Rumor has it……

Hey Mud,

You might want to ask this question over on the hunting site. You’ll get a ton of answers from the diehard hunt crowd. I think the “Shooter’s Test Bench” forum would be the most likely forum to post this question.

To get to the hunting site use the ‘idohunting.com’ link in the navigation menu. I added an image to show where that link is located.

I hope this helps you get the answers you’re looking for.

Mudd, barrel length is solely for personal preference in this day and age. With the modern powders in shells, barrel length does not effect how “far” you can effectively shoot. Generally most people like longer barrels for longer shots, this is because the sighting plane is longer. Personally I like shorter barrels on my guns. I like 26-28 inches on double barrels, and 22-24 inches on pumps and automatics. I do recommend buying guns with screw in choke tubes. This can make any shotgun, work for any game. I would also recommed getting at least 20 ga. .410 ga do not generally pattern well, nor is there much shot. Either 20, 16, or 12 ga work well for most small game, or deer hunting applications. You will get lots of good advise on this site, and idohunting.com You will probably get more opinions of specific makes and models of guns. I am glad to hear that you and your son are going to hunt together. Even though the laws of this time are making it increasingly difficult to own guns or hunt, we cannot let the anti’s win and put to rest our Right and the legacy of hunting and shooting.

Yup, the G3 had no issues getting around so your rig will do just fine in MOST areas. Just like any river there’s shallow stretches that simply cannot be navigated with a prop boat.

As for suggesting a river access… you’ll need to narrow down the stretch of river you want to fish. The Upper Miss is hundreds of river miles long. Steve fishes most all of it from Monticello north all the way past Brainerd. Do you have any area of particular interest where we can narrow down the launch selection?

For my 2 cents…I bought a youth 20 GA Browning BPS (pump) for my oldest son when he was 12…he graduated to a full size BPS 12 GA this year, just in time for his younger brother to take over the youth sized gun. The length and weight of the youth BPS are ideal, and it ejects its shells from the bottom which is less scarey for a youth and works equally well for left and right handers. Easy thumb safety….

I too occasionally shoot a BPS 12 GA, although I invested in a 12 GA Browning Gold Hunter (camo) which I use for waterfowl and turkey!

Good Luck and good hunting!

mud,
i own a pair of 12ga (remington 870 and a winchester sx2) and in my opinion thats the jack-of-all-trades as shotguns go. i’ve used mine for ducks, turkey, pheasent, and deer. im nowhere near an expert. but ive asked this question of a number of gunsmiths and it seems that the length of barrel doesnt matter as much as it did ‘back in the day’. with the new choke systems you can get just as tight of a pattern and distance as you would need.

while its true that you will get a little more distance in a longer barrel, you shouldnt notice much of a loss of knockdown power between a 24/26/28 inch barrel.

if you are just getting into shotgun hunting, i would suggest taking a look at the remington 870s. they run anywhere from 300-400 depending on the package you purchase (some combo packs come with a 2nd rifled-slug barrel). and they are, in my opinion, one of the most reliable pump shotguns on the market. they arent anything fancy, but everyone i have talked to has nothing bad to say about them. they are a great starter gun for anyone, no matter how experienced of a shooter you are. and a quality semi auto will run you at least double that. i wouldnt start with one of these as they tend to be heavier than the pumps and they just arent worth the money unless you shoot a ton each season.

but for barrels, i would suggest you shoulder a couple different sizes and see what fits your body the best. a lot of guys have started looking to shorter barrels for ducks because they can turn on birds a tad faster. but i have grown up on the 28″ barrels and prefer the longer length, just becuase im a big boy and feel funny looking at such a close sight, trust me, 2 or 4 inches is a big difference!

whatever you decide on, get a barrel with a removable screw in choke…. this allows you to use the same gun for any type of hunting that you would want.

best of luck in your decision!

If you are looking for a great all round gun without breaking the bank….take a long hard look at the Remmington 870 Wingmasters.
I bought a used 870 Wingmaster when I was in highschool back in the late 80s and shot it up until 2 years ago when I stepped up to a Beretta Extrema 2. The 870 is probably the longest lasting most dependable shotgun ever made. I NEVER had a problem with it….why change….I wanted a top end auto loader…that is the only reason. I still have my 870 and will never part with it!!

If you want to spend some money, Beretta and Benelli both make fabulous shotguns.
My wife and I both shoot Extrema 2s and we both love them.

Biggest piece of advice is….look at A LOT of different guns. They are all a little different and will all feel a little different. The key is finding a gun that comes up the best for you. What comes up good for you may not for your son. When I was shopping I spent weeks going to different stores pulling shot guns up. Close your eyes pull it up and open your eyes…you want to be looking exactly down the sights. Some guns I looked at were just slightly off…the Extrema was the one gun that always came up “on”, that is why I chose that one.
Spend some time and don’t get too caught up with this brand versus that brand….find the gun that best fits you and go with it. When you are hunting most times you don’t have time to shoulder a gun, then adjust it and get a good shot off so the gun coming up to the right place is really important.
JB

One other thing to pay attention to is weight of the gun. I primarily hunt pheasants and walk fields all day long. It does get old (and can give you a sore back) carrying a heavy gun all day long. On the flip side of things the light gun can kick more if your shooting larger loads for waterfowl. I would think about what type of hunting you will do more of.

I recently bought a Winchester SX2 Field model (only chambered for 3″) to replace my old Browning A5. I think the SX2 is around 2 lbs. lighter. It made a huge difference in walking all day (used to get really sore with the A5), and it does great in the duck blind also.

I have always shot an auto….but for a cheaper inexpensive shotgun the Remington 870 (pump) cannot be beat and would be good for a youth to start on. It can also double for many other things….walking stick, paddle, hammer….and then just throw a shell in and fire away. They take abuse well!

I prefer a somewhat long barrel…..either 26″-28″ fit me well. It’s all personal preference so find a length that feels comfortable to you.

Get screw in chokes!

Whatever you do….shoulder a bunch of guns and find one that fits you well (VERY important IMO). This can make a big difference to the shooter.

The fit of the shotgun is one of the most important part of buying a shotgun. You could buy the best gun on the market but if it does’t fit you you will not be happy with the results, both of hits and felt recoil. I have shot a fair amount of trap, and you will see somebody with a red cheek every so often and chances are the gun is not fitting correctly. Bottom line find the gun that fits good then worry about the details.

As far as barrel length the above posts pretteyt much say it all. You will get a little more velocity out of a longer barrel but unless you shoot a lot I doubt it will be noticeable. Make sure it has choke tubes.

Good luck

Barrel length is more of a “fit” issue today. To “try on” a gun, close your eyes and pretend to aim the gun. Then open your eyes. You shouldn’t need to adjust the gun. If you can’t see the bead`, try a longer stock or longer barrel. If you see too much barrel under the bead, try a shorter stock or barrel. If a gun doesn’t fit you well, chances are you won’t shoot it well. I own a lot of guns, and the first thing I look for when purchasing a new gun is fit, not manufacturer or model.

For Youth the shorter the barrell the easier to swing or aim on birds. My 2 cents. I prefer 26-28″ barrells for pheasant and duck.

I personaly prefer remingtons because, I shoot well with them. I have a 1970’s model 1100 and shoot trap with that. 870 wingmaster with a slug barrel for deer and its also killed alot of ducks with it’s bird barrel and my newest is an 1187 Supermag waterfowl edition (with duck blind camo). The 1187 has a 30″ barrel wich I wasn’t sure about but after I shot a few hundred rounds through it (the day after I got it) I loved it and I think it helps me with my swing and follow through. I shoot a briley choke wich lays down a nice pattern with steel shot. Best thing to do would be to try to get your hands on and shoot as many diferant shotguns as you can befor buying. You’ll shoot best with what ever you are most comfotable with.

Well F^$%#&! I was just about done typing a reply when my computer rebooted???! Could have really used a shotgun a few minutes ago!

Anyway, I wanted to say thanks for the advice. We have been looking at guns for about a week, and seemed to find a few that fit nice. For my son, he liked the Remington 870 youth and a Charles Daly gun. I myself liked the 870, 1170, Benelli Nova pump, and the Super Black Eagle(although I did not like/can’t afford the price). Any thoughts on the Nova, or the Charles Daly guns? What are the differences/needs for 2-3/4 to 3-1/2 inch shells? Should this be a concern/something to consider when I am looking for a gun? (mostly field and waterfowl hunting to start out)

I know some have mentioned fit vs. brand when looking for a gun, but my only concern is buying something with a history of reliability and parts/equipment availability, in case something goes down.

Thanks for all the help. Look forward to the replies!

I personally don’t see a need for 3.5″ shells, 3″ gets me by just fine. I know many people like to shoot 3.5″ though….probably mainly for geese. To me that was at the bottom of the requirements I had for a gun. The 3.5″ auto gun is heavier that a 3″, at least in the Winchester SX2 lineup so I went with a 3″ chamber.

Order of importance to me for any specified gauge:

1) Fit (has to pull up good, or I wont buy it)

2) Weight (The reason I was looking for a new shotgun)

3) Brand (reliability/expectation)

4) Removable chokes (required)

5) 3.5″ chamber (did not get this…was not a big concern)

The Winchester SX2 I bought is basically the same gun as a Browning Gold….so I looked into reliability/problems of both models before I purchased. I don’t know much about the Daily guns….but I thought they were a cheaper line of firearms? I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. If it were between the Daily and the 870…..GET THE 870 if it fits good!

Just a little note about the 3.5″ers. My buddy bought one last fall and said it took alittle getting used to the long stroke on the pump.

Rumor has it that Little G put a big 10 point down during the gun season on Saturday morning?

Big as in nearing the 160″ mark big.

Let see the pics!

Come on!! Let’s see that pig.

Congrats…..waiting for the pictures

Here he goes, teasing us again. Lets see some pics.
DT

Quote:

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Come on!! Let’s see that pig.

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I HEARD THAT JENNY PUT THE DOWN ON HIS AND HE ISNT ALLOWED TO GO POTTY WITHOUT ASKING HER BECAUSE OF ALL THE TIME AWAY FROM HOME ALTHOUGH I SHOULDNT TEASE BECAUSE HE WAS VERY LATE THURSDAY NIGHT BECAUSE HE WAS HELPING BEN AND MYSELF GET OUR DEER OUT OF THE WOODS