Best 'do it all' shotgun? (under $700ish)

C

condoor

Inactive
I've been searching the last three days and finally decided to post my question, as it seems different than other similar threads.

I'm looking for a high capacity pump shotgun for HD, that I can use for skeet and trap with a barrel change. Following are the options I've come up with:

1. I looked at the Mossberg 500 combos, but I've read that you can't extend the magazine capacity on these w/out a different barrel. No go.

2. I like the Mossberg 590, but have read that you can't add different barrels to it because of the way the mag tube attaches to the barrel. (i.e. you can't put 500 barrels on a 590) No go.

3. Because of the above, I'm leaning on a Remington 870. My preference would be to buy a new 870 police with the extd mag tube, and then get a longer aftermarket skeet barrel. Is this an easy thing to do given the extended mag tube already on there, or will I have a smilar issue as with the 590?

Other options? The cheaper the better.
thx
Chris
 
No I dont think you can use the longer barrel with the high cap mag tubes. Not on any that I have seen. You would probably be better to settle for the standard capacity combo gun with both barrels. What do you need so many rounds for are you expecting an apocalyptic monkey seige? :D 5 or 6 rounds is plenty for HD.
 
A mossy 500 holds 5 + 1, which, IMHO, is enough for a good HD gun. Even a rem 870 with 4 + 1 would work. Remember it's HD not a war.
 
I’d start with the REMINGTON MODEL 870™ EXPRESS® DEER GUN with the improved cylinder barrel. I prefer a 20” barrel and I doubt you'll notice the extra 2" inches. Then get an after-market magazine extension and a trap/skeet/hunting barrel with adjustable or interchangeable choke.

Take a look at Hogue, Speedfeed or Knoxx for a new stock and Surefire if you want a flashlight forearm. Ghost-ring rear sight, fiber optic or tritium front sights, reflex/red dot sights, scopes, slings, side-saddle or butt-stock ammo carrier, hard chrome, ceramic or “Teflon” finishes, over-size safety
, slotted shell lifter, Wolff springs, the list is endless and will take you way over what you want to spend right now but, just like any alcoholic or addict, you can stop whenever you want! LOL

Then of course, there is the final add-on for the uber-do anything-shotgun.
 
1. I looked at the Mossberg 500 combos, but I've read that you can't extend the magazine capacity on these w/out a different barrel. No go.
Click to expand...

Personally I went with this option, and just added a sidesaddle for another 5 rounds... So I'm 11 rounds - 5+1 (+5 on the side saddle).

$205 - Mossberg 500 - 18.5" HD barrel + 28" VR imp choke.
$107 - Knoxx SpecOps - recoil reduction and adjustable LOP.
$ 38 - Knoxx PowerPack - side saddle + water proof storage
$130 - Mossberg Slug Barrel Combo 24" fully rifled w/Bushnell 3-9x32 scope
$ 30 - Knoxx Limbsaver for Specops (even MORE recoil reduction)
$ 10 - Knoxx Handall (rubber grip)
------
$520 Total cost.


Also a buddy of mine and I took a home defense shotgun class this past weekend, he was running the Mossberg 500 special purpose (7+1). I was running the normal Mossberg 500 (5+1 w/+5 sidesaddle).

Neither of us, had any real advantage, as in the class the scenarios typically included more than 1 bad guy breaking in... Seems in our class the bad guys tended to bring a few bad guy buddies with them...

:)

-M3
 
I'd start with a regular 12ga 870 Express Synthetic with a 26" barrel - $250
Add 20" deer rifle sight barrel with cylinder/skeet remchoke - $150
Add ext. magazine, side saddle and whatever tacticool accessories you want - $100

$500 total and you can switch from tacticool to skeet without tools and in just a few minutes.
 
Don't over look the Mossberg 835 either. You can add a Choate extended tube to them.

That said I am quite happy with my 5+1 mossberg 500.
 
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I'm looking for a high capacity pump shotgun for HD, that I can use for skeet and trap with a barrel change. Following are the options I've come up with:
Click to expand...

HD and sporting are two completely different games. HD you want barrels as short as possible Sporting you want barrels as long as reasonably possible.
 
There's few shotgun questions an 870 is not a good answer for. For this, it's the best answer.

And, long barrels can be used with extended mags on 870s.
 
Unfortunatly there is not one gun for all games.

If you are shooting trap you want a long barreled gun (28" to 35" depending on manafacturer) w/ a monte carlo stock.

If you are shooting skeet you want a short barreled bun (26" to 30" depending on manafacturer) and a no monte carlo stock.

Home defence gun are different all together. Most people add lights, lasers or extra shell holders to the receiver and extended mag tubes.

While you can make a 870 into all these guns you will need several barrels, several stocks and have to add or delete parts everytime you shoot a different dicipline.

If you want to become proficiect at either trap or skeet you will have to buy a dedicated shotgun for each, and in reality a pump gun is not favorably for either.

Get a pump for HD and save your pennies for other guns for other games.
 
Best 'do it all' shotgun? (under $700ish)

Too many to list to be honest with you.

Training and trigger time is the key - which includes Gun fit to shooter.

Used will save some money...

For example, Doc buddy of mine, with all the guns he has, used a Beretta 20 ga 303 to run straights in not only Trap, also Skeet.
He did the same thing with a Ranger, Model 1300.
So he wins another shotgun, this time a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag, and for him, this is great.
He wanted to set the other guns in the safe, and this new Mossberg will do everything from waterfowl - to running 500/500 in Skeet, to 300/300 in Trap, to taking a defensive shotgun class to you name it.

He gave his Perazzi, Citori, Kreifghoff , and such to his various kids, grandkids for them to use in games.

He shoots whatever is handy for games, and HD. Bone Stock.

--
Best Kept secret is a 1100 in 20 ga.
Too many folks use these for everything, and yes, some have stopped serious threats with them.

The above folks have LOTs of trigger time, training, lessons and what not.

Pump gun combo's are a good value for the money.
Two smoothbore barrels. Many ranges now require one to have a minimum barrel length, 21" to 24" minimum, so having a longer barrel allows one to shoot at many ranges, where short barrels are not allowed

Semis- bone stock guns are fine.

Caveat is "short barrel".
Dwell time comes into play. So a Bird Gun with 23" barrel runs, runs with slugs, 00 buck, light loads for birds.
Another best kept secret if you will.

Comp guns, with short barrels can and do have problems shooting anything but what the gun is set up to run, as far as loads go.

So a buddy of mine, gets two pawn shop Specials, both J C Higgens, one in 20 ga, [$95] and one in 12 [$85]- and he too puts all his other nice guns in the safe...

He shoots any clay game he wants, hunts any game he wants, has taken defensive shotguns with these guns, uses these for serious use, and is having a ball doing so.

He gave the Beretta 390 in 20 ga he won to his daughter, her "everything gun".
The Pink Cricket he won is for his granddaughter.
He won these with a $85 JC Higgins, though he did add a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad to this gun...

Tis the shooter - not the shooting iron...
 
I like a Mossberg pump for do-all. Remembering that "Jack of all trades means master of none", you use it simply to find out what you want to do with your shotgun. Then you relegate the Mossberg to home defense, for which it is perfect just as delivered.

Whatever game/sport/hunting you end up enjoying, you can do with the Mossberg (or Remington) pump for a while or forever. Get the specialty gun when it seems obvious what that is.
 
What do you need so many rounds for are you expecting an apocalyptic monkey seige?
Click to expand...

Just noticed that. I think we have somthing else to look out for other than Zombies now. :p Uh-oh here come the admins.

I think I would recommend the Mossberg at this point now. An 870 is extremely upgradeable but a mossberg is just as good as is. And the slug barrels are better IMHO.
 
One Word

RIZZINI

Thats all you'll ever need, in any scenario. A very fine Over/Under 12GA made in Italy. 2 shots is 1 more than you'll ever need to whack a bad-guy or a pheasant. And either way you'll be doing it in style.
The bad-guys can see just scared they really are while looking at themselves in the deep bluing on the barrels; or as you are about to ButtStroke them, as the gun slides past their eyes, they'll be able to see the horrified look in their face in the gold engraved game birds in the frame. In either situation, they'll know they were bested by the best. Rizzini its whats for breakfast. :cool:
 
If you want to become proficiect at either trap or skeet you will have to buy a dedicated shotgun for each, and in reality a pump gun is not favorably for either.
Click to expand...

I have to agree. My dedicated trapgun isn't worth a darn at the skeet range, and vice versa. Either one will work for HD in a pinch, but less so for the trapgun. Even screwdrivers come in different sizes for different tasks, so you're not going to find "one shotgun that does it all." You'll just be saddled with one that doesn't do any particularly well.
 
my buddie just went through the same thing he ended up getting a Remington 11-87 police and a 26" barrel with screw in chokes for hunting/clays he loves the gun and you can use the extended mag tube with the long barrel.

the 870 would work also

I suggest you buy the gun with the short barrel it's a lot easier to buy long barrels than short ones
 
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