Heck, yes. It says right on the topic heading,"Some call it the most versatile of firearms". However....
Looking(and drooling a mite) over Oldlightning's collection of fine US made doubles got me thinking, always a dangerous activity. He mentions, with some truth, that this forum tends to focus on HD/Tactical/ LE type shotguns.I think that in these dangerous times, that's only natural. But, there's a lot more out there for folks that really get into shotgunning.
And, shotguns are versatile, no question about it. A GP shotgun can be setup for HD, deer, birds, clays,etc. The trouble is, no GP shotgun will EVER be as good at a specialized task as a shotgun designed and setup for a specific mission. Let me rant on a trifle.
Consider Oldlightning's classics. Most seem to be delightful upland guns, light and responsive.Chances are they'd also be fun and effective on a Skeet Range, or maybe for informal clays.Informal means it's for fun, not for serious competition,and with neither money nor ego needs riding on each and every shot.
But in a goose blind,or up in a tree during deer season, or at trap,or during one of those sphincter tightening AS Scenarios, there may be better choices. And, running heavy loads through those delightful doubles is defeating the purpose, IMO.
So, let's posit an unlimited budget, a craving to experience all that shotgunning has to offer, and plenty of room in the gun safe. Here's my picks by mission....
No brands mentioned, for starters..
UPLAND Game, from rabbits and squirrels to pheasants, with wood ducks and puddle mallards, for good measure. A fairly lightweight double,pump or semi, with tube chokes or bored to put a good 30 inch pattern at the distance most of your shot opportunities come.I'd want it to put more of the pattern above POA than not, and shoot an oz or so w/o brutal recoil. Since this is carried a lot and shot only a few times in a day,bring it in under 7 1/2 lbs,maybe under 7. Since money isn't a problem, make mine a 16 ga Fox or Parker, about 6 1/2 lbs. Bbls should run 25-28" on a double, and a little less on a repeater.
TURKEY. Here a single shot is at little disadvantage, and carries nicely. Regardless of action type, this should be choked tight and capable of taking heavy loads. Sights are a good idea. This should be heavier than most upland guns, make it 7 1/2-8 lbs. Bbl length is up to you, but on the short side works. Sights help.
WATERFOWL. Here a heavier, longer bbled shotgun comes into its own. Make it a 12 or 10 ga,3 inch Mag, capable of taking heavy loads of steel shot. For steel, make it a Modified choke,and weight of up to 9 lbs with at least 28" bbls. Most folks do better on pass shooting with longer bbls.Make mine an 870 with a 30", tubed bbl.
DEER. Here the mission splits, since some folks use buck and some use slugs. For Buck, any fast handling shotgun of at least two shots is called for, and I'd stick to the bigger gauges. A HD/Tactical shotgun would work well here, weight up to you but on the heavy side.
For slugs, the above works well, but since most deer are harvested on the first shot, a well setup Single shot works also. Maybe scope it, and any gauge from 20 up works well.
CLAY GAMES. Whatever works for you,tho pumps are at a disadvantage here. Much as I like my 870s,and SXS doubles for upland stuff, here I'd go with a O/U, probably a 12, and with tubes. Since I won't be carrying this up and down many hills,I'd want the weight up a bit to smooth out the swing and cut the kick. And probably 30" bbls with ports. Naturally, I'd want a trap gun hitting higher than a Skeet or SC shotgun.
HD/Tactical/WIHTF. Not covered here, we've done this(G).
Universals here would include a stock that fits, sights that work for you, and decent triggers.I'm no fan of mid rib beads,for instance, but lots of folks that shoot better than I do like them.And, in a perfect world,
my waterfowl gun would have a shorter stock than my upland or clays gun,since I bundle up there.
Does one NEED all those shotguns to enjoy ALL the shotgunning sports and for self protection? No. I do OK with specialized 870s for deer and HD, and another GP 870 for all the rest. But,the key word's "OK".
Now of course in the real world we have limits on budgets, spouses that fail to understand why we NEED 6 or 7 shotguns, and sometimes personal biases about certain types or brands. SO, how can the average shooter get all the bases covered?
One step at a time...
For most of the stuff, a 12 ga repeater with two bbls and tubes can handle the jobs. Make one bbl a short, rifle sighted tubed number to cover the HD and deer assignments. Make the other a longer, vent ribbed, bead sighted bbl, from 20-28". Learn what loads work for you at the various missions. And learn to shoot them.Next,depending on your inclinations,get something different, like a light 20 for upland work.Or a clay gun, or a 10 ga waterfowl howitzer, or?....
Looking(and drooling a mite) over Oldlightning's collection of fine US made doubles got me thinking, always a dangerous activity. He mentions, with some truth, that this forum tends to focus on HD/Tactical/ LE type shotguns.I think that in these dangerous times, that's only natural. But, there's a lot more out there for folks that really get into shotgunning.
And, shotguns are versatile, no question about it. A GP shotgun can be setup for HD, deer, birds, clays,etc. The trouble is, no GP shotgun will EVER be as good at a specialized task as a shotgun designed and setup for a specific mission. Let me rant on a trifle.
Consider Oldlightning's classics. Most seem to be delightful upland guns, light and responsive.Chances are they'd also be fun and effective on a Skeet Range, or maybe for informal clays.Informal means it's for fun, not for serious competition,and with neither money nor ego needs riding on each and every shot.
But in a goose blind,or up in a tree during deer season, or at trap,or during one of those sphincter tightening AS Scenarios, there may be better choices. And, running heavy loads through those delightful doubles is defeating the purpose, IMO.
So, let's posit an unlimited budget, a craving to experience all that shotgunning has to offer, and plenty of room in the gun safe. Here's my picks by mission....
No brands mentioned, for starters..
UPLAND Game, from rabbits and squirrels to pheasants, with wood ducks and puddle mallards, for good measure. A fairly lightweight double,pump or semi, with tube chokes or bored to put a good 30 inch pattern at the distance most of your shot opportunities come.I'd want it to put more of the pattern above POA than not, and shoot an oz or so w/o brutal recoil. Since this is carried a lot and shot only a few times in a day,bring it in under 7 1/2 lbs,maybe under 7. Since money isn't a problem, make mine a 16 ga Fox or Parker, about 6 1/2 lbs. Bbls should run 25-28" on a double, and a little less on a repeater.
TURKEY. Here a single shot is at little disadvantage, and carries nicely. Regardless of action type, this should be choked tight and capable of taking heavy loads. Sights are a good idea. This should be heavier than most upland guns, make it 7 1/2-8 lbs. Bbl length is up to you, but on the short side works. Sights help.
WATERFOWL. Here a heavier, longer bbled shotgun comes into its own. Make it a 12 or 10 ga,3 inch Mag, capable of taking heavy loads of steel shot. For steel, make it a Modified choke,and weight of up to 9 lbs with at least 28" bbls. Most folks do better on pass shooting with longer bbls.Make mine an 870 with a 30", tubed bbl.
DEER. Here the mission splits, since some folks use buck and some use slugs. For Buck, any fast handling shotgun of at least two shots is called for, and I'd stick to the bigger gauges. A HD/Tactical shotgun would work well here, weight up to you but on the heavy side.
For slugs, the above works well, but since most deer are harvested on the first shot, a well setup Single shot works also. Maybe scope it, and any gauge from 20 up works well.
CLAY GAMES. Whatever works for you,tho pumps are at a disadvantage here. Much as I like my 870s,and SXS doubles for upland stuff, here I'd go with a O/U, probably a 12, and with tubes. Since I won't be carrying this up and down many hills,I'd want the weight up a bit to smooth out the swing and cut the kick. And probably 30" bbls with ports. Naturally, I'd want a trap gun hitting higher than a Skeet or SC shotgun.
HD/Tactical/WIHTF. Not covered here, we've done this(G).
Universals here would include a stock that fits, sights that work for you, and decent triggers.I'm no fan of mid rib beads,for instance, but lots of folks that shoot better than I do like them.And, in a perfect world,
my waterfowl gun would have a shorter stock than my upland or clays gun,since I bundle up there.
Does one NEED all those shotguns to enjoy ALL the shotgunning sports and for self protection? No. I do OK with specialized 870s for deer and HD, and another GP 870 for all the rest. But,the key word's "OK".
Now of course in the real world we have limits on budgets, spouses that fail to understand why we NEED 6 or 7 shotguns, and sometimes personal biases about certain types or brands. SO, how can the average shooter get all the bases covered?
One step at a time...
For most of the stuff, a 12 ga repeater with two bbls and tubes can handle the jobs. Make one bbl a short, rifle sighted tubed number to cover the HD and deer assignments. Make the other a longer, vent ribbed, bead sighted bbl, from 20-28". Learn what loads work for you at the various missions. And learn to shoot them.Next,depending on your inclinations,get something different, like a light 20 for upland work.Or a clay gun, or a 10 ga waterfowl howitzer, or?....
