Help me decide which shotgun to buy

[beer]

Hello all,

I need to buy a shotgun. I've fired 12 gauges many times before (when I lived in texas) - typically at skeet ranges - but now I need to own one myself. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone locally that owns a shotgun, and since I was to start shooting skeet again, I need to buy my own gun.

I need a basic gun. I have no skeet skills to speak of. I used to primarily shoot a Remington 870 wingmaster.

I was thinking about getting a Remington 870 Express 7-shot with a synthetic stock. I'd probably take it with the 26" barrel, and not the 28" barrel.

I don't envision having to use it against people, but you never know....

I don't hunt - nor do i see myself hunting, seeing as how I live in an extremely urban area - so that isn't a concern.

Comments?

 

[Howard]

Shotguns are useless against skeetin' thugs, though.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

If you're wanting to use it for home defense, get an auto-loader.

 

[Kirby]

I've got a Winchester Defender. Excellent for both.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I've got a Winchester Defender. Excellent for both.

The skeet range has a minimum 22" barrel. Defender has an 18" with a really loose choke....

 

[ni0v]

 

 

[moshquerade]

make sure it can off jackalope too.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I've got a Winchester Defender. Excellent for both.

The skeet range has a minimum 22" barrel. Defender has an 18" with a really loose choke....

That's why it's excellent.

 

[sandorski]

If you need a shotgun for "thugs', maybe you're living in the wrong place. That said, I'd think a short barrel would work best. Then again, do you really want to fire a shotgun inside your home even if there was reason too? A handgun seems more appropriate, less collateral damage.

 

[Kelvrick]

Handguns will actually penetrate more and are more of a risk to go through walls and hurt bystanders. Shotguns will also give you a larger margin of error by giving you a few inches of impact area.

Go to big5, get a mossberg combo with a 28" and an 18.5".

When you go to the range, put on the 28" barrel, when you take it home, clean, put on the 18.5" barrel.

Load up on buckshot. I'm a fan of #1.

See here for some tests.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=109958

I'm also not part of the "rack a shotgun to scare away the intruder" crowd. That might scare away some, but otherwise, it will just let whoever is in your house know you are now armed.

 

[CallMeJoe]

:thumbsup: to Kelvrick's suggestion. A skeet length barrel is awkwardly long for indoor action. However, while he correctly notes the fright factor of the racking shotgun is vastly overrated, the simplicity of the pump-action makes it (IMHO) superior to an auto-loader for the average user; rather like recommending a revolver rather than an auto-loading pistol.