Stoeger Coach Gun?

[A Person]

I have wanted a Stoeger Coach gun for a long time now, to use as a short, handy, take everywhere, do everything shotgun. But is the 20 inch barrel long enough for turkey hunting? I never hunt turkeys in open fields, just at close distances in the woods. Also, is the 20 inch barrel long enough for casual, non competitive skeet/clay pigeon shooting, and maybe some rabbit and grouse and dove hunting? Nothing long range

 

[8830]

I can only answer the skeet question as I don't hunt anymore. I use a 20" for skeet and am usually hitting more than my friends with their longer barrels. I don't see why a 20" wouldn't take care of you with all your hunting needs.

 

[Burt Blade]

Not sure if it is good enough for Turkey, but mine works well enough for Trapshooting at 16 yards.

 

[Jaymo]

If you buy the one with threaded choke tubes, you can use a full choke.
Mine has thread-in choke tubes. They take Mossberg Accu-Choke (NOT Accu-Mag) and Winchester Win-Choke tubes.

Hope this helps. Mine even came with a rubber recoil pad.
It's called the Coach Gun Supreme.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Barrel length has more to do with "swing-ability" than with range. With the right chokes you can do anything with 20" barrels that you can do with longer barrels... except perhaps keep them swinging as well. If you don't have problems stopping your swing on moving targets then the short barrels won't be a problem for you at all. My last coach gun was a 20" Rossi 12 gauge that had fixed IC/MOD chokes. I took it dove hunting on a bet, and brought home enough doves that the man I had the bet with bought it from me. Hate I let it go, now.

IIRC at least some of the Stoeger coach guns come with choke tubes from the factory. With the right tubes you should be good to go.

As for turkeys, my 870 Express turkey gun has a 21" barrel... one inch less won't make any real difference. Only thing is, doubles can tend to shoot 'crosseyed' at stationary targets, you'll want to be sure you know how your POA/POI works out at different ranges.

lpl

 

[wrs840]

I have a "Standard" dual-tigger, fixed chokes (one imp one mod) and like it. I think it would be fine for rabbits, can't say how it would do for skeet/trap, haven't tried it, as I have other shotguns I'd honestly consider taking first. Two things to be aware of: I'm not exactly recoil sensitive, but it's a bit of a handful even with standard 2-3/4" high brass after several rounds. Also, Stoeger's QC can be a little spotty IMO, so I wouldn't buy one sight-unseen... ( i.e. hold and inspect the one you're going to buy before committing)...

edit to say: I think the Stoeger Coachgun is a good quality shotgun. I've had no problems and have no complaints with it. It's pretty cool looking and fun to have in the collection.

 

[oneounceload]

Choke constriction deals with range and patterns, barrel length has NOTHING to do with it. As Lee mentioned, barrel swing dynamics suck with a short barrel - you tend to swing too fast on target and then stop just as fast - longer barrels really are better

 

[A Person]

I have also considered the Uplander. Maybe I could get some one to saw the barrel on it off just a bit (3 or 4 inches at the most) and that would work. Does that sound like a good idea? Oh and also, I have a Charles Daly 20 gauge pump with several different chokes. I like it alot, and I mainly use it for turkey hunting, which it's very competent at. I can keep using it. Oh yeah and I also have a Ithaca 37 featherlight that I use for skeet, i'll probably keep using it. So, just as a gun for Rabbit's and Grouse and to take along with me everywhere and to have fun shooting watermelons and such with, should I go with the Coach gun or the Uplander?

 

[Fred Fuller]

There's this one, if you'd consider looking at an O/U... maybe not traditional as a coach gun but should be functional. The sights might help with turkeys, too. A local dealer had one on the shelf a while back, it was pretty hard not to take it home.
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger_condor_outback.php

lpl

 

[wrs840]

^^^^^
I've been intrigued with the Stoeger Condor Outback for a while too. The single trigger is the only thing that's stopped me so far... I may still get one.

 

[A Person]

I don't want a O/U.

 

[A Person]

I like both the Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme and the Uplander. UGGHH WHICH ONE TO GET

 

[wrs840]

Get both. Or one first and then the other one.