cornered rat
Moderator
I would like to get a shotgun to learn how to use one. I suspect that I would prefer a rifle for fighting and I can't quite target shoot with one...but I'd like to have one anyway. I handled several shotguns today. Liked 590 over 500 (both with ghost ring sights), though not sure there'd be any practical advantage to the 590. 500 with g.h. sights was $320, 590 was $430. I recall hearing much lower prices from others.
Then I saw a Winchester 1300 (Lady Defender model, $260 methinks) in 20ga. It seemed to be well enough built, had a dayglo sight that I found easy to aim.
All that leads me to questions:
Is 1300 robust enough? I noticed much lighter AR-style bolt vs. heavier block of the Mossberg. I also wonder about durability of the dayglo tubes.
Safety is cross-bolt rather than tang. I dislike using safeties in general, but tang looks better placed. Practical experience, anyone? Do shotguns like these have firing pin blocks?
The loading gate has a hinged "gate" on the Winchester. I assume it keeps dirt out...but does it interfere with loading?
20ga would kick less than 12ga in 500 (similar weight). Would heavier weight of the 590 tame felt recoil?
Finally, I like to have cheapo practice ammo available. Are there any sources of 00 or #1 buckshot in 20ga that are less costly than the $3.50 per 5 that I saw on the shelf?
Anything else that I missed? Things like customer service, durability, safety, felt recoil?
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Cornered Rat
http://dd-b.net/RKBA RKBA posters
http://dd-b.net/olegv Portrait, nature photos
Then I saw a Winchester 1300 (Lady Defender model, $260 methinks) in 20ga. It seemed to be well enough built, had a dayglo sight that I found easy to aim.
All that leads me to questions:
Is 1300 robust enough? I noticed much lighter AR-style bolt vs. heavier block of the Mossberg. I also wonder about durability of the dayglo tubes.
Safety is cross-bolt rather than tang. I dislike using safeties in general, but tang looks better placed. Practical experience, anyone? Do shotguns like these have firing pin blocks?
The loading gate has a hinged "gate" on the Winchester. I assume it keeps dirt out...but does it interfere with loading?
20ga would kick less than 12ga in 500 (similar weight). Would heavier weight of the 590 tame felt recoil?
Finally, I like to have cheapo practice ammo available. Are there any sources of 00 or #1 buckshot in 20ga that are less costly than the $3.50 per 5 that I saw on the shelf?
Anything else that I missed? Things like customer service, durability, safety, felt recoil?
------------------
Cornered Rat
http://dd-b.net/RKBA RKBA posters
http://dd-b.net/olegv Portrait, nature photos