Hello,
I am brand new to this forum, so hello again. As I said, I will soon be buying my first shotgun. I have an ancient Stevens 20g that I quit using 15+ years ago when it discharged when I closed it. I decided it wasn't worth having fixed - and as it was a hand me down, I've still never bought a shotgun.
You're going to ask what purpose I intend to put my shotgun to. I have no definite answer. I don't hunt (no moral problems, just know no hunters and am pressed for time too much). Were I to hunt, it would be for birds, but not waterfowl - birds that would allow me to stay dry and not wait w/o moving for a while. So having a gun that could do that would be a bonus. I'd also like a shotgun for home defense. Currently, it's just a pistol (my CZ 75 P-07 Duty 9mm) and my AR (S&W M&P). These are not satisfactory - to me at least.
I'm drawn to coach guns. I have fallen in love with CZ firearms, but their Coach Gun simply costs too much for the use to which I'd put it. So first up is Stoeger: Coach Gun Supreme, Double Defense SXS and over/under (prefer SxS) and the Condor Outback. Escort: Silver Standard Synthetic (the 18" barrel one). Mossberg: HS-12, Thunder Ranch HS12. That's it for the coach gun options. Would be THRILLED if one of y'all could turn me on to another coach gun! (SxS always preferred but no deal breaker, obviously)
I could go hi-cap home defense, and that would almost definitely be a Mossberg of some sort. The 590A1 SPX being the best of the bunch, for me, as it comes with a bayonet lug. Yep, I'd love to have a bayoneted shotgun. Different strokes, y'all - and yes, I am a grown man of 38. As this gun is too much $$$, I'd likely get a Mossberg (or Remington) for which bayonet lugs are readily available after market.
For a gun that might one day be taken into the field it would either be Stoeger's Longfowler SxS or one of the Uplanders, also SxS. It is very possible, heck, likely, I'd splurge and get the CZ Bobwhite. I do love CZ - have 2 rifles and that pistol from them.
If you could make clear the unclear, what is a good, middle of the road barrel length for the type of shooting/hunting I might get into? That is, Skeet or Trap shooting (sporting clays someday? I'd definitely shoot skeet and traps were I to buy such a gun) - or hunting (dove, quail & similar or turkey - ducks/geese probably out unless one day I'm invited by some new friend). Embarrassed to say I know very little on chokes, but could likely find out online. Though I'd much rather personal input on them from y'all. So...maybe?
Oh, I am in south Louisiana and so would be hunting here.
God bless you for your patience with this newbie! We all must start somewhere, I'm just getting a late start - and by necessity I must be self taught.
What I'd like, ideally, from y'all is the best in each category. Let me say I don't have any interest in a semi auto shotguns, so please none of those. Side by sides, over & unders and pumps being it.
The Most Sincere Thanks!
Pano
I am brand new to this forum, so hello again. As I said, I will soon be buying my first shotgun. I have an ancient Stevens 20g that I quit using 15+ years ago when it discharged when I closed it. I decided it wasn't worth having fixed - and as it was a hand me down, I've still never bought a shotgun.
You're going to ask what purpose I intend to put my shotgun to. I have no definite answer. I don't hunt (no moral problems, just know no hunters and am pressed for time too much). Were I to hunt, it would be for birds, but not waterfowl - birds that would allow me to stay dry and not wait w/o moving for a while. So having a gun that could do that would be a bonus. I'd also like a shotgun for home defense. Currently, it's just a pistol (my CZ 75 P-07 Duty 9mm) and my AR (S&W M&P). These are not satisfactory - to me at least.
I'm drawn to coach guns. I have fallen in love with CZ firearms, but their Coach Gun simply costs too much for the use to which I'd put it. So first up is Stoeger: Coach Gun Supreme, Double Defense SXS and over/under (prefer SxS) and the Condor Outback. Escort: Silver Standard Synthetic (the 18" barrel one). Mossberg: HS-12, Thunder Ranch HS12. That's it for the coach gun options. Would be THRILLED if one of y'all could turn me on to another coach gun! (SxS always preferred but no deal breaker, obviously)
I could go hi-cap home defense, and that would almost definitely be a Mossberg of some sort. The 590A1 SPX being the best of the bunch, for me, as it comes with a bayonet lug. Yep, I'd love to have a bayoneted shotgun. Different strokes, y'all - and yes, I am a grown man of 38. As this gun is too much $$$, I'd likely get a Mossberg (or Remington) for which bayonet lugs are readily available after market.
For a gun that might one day be taken into the field it would either be Stoeger's Longfowler SxS or one of the Uplanders, also SxS. It is very possible, heck, likely, I'd splurge and get the CZ Bobwhite. I do love CZ - have 2 rifles and that pistol from them.
If you could make clear the unclear, what is a good, middle of the road barrel length for the type of shooting/hunting I might get into? That is, Skeet or Trap shooting (sporting clays someday? I'd definitely shoot skeet and traps were I to buy such a gun) - or hunting (dove, quail & similar or turkey - ducks/geese probably out unless one day I'm invited by some new friend). Embarrassed to say I know very little on chokes, but could likely find out online. Though I'd much rather personal input on them from y'all. So...maybe?
Oh, I am in south Louisiana and so would be hunting here.
God bless you for your patience with this newbie! We all must start somewhere, I'm just getting a late start - and by necessity I must be self taught.
What I'd like, ideally, from y'all is the best in each category. Let me say I don't have any interest in a semi auto shotguns, so please none of those. Side by sides, over & unders and pumps being it.
The Most Sincere Thanks!
Pano