Shotgun to Take Skiing

[Lightshot]

I have started backcountry skiing this winter and bringing a shotgun along for when I would run across a grouse or cottontail (or at least when they were still in season). I have been bringing my Mossberg 500, which is just too much to have over the shoulder all day, flopping around and generally getting in the way of skiing. Especially for how little I use it.

Any suggestions on a really small light shotgun that would work to take the occasional bird or bunny? I was thinking maybe just a single shot break action like a pardner, maybe even a youth model in 20 ga. I was even considering the possibility of a Taurus Judge, is there any way to get them to group with bird shot?

 

[Ranger30-06]

Ditch the Judge. The rifling pretty much gives any .410 shot loads a max range of about 10 feet.

Honestly, I would get a beater SXS 12 or 20 gauge shotgun and cut the barrels down to 18.5 or 20 inches and get one of those velcro closeable buttstock shotshell holders to keep a couple spare rounds handy.

On another note, maybe consider a folding stock for the Mossberg? I had the Butler Creek wire one and it brought the guns overall length when folded to something like 28 inches or so and with the push of a button you had a stock. Just something to consider...

 

[MutinousDoug]

Take a .22LR pistol and forget about lugging a shotgun around. I'd go with a .22 rifle i.e. 10-22 Ruger before I'd take a shotgun skiing.
What are you going to see them at? 15-20 feet? My XC-Ski gun is a Ruger Bearcat and it's taken more snowshoes than my 10-22.
(And grouse are going to be Long Gone out of the high country before you can ski in after them.)

 

[msnden]

Here is an Idea, H&R "Tamer" small & light, cheap, also takes down easy (one screw) it is a 20 ga, which I like better than a .410. just a thought The.22 pistol is also an excellent idea, although this 20 ga will reach out a lot (& I mean a lot) farther than 15/20 ft, But I do like the idea of a .22 pistol. msn





easy takedown for backpack carry

 

[fatcat4620]

single shot 410 or some kind of TC

 

[snakeman]

mossberg jic

 

[MCgunner]

I can carry this in a military type scabbard over my back or on the backpack, draw it like a big handgun. 20 gauge coach gun...many uses.

 

[MCgunner]

This is effective to about 20 yards, 25 is WAY long range. Note the choke that screws on for .410. It stops the rotation of the shot cup as well as chokes and is the ONLY reason this gun has the range it has. A Judge might kill a rabbit at 10 feet. Beyond that, all bets are off. The Contender is handy in a Uncle Mike's shoulder holster....

 

[natman]

And during the summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaXOHCNgYrc

 

[Gun Geezer]

This is effective to about 20 yards, 25 is WAY long range. Note the choke that screws on for .410. It stops the rotation of the shot cup as well as chokes and is the ONLY reason this gun has the range it has. A Judge might kill a rabbit at 10 feet. Beyond that, all bets are off. The Contender is handy in a Uncle Mike's shoulder holster....

Can you get that contender in a 20 guage? Might not be legal and it makes my wrist hurt thinking about it, but curious just the same.

 

[Gun Geezer]

My experience with blue grouse is that they are about as stupid as they come. They just run 10 yards and maybe onto a branch and you shoot them out of the tree. Any 22 pistol would work.

But then, you may not have blue grouse and your grouse may be smarter. Course if you are not way out in the boonies you won't want to shoot up into a tree with any but a shotgun.

 

[Armored farmer]

Savage mod24 .22/.410 pretty much covers all bases.

 

[Lightshot]

Some good suggestions! I agree that a .22 would be a pretty good fit, but the upland game regs in my state say I have to use shot. That H&R Tamer looks awfully tempting.

How difficult is it to add threads for a choke tube if I were to get a barrel shortened (any idea how much a gunsmith with charge to do that). I am guessing more than it would be worth for a cheap H&R.

And natman, that video is hilarious, maybe I can adapt it to resort skiing.

 

[reppans]

... I have been bringing my Mossberg 500, which is just too much to have over the shoulder all day, flopping around and generally getting in the way of skiing. Especially for how little I use it....

Knocking off a few pounds will be somewhat helpful, but I think the real issue here is method of carry. If I were you, I'd look into getting a biathlon sling which allows vertical backpack style carry. Any rifle slung diagonally will be terrible while X-country skiing.

 

[Master Blaster]

NEF or H&R break open single shot, 12 or 20 gauge, and a good sling, or backpack itcan be strapped to.

 

[oneounceload]

For a nice, albeit more pricier, light shotgun - the new Benelli 28 gauge semi weighs right at 5 pounds and the 28 will give you more pellets than a 410

 

[MCgunner]

My 20 gauge coach gun is about 5 lbs, maybe a tad over, a Remington Spartan (aka Baikal) I've not weighed it, but it CAN'T be 6. And, it was 299 plus tax. The little 20 gauge H&Rs with the short barrels are really light, too, and not much over 100 bucks, quite reliable.

Can you get that contender in a 20 guage?

No, illegal anyway, but the breach face isn't big enough. I have this .410 barrel, just sorta fun. I also have a very accurate scoped .22 barrel for the gun, a scoped .30-30 12" hunter barrel that's taken 5 deer, and a 10 inch 7mm TCU barrel that I shot some IHMSA competition with for a while. It's a very versatile system especially for a handgun hunter, but the .410, to me, is more of a novelty than useful.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I'd get either a Tamer, an H&R youth model, or a coach SxS in that order of preference. You'll likely be wearing fairly thick clothes so a full size stock might be too long and you'll almost never get more than one shot at a grouse (at least around here).

A .410 will reliably kill grouse and rabbits out to about 25 yards and the shells are very light so it's easy to carry a bunch of them. I prefer 3" .410 shells with #6 shot for grouse and rabbits with modified or full choke. If you anticipate longer shots or feel the need to carry some slugs for bear protection (very unlikely in winter) then go with a 20, but be warned that the recoil is pretty stout in very light guns. Go with either modified or IC choke in a 20.

 

[snakeman]

Why not a pistol grip shotgun? That would be my choice. Compact size, light weight, full 3" 12 gauge chambering, should be easy to hit with when a single point sling is attached and pulled tight.

 

[mortablunt]

I am aware this is the shotgun section, but wouldn't a ruger 10/22 be enough to take a rabbit or a goose?

 

[rcmodel]

How difficult is it to add threads for a choke tube if I were to get a barrel shortened (any idea how much a gunsmith with charge to do that).

You can legally shorten it 2" and get choke tubes installed for $125 bucks.

Send the barrel to Carlsons.
Should take about a week this time of year.
http://www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.php

rc

 

[MCgunner]

Why not a pistol grip shotgun? That would be my choice. Compact size, light weight, full 3" 12 gauge chambering, should be easy to hit with....

BWAAAAA, ha, ha, ha! That there is right funny!

 

[oneounceload]

Quote:
Why not a pistol grip shotgun? That would be my choice. Compact size, light weight, full 3" 12 gauge chambering, should be easy to hit with....
BWAAAAA, ha, ha, ha! That there is right funny!

+1000

 

[plumberroy]

I am a died in the wool H&R fan but for what you are doing my choice would be a rossi match pair set 22" 410 barrel and a 22 barrel too with the 410 barrel mine weighs 3.35 lbs. It is cheap enough not to worry about getting beat up. They can be bought for $120 with both barrels and some times Dick's sporting goods runs a sale with $20 rebate. The rossi 410 is built on a 410 size frame. If you go to 20 Ga. get the H&R tamer and change the stocks to choate shotgun buttstock and a survivor fore arm Takes down without tools weighs 5.05 lbs here's mine