Can a shotgun be used for everything?
Eric Bragas
I'm a new, inexperienced hunter who's trying to get a 15-year old the
hunting experience. I've spent quite a few hours looking at DFG's
website and my eyes are now opening to some of the junior hunts
available in this state. (Never knew there was such a thing.) It
seems the majority of them are for waterfowl and pheasant, but there
are others for deer and hog. I also learned of a hunting area on
Pacheco Pass where I can hunt pigs year-round (woo-hoo!), but was told
they only allow shotgun slugs there, no rifles. I hadn't considered
buying a shotgun, but I'm aware of that shotgun slugs can be used to
take large game here in California.
So here's my question: can a shotgun be used for anything and
everything? I've read a few other posts here regarding the best
overall shotguns, but none seem to addess my question. Is there a
shotgun that can be used with slugs for deer and hog but then also be
used for ducks, pheasant, and varmint?
I gather from an earlier post that rifled barrels are used for slugs
and smooth bores are used for buckshot or birdshot. Considering this
and my main question, can such a shotgun have a barrel swapped out and
then used for other game? We're not wealthy, but considering we're
planning a week-long hunt this summer, I'm reconsidering my idea of
buying a varmint rifle and now considering a shotgun.
My only experience with a shotgun has been my Mossberg 500 home
defender, so I'm a complete know-nothing when it comes to shotguns and
hunting.
Thanks,
Eric
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
news:6867af90-e21d-448c...@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
I will say, a shotgun can be used for "everything" to a certain degree and
does offer a shooter a fairly large degree of versatility. You can put a
smoothbore barrel on and use the shotgun to hunt small game such as
squirrels and rabbits with birdshot. You can obviously take it out and hunt
upland birds and waterfowl with the same smoothbore barrel. By swapping out
the barrel (and yes, there are a number of shotguns that have rifled barrels
as an optional purchase) with a rifled barrel with either iron sights or a
cantilever scope mount and use it for larger game such as whitetail deer,
wild hogs, black bear and pretty much everything up to a moose.
Would it be my first choice of a firearm to take coyote hunting or on a
western U.S. deer hunt? Heck no! Would I use one for hunting a balsam or
palmetto swamp for whitetail or wild hogs? Heck yeah!
The problem with shotguns and slugs, you're pretty much looking at a 100
yard weapon. While great strides have been taken with the new rifled
barrels and new technology sabotted slugs, the range has been extended, but
you're not going to experience the same degree of accuracy that you would
with a centerfire firearm.
Firearms are tools, and like any tool, they're designed for a fairly
specific purpose and application. Yes, you can use a crescent wrench to
pound in a nail, but having a hammer is probably a better idea.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com
Frank
have taken deer past 100 yards but to prefer to keep shots shorter. This
is an old gun, bought before variable chokes were in vogue and I have a
26 inch improved barrel for deer and quail and 30 inch full choke that I
shot trap and hunted geese and pheasants with.
Rifled barrels are more accurate but you can get by without them. Shot
gun preference may depend on game laws such as are semiautomatics OK.
Later for practical purposes, you may want a rifled slug shotgun with a
scope as extra rifled barrels run $200 to 300 and for a little more
money you can get the extra gun.
Steve Calvin
>
> I gather from an earlier post that rifled barrels are used for slugs
> and smooth bores are used for buckshot or birdshot. Considering this
> and my main question, can such a shotgun have a barrel swapped out and
> then used for other game? We're not wealthy, but considering we're
> planning a week-long hunt this summer, I'm reconsidering my idea of
> buying a varmint rifle and now considering a shotgun.
>
> My only experience with a shotgun has been my Mossberg 500 home
> defender, so I'm a complete know-nothing when it comes to shotguns and
> hunting.
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
A 12 ga will take care of probably most anything in the USA with little
effort.
Yes, you want a rifled barrel for slugs and a smooth bore for birdshot.
If $ is an issue, I'd suggest looking at the Mossberg 500 Combo. You get
both barrels plus 4 choke tubes which should give you versatility for
most anything. I have one and it certainly suits all my needs. I still
use my rifles when hunting in areas that allow them but I wouldn't
hesitate to take my slugger.
If you get the Mossy, I'd also recommend looking at the Spec-Ops stock
from Knoxx. I have one and can confirm that with that stock, a 12 ga 2
3/4" slug shoots with about the same felt recoil as a 20 gauge birdshot
round. Truely amazing. Not cheap, but I'd go with the Mossy and
Spec-ops over a higher priced combo unit. Heck - I did. ;-)
I'd still recommend a .22 capable of firing shorts, longs, or long
rifles for squirrels and the like though. Hit a tree rat with shot and
you're liable to be picking bb's for a while, cutting away some of the
little meat there and it's just a pain.
As I said earlier, a .22 for tree rats and head shots are excellent
practice for honing shooting skills as well as putting a little meat in
the freezer.
--
Steve
George
> slugs can be used to
> take large game here in California.
>
Remember there are some new restrictions on lead in the condor corridor.
There are alternatives to lead slugs but the are high peformce ammo and
should be priced accordingly.
George in Las Vegas
Mark Mastrocinque
slug, not shot. Many gunmakers sell shotguns with interchangable shot and
slug barrels. Many of the slug barrels come with mounts for a scope. Look
at the Remington 870 express.
"Eric Bragas" <ericb...@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
news:6867af90-e21d-448c...@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
Eric Bragas
the local sportsmen's store clerk for info this good.
Daniel Platt
versatility for your $'s as a beginning hunter. Slug guns just won't
give you the range and accuracy of a rifle. If you want to get into
more specialized bird hunting, etc, you may find you want more/different
kinds of shotguns. A versatile pumpgun setup is, in the end, a compromise.
BUT, a decent pump (not expensive) with a shot barrel with screw-in
chokes and a slug barrel will get you in the deer woods and after small
game with minimum $'s. In the East, many regions only allow slugs,
muzzleloaders, or pistols for big-game hunting. Most deer in those
regions are NOT shot a long range. Some places, shots are simply
farther... a slug gun won't work quite as well there... or you'll have
to figure out where/how to *make* it work.
Enjoy!!
Dan
D. Parker
> Eric Bragas wrote:
>
> > I gather from an earlier post that rifled barrels are used for slugs
> > and smooth bores are used for buckshot or birdshot. Considering this
> > and my main question, can such a shotgun have a barrel swapped out and
> > then used for other game? We're not wealthy, but considering we're
> > planning a week-long hunt this summer, I'm reconsidering my idea of
> > buying a varmint rifle and now considering a shotgun.
>
> > My only experience with a shotgun has been my Mossberg 500 home
> > defender, so I'm a complete know-nothing when it comes to shotguns and
> > hunting.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Eric
>
> effort.
>
> Yes, you want a rifled barrel for slugs and a smooth bore for birdshot.
>
> If $ is an issue, I'd suggest looking at the Mossberg 500 Combo. You get
> both barrels plus 4 choke tubes which should give you versatility for
> most anything. I have one and it certainly suits all my needs. I still
> use my rifles when hunting in areas that allow them but I wouldn't
> hesitate to take my slugger.
>
> If you get the Mossy, I'd also recommend looking at the Spec-Ops stock
> from Knoxx. I have one and can confirm that with that stock, a 12 ga 2
> 3/4" slug shoots with about the same felt recoil as a 20 gauge birdshot
> round. Truely amazing. Not cheap, but I'd go with the Mossy and
> Spec-ops over a higher priced combo unit. Heck - I did. ;-)
>
> I'd still recommend a .22 capable of firing shorts, longs, or long
> rifles for squirrels and the like though. Hit a tree rat with shot and
> you're liable to be picking bb's for a while, cutting away some of the
> little meat there and it's just a pain.
All good info, though I'm inclined to quibble with that last sentence
just a tiny bit. Both my son and I have downed plenty of squirrels
with #6 loads (in both 20 & 12 ga.) and have never had pick out more
than 2-3 pellets, and even then there was no meat lost (squeezing the
pellet out like popping a pimple does the trick...no cutting
required.) Usually the pellets that hit either pass through or are
stopped in the innards, and get scooped out with the latter. If you
have more hits than that then you're likely using too tight of choke
for the distances from which you're shooting.
And even if you do have to pick out a bit of shot the extra effort
absolutely pales in comparison with skinning the rat to begin with,
especially for a beginner (I still groan when I think back to the
amount of time I spent in front of the sink picking hairs off the meat
of the first squirrels my son took - with a .22 no less - and I so
clumsily skinned.)
> As I said earlier, a .22 for tree rats and head shots are excellent
> practice for honing shooting skills as well as putting a little meat in
> the freezer.
Absolutely.
decalod85
> A shotgun can certainly be used for deer and boar hunting. You'd shoot a
> slug, not shot. Many gunmakers sell shotguns with interchangable shot and
> slug barrels. Many of the slug barrels come with mounts for a scope. Look
> at the Remington 870 express.
I second this nomination. I use my 870 express for waterfowl, upland
birds, small game, and whitetail deer. It does a good job on all of
these, and on trap and sporting clays.
Get one with a removable choke, however.
Steve Calvin
<snip>
>> I'd still recommend a .22 capable of firing shorts, longs, or long
>> rifles for squirrels and the like though. Hit a tree rat with shot and
>> you're liable to be picking bb's for a while, cutting away some of the
>> little meat there and it's just a pain.
>
> All good info, though I'm inclined to quibble with that last sentence
> just a tiny bit. Both my son and I have downed plenty of squirrels
> with #6 loads (in both 20 & 12 ga.) and have never had pick out more
> than 2-3 pellets, and even then there was no meat lost (squeezing the
> pellet out like popping a pimple does the trick...no cutting
> required.) Usually the pellets that hit either pass through or are
> stopped in the innards, and get scooped out with the latter. If you
> have more hits than that then you're likely using too tight of choke
> for the distances from which you're shooting.
>
> And even if you do have to pick out a bit of shot the extra effort
> absolutely pales in comparison with skinning the rat to begin with,
> especially for a beginner (I still groan when I think back to the
> amount of time I spent in front of the sink picking hairs off the meat
> of the first squirrels my son took - with a .22 no less - and I so
> clumsily skinned.)
True, skinnin' them little suckers is a pita. Gotta do it while they're
warm.
As for the scattergun for 'em, I'll bow to your experience as I've never
used one on 'em, I was speculating more than anything.
--
Steve
Steve Calvin
I agree that the 870 is a good unit but the OP did say that $ was a
consideration which is why I went with the Mossy 500 Combo suggestion.
I've had 870's, 1100's and now a Mossberg 500 combo all good setups. The
Mossy stands up just as well IMO. Rifled barrel, smooth bore barrel
with four choke tubes. Very reasonable price, especially if you find it
on sale.
--
Steve
J Buck
that, I think a shotgun is by far the most versatile firearm you can
own, provided you have the right action, gauge, and ammo.
JB
> On Apr 17, 5:59 pm, Steve Calvin <calv...@optonline.net> wrote:
>> Eric Bragas wrote:
>>
>>> I gather from an earlier post that rifled barrels are used for slugs
>>> and smooth bores are used for buckshot or birdshot. Considering this
>>> and my main question, can such a shotgun have a barrel swapped out and
>>> then used for other game? We're not wealthy, but considering we're
>>> planning a week-long hunt this summer, I'm reconsidering my idea of
>>> buying a varmint rifle and now considering a shotgun.
>>> My only experience with a shotgun has been my Mossberg 500 home
>>> defender, so I'm a complete know-nothing when it comes to shotguns and
>>> hunting.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Eric
>> Yes, you want a rifled barrel for slugs and a smooth bore for birdshot.
Concerning the inquiry about one-gun for hunting - depends.
1. A rifled shotgun barrel may not be necessary.
If you are hunting in wooded areas, you may find that a smooth bore
shoots slugs accurately enough for deer hunting. I have shot slugs at
50 yards through IC chocked 12 gauge and found sufficient accuracy. It
was definitely not the max-range for that setup.
2. A Change-a-choke system is nice to have, but not essential.
Given a choice between the two of them, I would choose the
change-a-choke option over the extra rifled barrel. I don't know how
rifled change-a-tubes perform.
3. What I have always wanted for hunting is a double barrel (two
chokes). However, pump guns are going to be cheaper.
I believe the skill of the sportsman is more important to success than
the equipment.
One has lots of options, choose based on cost & preference. Your
preference may change of time :-)
Steve Calvin
>
> 1. A rifled shotgun barrel may not be necessary.
>
> If you are hunting in wooded areas, you may find that a smooth bore
> shoots slugs accurately enough for deer hunting. I have shot slugs at
> 50 yards through IC chocked 12 gauge and found sufficient accuracy. It
> was definitely not the max-range for that setup.
True, but I'll take rifled any day for the price of the 500 combo.
They are more predictable and accurate in my experience.
>
> 2. A Change-a-choke system is nice to have, but not essential.
I kind of disagree here given the scope of this discussion. The OP asked
for solutions to a wide variety of game. No one barrel or choke is going
to provide that.
Wanna use a full choke on tree rats? Wanna use a smooth bore on
turkeys? Try a full choke on grouse, I dare ya. <I'm kidding>
No way here.
>
> Given a choice between the two of them, I would choose the
> change-a-choke option over the extra rifled barrel. I don't know how
> rifled change-a-tubes perform.
Again, with the Mossy you get one rifled barrel and one smooth bore with
four choke tubes.
<snip>
>
> I believe the skill of the sportsman is more important to success than
> the equipment.
Try a smooth bore on a turkey or a full choke on squirrels sometime and
I think you may change your mind... or not. ;-) As always, YMMV
--
Steve
JB
> Try a smooth bore on a turkey or a full choke on squirrels sometime and
> I think you may change your mind... or not. ;-) As always, YMMV
>
> --
> Steve
Hi Steve,
I don't understand. Are you recommending AGAINST full choke for squirrels?
I prefer full choke on squirrels ( 1+1/4 oz of 4 or 5 shot seems to do
OK ). However, IC will work - you just have to get closer.
I really like choke tubes, but I don't often switch them because I tend
to hunt the same way year after year. For a Dove hunt, I would pull the
FULL tube out.
Cheers,
Jody
Steve Calvin
> Steve Calvin wrote:
>> Try a smooth bore on a turkey or a full choke on squirrels sometime
>> and I think you may change your mind... or not. ;-) As always, YMMV
>>
>> --
>> Steve
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> I don't understand. Are you recommending AGAINST full choke for squirrels?
Would it be my recommendation to someone? No. Is it possible? Sure,
anything (well almost) is possible. I would never try and tell someone
not to do something. I would just say it wasn't something that I would do.
I think my point, although maybe not stated clearly, was that a unit
with multiple barrels and chokes is a much more versatile choice than
say a single barrel unit with one set choke.
--
Steve
rjma...@yahoo.com
I watch a move Second Hand Lion a few weeks ago and they even
used a shotgun for fishing.
Randy
Eric Bragas
Is this (http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G52264) the mossberg
500 combo you suggest?
Thanks,
Eric
Steve Calvin
Replied to received email as follows:
Hi Eric,
Yeah, that's basically what I got only I didn't get the camo. I'm
certainly not telling you to get it but I've been very pleased with it.
I got the cantelevere rifled barrel vs the open sites because I wanted
to mount a scope. If you wana scope for slugs then that's what you want.
Here's a link to pics of mine both stock and after adding the Spec-Ops
(which I can't recommend highly enough - it's freekin' awesome!)
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=15445464&uid=680057&members=1
Any additional questions - fire away (no pun intended <lol> )
--
Steve
D. Parker
>
> Concerning the inquiry about one-gun for hunting - depends.
>
>
> If you are hunting in wooded areas, you may find that a smooth bore
> shoots slugs accurately enough for deer hunting. I have shot slugs at
> 50 yards through IC chocked 12 gauge and found sufficient accuracy. It
> was definitely not the max-range for that setup.
Of course, that depends heavily on the slugs as well.
> 2. A Change-a-choke system is nice to have, but not essential.
Maybe not "essential"...but I've found them to be very, very useful.
Even within a single day's dove hunt the ability to switch from MOD to
FULL as the birds change their flight paths over the course of the day
can make all the difference between downing birds and just littering
the ground with spent plastic.
But in any event, there's really no good reason for the OP to not go
with a changable choke system for what he wants.
> Given a choice between the two of them, I would choose the
> change-a-choke option over the extra rifled barrel. I don't know how
> rifled change-a-tubes perform.
The rifled barrel doesn't have chokes. It's strictly for slugs.
> 3. What I have always wanted for hunting is a double barrel (two
> chokes). However, pump guns are going to be cheaper.
>
> I believe the skill of the sportsman is more important to success than
> the equipment.
Absolutely. But the right equipment certainly helps to augment your
skill.
> One has lots of options, choose based on cost & preference. Your
> preference may change of time :-)
All the more reason to go with a flexible setup.
JB
> On Apr 22, 7:18 am, JB <jodybaud...@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
>> Concerning the inquiry about one-gun for hunting - depends.
>
>
> Maybe not "essential"...but I've found them to be very, very useful.
> The rifled barrel doesn't have chokes. It's strictly for slugs.
1. --------------------------------------
It appears that I failed to convey what I intended.
There is such a thing as a rifled choke tubes for smooth bored shotguns,
but I have no experience with them.
2. --------------------------------------
Back when I acquired a Win-choked shotgun (long ago), the only
alternative that I knew of at the time was poly-choke. Browning and
others had not yet made their competitive offerings. And I don't think
poly-choke was an off-the-shelf solution.
This got me thinking - I wondered if poly-choke adapted to the
invector/win-choke/rem-choke world.
The answer is : Yes - Poly-choke sells inserts for the factory
threaded barrels.
Cabelas write in "reviews" were mixed.
Cheers,
Jody
D. Parker
> D. Parker wrote: //edited for space savings
> > On Apr 22, 7:18 am, JB <jodybaud...@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
> >> Concerning the inquiry about one-gun for hunting - depends.
>
> >> 2. A Change-a-choke system is nice to have, but not essential.
>
> > Maybe not "essential"...but I've found them to be very, very useful.
> //cut
> > The rifled barrel doesn't have chokes. It's strictly for slugs.
>
> 1. --------------------------------------
> It appears that I failed to convey what I intended.
Or, more likely, I failed to understand what you appear to have
clearly conveyed ;-)
> There is such a thing as a rifled choke tubes for smooth bored shotguns,
> but I have no experience with them.
Nor do I. I have to wonder what 2-3" of rifling would do for a slug
that's already reached its maximum velocity by the time that tiny bit
of rifling is encountered.
mark & kelly moberly
I always found the "rifling" on a brenneke a joke too. If you take apart a
brenneke slug you have a lead piece with rifling grooves that go most ofthe
way back and then merge into a flat ring of lead preventing any air flow in
the "lands" of the slug. Behind the lead are layers of felt and cardboard
the same diameter of the lead ring screwed to the slug, further stopping any
air flow. Looks nice to the buyer but useless in reality.
WuzYoungOnceToo
>
> can't picture it doing more than shaving off some lead.
> I always found the "rifling" on a brenneke a joke too. If you take apart a
> brenneke slug you have a lead piece with rifling grooves that go most ofthe
> way back and then merge into a flat ring of lead preventing any air flow in
> the "lands" of the slug.
Well, for starters...you're not going to get any air flow "in" the
lands no matter what, since the lands are the portion of the slug that
have not been cut out. Now the grooves on the other hand will get air
flowing through them, even with the flat ring at the base of the slug.
> Behind the lead are layers of felt and cardboard
> the same diameter of the lead ring screwed to the slug, further stopping any
> air flow.
Non of those things prevent air from flowing through the grooves.
> Looks nice to the buyer but useless in reality.
I'm betting that this conclusion is not based on any actual controlled
testing, considering that every bit of testing with which I'm familiar
says the exact opposite.