If you had to take a shotgun with you into the woods

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I will conservatively estimate 30,000 rds through my 870 comp. So,... I nayurally vote 870...always on these posts.
You can load a 12 ga to 20ga levels or... max it out.
I have a closet full of guns that I never shoot , including several H&R's. Do yourself a favor, and get 1 12ga 870. You will be set up for life.
 
I have a mossberg 500 and an 870- but if I were carrying the shotgun all the time- I agree the tamer might be your best bet. The added heft of a nice pump gun, though very comforting and versatile, might become a bit cumbersome.
 
pretty much down to the Tamer, a Stoeger coach gun in 20 ga nickel, and an 870 in 20 ga with the barrel i mentioned. the 870 is the least likely because it will be the most expensive, unless I find one of these ridiculous deals you guys are always posting about
(a Wingmaster for 100$? lucky!)

I always shot 20's as a kid before I went to the 12, accidentally buying 20 ga. birdshot the other day made me want a 20 again pretty bad. not just for me but for the family.


Hmm.
 
oneounceload said:
The issue with those types of guns is the light weight makes recoil even more horrific, even with target loads - they also tend to not fit anyone very well, which only amplifies the felt recoil
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This is true, the factory Tamer stock is way to short and the grip is way to small for the average sized shooter. Makes it a pain to shoot and hard to get a quick sight picture plus the narrow, hard plastic butt doesnt help it any. Changing the stock to a standard type like the one pictured makes a big difference. The recoil pad is no Limbsaver, but its a definate improvement.
 
Probably true, but if it's anything like the old NEF 20 Ga's...it's great for kids to learn on. Seen SO many kids start with those.
 
I'm with sbarkowski on the Tamer. The recoil is far less than you would think. You feel it but it just isn't that bad. Here is a thread from just a few days ago on the Tamer. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=531965

I have about $190 in mine and that was buying it new and ordering the stock for NEF. They had the new stock to me in about a week. I take it shooting each time I go now.

With its nickle finish and plastic stock it is almost damage proof. Its a new truck and fishing boat gun. I have a little 14' Jon Boat and I will go in any slew with 2' foot of water. Lots of snakes in those places.
 
I don't know...

A fitted Perazzi in 12, or an AyA No. 2 in 20... Hmmm...

Good thing I'm not going to go live in the woods indefinitely any time soon, since I don't have the cash on hand for either of those.:D
 
The 5+1 Pardner Protector is a better choice than the single shot Tamer. An extra barrel will run you a little over $100 from the factory when they have it in stock. They are currently on backorder. The reason I know is that I wanted to get a 18.5" barrel for my Pardner Pump in 12ga with a 28" ventilated rib barrel.

I didn't want to wait for the 18.5" barrel to come off backorder so I picked up the NEF Pardner Protector instead. Now I have one of each. They're essentially the same guns with different length barrels and one has walnut furniture while the other has black synthetic. Total for the two shotguns was $375 (shipping & FFL included).



AcceptableUserName
If you had to take a shotgun with you into the woods
for an indeterminate amount of time, what would it be? Next purchase I'm going to pick up three guns - a good defensive autoloader, a good double action revolver and a do-it-all shotgun.
The do it all shotgun will be more of a trunk/fishing and camping utility gun.
I have my eye on the H&R Tamer 20 w/ Nickle Finish...but I'm open to suggestions.
I also considered a Pardner protector in 12 with an extra long barrel but I don't know how much extra Pardner barrels cost or if they're even available as I'm aware 870 barrels dont fit.
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If you had to take a shotgun with you into the woods
for an indeterminate amount of time
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When someone says "for an indeterminate amount of time", I figure they mean overnight and the SHTF already. I'd want one reliable, one that ammo was readily available, and one that was easy to carry, and light.
Mossberg 500 or 870 with an 18 1/2" barrel. Bring slugs and buckshot.
 
One oz, I've shot all the great brands as well as 870s. Purdey, Parker, Fox, AYA, SKB, Baker, Ithaca, H&H,etc, as well as JC Higgins, Western Field, and Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, et al.

I liked them all, though I admit some were prettier than others. Some shoot better for me also, and that's not based on price or snob appeal.

As for the OP's question, I'd take an 870 specifically Frankenstein,

With either the 26" LC barrel or the cut down 21" Express barrel, I have versatility, and reliability in a 7 lb package that handles like a body part and not just a tool.
 
To be honest, I wouldn't bother carrying a shotgun, if I were going to use slugs and buckshot in it. There's very little that you could do with slugs and buckshot that you can't do better with a .308, so why carry the shotgun at all, if you're going to have a rifle? The rifle will work well at 300 yards, as well as up close.

I'd want a rust-resistant sidearm, a medium-caliber centerfire rifle, and AMMO. 7 lbs. of shotgun means 7 lbs. less ammo.

Now if you want something to shoot small game, a 20 gauge shotgun will do a better job of filling the pot than a .308. That would be well worth having in a survival situation.
 
My general woods bumming shotgun would be, and is, one of a couple of different H&R single shot break-open shotguns. Very light to carry, reliable. We have no bear here. On occasion I might carry a hammerless SxS coachgun but not often. If I thought I needed more firepower than that, then I would carry an 870. Light is good.
 
One oz, I've shot all the great brands as well as 870s. Purdey, Parker, Fox, AYA, SKB, Baker, Ithaca, H&H,etc, as well as JC Higgins, Western Field, and Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, et al.

I liked them all, though I admit some were prettier than others. Some shoot better for me also, and that's not based on price or snob appeal.
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Absolutely, nothing based on snob appeal, merely on opinion of what I find to be comfortable for an extended time walking in the woods. As to SHTF scenarios, unless it is some type of natural disaster, I plan to stay in my home, so carrying a 7lb gun seems silly when a better made and balanced 6# will work better.

And if I HAD to evacuate due to some SHTF scenario, I'm in agreement with AB - give me a light rifle and a handgun
 
If I could have any number of shotguns, my principal 'go-to' walkabout gun would be (and currently is) a 20ga O/U. I would have others for specialty uses, but the 20ga O/U would get the most use.

If I could have only one, I would have an 20ga 870 specifically because it's the best 'compromise' gun I've owned.
 
I would have others for specialty uses, but the 20ga O/U would get the most use.
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Same here.

I also like break actions because they are quick to load and unload, very easy to make safe, easy for others to see when they're safe, and the game warden can't try to ram in a 4th shell to try to collect revenue for the state.
 
I have a mossberg 500 i bought with $400, it has a 24" rifled barrel, and i'd take a shell belt and 1 oz winchester super-x slugs with me. Good enough for almost any animal in the planet.
 
I thought it looked like a Ugartechea action. I covet that gun!:)

Idaho isn't a shotgun state for deer, but we have some areas that are "short-range weapons only". These tags are fairly easy to get, and that would be the perfect gun to perfect the hunting experience!
 
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