Hawk
Member
Beretta UGB-25 with belt-feed modification.
Is there ANY one shotgun for all purposes?
- Thread starter Panthera Tigris
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Eightball
Member
Benelli M4 with appropriate choke tubes.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
The best advice I can give you is to stick with one make/model for everything. Having something different from the gun you shoot the most for HD is a bad plan- your muscle memory will assert itself under stress, and you might well fumble the gun at a critical moment. Old-timers say, beware the man with only one gun. There's lots of reasons for that.
Remington made left-handed Wingmasters at one time, I still see used ones from time to time. If you want to 'trade up' from the Express gun you have, it might be possible to find a used lefty Wingmaster for a similar price. Take a look at http://www.azoneworldwide.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=58084833 for example.
Hope you find what you want,
lpl/nc
Remington made left-handed Wingmasters at one time, I still see used ones from time to time. If you want to 'trade up' from the Express gun you have, it might be possible to find a used lefty Wingmaster for a similar price. Take a look at http://www.azoneworldwide.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=58084833 for example.
Hope you find what you want,
lpl/nc
TrapperReady
Member
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- 2,732
In fairness to the original poster, I think there are LOTS of shotguns which can be used for "all purposes".
My definition of "all purposes" is: trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, etc... for the clay games. Throw in bird hunting (both upland and waterfowl), deer hunting. HD is also a consideration.
Taking all that into consideration, I would toss out break-open designs (singles, O/U, SxS). Not to say that you can't do it all with those, but I think a repeater would be better-suited to the task.
As to action-type, if I had one gun for all those tasks, I would probably pick an autoloader. If forced to narrow it down to a particular type, I'd look at (in no partcular order) a Super X-2, a Beretta 391 and a Benelli M1 (or M2) Field model. Whichever one fit me the best would be the one I'd go with.
If I wanted to go with a pump, I'd probably just pick an 870 (most likely a used Wingmaster)... although I do also like the Ithaca Model 37s.
Whatever I chose would sport a 28" barrel with interchangable choke tubes. I would then tweak the fit to be perfect and shoot the heck out of it as often as I could.
My definition of "all purposes" is: trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, etc... for the clay games. Throw in bird hunting (both upland and waterfowl), deer hunting. HD is also a consideration.
Taking all that into consideration, I would toss out break-open designs (singles, O/U, SxS). Not to say that you can't do it all with those, but I think a repeater would be better-suited to the task.
As to action-type, if I had one gun for all those tasks, I would probably pick an autoloader. If forced to narrow it down to a particular type, I'd look at (in no partcular order) a Super X-2, a Beretta 391 and a Benelli M1 (or M2) Field model. Whichever one fit me the best would be the one I'd go with.
If I wanted to go with a pump, I'd probably just pick an 870 (most likely a used Wingmaster)... although I do also like the Ithaca Model 37s.
Whatever I chose would sport a 28" barrel with interchangable choke tubes. I would then tweak the fit to be perfect and shoot the heck out of it as often as I could.
New_geezer
Member
Generally yes, but there are such things as special rifled shotgun barrels for shooting sabot slugs. Some slugs have "rifling" on their outside for use and improved accuracy in smoothbores (but not in already rifled barrels).
I'm not an expert on this but for some older guns (someone chime in and help define "older") there may be an issue shooting slugs out of a barrel with a choke tighter than modified. Most new guns don't seem to have this concern.
Regards the use of an 18.5 inch barrel for HD. The main issue is manueverability in confined areas is it not? Hard to swing a long barrel around in a hallway. The short barrels usually have no choke either which as I understand it gives the widest pattern thus the greatest margin for error when shooting at the BG.
Though I once had a salesman tell me the best thing about a Mossberg is you can hear that clunky pump chambering a round thru a heavy steal door. Usually enough by itself to deter a BG
mljdeckard
Member
I haven't yet found anything my 870 can't do.
My humble 1/50 of $1.....
I have a Maverick 88 (Mossberg's entry-level value-priced line) that started out with the 28" modified choke barrel. I call that the woods-n-waterfowl configuration. (squirrel/rabbit/game bird/ducks-n-geese)
In HomeLand Security mode, it wears the 18-1/2" cylinder bore (NO choke) barrel. Bought that barrel a couple of years ago for $69+tax. This barrel also shoots standard (Foster?? Forster??) rifled [non-sabot] slugs very well...although it is slug brand selective. Best shooter is PMC, then Brenneke KO's, then all the rest.
Briefly, with a 2-minute barrel swap, one shotgun has all my needs covered.
I have a Maverick 88 (Mossberg's entry-level value-priced line) that started out with the 28" modified choke barrel. I call that the woods-n-waterfowl configuration. (squirrel/rabbit/game bird/ducks-n-geese)
In HomeLand Security mode, it wears the 18-1/2" cylinder bore (NO choke) barrel. Bought that barrel a couple of years ago for $69+tax. This barrel also shoots standard (Foster?? Forster??) rifled [non-sabot] slugs very well...although it is slug brand selective. Best shooter is PMC, then Brenneke KO's, then all the rest.
Briefly, with a 2-minute barrel swap, one shotgun has all my needs covered.
zero_chances
Member
I use my Benelli Nova for my everything shotgun. It seems to handle anything i throw at it. It has a 3 1/2" chamber and a 28 inch barrel.
Protein anchor
Member
Mossberg 590 (9 shoot, 20 inch barrel, speed stock, parkerized, heat shield)...used to have one (moved to another state), a blast to shoot. Will be ordering another tomorrow. These shoot about anything...3 inch chamber. ~375-400 bucks. Nice gun. 
New_geezer
Member
For FYI's sake, Has the law changed? I thought barrels shorter than 18.5" were illegal. For both rifles and shotguns yes?
mswestfall
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 437
Throw in a 30" bbl'ed Winchester Model 12 with pump guns and I agree with TrapperReady.
TrapperReady
Member
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- Jan 29, 2003
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- 2,732
mswestfall - I started out with a Model 12, and two of my most-used hunting guns are M12s. The only thing about them is that for an "all purposes" gun, I'd prefer one that accepts choke tubes.
That's why I chose an 870 for the pump... it's a nice "close second" to the Model 12.
That's why I chose an 870 for the pump... it's a nice "close second" to the Model 12.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A short barreled repeater if you insist on just one. Mucho repeaters if you like to set shotguns up for a particular mission.
That's why there's more than two 870s in Casa McC....
That's why there's more than two 870s in Casa McC....
JohnBT
Member
"Hard to swing a long barrel around in a hallway."
Depends on the hallway. Mine are wide with 10-foot ceilings.
John
Depends on the hallway. Mine are wide with 10-foot ceilings.
John
Panthera Tigris
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- May 31, 2006
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- 314
Edited for below response
Last edited:
[email protected]
Member
Another vote for the 870
Shorter barrel in the home, incase it hasent already been stated is just for getting it in a tight space for storage and going around corners and stuff, longer barrel for games is for a better swing. So an 870 where you can hand or field change the barrel in about five seconds. Dont be planning on Doubles trap or skeet until you get the action smoothed out with a couple hundred rounds. but for HD its a hella-more reliable than the mossey, always the 870 and go super mag even if your not using big shells, cuz you can feild strip the trigger...
Shorter barrel in the home, incase it hasent already been stated is just for getting it in a tight space for storage and going around corners and stuff, longer barrel for games is for a better swing. So an 870 where you can hand or field change the barrel in about five seconds. Dont be planning on Doubles trap or skeet until you get the action smoothed out with a couple hundred rounds. but for HD its a hella-more reliable than the mossey, always the 870 and go super mag even if your not using big shells, cuz you can feild strip the trigger...
Panthera Tigris
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2006
- Messages
- 314
After reading here and elsewhere, and talking with different shotgun folks, I found a mint condition used Winchester 1300 with a 28 inch barrel and a 20 inch slug barrel for $349. I picked that up. I'll use the slug barrel for HD.
The 28" barrel came with one turkey choke tube.
The 28" barrel came with one turkey choke tube.
sulpak
Member
I'm new with shotgun and after reading the thread I am thinking of buying one for HD. I lived in the farm and fishpond area.
The nearest town is 8 kms away. 3 kms of rough road going inside my place.
I live in asia and alot of incidents of armed group home/ property invasion by rebel are happening this year. they seize any type or kind of firearms from civilians which they consider as "soft targets". A group consist of 10 or 20 rebels.
What should i buy ? a semi or a pump for this kind of situation.
An 18.5 or a 24" shotgun? What kind of ammo should I stock with?#00 ,4 and Do i need to stock on slug? How many do I need?
The nearest town is 8 kms away. 3 kms of rough road going inside my place.
I live in asia and alot of incidents of armed group home/ property invasion by rebel are happening this year. they seize any type or kind of firearms from civilians which they consider as "soft targets". A group consist of 10 or 20 rebels.
What should i buy ? a semi or a pump for this kind of situation.
An 18.5 or a 24" shotgun? What kind of ammo should I stock with?#00 ,4 and Do i need to stock on slug? How many do I need?
Wow, taking on 10 to 20 people would be quite a challenge. What are the rebels armed with? How many meters away would they be during a gun battle? Any chance you can get an AK-47 / M-16 / AR-15? If I was limited to a shotgun I would probably want lots of reduced-recoil OO buckshot and some reduced-recoil slugs.
sm
member
sulpak,
Welcome to THR.
I do not know your laws so please forgive me. You "get it" because unlike some around here, you live in a whole different setting! There are some members here, that DO have experiences in Settings like yours, and have been shot, and have shot back and killed in Civil Unrest.
Yeah, I get a bit fed up with NetNinjas on forums - and I don't apologize for it.
Dang! First you need someone you can trust to give you the run down on Firearm laws and Legal matters in defending yourself. Second, you need some training in regard to these Rebels - Id'ing them, how they operate, strategy and tactics they use ( and I mean S&T as defined as it is supposed to mean, not NetNinja-Speak).
Personally, I suggest a Pump, for the simple fact ( I hope) it is more readily available and less monies for you. Pumps are not ammo dependent as some semis are, so not knowing if your ammo choices are as good and varied as we folks in the US, the pump will feed ammo choices better.
A simple, used, 870 with 2 3/4" chambers will work great! Yes, you need some choke on the shorter barrel. Meaning, if you find a good used gun with a 26" fixed choke ( no screw in choke tubes) - get it and do not whack the barrel...that choke is important! Later on, you can find a shorter barrel.
Monies are best spent on training and ammo, - not gadgets. About all a defensive guns needs is to fit shooter, have good solid beads, a sling, and perhaps a light. Forget this other crap, funky stocks and all.
Stick with plain ammo, that tests according to pattern boards work best in your gun, and plentiful. 2 3/4" shells are all you need, and different brands of 9 pellet 00 buck and simple lead slugs - are all you need. Just let the pattern board reveal what your gun, and loads do best with, and then stock up on those. Use the lightest target load, to practice and ingrain basic concepts.
You really need the wisdom and training of Louis Awerbuck. He has BTDT and is a Great Trainer - he would be ideal for you. Heck, I would write Awerbuck, and ask for his best suggestions and get the tapes and books he suggests.
http://www.yfainc.com/
YAVAPAI FIREARMS ACADEMY, LTD.
PO Box 27290, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312
Phone (928) 772-8262
Find someone YOU trust , and with some shotgun/ defensive experience and get trained up.
Rifles - yeah, sounds like you need to look into this as well.
Train the mind and mindset first. Then work on the hardware (guns and ammo).
Oh, I know it may be expensive for you to order from the US if you cannot locally for Awerbuck, another book, many of my friends in other countries do order, and the shipping is not cheap is.
Shotgunning: The Art And The Science - Bob Brister
This book will answer most questions often asked on Gun Forums. Seriously, I know folks in New Zealand, Spain, UK, Korea, Ireland, Jamaica, and other places that have ordered this book at my suggestion. This book has helped them a LOT! I care about folks "getting it".
NetNinjas can co use Dragon's Breath and Fletchettes for Suppositories for all I care...
Stay safe.
Steve
Welcome to THR.
I do not know your laws so please forgive me. You "get it" because unlike some around here, you live in a whole different setting! There are some members here, that DO have experiences in Settings like yours, and have been shot, and have shot back and killed in Civil Unrest.
Yeah, I get a bit fed up with NetNinjas on forums - and I don't apologize for it.
Dang! First you need someone you can trust to give you the run down on Firearm laws and Legal matters in defending yourself. Second, you need some training in regard to these Rebels - Id'ing them, how they operate, strategy and tactics they use ( and I mean S&T as defined as it is supposed to mean, not NetNinja-Speak).
Personally, I suggest a Pump, for the simple fact ( I hope) it is more readily available and less monies for you. Pumps are not ammo dependent as some semis are, so not knowing if your ammo choices are as good and varied as we folks in the US, the pump will feed ammo choices better.
A simple, used, 870 with 2 3/4" chambers will work great! Yes, you need some choke on the shorter barrel. Meaning, if you find a good used gun with a 26" fixed choke ( no screw in choke tubes) - get it and do not whack the barrel...that choke is important! Later on, you can find a shorter barrel.
Monies are best spent on training and ammo, - not gadgets. About all a defensive guns needs is to fit shooter, have good solid beads, a sling, and perhaps a light. Forget this other crap, funky stocks and all.
Stick with plain ammo, that tests according to pattern boards work best in your gun, and plentiful. 2 3/4" shells are all you need, and different brands of 9 pellet 00 buck and simple lead slugs - are all you need. Just let the pattern board reveal what your gun, and loads do best with, and then stock up on those. Use the lightest target load, to practice and ingrain basic concepts.
You really need the wisdom and training of Louis Awerbuck. He has BTDT and is a Great Trainer - he would be ideal for you. Heck, I would write Awerbuck, and ask for his best suggestions and get the tapes and books he suggests.
http://www.yfainc.com/
YAVAPAI FIREARMS ACADEMY, LTD.
PO Box 27290, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312
Phone (928) 772-8262
Find someone YOU trust , and with some shotgun/ defensive experience and get trained up.
Rifles - yeah, sounds like you need to look into this as well.
Train the mind and mindset first. Then work on the hardware (guns and ammo).
Oh, I know it may be expensive for you to order from the US if you cannot locally for Awerbuck, another book, many of my friends in other countries do order, and the shipping is not cheap is.
Shotgunning: The Art And The Science - Bob Brister
This book will answer most questions often asked on Gun Forums. Seriously, I know folks in New Zealand, Spain, UK, Korea, Ireland, Jamaica, and other places that have ordered this book at my suggestion. This book has helped them a LOT! I care about folks "getting it".
NetNinjas can co use Dragon's Breath and Fletchettes for Suppositories for all I care...
Stay safe.
Steve
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