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Looking for 12 gauge advise
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:10 am
by Hookup
Hey folks,
I figured I'd post here before diving too deep into researching...
I'm looking for a new 12 gauge this season. First and foremost, it's a slug-gun for deer in 65, but if it has interchangeable barrels so I can go smoothbore for turkey, even better. Weight is an issue.. the heavier the better for recoil, and recoil pads are going to get installed more than likely.
a. Scope - Cantalevered (spelled that?) so changing barrels is not an issue, ever.
b. Rifled barrel for slugs.. looking to be "safe" at 150yrds.
Last year when looking I found a few that were bolt action... which likely doesn't allow for the turkey barrel, but again, that's secondary.. I can always buy a single purpose turkey gun down the road... I do not hunt them actively at this time.
I do not want to restict feedback by posting a budget..

but, I will not be throwing down $2,500 for the gun.
Thanks in advance.
Tim
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:58 am
by charbyc
check out mossbergs deer turkey combos......
remington does the same package you can order a new one for under 700........
im more partial to the mossbergs myself i like the way the action feels over an 870.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:07 am
by Hookup
No offence, but I thought mossberg was kind of low-end/entry level..
Not that I'm looking to drop $9,000 on a browning... LOL...
Does Mossberg make a high-quality product?
BTW, I did look (on-line) at the remmington 11-87 Deer gun... nice price point, and the marketing makes it sound sexy...
Brownings BPS Rifled Deer Hunter also looks nice... and a similar price point to the Remm.
Benelli Super Black Eagle II – Rifled Slug looks sexy.. but a $2100 price point I cannot afford.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:13 am
by charbyc
the mossberg has a bad rap for being the value priced gun for many years but i can say they will hold up just as well as any other as both my father and grandfather had them for MANY years.
you dont need a silver spade to dig a hole when i shovel would do it....
im a shovel kinda guy i guess.
just my opinion.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:16 am
by hook&shoot
The 870 Remmi is a tough gun to beat in the mid price point. You can get a good deal on new with two barrels for under $ 600. Mossburg has inproved the quality of their shot guns over the years and the Stoger is a good choice to.
H&S
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:36 am
by charbyc
also whatever you buy make sure its chambered for the new 3 1/2 shells.... you can always use smaller shells but you cant make the gun bigger!
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:37 am
by charbyc
i bought myself a winchester sx3 last year just because i wanted a fast skeet gun....
but its nice and was around 1300
i still prefer my trusty old mossberg for ducks and geese.........
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:01 am
by Hookup
Thanks for the help thus far...
I'm kind of set on getting a deer gun (slug gun with rifled barrel) and worry about the turkey gun later.
I have an old Winchester M12 with a full choke that i love for duck and goose... I could use it for turkey if I went.. but again, I do not go out for them at this point so let's not get too far ahead of myself..
I've heard great things about the Remmi 870..... seems to be one heck of a well made sg. I did not know it had a rifled barrel option...
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:13 am
by Jimmy_1
Hookup,
Al's Corner Store and Gas is having a BIG sale this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They have a Remington dual barreled shot gun in the flier for sale.
Might be worth checking out.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:01 pm
by Hookup
Good stuff... thanks for the heads up (and for others who pm'd me)... I would hate to miss a sale..
For some reason I'm back to the 20gauge vs 12gauge debate...
Honestly though, the BROWNING BPS Rifled Deer Hunter looks like the gun I want... I have a 20g over/under browning that I absolutely love... browning simply makes quality guns... I also have their A-Bolt in a gold medalion .270 ...
Slug Gun...
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:06 pm
by franklauzon
20 Guage slug guns generally pattern better, have a pile of energy, and don't hurt the shooter nearly as much. If I were to do it all over again, I'd buy the 20...
Shells can be marginally more difficult to find, but not a problem in the better outdoor stores.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:05 pm
by Jimmy_1
Hook up,
I have an older Winchester 1200 pump. I'd sell it for $150. It has 2 barrels. You can use the rifled barrel from the Winchester 1300....
You'll save a whack if you want to go that way?!
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:27 pm
by Hookup
Well, it comes down to what I want vs what I need in the end... I read a few other sites and one article struck right in the forhead (v8 style, as in I could have had a...)...
What type of hunting will I be using it for?
Long-sits in a stand vs walk'n stalk vs a bit of both...
What I want, is a rifle that happens to be in the 12 or 20 gauge family for zone 65... This would lend itself to the long-sits in a stand scenario... But there's a problem.. thats just not how I hunt, when I'm forced to use a gun... so what I want, just isn't what I need
When I'm not bow hunting, i'm either pushing the bush, or waiting for the push.. meaning I need something fast to the shoulder and easy to get a bead on...
sounds like a red-dot to me, and a semi-auto would be also very nice... and finally, in 20gauge would be ideal, but 12 is ok...
The rifled barrel i'm still a big fan of, meaning no shot, jsut slugs.. but that's cause from time to time, I might find myself in a stand, sitting and waiting, hunting the old-fashion way.... and if you cannot put one slug accurately on a deer, then IMO it's not a safe shot (pls no moral debates, its just my preference, not doctorine or law.. to each his/her own..)
So, that being said.
Anyone know of a sg that has...
a) Rifled barrel
b) 20gauge (possibly 12)
c) semi-auto
d) ready for red-dot scope
e) short barrel length (20"-24" range)
f) quality product with history...
A&B&C are the hard part... a 20gauge semi auto with rifled barrel.. i'm not sure that even exists... in 12gauge even...
Jamers, I'm thinking your offer... i'll get back ta ya if i'm interested.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:03 pm
by Hookup
Thanks for the help and advise...
I am now the proud owner of a Remington 11-87 20g/semi with a rifled barrel and a matched Bushnell trophy 1x32 Red/Green dot scope.
I feel that this was the best choice for my situation, though I admit I am concerned with the take down power of a 20gauge vs a 12gauge in a semi-auto format... That part makes me worried, but the ballistics say I should be fine.
Time to get some ammo and get to the range.
Tim
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:03 pm
by Hookup
Thanks for the help and advise...
I am now the proud owner of a Remington 11-87 20g/semi with a rifled barrel and a matched Bushnell trophy 1x32 Red/Green dot scope.
I feel that this was the best choice for my situation, though I admit I am concerned with the take down power of a 20gauge vs a 12gauge in a semi-auto format... That part makes me worried, but the ballistics say I should be fine.
Time to get some ammo and get to the range.
Tim