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Shall we talk shotguns?

Anyone getting the feeling that shotguns are really a personal choice...kinda like choosing a saddle?

I myself would stay with a 12 or a 20 solely because of shell availability and selection. Never understood why the price of the smaller rounds is so expensive either. Always wanted a 410 too but couldn't get past the shell issues.

Everyone above has made good points and suggestions and I haven't read one I disagree with. Pick whatever you like/want/need to have but know that you're down another rabbit hole. Enjoy the trip and good luck!
 
The_Fit_Ness_Monster said:
I got my youth edition reminngton 870 20 guage on my 10th bday and ive never even thought of another it shoots up to 3 1/2 high brass and ive shot everything from rabbits, squirrels and turkeys to hogs and deer with it. I dnt like semi shotguns, and the 870 is the best one ever made. My dad still shoots his he got in highschool. Theres no other weapon ive ever owned military or otherwise that has seen more rounds through it than this shotgun and it still chirps like its new. Sad thing is i dnt think they make them anymore. Hopefully mine never breaks bc no other shotgun does me any justice.
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I’m an 870 express guy. They still have them on line

StackPath

www.remarms.com
 
I've had this idea floating around for a few years now about an over under set up for turkeys that is set up for TSS #9's on the top barrel and the bottom barrel would be set up for less expensive lead loads. The idea is that the bottom barrel would be my go to close range barrel and if the gobbler hung up way out then I would have the option of reaching out there with the TSS. Have a 2 trigger gun or on with a selector.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I've had this idea floating around for a few years now about an over under set up for turkeys that is set up for TSS #9's on the top barrel and the bottom barrel would be set up for less expensive lead loads. The idea is that the bottom barrel would be my go to close range barrel and if the gobbler hung up way out then I would have the option of reaching out there with the TSS. Have a 2 trigger gun or on with a selector.
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That's an expensive way to save a few dollars on ammo but you wouldn't be the first to do it for sure...
 
Gator said:
That's an expensive way to save a few dollars on ammo but you wouldn't be the first to do it for sure...
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It's more the weight that holds me back. Turkey guns are carried a lot and shot a little. I like my cheapo Mossberg 535 with 3 1/2 chamber. Will eat anything and is very light. It loves my 3 1/2 inch 2 1/2 ounce #9 TSS. Turkeys...not so much, lol. You don't want to pattern it off a bench.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I've had this idea floating around for a few years now about an over under set up for turkeys that is set up for TSS #9's on the top barrel and the bottom barrel would be set up for less expensive lead loads. The idea is that the bottom barrel would be my go to close range barrel and if the gobbler hung up way out then I would have the option of reaching out there with the TSS. Have a 2 trigger gun or on with a selector.
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Browning makes the Cynergy Ultimate Turkey. You can run separate chokes for different patterns top and bottom.
 
My first shotgun was an Ithaca 37 pump in 16 gauge. Super light and quick. Love that little gun. I have a Franchi 712 Raptor for sporting clays and it shoots great and is light. The 870 express in 3.5 inch 12 is my turkey gun and brush buster. I am blessed to have a rich uncle who is into all things sporting clays and birdhunting. He has every gauge and a lot of guns he lets my try including his Perazzi O/U, Caesar Guerini O/U, Berettas, Brownings, etc. I love carrying his AYA (Aguirre y Aranzabal) s/s in 16 gauge for pheasants. It's fun to try different guns but I haven't spent the money myself on anything that fancy. Lately though, I've been looking at all the local auctions for an old Parker bros. in 20 gauge for grouse/woodcock.

I agree it's nice to have a gun for every activity, but you can certainly get by with something trusty like an 870. It's fun showing up with a lower-end shotgun and outshooting some of the high-rollers at the range.
 
My beater pump is the original Benelli Nova (the 870 and 500 were sold out before buying my first shotgun ~22 years ago). It has been great with a field barrel for waterfowl and the rifled cantilever for deer. I got a Benelli Super Vinci when Gander Mountain was going out of business but it has less than a box of shells and sits in the safe. More often than not I us a Remington 11-87 for Waterfowl and it has taken a couple swims without any issues. I have a Citori for clays and would definitely buy that again as it feels good, shoots great, and looks good too! I have a CZ BobWhite double barrel in 28g as well as a cheaper Tristar semiauto for 28g and both are lots of fun for small game and getting people into shooting shotguns but are shy on recoil. I have my dads old Sears 16g bolt action but have never shot that one. Shotguns are fun and are definitely and addiction for me. I have started reloading 12g and 28g target loads. Maybe I will see about getting into loading steel shot rounds in the future.
 
Favorite shotgun I've ever carried is my old man's Weatherby Athena 20 gauge which used to be made by SKB in Japan. Materially the same gun was made for Ithaca label for awhile also. I've been casually looking to buy a used one for myself for a few years but I haven't found one. In the meantime I have an old Model 31 that gets the job done but I don't love it. When you find a good shotgun that fits you for wingshooting, you don't consciously aim, it just shoots where you are looking.
 
NimbleTimbo said:
My first shotgun was an Ithaca 37 pump in 16 gauge. Super light and quick. Love that little gun. I have a Franchi 712 Raptor for sporting clays and it shoots great and is light. The 870 express in 3.5 inch 12 is my turkey gun and brush buster. I am blessed to have a rich uncle who is into all things sporting clays and birdhunting. He has every gauge and a lot of guns he lets my try including his Perazzi O/U, Caesar Guerini O/U, Berettas, Brownings, etc. I love carrying his AYA (Aguirre y Aranzabal) s/s in 16 gauge for pheasants. It's fun to try different guns but I haven't spent the money myself onI h anything that fancy. Lately though, I've been looking at all the local auctions for an old Parker bros. in 20 gauge for grouse/woodcock.

I agree it's nice to have a gun for every activity, but you can certainly get by with something trusty like an 870. It's fun showing up with a lower-end shotgun and outshooting some of the high-rollers at the range.
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Ithaca Model 37 one of the best pumps ever!! In 16gauge, the absolute best. Also designed by John M. Browning.
 
Coming from a quail hunting family I've always had a thing for lightweight guns and acquired a taste for fine double guns as well. Shot a Franchi 48 AL in 20 gauge for a while, then the same gun in 28. 5lb gun with 4+1 capacity is a quail hunters wet dream. Pheasant hunted with those two guns a lot in my teen years from Oklahoma to North Dakota.

I kinda took control of dad's Browning Citori Sporter 20 gauge back in the mid 2000's and shot it so much that I had to have the action tightened up last summer.

Bought a 28 gauge ATI Calvary O/U in 28 last summer and shot ducks with it most of the season. Been a great little gun. Might try to kill a gobbler with it this spring.
 
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