FR Gun Club

Radio Free NJ - Buying a First Shotgun ^ | T. Costell

[absolootezer0]

i’ll agree with that one. i have an 870 i picked up used for cheap, got a long bird barrel and a short slug barrel.
about all its used for is deer hunting, but its accurate enough i haven’t had to track a deer in a number of years.

[bmwcyle]

It is a long colt round. If you go to the on-line dealers and click on long colt these CCI rounds will come up.http://east.outdoormarksman.com/index.php?cPath=65_1_22

[OKSooner]

Mossberg doesn’t make a pretty gun, but they have legendary reliability, and the click-clack of the pump is often more than enough itself to drive the average intruder away.

Lost me right there.

There ain't gonna be no "click-clack" at my house.

Frankly, anyone perpetuating such a stupid tactic is giving bad advice.

[Eaker]

that's TV-tactics.

I stated this a few weeks ago and a few FReepers got their panties all wadded up.

It is stupid to give up the element of surprise especially when that and home turf may be about all you have on your side.

[Hugin]

If you only own one shotgun you can't go wrong with a good pump. Buy a Remington, Winchester, or my pick, a Mossberg 500. You can pick up a new one at Big 5 for a little over 200 with an 18.5” cylinder barrel, and a 28” mod choke bbl that will work for most bird shooting. After market additions include slug and adjustable choke bbls, various pistol or folding stocks etc. First, you have an excellent home defense gun. Bear in mind, a shotgun is best used to stop someone from coming through a door or window, not the best against someone already in your home as it can be akward in close spaces.

For bird shooting, clay or real, you will be at a slight disadavantage compared to a semi-auto, over-under, or side by side dbl. That's not a big deal unless you are shooting clays competitively. I have taken my Mossy clay shooting and had a blast. Yeah, some gun snobs look down their nose at a pump, but then some look down their nose at a semi-auto too. Once you get used to racking the gun between shots (in sporting clays you have two shots at two clays that are in the air at the same time) you can get pretty fast. And once you get that skill, using a dbl or auto just makes you better. In the field, real birds will be just as dead either way.

[tcostell]

Well a lot depends on range. Most shotguns aren't much use beyond 100 yards, and many fall short before that. You can get a rifled barrle 20 gauge and a sabot to extend the range, but you still won't have performance that outdoes a black powder rifle by much and then you have a real specialty gun that canbe reused for other things. IMHO that's not the best use of your limited gun buying budget.

I think if I had my choice of anything I'd probably go with a 30 caliber ranch rifle...probably a 7.62x39. It can still kill a hog ay 5yards but can also reach out a little further if they decide not to let you get so close.

I actually live in New Jersey where we aren't aloowed to hunt with a rifle. I've used a 12 gauge Benelli Montefeltro with a slug for Black Bear, but I also wished I had a rifle.

[P8riot]

The sixteen .30" pellets in #1 (2-3/4") buck have been demonstrated to be the smallest pellet size that "reliably" penetrates 12+ inches into ballistic gelatin. #1 buck has the edge over 00 on cross-sectional area as well 1.17" vs. .77" and creates 30% more wound trauma.

#4 hardened shot has good cross-sectional area, but does not "reliably" penetrate (only 7 to 10") to depths that inflict enough damage on the target to be considered lethal, though I still wouldn't want to be on the receiving end. My guess is that you are concerned with wall penetration as well. #4 will certainly get someone's attention, but if you don't want them to get back up again use #1.

[Deaf Smith]

Go to the www.texasboars.com site and you'll find plenty of information for firearms & feral hogs.

[P8riot]

I used to keep it loaded and locked, but figured the spring would ultimately get fatigued...or do you alternate the twins and give em 'off' days ???

The only twins I alternate are my wife's ;~).

Seriously though I haven't seen, or experienced anything that would lead me to believe that keeping a round chambered for a long period of time is detrimental to the operation of a weapon, but that does not account for the age of the weapon and any design or material flaws.

In all honesty, I change the ammo out in my weapons on a regular basis, by firing them. There is no excuse for not training with a weapon that you intend to use to save your life, should the need arise.

[TC Rider]

and the click-clack of the pump is often more than enough itself to drive the average intruder away.

If a home invader hears the click-clack of my shotgun, it means that I somehow managed to miss with the first shot.

[Gilbo_3]

00 tac buck, sounds like a possibility, as long as the penetration hasnt been reduced too much...winter clothing/vests need plenty of 'thump'...

Ill check it out...

[hiredhand]

One loses any tactical advantage by giving away ones position by making noise. The problem isn't the question of whether the sound will drive an intruder away or not. The question is what "class" of intruder are we dealing with? Since the answer to this question is usually a complete unknown, the default and safe stance is assume that the invader is the worst type, and to maintain stealth and keep any advantage that we have by knowing the layout of our areas in the dark. Ditto for weapons lights (SureFire and Pelican type). If you "hit em" with the light, you have a choice to make.

1. ID the target as friend...don't shoot.
2. ID the target as foe...shoot.
3. Obtain no positive ID and relocate because at this point you have completely given away your position to an unknown.

Lest I be critized for over simplifying the above, I know that there are several other things that could happen. The perp could just run away after being discovered. If this happens, then by all means, let them go. The above points apply in home invasions ONLY.

Point #3 brings about another issue as well. Since you don't know the result of lighting up the target, one needs to have a spot pre-chosen to which to move, which maintains the tactical advantage. The light (if used properly) will rob the targets ability to track you to the new spot, and if you're quiet they won't hear you either.

The problem with the idea that we're going to scare zombies away by racking rounds into pump shotguns, and pointing lasers at them is that nobody is prepared for one of these zombies being a predator. Most might be petty thieves, and might be frightened away by the presentaion of mere sounds and light, but that one that doesn't will render the home defender completely unprepared, for it was this person that wasn't considered.

ALL zombies should be considered predators. It's a default safe assumption.

LFOD! :-)

[Cruz]

ping for later

[Yo-Yo]

Sorry, my misunderstanding. A .45 Colt shotshell makes more sense. I’ve used the .38 CCI version myself.

[P8riot]

Here's a really good article on Shotgun Home Defense Ammunition.

[TC Rider]

Mmmmm, shotguns!

My first, a Stevens .410/.22 over and under. I took a fair number of squirrels and rabbits with mine as a youth.

My second, my Uncle George gave me his Remington Model 11, a humpback of Browning engineering.

My safe currently has all the family shotguns including my Dad's 870 model in 12 gauge and my little sister's 20 gauge.

The first shotgun I bought for myself and my current favorite for attacking steel plates, when it's not standing by for home defense use, is a Remington 1100 Combat Master with a Speedfeed stock and a Surefire on the front.

[hiredhand]

Gilbo! :-) All I know is what my son tells me about his Mossberg 500. I don’t have a shotgun, and really don’t know much about them. He leaves his with a “full stack” in the tube magazine, with NO round in the chamber, with the hammer FORWARD. He also keeps five or six rounds on a “side saddle” ammo holder attached to the left side of the receiver. He was telling me though that eventually, the magazine spring will become compressed from leaving it loaded, and he’s in the process of getting some spares now. I told him just to pull it out and “stretch” it, and he didn’t seem to be pleased with my answer. :-) I’m not sure what he keeps it loaded with, but it kicks like a mule! They’re high brass shells and have 18 pellets....rather LARGE ones. I can use it, and do sometimes shoot it with him, but it tries to remove my arm from my shoulder! He’s a big man though and it doesn’t bother him. :-)

[Gilbo_3]

In retrospect, the #4 was purchased while living in an apartment, and I had far less overall knowledge of shot and clinical wound ballistics...[geez those rounds are old, lolol]

Now in old farmhouse [plaster walls, solid doors] with no nearby neighbors, so prolly time to change the requirements, especially regarding the availability and use of vests recently...

Hows that 00 'tactical' buck spoken of earlier compare with standard #1 shot ???

[hiredhand]

How much (ballpark) are those .45 auto shotshells? I’ve got a Colt Series 80. Do you think they’ll cycle well through it? We’ve had a problem with snakes this year and have seen and killed more than our fair share during our wood cutting outings. I keep SWCs in the pistol most of the time, but it’s about impossible to hit a snake with the things, especially if it’s moving!

[hiredhand]

Ping to #52. Yeah....r-i-g-h-t. They're going to just run away when they hear the big, scarry noise of the pump shotgun being loaded. :-)

...and if they DON'T?.

I agree with YOU. This attitude will get somebody killed.