Shotgun over AR

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Praxidike

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I'm just wondering... Does anyone else actually like their shotguns more and enjoys shooting them over their AR15s? I hated my 870 at first and even posted a thread up here about how bad my shoulder hurt after shooting it for the first time. Now that I've gotten used to it however, I find that I enjoy shooting the shotgun more... I also like the fact that I can ALWAYS find 12 gauge ammo even during a shortage, and 12 gauge is cheaper to shoot than my 9mm and my 5.56x45mm AR.

Anyway else feel the same way, or am I just weird lol... :eek:
 
Thought this was gonna be another "Which is better for HD?" thread. Lol. I don't suppose I can honestly say which because I don't own an AR. However, I have shot many and I do prefer shooting my shotguns more. Can't really take an AR waterfowl or upland game hunting.
 
I do enjoy shooting shotguns. Since I got a 12 gauge reloading press, I'm grabing the shotguns more. However, a cost assessment between 5.56/.233 and 12 gauge is a little misleading. On average, 5.56 and .223 run me about $0.50 a round, give or take a nickel or dime. That's 20 round factory boxes.
12 gauge shells, also considering factory boxes, run me anywhere from $6.95/25 for target shot, all the way out to $15.95/5 for 3" magnum sabots. I tend to buy mostly 00 buck, and I'm looking at, on average, just over $1 per shell, after taxes.

If I were to limit myself to just shooting cheap target shells, the cost comparison gives shotguns the edge. But since the ammo I shoot runs a wide price spectrum, it honestly comes pretty close to even between shotgun and AR.

I've been buying more and shooting less of all calibers/ gauges I own. But as soon as I can acquire more reloading supplies, I'll be saving a bunch of money on shotgun shells, and shooting those more often.
 
Well buck for buck I would say the shotgun is a way better value.
As for shooting them I am not fond of slugs they beat me up a bit much for my liking. But they work for the intended purposes.
The shotgun that fits well is mu choice if fast shooting is what you need.
I started out like many others with a single shot 12 gauge with a full choke.
Back when we learned to choose the shot size to compensate for a fixed choke. Plus wait for the right range to pull the trigger or go for the head shot.
I like my shotguns more and hope to shoot them for a long time to come.
I am sure they will be targeted as being evil in the future. Mine is a good one though and never had an evil thought not even once. It just sits in the corner waiting for a trip afield.
 
Also, one thing that has not been mentioned, you can shoot a shotgun safely in a whole lot more places due to the decreased range of fall, and the greatly reduced lethality of the projectiles when using smaller shot. I can go out behind the house about 150 yards and shoot the shotgun at clay pigeons over about a 285 degree arc, whereas with a rifle I need to keep it to about 45 degrees and make sure no one else is back there. Of course for armadillos in the yard like last night, the .22 is unbeatable.
 
Every gun has it's limitations. You can't take a 12 gauge to a long range silhouette competition. Well, you can, but don't expect to make it far in the competition. And you can't shoot trap/skeet with an AR. Again, you can, but its VERY dangerous and you probably arent going to be very satisfied with the results. Huntingwise, I give the edge to the shotgun because of the fowl. Shotgun is good to about 200-250 yards for medium/large game. Closer to 200 actually. And an AR is capable at much farther distances. But there is (to me at least) something about shotgunning that just feels more comfortable/enjoyable. If my buddies and I are going out to spend a few hours burning powder, 95 times out of 100 we grab our shotguns.
 
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