Jack-of-all-shotguns?

[thefinnnwi]

Hey all.

I'm heading back to Indiana after living in Japan since 2009.

I never really hunted much growing up, but I'd like to get into it with my boys eventually.

My question is this. I'm looking at a good all around gauge for a shotgun. I'd like to hunt deer mostly, but I'd like to keep the door open for rabbit and turkey as well. I've been doing a lot of research as of late, and I've seen that .410 is now considered adequate for turkey and rabbit, however I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a deer with it.

I'd like to keep it simple with a single shot, however I'm not opposed to a semi/pump if I could get more benefit out of using one.

I'm leaning towards 20 gauge. What does everyone think? I don't have a lot of money, kind of getting back on my feet once I return, so I'm just hopeful that I can find a suitable gauge that will satisfy what I'm looking to hunt for.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

- Tim

 

[Magyars]

If your only going to have one shotgun for birds to deer you should get a 12 ga. More ammo choices, better shot spread ( all else being equal) .
Get a pump or semi auto with the ability to change chokes. Rifle sights or even the ability to switch barrels would be good.

 

[pitbulld45]

I have killed plenty of deer with a 410 but I agree with Magyars, get a pump action 12 gauge, 20 would be alright too. The Mossberg 500 is a great gun, same gun but cheaper parts would be the Maverick 88 which is also a good gun, the Remington 870 would be a nice choice.

If you end up at a pawn shop you can find the above named guns in used but good condition for cheaper.

Also welcome to the forum and welcome home.

 

[COOPADUP]

Mossberg’s Model 500 pump-action shotguns are some of the most reliable, affordable, and readily available of any such hunting arm on the market. While separate models are built for birds, clays, deer, defense, and everything in between, the company also markets several combo packages. You can opt for the Turkey/Deer Combo, Field/Security Combo, or the Field/Deer Combo. So, there are options for hunters looking for a gun ready to shoot clays or fast-flying birds, deer, and even for home defense.

 

[ISP 5353]

Remington 870, but definitely 12 gauge.

 

[Michigan Slim]

870 combo. Rifled slug barrel and a field barrel with choke tubes.

 

[gregkl]

I'm with ISP. Get a 12 ga. If you are only going to have one that should be the gauge. I can see having a 20 ga alongside a 12.

I would also go with a pump or an autoloader. I have both but have always been partial to autoloaders. Single shot shotguns are limited in use. If you decide to do any bird hunting or clays sports, having the ability for a follow-up shot is nice.

I like older shotguns personally. I just don't care for the feel of new 870's and the like. The older ones are so smooth but 870's are great for pump action and 1100's and Sportsman 11-48's are great for autoloaders.

I have none of those btw. They are popular enough to know about them without owning them if you have spent time shooting shotguns which I have.

I have an Ithaca M37 and a Beretta AL2-Magnum. Both of which I will never part.

 

[rem788]

All good advice here. I don't know how old your boys are but if they are young a 12 gauge might be a bit much for them. The 20 gauge might be a little easier for them to handle. Good luck.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

お帰りなさい！

+1 for the Maverick 88. It's a great shotgun, and you'd be hard pressed to find even a quality single shot for less money.

Whatever gauge you choose, make sure you know the price/availability of different types of ammo for it. It won't take long to have more spent on ammo than the gun itself. It's hard to beat 12 ga in this regard, so I second that as a recommendation.

 

[OneBadV8]

I would go 20 gauge... LOTS of options these days, PLUS you'll be able to let your boys use it as well.

And for those not paying attention, Remington 870 is crazy expensive now since all the buy outs and everything else happening with them.

Check out the new 590 series too from Mossberg. They're a pretty solid choice these days.

 

[cosermann]

12 ga.

 

[LtScott14]

My first and only shotgun is a Mossberg 500-12ga. Yes the 2 barrel option is a great choice. As others said, a bunch of different shells out there, and most guns have a rubber recoil pad.
I would second the Maverick 88 models too. 20 ga is acceptable for most applications.
I bought a Savage-Stevens 20 ga from my neightbor.(Model 320), and it isn't a bad deal, and gave a whopping $150 new in box. Again it is an import, but seems decent. Will shoot it in spring weather.
It has a 22 in barrel, and fiberglass hand held grip stock with high vis combat style sights. Good luck.

 

[Mij]

Not a bad bit of advice in any thread. An option that I haven’t seen is the venerable Savage mod 24 a single shotgun over a single rifle bbl. But I don’t know about the availability or cost. They make many combinations. 1936/2006 Welcome Home and best of luck.

 

[1nderbeard]

12g. I like Mossberg mainly for the position of the safety.

There are a huge variety of game loads you can get that make it a gun for squirrel/birds/deer/etc.

 

[bobzilla]

12g. I like Mossberg mainly for the position of the safety.

There are a huge variety of game loads you can get that make it a gun for squirrel/birds/deer/etc.

Safety and pump release. The 870 feels odd and cumbersome to me.

If I had to own but one, it would be a standard 500 with as many barrels as needed. Barrel change is 60 seconds max.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I would go 20 gauge... LOTS of options these days, PLUS you'll be able to let your boys use it as well.

And for those not paying attention, Remington 870 is crazy expensive now since all the buy outs and everything else happening with them.

Check out the new 590 series too from Mossberg. They're a pretty solid choice these days.

The new Fieldmaster I bought was $479.00 with a ribbed bird barrel.

 

[cosermann]

There’s a saying in the knife community that a larger knife can often do the job of a smaller knife, but not the other way around. There’s a lot of truth to that until you get into more specialized knife applications.

Similarly, the larger gauge shotgun can do things a smaller shotgun can do with careful load and choke selection - but not as much the other way around.

Additionally, there seems to be less emphasis and load development by ammo companies on the 20 vs the 12. As an example, in the defensive load space, there is no 20 ga load using the Federal Flitecontrol or Hornady Versatite wad - only 12 ga.

Also, if you really want a “jack of all snotguns” a single shot gun with a fixed choke is far less versatile than a pump with interchangeable barrel capability (ex. rifled for deer, smooth for hunting and defense).

 

[OneBadV8]

The new Fieldmaster I bought was $479.00 with a ribbed bird barrel.

I’ve just seen used ones going really high on the secondary market

 

[thefinnnwi]

Hello again,

I appreciate everyone's input. When it comes to versatility of rounds, in the past I handloaded rifle and pistol, and I'm looking at getting into handloading shotgun when I get back to the states. That should open the door to tailored loads, plus a new hobby for me. My hobbies have been fairly limited here in Japan, so I'm looking forward to getting out from behind the keyboard and out of this concrete city and back to the woods/range/infront of the press.

I'm leaning more towards 20ga, mostly because my older son, wife, daughter can handle it. My older son is turning 13 in a few months, but he is very tall and thin (He'll bulk up on an American diet, I'm sure of it! lol). A 12ga at this point would be a little much for him, and I want to ease him into shooting (likewise for my wife and daughter). I can recall hearing about my mothers first experience shooting, and it made her gun shy for the next 20+ years. Too large of a gun for her to handle led to bad first shooting experience.

When I get back stateside, I will check out some of the models that were suggested. Being in the Navy, I'm very familiar with the Mossberg 500. I've looked into the Maverick 88 at length, and it looks like a nice introductory pump for me to get, so I will consider that as well. Looking at the prices on those Mavericks as well, I might be able to get a 12ga and 20ga as well.

Thanks again for the input!

Take care.
- Tim

 

[Route 45]

Another vote for 12 gauge here. Far greater selection of ammo types in 12 gauge versus 20 gauge. Do a Google search for low recoil, 12 gauge ammunition, and you will see that there are low recoil options for birdshot/target loads, buckshot, and slugs. Really no need for the 20 gauge, when there are low recoil options in 12.

You are certainly right about the Maverick 88 though. Nothing wrong with one of each gauge! I have the 12 gauge model with 18” barrel, they are an awesome value!