One shotgun for everything. I found one!

[albanian]

This is not another what one shotgun can do everything thread. I just wanted to say that I have found a shotgun that does everything I ask of it to my satisfaction. It is a Rem 870 HD with the 18" bbl. No big deal, just a short pump but I can't see any good reason to get another. This bothers me because I am an avid gun buyer. I am always willing to try out the next big thing but when something works so well, I see no reason to change.

I have tried double bbl SGs, autos, single shots and pumps but nothing is as useful to me as a good pump. I think it may be the most useful gun one can buy. A good short bbl pump 12ga can do almost anything. It can be a home defense gun, a truck/car gun, a skeet gun, a deer slug gun, a upland bird gun, a rabbit gun, a pest control gun, a police back up gun, a military gun, a swat team entry gun, the list goes on and on. No other gun can come close to a good 12ga pump in versatility. An auto is probably just as good but I am more used to pumps. Pumps are probably more reliable than autos anyways when you factor in everything that can and sometimes does go wrong with a auto.

 

[sm]

...and the tribe called albanian had wandered 40 yrs or was it months...anyway... long time in a big boat trying to not get swallowed by the whale [ why was the whale in the big boat if stuff was flooded.?...] for they had messed up big time. The tribe was tired of heresay, and therefore did heed the teachings of Sages. This was a good tribe because they had tested for themselves and judged for themselves the proper tool for their task. Guess that why they be called Sages.

Now the sand dunes parted and the trip was easy for the tribe called albanian.

Now the tribe called Ultimate had read the teachings of flowered toga -ed folks that pointed guns at self. They did not test for themselves, they just believed everything they read, if that was not good enough they made it up and talked down to the people's that had experience.

They had been chasing the albianian tribe...[well actually the albianian were running from them, because that "Ultimate Tool" the Ultimates wanted to show off was uglier than the south end of a north bound goat] They scoffed at the Sages. When the albanian had passed safely through the parted dunes...it did not close up and swallow the Ultimate tribe.

Nope ...nayeth...whatever...big ugly Camel Spiders and Scorpions appreared. The Ultimates were not able to defend themselves ."..but...but...the "guy on the granite tablet by donkey" said. this combo of flute length shells firing date sized load would go through tabernacles..."

The tribe called albanian shared their joy and knowledge with other folks that used the "guy with granite tablet on donkey" so others would not suffer the same fate as the heathen Ultimates.

Oh...watch back of one's oxcart and don't believe all persons with access to" guy with granite tablet on donkey" ...some of the tribe of Ultimate must have passed on genes in bad wine or something. Bad teachings still show up on water, or is that sand...burning bush...whatever...

---
NGWGTOD modern translated version.( new guy with granite tablet on donkey)

Congrats! You tested for yourself and yes indeed you made a great choice!

 

[orangeninja]

I agree, I own 2 870's.....now I don't NEED anything...kind of a bummer. Maybe I'll slap some sights on em.

 

[Okiecruffler]

While it's not everyone's cup of tea

I know an old fella (83) who only owns one gun, a Rem 870. He does have a couple of barrels to handle different tasks, but he's just deadly on everything I've seen him hunt. 'course he doesn't hunt prairie dogs, not sure where you would get a 12g varmit barrel.

 

[sm]

I just think it is great when a person goes through the time and education and finds what it right for them. NO matter what it is.

Heck, I gotta bad bad hankering for a full set of 311's , I wonder where that came from.

I still have too much fun with a single bbl. I have MY "pet" and I do believe in the "beware the man that shoots one gun - he knows it" dealie.

I get real "ruffled" when I'm told if I don't have this I am an idiot. I was being tacky and making fun of a "sore spot" with a 3.5" gun and buckshot.

I have never bashed anyone on choice of guns. Except unsafe ones.

I actually removed the bookmark for the Ithaca website...I kept drooling over one in 20 ga.

It is "somebody's" fault *ahem* that I have a hankering for a 311 in .410 then a 28 ga...I wonder who that would be...

 

[Okiecruffler]

I don't know anyone who has a 311

You know how those old cheap American doubles just don't hold up to those fine new russian guns.

If you can find one in 28g call me and I'll race you to it. I wonder if someone could make a set of 28 barrels for one?....Still haven't got my 410 fixed yet, that left barrel shoots just fine, but the right barrel needs a new firing pin and I just haven't had time to mess with it.

Maybe I should have just started with an 870, would have been alot cheaper. And I'm not sure of many things the 870 can't do.

 

[sm]

And I'm not sure of many things the 870 can't do.

Well - kinda hard to get a 870 to "break open" , good luck stuffing two shells in SxS if'n you do...getting to close is really gonna be tough....

 

[Dave McCracken]

Actually, Mr Banian, "the only thing we cannot do with 870s is wear them out". That's a misquote from Brister.

I'm not fond of the one gun for all concept. Compromises are never as good as a dedicated single mission tool. However, were I limited to just one 870 with one barrel instead of the 6 here now, there's little I couldn't do.

For example, let's make that one 870 a Turkey Express with a 21" barrel. Add a few choke tubes. Make sure the stock fits, the trigger breaks clean around 4 lbs, and it shoots where you're looking. Install some sling studs.

My average shot at deer with slugs runs less than 35. You can use a bead sight and be effective out to 50.

Screw in a tight, steel capable tube and take big geese over decoys, though blast will be impressive in the confines of a goose pit.

Screw in an appropriate tube, use a proper load and go for any upland game.

Stoke it with your HD load of choice and maintain it in Cruiser Ready condition in case the Revolution starts without us.

Run a case or six of shells through it every month and note how it's turned into a body part instead of a tool. Note also just how much fun it is to turn evil little clay frisbees into microscopic particles.

Your 870 will now feed, protect and provide recreation for you and yours for decades, maybe generations. Enjoy....

 

[Smoke]

No big deal, just a short pump but I can't see any good reason to get another.

Fear not! While I agree with all points you make about the 870 and agree it is a gun that can do all that is needed out of a shotgun...sometimes the want factor rears it's head and turns you into an avid gun buyer again.

I have a 1911 varient that does everything I ask a handgun to do...so why do I own 6 others?

I have an 870 that will (with a barrel change) do everything I ask a shotgun to do...so why do I own 7 others?

For me, nothing screams "Take me home" louder in a gun shop than a shotgun. Put your fears aside, you will want other shotguns...maybe even other 870's. Spares, duplicates, truck guns, the excuses....uh ...I mean logic has no bounds.

Good luck.

Smoke

 

[albanian]

I think the I am so fond of the pump is that I learned to shoot shotguns well with one. My first gun was an old Stevens 94c single shot 12ga that kicked like a mule and I never could seem to hit with. It had a 28" full choke tube and exposed hammer. I remember missing birds while hunting with my father because I fumbled for the hammer.

My next shotgun was an old Ithaca 37 Feather Lite. It is still the only gun that I have ever worn out. I got it when I was 13 and shot untold number of cases of 12ga through it. I got pretty good with it and the pump felt natural to me. I shot skeet and trap with it and hunted every animal in northern Indiana with good effect. It was a great all around gun because I could hit running rabbits with #8 and then stuff a slug into it and hit pop cans at 50 yards! I hunted deer and upland birds. It had a 26 or 28" bbl but it never felt too long except in the home. Is was no good as a HD gun because of the extra length. After many years, the gun just got tired, every part on it was loose or worn out. It was my dad's gun before me and he got it used so it was not even close to new when I got it. I sold and tried an over/under but didn't like it at all. I got a Winchest Semi-auto but found that I kept trying to pump the thing after every shot. I figuired, I was not going to be able to master another type of SG so I went back to a pump, the 870. I have had it for years and recently realized that I am compleatly content with it. Now all I have to do is find the one handgun and one rifle that I can be as content with.

I have about 15 rifles and 15 handguns and I am always buying more and getting rid of some in my search for the perfect gun. When it come to handguns and rifles, I am always changing my mind on what I like and what I need. I don't think I am as good with handguns or rifles as I could have been if I would have stuck with one of each.