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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