Shotgun

[Western]

Though more than you probably need I luv my 870 Remmy's.
Got one in camo,one in wood.Might be one of the best pump action scatter guns of all time. Just MO.Boone

I'll second that, great pump action and proven.

That would normally be my first choice, too, but for a cheap gun for the barn?????

I'll second that too, but may be able to keep it in a clean dry place maybe if funds provide.


Bought my son an H&R for $69 new 18 years ago, break open single, tough little gun, few moving parts.

 

[fuseboxer]

Wait til you go out of your area/state to find a cheep shooter at a pawn shop. Dicker at any pawn multi .75 x whatever they ask and before you walk out it is yours.

 

[creekbend]

The TBN members bullbreaker, Bird and Western all three "hit the nail on the head". I agree 100%.:thumbsup:

 

[fenix]

What ever kind of shotgun you decide on, be sure you have it in a case
of some kind to keep mice or mud dobbers out of the barrel.
The thing would go off like a bomb, with an obstruction in the barrel.
I also like the pump,ours is a 870 Rem 20 ga.

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

If you can find a used one, a stainless steel marine or police slide action 12 or 20 Ga would be a good choice for a seldom used defense shotgun. No worries of barrel rust or the action sticking.

As for insect protection, some duct tape over the muzzle and another strip to cover the loading gate should do the trick.

Tom

 

[Larry Caldwell]

A 12 gauge would be cheaper than a 20, because they are so much more plentiful. A new single is cheap, and if you are dedicated to a 20, that is probably the way to go. Stick with a modified choke barrel, so you can shoot Hevishot if you really want something deadly. You could just shoot a light load in a 12. My favorite varmint load is #4 buck in 12 gauge, which is a .25 caliber ball, lighter than a .25 caliber bullet because it is round rather than cylindrical. You can get 42 of them in one shell, which gives a respectable pattern.

 

[Chilly807]

What ever kind of shotgun you decide on, be sure you have it in a case
of some kind to keep mice or mud dobbers out of the barrel.
The thing would go off like a bomb, with an obstruction in the barrel.
I also like the pump,ours is a 870 Rem 20 ga.

This is one of the reasons I like a single, or if the price was right an old side by each double. When you pop 'er open to slide a couple shells in, a quick glance down the barrel(s) tells you immediately if the bores are clear (or not!)

Easy to clean, reliable as a hammer. This going to be a neglected gun, barn guns always are by accident or design. By neglect I mean it's going to be a grab and shoot tool, not one that gets regular cleaning and attention. That's no reflection of the owner, it's just the way it happens in 99% of cases.

Nothing like a load of light buckshot for varmints, .25 to .30 cal really does a job. 12 bore would be my choice too, unless the lady of the house insists on a 20.. in which case she needs to pull on her "big girl" drawers and live with a bit more recoil to get the job done. My wife suggested we use a .22 on coyotes a few years back. I just looked at her and said, "Sure, it'll kill 'em, over the next few weeks maybe".

She soon got used to using my .270, much more suitable weapon without going out and buying a coyote specific rifle. We have a lot of restrictions as to .222, 22-250, etc here, which is a real shame as I'd dearly love to have a varmint rifle. I won't spend that kind of cash just to shoot an occasional coyote, though. The .270 is overkill, no question, but it definitely has the authority to get the job done humanely.

Sean

 

[forgeblast]

Those little rossie guns are nice, smaller able to break down and you can get the
triple threat version with a shotgun, 22 and a I think 243. I sold a ton of them when working at a sporting good store, and we did not have any come back. I think it would work out for you nice.

 

[westbrooklawn]

I know you are looking for a single shot, but I recently bought a Mossberg .410 pump at Walmart for around $220. They had them in 20ga. also. I've got a real squirrel problem around my place and the .410 has been great for that purpose. I have two 12ga. Rem 870's but you can't beat the price on this Mossberg.

 

[DeeDubya]

We've got a couple old Winchester model 37 12 gauges, and a third one in 20 gauge. Great old guns, tough as nails.

Sean

I grew up shooting a model 37 in 16ga. Pops told me he paid $7.00 for it new. I also have a 20ga model 37. Good old guns for farm use.

Great guns for wing shooting. They swing good and teach you to make that 1 shot count. Although with a few shells handy, you can learn to chamber another round pretty quick.