YAGT: Buying a Shotgun

[clamum]

I went shooting with my buddy and brother this past weekend and shot clays for the first time with my buddy's Remington 870 20 gauge. It was a ton of fun.

I would eventually (sooner rather than later probably, lol) like to get a shotgun that I can use for clays. I suppose I would also maybe use it for home defense. But I do not do any hunting nor do I plan on it.

With those two applications in mind (probably more for just clays), what are your recommendations (20/12 guage, make/model)? I have shot my other buddy's Remington 870 12 gauge and that definitely kicks harder than the 20 ga. I couldn't really see myself shooting very many clays with that 12 guage, but I think we were using more powerful rounds too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rsutoratosu]

Interest to know also

 

[pontifex]

I went shooting with my buddy and brother this past weekend and shot clays for the first time with my buddy's Remington 870 20 gauge. It was a ton of fun.

I would eventually (sooner rather than later probably, lol) like to get a shotgun that I can use for clays. I suppose I would also maybe use it for home defense. But I do not do any hunting nor do I plan on it.

With those two applications in mind (probably more for just clays), what are your recommendations (20/12 guage, make/model)? I have shot my other buddy's Remington 870 12 gauge and that definitely kicks harder than the 20 ga. I couldn't really see myself shooting very many clays with that 12 guage, but I think we were using more powerful rounds too.

Thanks in advance!

i've not shot clays, but i believe you want a long barrel for that. 20 gauge would probably be best due to the lower recoil.

that said, for home defense, you usually want a shorter barrel, to get around easier. 12 gauge is going to be more powerful in taking someone down too, however i have seen 20 gauge recommended for home defense.

there are shotgun combo packs that come with short and long barrels, so all you have to is swap them out. leave the short barrel on until you plan to go clay shooting and then swap the barrel out for the long one, then switch back to the short one when you get home.

i have a short barreled (18.5") 12 gauge and the thing is brutal. definitely would not want to shoot that very long.

 

[Phoenix15]

As Pontifex pointed out you can get a combo pack that would do both your requirements nicely. I shoot clays quite a bit with my Mossberg 500 which is comparable to a Remington 870. Remington and Mossberg are kinda like Ford and Chevy, different strokes for different folks.

Mossberg offers a "3 in 1" that comes with a shorter barrel for home defense and a longer barrel for hunting/ sport shooting. I'm not sure if the offer a 20 gauge, but they do have a 12. The recoil can be lessened with shooting a lighter load or buying a recoil reducing stock. Here is a link to the 3 in 1.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/.../411548893/MOSSBERG+500+12M28MC&18CB+3IN1+SPL

i've not shot clays, but i believe you want a long barrel for that. 20 gauge would probably be best due to the lower recoil.

that said, for home defense, you usually want a shorter barrel, to get around easier. 12 gauge is going to be more powerful in taking someone down too, however i have seen 20 gauge recommended for home defense.

there are shotgun combo packs that come with short and long barrels, so all you have to is swap them out. leave the short barrel on until you plan to go clay shooting and then swap the barrel out for the long one, then switch back to the short one when you get home.

 

[jlee]

+1 to Remington 870 / Mossberg 500. I'm partial to my Remington.

 

[highland145]

+2 870 12ga, police model (18.5" barrel) With the tube extension, holds 5 3" magnums. I pity the fool the breaks in while I'm home. I, also, pity my shoulder.....maybe I can get the wife to shoot it.()

 

[Jeeebus]

+2 870 12ga, police model (18.5" barrel) With the tube extension, holds 5 3" magnums. I pity the fool the breaks in while I'm home. I, also, pity my shoulder.....maybe I can get the wife to shoot it.()

My wife has shot the 11-87P a couple of times and her response is always the same... "I don't like that." I don't even think the kick is all that bad, but I guess if she ever has to fill someone with lead, it will be the 9mm and not the shotgun. I love shooting it, but it definitely will wear out your shoulder (and wallet, if you're shooting 00 buck or slugs).

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Love my 870 wingmaster. Mine is from the early 80's, if not older, and has never had any issues whatsoever.

 

[highland145]

My wife has shot the 11-87P a couple of times and her response is always the same... "I don't like that." I don't even think the kick is all that bad, but I guess if she ever has to fill someone with lead, it will be the 9mm and not the shotgun. I love shooting it, but it definitely will wear out your shoulder (and wallet, if you're shooting 00 buck or slugs).

Jeeebus: Come on, honey. Try it just one more time.:sneaky:



Haven't fired the 3" magnums in 15+ years and it'll have to be a serious situation before I do it again. A lot less muscle mean a lot more pain.

 

[Kelvrick]

I don't know where you are, but a Big 5 mossberg combo pack is the standard answer for a cheap entry point into shotguns for both recreational clays as well as home defense. Comes with 28" as well as 18.5" barrel. Usually in low 300's, but you can sometimes get it in the high 200's.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/46907

The mossberg 500 series and the remington 870 are pretty similar with big followings. I'd say the main diffference is that the mossberg 500 series has the safety located at the top to be operated by the thumb where the 870 is located in the trigger guard. Otherwise, they both have models in different price points and have tons of accessories.

 

[Capt.OBViOUS]

Id suggest you to go for the kurt cobain's gun,dunno its a shotgun or not,but it was enuf to blow clay and whateuer shit he had in his head.

 

[highland145]

Id suggest you to go for the kurt cobain's gun,dunno its a shotgun or not,but it was enuf to blow clay and whateuer shit he had in his head.

Must have been an air soft.

 

[p_monks33]

If you are serious about shooting clays, I cannot reccomend a gun other than the Beretta AL391 20 gauge. This gun is so smooth and shoots clays like a dream. I know its a bit more costly, but you will be amazed how well it shoots.

 

[Texashiker]

Look at the Remington 1100. The semi-auto action will help with the recoil.

 

[gmaster456]

The the Mossberg 500 field/security combo. You get the 28 inch barrel for trap and the 18.5 inch barrel for HD. It's a great shotgun, I love all of mine.

 

[tcG]

For clays, I would imagine you would prefer a 20 gauge. There's no point in dealing with uncomfortable recoil unless you need the extra load for hunting or home defense.

EDIT: Doing some reading, maybe action type and weight of the gun has more to do with recoil than the gauge? Still, I would imagine when comparing 20 gauge and 12 gauge of the same action/weight, that the 12 gauge would be more punishing... and if it's just for clays... why deal with it?

 

[Texashiker]

EDIT: Doing some reading, maybe action type and weight of the gun has more to do with recoil than the gauge?

Action, gauge, and type of ammunition you are shooting all have a factor.

If you want to blow off some rounds, get low brass shotshells. Low brass has less powder then high brass, so the recoil is going to be less.

 

[jpeyton]

You can thank me later: http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=23715

 

[calvinbiss]

If you really want to get into the sport of shooting clays, you need to get an over-under or side-by-side. Typically, gun club rules prevent ever having any more than 2 shells in the breech/magazine (unless you are shooting 5-stand).

Over-unders are typically lighter (especially 20 gauge), and typically safer because its easy to identify that the gun is safe when the breech is cracked.

I love my Ruger Red Label for skeet/trap as weel as quail hunting. Make sure that you have interchangable chokes.

 

[BladeVenom]

Get a 12. Skeet loads aren't that powerful. You can always get a bigger butt pad for the shotgun, and a shooting jacket if it bothers you.

 

[clamum]

Nice, thanks for all of the responses! I have a couple pistols and several rifles but I really don't know much about shotguns. Never even shot one until last summer.

The combo packs definitely sound good. I guess I'm partial to the Remington 870 because that's all I've shot but I've also heard the Mossberg 500 (590 too?) series is comparable; honestly I like the position of the safety on the Mossberg more than I do on the Remington.

It would be more used for clays than home defense; I currently use a .40 cal SIG P226 for HD. And honestly, I don't think me shooting some fucker in the chest with a 20 gauge is going to cause him to laugh and shake his head and keep coming after me. I don't think I'll ever get into competition clays, but who knows. But right now I'm just looking for an entry level gun that can fit the clay and HD roles well enough.

So I think I'll take a look at the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 combo packs, and perhaps the Remington 1100 as Texashiker mentioned.

Any other thoughts? Thanks guys.

EDIT: I should mention I'm leaning toward 20 gauge right now. If someone can give me a logical reason to get a 12 given my intended usage, I'm all ears.

 

[clamum]

Well I checked out the Mossberg and Remington combo packs. I like the Mossberg combo packs better, and they're cheaper, but the only ones I would buy are in 12 gauge (like the link posted to the combo pack on Cheaper Than Dirt). Yeah they have 20 gauge combo packs, but the barrels are 2 inches in difference (to me, that's useless). But yeah, there's definitely a difference between a 18.5 inch barrel and a 28 inch barrel.

I did see a Remington 20 gauge combo pack on Bud's that had a 4 inch (IIRC) barrel difference, which is ok, but it was over $100 more expensive than that Mossberg 12 gauge pack.

I'd really like to have a 20 gauge but it doesn't look like they make quite what I'm looking for, and in my price range. Maybe I'll just get the 12 gauge Mossberg Field/HD combo and hopefully find some lower power rounds to shoot clays with. I'd just hate to get a 12 and find I hate shooting it for more than 3 rounds.

 

[corwin]

Well I checked out the Mossberg and Remington combo packs. I like the Mossberg combo packs better, and they're cheaper, but the only ones I would buy are in 12 gauge (like the link posted to the combo pack on Cheaper Than Dirt). Yeah they have 20 gauge combo packs, but the barrels are 2 inches in difference (to me, that's useless). But yeah, there's definitely a difference between a 18.5 inch barrel and a 28 inch barrel.

I did see a Remington 20 gauge combo pack on Bud's that had a 4 inch (IIRC) barrel difference, which is ok, but it was over $100 more expensive than that Mossberg 12 gauge pack.

I'd really like to have a 20 gauge but it doesn't look like they make quite what I'm looking for, and in my price range. Maybe I'll just get the 12 gauge Mossberg Field/HD combo and hopefully find some lower power rounds to shoot clays with. I'd just hate to get a 12 and find I hate shooting it for more than 3 rounds.

Using skeet shells a 12 ga is nothing...I run 50+ (two rounds of skeet) all the time through my 870 and barely notice it. Also I'm not entirely sure but I think 12ga shells are cheaper than 20ga...

 

[pontifex]

Using skeet shells a 12 ga is nothing...I run 50+ (two rounds of skeet) all the time through my 870 and barely notice it. Also I'm not entirely sure but I think 12ga shells are cheaper than 20ga...

they might be since 12 gauge is more popular.

 

[clamum]

Using skeet shells a 12 ga is nothing...I run 50+ (two rounds of skeet) all the time through my 870 and barely notice it. Also I'm not entirely sure but I think 12ga shells are cheaper than 20ga...

Hmmm. Well that makes me feel better . I'm not exactly a big guy but I have no problems shooting a hundred or more rounds from my 7.62 AK, 20 rounds or so from my Mosin Nagant 91/30, etc.

Cool well maybe I will get the Mossberg 12 ga combo then, that looks great!