All around shotgun

[dmccarty]

Phred,

I shot a Benelli semiauto shotgun a few times back in the mid 80s. VERY nice shotgun. The autoloading really took the edge off the recoil. I was very impressed with the gun. It had one very nice feature. When a round was placed into the chamber it made a very distinct and loud sound similar to racking a round into a pump gun. Supposedly this was a design point and was done as a signal to Bad Guys that things just got serious and it was time to start behaving... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I can see some bad things about this design point but its no worse than a pump gun.

Another good thing about autoloaders is that they can be more easily operated with one hand. A pump can be operated and used one handed, it just harder and takes a bit more time. The FBI agent who was seriously injured in the FBI Miami Shoot out used a pump shotgun operated by his one good arm to disable the remaing Bad Guy enough to finish him off with with his secondary weapon. The agent does not have full use of his one arm to this day but that shotgun allowed him to close and finish off a VERY Bad Guy who executed two agents who were down on the ground and out of the fight. The same Bad Guy shot at the FBI Agent at very close range, under a yard or two, and missed before returning to a car, I think it was one of the FBI's vehicles and tried to flee. The agent fired four rounds of 00 buck one handed which was enough to at least stun the Bad Guy. The agent then closed and shot the guy a few more times with a revolver. I can't remember the actuall number of bullets and pellets the Bad Guy had in his body but I pretty sure it was over 30. He had a 9mm Silver Tip that just touched his heart. The bullet should have put him down very early in the gun fight but did not. He had MULTIPLE fatal wounds that should have stopped him. The coroner had a touch time explaining how the man was concious much less walking around shooting people. The Bad Guy was just REALLY BAD. But a shotgun finally stopped him.

Later...
Dan

 

[Phred]

Dan,

No dought that 12 ga 00 is very destructive. And the good news is that you only have to be in the right zipcode with your aim. As the other guys have already stated these guns are very effective self defense tools.

I hate to think how that agents arm must have felt like after firing that many rounds with one hand. If you have ever held a 12 ga shotgun off your shoulder a little bit by accident you know what recoil is all about, and a bruise on your shoulder to remind you!

A friend of mine use to have a very light weight pump gun. Firing slugs out of that gun where down right painfull.

Fred

 

[JayinNH]

Pete,
I have several shotguns. By far the most durable and trustworthy shotgun I've owned is the Remington 870.I'm a huge duck hunter and have used the thing as a paddle. The gun just won't quit. Good luck with your decision
Jay

 

[fishman]

I too am a Benelli fan. Currently own a Nova pump gun. Competitively priced with domestic models, but with some nice features. Like integral sling swivel studs, and the ability to install a recoil reduction device in the stock. I did, and it really takes the sting out of a box full of 3.5" goose loads.

They will be offering a 20 guage version this year and it should weigh in the neighborhood of 6 lbs or LESS.

Very well engineered IMHO, and can be completely disassembled without tools in less than a minute. Rotary bolt is a plus, very strong lockup, similar to the Winchester 1300.

I have also used Winchester, Remington, and Mossberg pumps, and of those the only one I wouldn't buy again is Mossberg. Used one as my primary waterfowl gun for 15 years and had good luck, but recent specimens I have shot and others have owned were not of the same quality. Very roughly machined and prone to malfunctions. Their premium-grade models may not have these faults, however.

What I'd like to get next is an over/under./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Anybody have any favorites? I like the look of the Ruger and the Remington, but there are a bunch of others.

 

[MChalkley]

Well, since nobody has mentioned my favorite pump, I've got to weigh in. I've always been partial to my Browning BPS 12 chambered for 3 1/2" shells. It'll fire anything (12 ga. that is), under any conditions, and ejects the shells straight out the bottom, which is a big advantage to folks who shoot left handed, as I do. It's a bit heavy, though, but it's hard to build 'em like a tank without makin' 'em heavy...

MarkC

 

[Boondox]

Over/Unders make me drool! We have a Weatherby in 20 ga, with a tiger maple stock and forend. Shoots as pretty as it looks.

The wife has turned into Annie Oakley since we bought that Winchester. The action is FAST. She spotted a little furry bastard (red squirrel) chewing on the back of her garden shed and got it on the third round. Doesn't sound so good till you realize she got it on a flat run at forty yards and got three rounds out in what sounded like less than three seconds! I never knew she had it in her! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[peabody]

I am particularly fond of my old remington 870 16ga.
Corncob forend.
Never fails.

 

[sld]

Wow! you just replied to a 14 year old thread! I'll play, the Remington 1187 is one do it all gun.

 

[Trkrd]

I have several and the favorite is my Remington 1100.

 

[Garandman]

You can minimize recoil by using lighter loads. Believe it or not "Tactical" loads are usually lighter than hunting loads.

We have an 870 and they're excellent. But if anyone is left-handed, the safety location of the Mossberg 500 series is easier to operate than the 870.

You might also consider a 20 ga. But they typically weigh less so even though recoil is lower, felt recoil might be a wash.

Another shotgun favored by lefties is the Ithaca 37.

//I have also used Winchester, Remington, and Mossberg pumps, and of those the only one I wouldn't buy again is Mossberg. Used one as my primary waterfowl gun for 15 years and had good luck, but recent specimens I have shot and others have owned were not of the same quality. Very roughly machined and prone to malfunctions. Their premium-grade models may not have these faults, however.//

That may well be but the Army has 15 thousand of them. They now use the 590A1 version but plenty of "plain old" 500's were purchased as well. SOCCOM bought 1,300 of them modified with a shorter barrel, rail, etc.