HD and skeet gun?

[Schwarf]

I'm looking for a shotgun primarily for home defense, but would also like something for skeet or country doubles. The idea is that the clays would be good practice for me with the HD shotgun. I know no one gun is perfect for everything, but I have a couple of ideas I'd like to run by the experts here.

1) Versamax, either a tactical for HD with a longer barrel for skeet, or a Synthetic with 28" barrel and a shorter barrel for HD

2) Beretta A400 XCEL, with a second, shorter barrel for HD. Or maybe a 1301, if they make a barrel for it long enough for skeet.

3) A pump, such as a Mossberg or Ithaca or Winchester, with both a 28" vent rib and a 18" bead sight barrel.

Are any of these reasonable? Is there a better idea?

Thanks,
Schwarf

 

[oneounceload]

Have never seen a HD barrel for the Xcel, and I have both the smurf gun (Xcel) and the field gun (Xplor); otherwise it is an excellent gun

You mention a Mossberg 500 - which in the combo version runs less than $400 and the Xcel which runs about $1400+; so what is the budget?

 

[Schwarf]

While I don't want to waste money, both are within my budget. Let's say top out at 2k for both Hd and skeet setup.

 

[Schwarf]

Beretta A400

Also, could one not cut down a second barrel for the A400 for HD use, if needed?

 

[oneounceload]

I suppose it could be done, just remember a Beretta barrel will be half the price of the gun; so, IMO, get the Xcel for fun and games and a regular Mossberg or used 1100 semi for HD

 

[Armor Snail]

Two grand budget eh?

Why get a do all then?

If it was me I'd buy a CZ Sporter Standard Grade with the Tom Mack chokes for clays.
Street price $1800 or less.

Then for bedside duty a Hawk or Pardner(same gun) pump for around $200.

YMMV.


If you are set on one gun though with two barrels I would go Browning BPS.

Bottom ejectors are the gentleman's pumps when you are on the line. Be considerate of the other shooters on your squad.

 

[PabloJ]

I would pass on BPS or Itjaca 37. It is impossible to throw extra round into ejection port for quick emergency shot making bottom loading/ejecting guns poor choice for defense use. Come to think short barreled O/U or SxS would be even worse. It's hard to believe but in 1970s Beretta make few hundred BL 0/U police guns with 18.5" barrels and Cyl/Cyl or 1/4-1/4 chokes. I have actually held this rare piece in my hands.

 

[rule303]

You can pick up a Mossberg 930 combo with a 28" vent rib accuchoke barrel, and 18" HD barrel for under $600. Excellent gun, and well under budget.

 

[FAS1]

3) A pump, such as a Mossberg or Ithaca or Winchester, with both a 28" vent rib and a 18" bead sight barrel.

Are any of these reasonable? Is there a better idea?

Thanks,
Schwarf

I would scratch a pump of the list if you plan on shooting skeet consistently. For a 2K budget, I would consider 2 separate guns if possible.

 

[John3921]

I think you want 2 separate guns. I'd avoid pumps for skeet, fun perhaps- but not conducive to consistently good shooting. I'm not knowledgable about HD guns, but a mossy 500 with a short, legal, bbl sounds reasonable for HD, The smurf gun is a very good skeet gun.

I think you have to be careful shortening the bbls on gas guns. Too short and not enough gas at pressure will be available to operate the action.

 

[Potatohead]

Why is a pump less accurate for skeet? Or is it just generally not as accurate as a semi?

 

[jaguarxk120]

Skeet is a very fast game. Keeping track of the birds AND cycling the gun will disrupt your aim.
A auto loader would be better, best is a O/U since there is no disruption of the gun cycling.

 

[Schwarf]

While I appreciate that two guns would be a good idea for most people, for me the skeet would really just be a way to make sure I keep in practice with my HD gun, so I'd really like them to be the same gun.

So, a Versamax or 930 wouldn't be a crazy idea?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

HD shooting and skeet are two very different animals and having two barrels is going to substantially affect how the gun swings.

 

[Armor Snail]

In that case no.
The only problem I see is that if you keep it at the ready for HD, you will need to unload it every time you plan on swapping barrels.
Not always the best thing to do as every time you should be very mindful of safety not to mention it's not the best for your HD hulls to be consistently loaded & unloaded.

I still think two guns would be best.

Plus, the more the merrier.

For what you will pay for an extra 930 barrel a few more bucks will get you a Hawk.

One other option would be to split the difference and get an auto that has a 24" barrel. It's long enough for sport with the right choke yet just short enough to not be unmanageable in the home.

 

[Schwarf]

I can be convinced to get two guns, if needed.

The 24" barrel idea is something to think about. Maybe a Beretta 1301 Competition, if I go that route.

Thank, everyone.

 

[Virginian]

Get the Versamax and an extra barrel and be done with it. It will do everything and anything you want to do.

 

[Schwarf]

If I got the versamax, should I get the tactical plus a 28" barrel, or the synthetic with the 28" barrel and a second shorter barrel?

 

[btg3]

The rail and mag extension on the tactical seem to limit skeet shooting a bit. Also dunno what has to be done with the mag extension when swapping barrels. And for HD indoor use, even the 22" barrel is rather long.

If you want to shoot tactical events, fine, but the tactical model strikes me as a needless compromise for either skeet or HD.

The hassle of barrel swapping and re-configuring with the extension and rail would also get old and I expect you may end up getting a another dedicated-purpose gun in the end, so why not get the right guns from the start?

 

[Virginian]

Get the 28" barrel version and then get a shorter barrel for HD. My "home defense" shotguns all wear 28" or 30" barrels anyway. I don't need a shorter barrel than what I am used to. Handgun is primary anyway.

 

[Schwarf]

Again, thanks everybody.

 

[mavracer]

HD shooting and skeet are two very different animals and having two barrels is going to substantially affect how the gun swings.

Yes but being very familiar with the function, how to load, where the safety is etc is a very good thing.
plus an 18" barrel with a mag extention swings pretty comperable to a 28" without the extention.

I think either the 930 or versamax would make a great one shotgun for everything shotgun.

 

[Potatohead]

Skeet is a very fast game. Keeping track of the birds AND cycling the gun will disrupt your aim.
A auto loader would be better, best is a O/U since there is no disruption of the gun cycling.

Ahh, I gotcha- My friend and I have been shooting the little clays, one at a time-I forgot the other games were faster.




So, why has nobody said Benelli? I thought they were the cats meow?

 

[Panzerschwein]

I'd just get a Pardner Pump tactical 12 gauge shotgun for 150 bucks at Wal-Mart for an HD piece. They are considered excellent for the price.

 

[BigBL87]

For your budget, I'd personally get 2 shotguns. I was on a much lower budget myself and went with the Mossberg combo with the 18.5" HD barrel and 28" field barrel for just under $400. I've been very happy with it.