help me choose a shotgun..
- Thread starter miscusi
- Start date
rantingredneck
New member
I'll second the 870.
I just bought an express 12ga with 28" barrel a couple months ago. Have been slowly building a tactical package for it based around a 20" rifle sighted smoothbore slug barrel. Everything I've done and plan to do to it to equip it for HD is reversible though so that I can revert it to a sporting shotgun for dove season. I like to tinker though so that approach may not be for everyone.
I just bought an express 12ga with 28" barrel a couple months ago. Have been slowly building a tactical package for it based around a 20" rifle sighted smoothbore slug barrel. Everything I've done and plan to do to it to equip it for HD is reversible though so that I can revert it to a sporting shotgun for dove season. I like to tinker though so that approach may not be for everyone.
I wish I had experience with more diff. shotguns.
I've fired a throw-away Winchester (old as dirt w/ a HUGE barrel for long range) which was unofficially sold to my friend who gave it to me.
I no longer have it because once my friend racked it w/o the barrel and the bolt and the action/forearm came out of the body and fell apart from each other. I could fit the action in the body alone and it would fall in place fine; I could fit the bolt in the body alone (but it was a loose fit); but I couldn't fit them in at the same time OR seperately.
HOWEVER the bolt on that old Winchester seemed a lot more advanced and reliable then my current Mossberg 500A Persuador.
Based on these two guns (and the oppinion of a friend of mine) I think Mossberg's aren't that good/precise and are sloppy. This makes them easier to take apart and reassemble however so they're good starter guns and they're usually cheaper.
For some reason I trust the name Remington more than Winchester and I always buy Remington ammunition.
I've fired a throw-away Winchester (old as dirt w/ a HUGE barrel for long range) which was unofficially sold to my friend who gave it to me.
I no longer have it because once my friend racked it w/o the barrel and the bolt and the action/forearm came out of the body and fell apart from each other. I could fit the action in the body alone and it would fall in place fine; I could fit the bolt in the body alone (but it was a loose fit); but I couldn't fit them in at the same time OR seperately.
HOWEVER the bolt on that old Winchester seemed a lot more advanced and reliable then my current Mossberg 500A Persuador.
Based on these two guns (and the oppinion of a friend of mine) I think Mossberg's aren't that good/precise and are sloppy. This makes them easier to take apart and reassemble however so they're good starter guns and they're usually cheaper.
For some reason I trust the name Remington more than Winchester and I always buy Remington ammunition.
mrawesome22
New member
You can't go wrong with a Remmy.
I found a guy who was selling some cheap cheap ATI stuff, so I went ahead and bought it. As much as I think their products are kinda junky, I put it on my gun and it doesnt look half bad.
I got their m4 style retractable stock for 30 bucks and a heat shield for 5 bucks. The heat shield is fine quality, doesnt stay perfectly still when shooting but I dont see any harm in that. It does its job well enough. The m4 stock (usually around 70 bucks) is alright in quality. That Specops stock is better, but I couldnt pass this one up for 30 bucks. I use it on the 3rd notch, so its a few inches shorter in the stock than the original stock. Its not as comfortable as the original, but I think it looks pretty cool. It gets that
"oooh ahhh" look from guys, so if thats what you want then go for it.
I got their m4 style retractable stock for 30 bucks and a heat shield for 5 bucks. The heat shield is fine quality, doesnt stay perfectly still when shooting but I dont see any harm in that. It does its job well enough. The m4 stock (usually around 70 bucks) is alright in quality. That Specops stock is better, but I couldnt pass this one up for 30 bucks. I use it on the 3rd notch, so its a few inches shorter in the stock than the original stock. Its not as comfortable as the original, but I think it looks pretty cool. It gets that
"oooh ahhh" look from guys, so if thats what you want then go for it.
AZ-Quailhunter
New member
It is a cool looking gun.....I don't think it will be much good for hunting though.....HD only?
I would say the 870 with the colapsible stock. A little shorter which is good in tighter quarters and you can still stretch it out. Another option for the 870 is a pistol grip with a folding stock or a Mossberg 500 with a folding stock. I personally like straight pistol grip with no stock for home defense, like the Mossberg 500 that comes in the JIC kits. In home I can shot from the chest with no stock and have no problems. But I can hip-shot a shotgun accuratily from 20' when a friend of mine can't hit the paper at 10'. It just depends on how well you shot and with what.
In the end you need to try out as many different variations of these guns as you can get your hands on and see what works best for you.
In the end you need to try out as many different variations of these guns as you can get your hands on and see what works best for you.
miscusi,
What are YOU going to do with this shotgun?
Experience? Level of Training?
I do NOT recommend shotguns to folks per se'. Same for any firearm.
I do recommend folks getting educated on Safety, taking a safety class. I do recommend folks get a qualified person to assist in Gun Fit to shooter for task.
I recommend Folks Actually shoot a variety of Bone Stock Guns to see what fits them, what platform works best for them for task [hunting, clay games, defensive use]
Now most folks I recommend to , assist with and all get a Bone Stock shotgun, that fits, and get the fit tweaked. They get lessons. They shoot pattern boards read Brister's book and all.
Now some will attend a defensive class with this bone stock shotgun and inform Awerbuck or whomever and
"I have this gun that fits me for what I learned so far, in safety, admin, patterning and all. I am here to learn, and for you [Awerbuck, Cain - whomever] to assist me in gun fit for defensive use, and any accessories I might need for MY situation"
Lady or Gent goes in with a willing attitude , takes notes, asks pertinent questions and then...then they come back with all these notes and get a second gun set up for defensive use.
Sorry, this is how I recommend to new shooters.
I cannot recommend a shotgun for you.
I will share it would not be anything like the ones in original post.
Good Luck, have fun and be safe.
What are YOU going to do with this shotgun?
Experience? Level of Training?
I do NOT recommend shotguns to folks per se'. Same for any firearm.
I do recommend folks getting educated on Safety, taking a safety class. I do recommend folks get a qualified person to assist in Gun Fit to shooter for task.
I recommend Folks Actually shoot a variety of Bone Stock Guns to see what fits them, what platform works best for them for task [hunting, clay games, defensive use]
Now most folks I recommend to , assist with and all get a Bone Stock shotgun, that fits, and get the fit tweaked. They get lessons. They shoot pattern boards read Brister's book and all.
Now some will attend a defensive class with this bone stock shotgun and inform Awerbuck or whomever and
"I have this gun that fits me for what I learned so far, in safety, admin, patterning and all. I am here to learn, and for you [Awerbuck, Cain - whomever] to assist me in gun fit for defensive use, and any accessories I might need for MY situation"
Lady or Gent goes in with a willing attitude , takes notes, asks pertinent questions and then...then they come back with all these notes and get a second gun set up for defensive use.
Sorry, this is how I recommend to new shooters.
I cannot recommend a shotgun for you.
I will share it would not be anything like the ones in original post.
Good Luck, have fun and be safe.
Death from Afar
New member
Well said SM.
FWIW
I use bone stock shotguns - even for serious situations.
Currently my shotgun for everything - NEF Youth 20 ga single shot.
Load: slugs.
FYI - one of the best kept secrets is a 1100, 303, 390/391 in 20 ga.
Lots and lots of Skeet Shooters with thousands to hundreds of thousands of rounds fired - know this secret.
Not the firearm - it is always the shooter.-anon
One cannot buy skill and targets. -me
Good Shooters are Made - not Born - Misseldine
Another tidbit - A bigger person can shoot a smaller gun - a smaller person cannot effectively use a bigger , heavier gun.
Meaning - I can name a dozen folks on THR/ TFL that have the home Shotgun set up for the smallest person in the home. It might be the wife, fiance', teenager, sister...
One thing I/we like to do is to have a situation where someone has to hold Home Shotgun to keep a BG at bay and dial the phone for help.
Maybe add them being hurt and not having full use of weak side arm, and or leg.
Then after about 1, 2, 3, 5 even 10 minutes - the BG produces a gun and "being in fear of life" shooter has to employ the shotgun.
The reality is, help may be a long time arriving, one is hurt, other family members are hurt and having to hold that shotgun at the ready for such a long time, and then having to use it.
Personally for me - I am more versatile with a bone stock shotgun with the *few* rounds I have fired .
Be it hunting, clays or private instruction on serious matters.
Mentors had / have me shoot weak side, one handed, prone, on the ground and shooting back over my head, with the gun port up, port down and ...
Some things are really sharp. Some things are great when shouldering on strong side, now shoot them weak side and "ouch!".
Some stuff impedes the workings - being a Relic, Less is More. Less stuff to go wrong , More chances I won't have a failure.
Granted I am partial to blue and wood. Wood not only allows one to tweak gun fit, like shortening LOP and some synthetics have no meat getting a recoil pad on, adjusting comb etc, also being denser wood lessens felt recoil.
<snaps fingers> Butt-stroking with wood seems to work better for me too...
Just me mind you.
Well the first deal is to NOT get into a situation , if that don't work , then knowing some smarts and having some training comes into play - then we get into the firearm bit... - Mentor
I use bone stock shotguns - even for serious situations.
Currently my shotgun for everything - NEF Youth 20 ga single shot.
Load: slugs.
FYI - one of the best kept secrets is a 1100, 303, 390/391 in 20 ga.
Lots and lots of Skeet Shooters with thousands to hundreds of thousands of rounds fired - know this secret.
Not the firearm - it is always the shooter.-anon
One cannot buy skill and targets. -me
Good Shooters are Made - not Born - Misseldine
Another tidbit - A bigger person can shoot a smaller gun - a smaller person cannot effectively use a bigger , heavier gun.
Meaning - I can name a dozen folks on THR/ TFL that have the home Shotgun set up for the smallest person in the home. It might be the wife, fiance', teenager, sister...
One thing I/we like to do is to have a situation where someone has to hold Home Shotgun to keep a BG at bay and dial the phone for help.
Maybe add them being hurt and not having full use of weak side arm, and or leg.
Then after about 1, 2, 3, 5 even 10 minutes - the BG produces a gun and "being in fear of life" shooter has to employ the shotgun.
The reality is, help may be a long time arriving, one is hurt, other family members are hurt and having to hold that shotgun at the ready for such a long time, and then having to use it.
Personally for me - I am more versatile with a bone stock shotgun with the *few* rounds I have fired .
Be it hunting, clays or private instruction on serious matters.
Mentors had / have me shoot weak side, one handed, prone, on the ground and shooting back over my head, with the gun port up, port down and ...
Some things are really sharp. Some things are great when shouldering on strong side, now shoot them weak side and "ouch!".
Some stuff impedes the workings - being a Relic, Less is More. Less stuff to go wrong , More chances I won't have a failure.
Granted I am partial to blue and wood. Wood not only allows one to tweak gun fit, like shortening LOP and some synthetics have no meat getting a recoil pad on, adjusting comb etc, also being denser wood lessens felt recoil.
<snaps fingers> Butt-stroking with wood seems to work better for me too...
Just me mind you.
Well the first deal is to NOT get into a situation , if that don't work , then knowing some smarts and having some training comes into play - then we get into the firearm bit... - Mentor
I think the 2nd is not a only a right, it is a responsibility for every citizen to be armed with at least a shotgun and 50 rounds.
So that when men come down from that black helicopter, we can all fight back.
Otherwise, hmm.. gun would just be leaning against the bookshelf, and be a converstation piece when people come over.
hmmm.. Experience? Level of Training?
Shotgun experience a long time ago at hunting grounds upstate new york..
Training? ... well, not in a shotgun but other ordnance of the US Army back in 97..
but any which way, I tell you the truth, I wont be hunting nor skeet and trap, I wont be HD, knock on synthetic, I just wanna play "rambo" with a cool looking gun.
So that when men come down from that black helicopter, we can all fight back.
Otherwise, hmm.. gun would just be leaning against the bookshelf, and be a converstation piece when people come over.
hmmm.. Experience? Level of Training?
Shotgun experience a long time ago at hunting grounds upstate new york..
Training? ... well, not in a shotgun but other ordnance of the US Army back in 97..
but any which way, I tell you the truth, I wont be hunting nor skeet and trap, I wont be HD, knock on synthetic, I just wanna play "rambo" with a cool looking gun.