Shotgun Choice?

MADMAX2 · Post by **MADMAX2** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:02 pm

I think I have shot just the same amount of game as my great grandfather and my grandfather with my 870 combo as they did with my savage 99 about as reliable as my exocet.Thanks Bill!!

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:58 am

saxman wrote: I like the Mossbergs.

I've killed far more game with an O.F. Mossberg & Sons bolt-action

20 gauge than with any other shotgun ... I inherited it from my grandpa.

In the annals of shotgun history, there probably hasn't been a more ungainly, homely, inefficient shotgun design than that found in the various bolt actions that used to be common among poor folks ... but I sure laid up a pile of game with that old gun, as did Grandpa before me.

There is much to be said for this or that gun; but in the end, the hunter makes the firearm ... not the other way round.

Sometimes I think the best gun is the one that means something to you ... whether it's the "best gun" or not.

kingfish · Post by **kingfish** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:24 am

Rem 1100 12ga. Mag has done well for me. Just purchased a new barrel to shoot steel shot for about the same that I could have bought a used 870 for but too many years of shooting semiauto's may cause a brain fart and forget to pump in the next round, find an action you like and stick to it has been my train of thought. The 870 is a great gun and for the price is very hard to beat.

saxman · Post by **saxman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:07 pm

Grizzly Adam wrote:
saxman wrote: I like the Mossbergs.
I've killed far more game with an O.F. Mossberg & Sons bolt-action 20 gauge than with any other shotgun ... I inherited it from my grandpa.

In the annals of shotgun history, there probably hasn't been a more ungainly, homely, inefficient shotgun design than that found in the various bolt actions that used to be common among poor folks ... but I sure laid up a pile of game with that old gun, as did Grandpa before me.

There is much to be said for this or that gun; but in the end, the hunter makes the firearm ... not the other way round.

Sometimes I think the best gun is the one that means something to you ... whether it's the "best gun" or not.

Well said GRIZZ.

TPM · Post by **TPM** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:48 pm

In the annals of shotgun history, there probably hasn't been a more ungainly, homely, inefficient shotgun design than that found in the various bolt actions that used to be common among poor folks ... but I sure laid up a pile of game with that old gun, as did Grandpa before me.

Ya got that right Grizz! I’ve got a Mossberg 395k 12ga. bolt action shotgun hiding in the deep recesses of my gun cabinet. It’s ugly, it balances worse than my cheque book, swings like a fence post, has a double digit trigger pull and the action has a wonderful grit-on-grit feel to it partly due to the fact that the bolt starts rusting at the mere forecast of rain. There’s something I like about though…. Or maybe I just feel sorry for it, I dunno.

This gun has killed absolutely nothing in it’s 40 year history and probably never will as long as I own it. My sister originally bought it for my brother-in-law back in the late 1960’s. He said he only fired about a half box of shells through it in all the time he owned it and I’ve done about the same since he gave it to me. Yes, gave, he gave it to me, free and somehow I still feel like I paid too much for it.
All kidding aside this gun may end up being a dedicated turkey gun if I can do something with the trigger. It has Mossberg’s version of a dial-a-duck on it and you can crank it down to some pretty tight patterns.

DuckHunt · Post by **DuckHunt** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:36 pm

I would have to agree that an 870 pump is an excellent choice. The Winchester 1300 and Mossberg 500 are smooth as well.

If you are considering slugs or 3.5" shells, you may want to consider an autoloader though price can be prohibitive. For Canada Geese I picked up a Remington 11-87 SP Magnum and it helps a great deal. It is not a miracle worker though. Even through a semi-auto, a magnum 3.5" shell still demands respect.

From personal experience I can confirm that shooting 3.5" magnums from a canoe is not a great idea.

I can also confirm that swimming in January isn't pleasant.

DuckHunt

DropTine · Post by **DropTine** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:46 pm

LMAO DuckHunt!!!!! Me and my buddy were shooting wood ducks in a marsh while moose hunting this year. We hunted for about 20 mins and shot 3 wood ducks when we seen about 20 geees coming in. So we switched from 3 " #4's to 3 1/2" T's and we were sitting in a canoe and after we both shot our first shot, we were sitting in a foot of just above freezing tempreture water. I was shooting an 870 Super Mag and it got dunked but after a good thorough cleaning and constantly checking it everyday for a month to make sure no rust, I took it out again for the shotgun hunt and shot two does. I give the Rem 870 5 stars!

Matt

outdoorsontario · Post by **outdoorsontario** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:47 am

Awesome gun, maybe a little pricy but an excellent gun. I've shot ducks, geese, deer, pheasants and pulled some unreal shots with this gun.

bait pile willie · Post by **bait pile willie** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:08 am

doesnt anybody shoot brownings,whats wrong with the old auto 5.

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:13 am

Absolutely nothing wrong with the old Humpback, Willie!

A timeless classic.

The Auto-5 will always be one of the top 10 shotgun designs, as is noted by firearms experts.

Country · Post by **Country** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:25 am

I humped an auto 5 around when I was ten years old. It made me the toughest kid around. We are all talking about the good old days and reliable, trustworthy shotguns. Where their any true dogs? I can't remember the name but I had a double barrel at one time that the ejector pins kept breaking on. The Mossberg which was mentioned earlier was a cheap gun that rattled when shaked but was nun the less very reliable.

Cossack · Post by **Cossack** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:48 am

Another vote for the Nova. Very well made, priced right and nearly indestructible.

TPM · Post by **TPM** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:55 pm

doesnt anybody shoot brownings,whats wrong with the old auto 5.

I'm a huge Browning fan. Owned a couple of Auto-5's in the past. 90%+ of my shotgunning these days is with either a 12ga. BPS or a 20ga. Citori.

TPM · Post by **TPM** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:17 pm

How's the saying go..."It's a poor workman who blames his tools".

Or worse, he blames the duck! Years ago a sportswriter once said, after missing a duck with two consecutive shots, "Gentlemen, we just witnessed a miracle. Yonder flies a dead duck".

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:04 pm

TPM wrote: I'm a huge Browning fan. Owned a couple of Auto-5's in the past. 90%+ of my shotgunning these days is with either a 12ga. BPS or a 20ga. Citori.

A Citori, huh? Very nice!

I like the BPS shotguns I've handled. Can't beat that bottom-ejection.

Which reminds me ... the Ithica 37 is one good pump gun. I've got a 20.

Sounds like glass tinkling when you shuck it. Crisp and clean.

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Shotgun Choice?

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