who are, and you have to get that issue beat before moving on.
I would get a good used 1100 for starters. First get it fitted to you, and then get a good recoil pad installed. Make sure you are pulling it tight into your shoulder. Try some reduced recoil loads. If you get down to where it has trouble functioning before you feel comfortable, you may need to get a Remington target barrel, as these have slightly bigger ports and will function with lighter loads. You can add some weight in the buttstock and forend pretty easily for more recoil reduction if you need to.
You can go to a 20 gauge, but again an 1100 is going to be about the lightest recoiling gun you can get, and since the 20 weighs less the net result on you is going to be about the same.
If all that works and you find you are enjoying the game without getting beat up, and you learn more about shotgun dynamics, then you can start thinking about different guns or whatever you want to, but first you need to get to that point.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

Might also take a look at the Benelli M4?

I'd rather have the M3. You can go from pump to semi and back again with the flip of a switch. It's the best of both worlds.

 

[451 Detonics]

For a shotgun to "do it all" for me it has to be capable of...

Clays...skeet, trap, five stand, etc
3 gun and other competitions
Crow hunting
Upland game
Deer
HD/SD

That is a tall order but my 1100 comes closest to being that shotgun, I have used it for all of the above purposes at one time or another. It will handle everything from my fast 7/8 ounce loads through slugs for deer. The 26 inch Hastings Wad-Lock barrel handles clays games just fine, the straight rifling gives me very dense and even patterns. With a Modified choke in place it shoots buck into a very tight pattern and offers more than adequate accuracy with slugs. It is also the perfect length to match the Choate 10 shot extension giving me 10+1 capacity for competition and HD/SD. The Speedload II stock holds 4 extra rounds while a Fajen thumbhole stock is great for clays.

Speedfeed stock



Fajen Stock



If you find the recoil to be a bit much in the 1100 try switching to a 1 ounce load, or reduced recoil loads in buck. You could also add a recoil reducer in the stock. Today I have a plethora of shotguns, each designed to play a specific game but the 1100 did them all for me at one time or another and did them well. Today it serves for competition and HD/SD for the most part but it is the last shotgun I would part with.

 

[Mark8252]

Most any shotgun will do all of what you say if you get one with interchangeable chokes. The rest is preference and bragging rights. Over Unders or break open shotguns are considered for trap and skeet because you do not have to pick up empty casings. With a auto you have to pick up casings but will hold more than two shotshells which is better for other than target shooting. Its all give and take but any shotgun that fits you with choke tubes will work for most all situations..Add bragging rights and it starts to get expensive.