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Buying my first gun
sgb02d
Member Posts: 2 ✭✭
Hey all-
This Yankee wants to pick up a new hobby.
What is a good all purpose shotgun for hunting/clay targets/protection?
I was thinking of going with the popular Remmington 870. I have a family friend who has an over/under custom made gun from Italy which I like and it is for a very cheap price. How are the over/unders for a hunting weapon? It seems like many people go hunting with a single barrel shotgun and I don't want to make myself look like too much of a newbie if this would be the case. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
This Yankee wants to pick up a new hobby.
What is a good all purpose shotgun for hunting/clay targets/protection?
I was thinking of going with the popular Remmington 870. I have a family friend who has an over/under custom made gun from Italy which I like and it is for a very cheap price. How are the over/unders for a hunting weapon? It seems like many people go hunting with a single barrel shotgun and I don't want to make myself look like too much of a newbie if this would be the case. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
The 870 with a 18 or 20in barrel, makes for a very good house gun, and you can put a longer barrel on it for hunting.
The O/U with the same lenght barrel will be shorter because of no reciever. Handle them both and see which one handles best for you.
If memory serves me correct the military uses the 500 and most police departmets use the 870. Those are probably two of the best endorsements you can get
dgac
Everyone has a Remington 870, but you can be different as still have an excellent firearm.
As for the walk on water reliability of the 870, I have seen a few act up in the field when "lesser" guns have not. We had an 870 lockup after firing on a misty and cold day in South Dakota. Had to hose it down with penetrating oil and literally bounce it off the ground on its butt stock while holding the slide to break it loose.
If you want one gun to start with that will do both, hunt, and work well in the house, My reccomendation is the Remington 870 Express Turkey gun, or its higher priced Wingmaster Turkey gun. They have 21 inch vented rib barrels, and they have the Rem-Choke system, so you can put in an IC choke for the house, or modified for pheasants, or the extra full for turkey. The extra full also works well on the trap range, and I can routinely wack 23 or 24 birds out of 25 from the 16 yard line.
If you decide to deer hunt they offer slug barrels in both smooth bore, and fully rifled, and even one that has a scope all bore sighted and ready to go mounted(requires some fine adjustment to the shooter on the range from a good shooting bench).
The 870 has been the most trusted by law enforcement for decades, from the reliability standpoint. It should doo good in the house with #4 shot and that IC choke it would be formidable to an intruder.
Best