Gun Collection "Must Have" - Shotgun

[ReadyontheRight]

What do you consider to be the "must have" shotgun(s) for any gun collection.

I'll start -- One of the "big four" - Winchester/Mossberg/Remington/Ithaca - pump-actions in 12 ga.

 

[Rupestris]

Everyone should have an old beater single shot in 12 or 20. Something like a H&R/NEF, MagTech, Rossi, CBC, etc...

 

[TrapperReady]

Too easy... 12 ga pump.

I'd likely vote for an 870, although any of the Big 4 would be fine (my sentimental favorite is a Model 12). They do well on birds, rabbits, clays, deer and "evil-doers". A 12ga is probably the most effective and versatile type of firearm produced.

I'd also make a case for a 20ga single-shot, for introducing young'uns to the sport.

I've thought about this before, and if I were forced to sell off all but two of my shotguns, I'd be left with a 12ga Model 12 and a 20ga 870. If I then had to choose between them, I'd be left with the Model 12. And, truth be told, I wouldn't be at any disadvantage whatsoever (no matter what I've told my wife to justify my other shotguns).

 

[ruger357]

870.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Two 870s. One set up as a "Serious" protection tool, one for fun and practice.

Make that have a barrel set up for tube chokes.

Of course, any of the Big Four will do, but 870s are my standard.

 

[riverdog]

1) Rem 870 (Wingmaster [magnum or standard], Police or Express) although a quality Winchester, Ithaca or Mossberg pump could substitute in a pinch
2) Quality O/U -- Browning, Beretta et al
3) More of 1 or 2.

I started with my Grandfather's Win '97 then bought an 870 WM Magnum. Then a Ruger Red Label 20 ga, another 870 Wingmaster, a Browning 525 and finally my 870TB. If I buy another it will be a Marine Magnum.

 

[ACP230]

Winchester Model 12.

I've had a 12 in 16 gauge since high school graduation and used it on grouse, geese, and one three point buck.

Yesterday my Dad told me his Model 12 in 12 gauge is now mine.
I've been using it for turkey hunting for a few years anyway, but now I don't have to ask. He bought it back in 1935 and that shotgun has been down to the Southern Hemisphere and from Minnesota to a lot of other states in the U.S. It doesn't look as good as it used to, but it still shoots tight patterns with six shot.

Whenever I get to a well-stocked gun store, (like Cabela's in Dundee, MI) I take a look at the Model 12s. They always look good.

 

[Snakeshot]

Dave McC is correct.

870 w/ 30 inch vent rib full choke. (The old tower gun I imagine).

And the 20" shorty w/ police walnut furniture and minimal accessories.

Also have various H&R single shots and other old SxSs. Love 'em all!

 

[PJR]

Must have? Reduced to one I'd want an over/under with 3" chambers and 30" barrels. I'd want it in the 7.5lb range which while heavy for upland game is enough weight for clay games and hunting ducks. I shoot far more clay targets than feathered game but it would get the job done for everything.

An 870 is a must have with two barrels a short one for deer and serious activities and a longer barrel with choke tubes for the rest of the time.

That would be the "must haves" for me.

 

[huntsman]

while I consider a pump (870) the first shotgun or an only shotgun to buy,

If I were building a collection it would be a double.

a SXS (or maybe an O/U ) a 20bore or a lighter 12
the cheapest I'd go is a browning or Ruger.

If were dreaming it would be a Winchester MD21

and if I'm really dreaming it would be a 20bore MD21

 

[Kampfer]

I think one pump and one auto. It would be nice to have one each.
Any big 4 for the pump and either a SX2/M1/M4/11-87 for the auto-loaders. Now for my collection a lever action shotgun would be something cool to show guests that come over.

 

[HSMITH]

The "must have" in my mind is an 870 or an 835. Whatever model you choose it will be a no-fail gun that you can count on to work when you need it with little or no maintenance. It will feed and shoot just about any 12ga ammo you can come up with, it will feed the family and fight a war just as it came out of the box. It only needs ONE 28" or so barrel, and with that 28" choke tube barrel it will do anything you could ever ask of a shotgun and a good bit of what we ask of our handguns and rifles. No sidesaddle buttcuff light mount heatshield pistol grip laser heat seeking ghost ring rifle sight 20 round sling extended tube barrel clamped Bullshine "tacticool" model either, just a plain ordinary shotgun. This shotgun is the meat and potatoes of ANY gun collection in my mind. The short open choked so-called "serious" shotguns are frivolous and even silly when the full length choke tube gun is not already in the safe. A 20 gauge 870 would fill this role in 95% or more of possible uses as well. Once one learns to handle and shoot THIS shotgun reasonably well his ideas of what is needed and what is not will likely have evolved significantly. The man that puts in the time and effort will be a shotgunner, and the ones that don't will finish second or worse to this man even with all the gadgets and "tactical" crap money can buy. This man will never go hungry either.

I have picked on several things that I think are silly but rampant and probably irritated a few guys. No offense was meant, but I stand by what I said.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A coupla things...

Except for some highly specialized single purpose shotguns like SBTs, our scatterguns are incredibly versatile. Even friend PJR's O/U with 30" barrels would do for HD in his trained and skilled hands. It also wouldn't be much longer than the 42" arbitrary max length for a "Serious" shotgun.

Like a friend of Pop's said ca 1960 while admiring my "New" 870, "A man with a good shotgun don't ever have to go hungry, and less reason than most to ever be skeered". Said friend took a Garand for a walk from Normandy Beach to Berlin in the 29th Division, and I regard his as an informed opinion.

With ONE 870 here, assuming a few choke tubes and 3" chamber, I can take any legal game in the state from rails to turkey and geese, use slugs on all three species of deer, obliterate pests like Nutes and ferals, play all the shotgun games and protect my family.

With TWO 870s, I can set one up for the defensive end and slug hunting, and the other for wingshooting and fun. Naturally, overlap is not only inevitable but a bonus.

Some of us have lots of shotguns,from Kreighoffs to H&R singles.Any collection or battery without a good pump is not as deep, IMO, as it could be.

 

[50 Shooter]

Here's a setup for ya.

http://www.argonautarmament.com

 

[Devonai]

Where's the fork and spoon?

I suppose you could get in a quick jab while your opponent is laughing at you.

 

[Okiecruffler]

One simply must have a good SXS

or 2 or 3 or 8.

Dave, I've got an old friend (fella changed my diapers more than a few times) who only owns one gun. A Rem 870. He's got his slug barrel (20 inch, rifle sights), his upland barrel (28 inch or so with choke tubes) and his waterfowl barrel which was the original 32 incher with fixed full choke. I like to rib him about it, but somehow his freezer's always full.

 

[Dave McCracken]

John, what's that old saw about beware of a man with just one gun?....

I assume the diapers were quite a while ago, heh,heh....

For just one shotgun, the 870's a good choice. Luckily, most of us can have more than one. Admittedly my battery is overdense on 870s.That could be because I went with what works for me. YMMV....

 

[retiredsgt]

Must have Shotgun

If you are looking at a collection, you certainly can start with
a 870. But you also need a quality double. How about a
Parker Bros. 12 ga. That pretty well sets the standard
for a s x s. How about a Ruger red label O/U in 20? For a single
shot, why not a "sweet Elsie" in 20 ga.? Kinda hard to beat a
single barrel L.C.Smith.

 

[rajaniblue]

hmmm.... the "must have" list....

my "must have" is usually the next gun I end up acquiring.

First it was muzzleloaders, then .22 rifles. Next came hunting shotguns, and then a long term dip into over and under shotguns which has not ended yet (and most likely will never), oh, and then there was the turkey gun! and now? handguns.

 

[Smoke]

Let me jump on the double bandwagon.

I love 870's too. SO that is a must have, but then a nice double O/U or SXS is nice for feasting on our feathered friends. A good Clays gun would be nice to have in the collection too.

I don't want to have to change the barrel on one shotgun all the time depending on what I want to do with it.

So the must have list will have; what - 10 or 12 guns?

 

[Badger Arms]

First, get an 870 with the barrel you intend to use the most or get a combo. IMO, you need two barrels, one 26-30" and one 18-20" for home protection and slug work. Getting barrels with interchangeable chokes is the best way to go. This will cover NEARLY all of your shooting needs.

If you want a second shotgun, a good, light 20ga is probalby the way to go. An O/U or lightweight pump. If you live where large waterfowl hunting is an item, you might opt for one of the Super-Magnum shotguns or a 10ga.

A third shotgun might be a 'beater' of some sort like a SxS Coach gun, a single-shot, or maybe a Mossberg. Something you can beat up and not worry too much about.

Adding to what others have called the 'big' four, I'd also suggest the Browning BPS, Benelli Nova, and used Savage shotguns to the mix.

 

[Gordon]

If we are talking GUN COLLECTION , then a Browning Superposed is prolly a must have. Make mine a pre "saltwood" Belgian made Lightning in 12 or 20.

 

[45auto]

Everyone should have a 28 gauge shotgun of some variety, after you have your main shotguns.

Low recoil, great patterns and just a pleasure to shoot, carry and look at!

 

[JeepDriver]

Mossy 500 & 590 are a definate must have

Any Mossy 500 or 590 will serve you well for the rest of your life. I've bought 3 so far in different configurations, and all 3 are great guns, that have done everything I've asked of them.