scatter gun question(s) and opinion(s)

Taking into consideration the 4 species for a shotgun:
* Upland
* Turkey
* Waterfowl
* Deer (slug)

Do you guys prefer to have one “super gun” and swap out barrels, or do you prefer to have 4 “sub-super” guns, if a guy is on a budget.

Here is what I’m debating:
Does one drop $1500 on a Beneli SBE and get turkey and slug barrels for another $500?
Or
Does one buy a
* Upland: Stoeger O/U for $300, where you like the performance of an O/U, but won’t lose religion if you get a scratch (compared to a Citori).
* Turkey: Mossberg 835 ($450) with 24″ Turkey Barrel combo, that comes with a rifled slug barrel with iron sights to cover you on deer drives.
* Waterfowl: Benelli Super Nova ($575)…..????
* Deer (see above Mossberg 835/iron sight-slug barrel) and pick up a 20ga H/R, ($300) single shot, slug gun, with 3×9 scope for the 250 yard shot?

I have seperate guns for slug deer(savage bolt 12ga.) Ducks (SX2), and turkey (835).. I like it that way. I don’t have to swap barrels, chokes or remember to take out or put my plug in for waterfowl.
“You can grab and go” as I say it.

i have a SBE, it’s all the gun you need. i use it for every thing. (except deer) 28″ barrel (tracks nicer)
i don’t even know what a turkey barrel is. i’ll use a full choke for turkeys otherwise mod. for eveything else.
had an 835 before, nice gun for about 3 years (used that for eveything also) then started having issues. couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.
heres my take, if you have a bunch of differant guns, you have to get use to all of them. one gun for everythink you become very personal with it.
now this is just me mind you but good luck.

I have a Remington 870 super slug for deer. It’s got a sureshot stock and a 25.5″ fully rifled bull barel that is a tack driver. I have a 3-9 scope on it and don’t shoot running deer alot but have no problem tracking them with the scope on 3 power. For waterfowl and upland (and I don’t do much upland) I have an 1187 supermag waterfowl with a briley mod choke. I love the 30″ barrel on this gun for swinging on anything flying. When I used a shotgun for Turkey hunting (Right now I’m on a quest to kill one with an arrow)I used a mossberg 835 with a XXX full turkey choke. I wouldn’t have a problem putting a choke in the 1187 and takeing it turkey hunting though. I don’t see a good reason to buy a seperate turkey gun any 12 gauge will work with a good choke. When I was younger and didn’t have money to buy a special gun for every ocasion a Remington 870 combo did everything you needed it to for not much cash. And as far as your 250 yard shot on a deer I would say get a muzzleloader at least here in Iowa they arre good for gun season and muzzy season. Hope you find what works for you and no matter what buying guns is fun. Enjoy!

I’d recommend one gun for birds (26″ barrel) and a dedicated slug gun (like an 870). Barrels are just too expensive for a top of the line autoloader. Then again, when your buying a $1500 gun, i guess the barrels should cost you $4-500..

The one-gunners truly save money but if you’re into guns, it’s never been about cost effectiveness. My dad is a one gunner……for the most part, and every time he messes up while carrying something new in the field (which isn’t often at all) he blames unfamiliarity. Me, I like toys and get real curious about having one that’s this size or built that way and I’ll spend the time to get proficient, or at least decent, with all of them.

I have a Mossberg Silver Reserve O/U in 28ga. and that gun, out of the box, was giving me a hard time out on the clay range. I couldn’t seem to hit with the dumb thing but the gun was fun to shoot and worked very well mechanically. So…..rather than blame a good fitting gun, I just kept working at it. Last time I took it out, I had my 12ga pump, 2 – 20ga pumps, and my S/S 410 along as well. I shot a 25 round box and shattered 23 clays. I then took out my 12ga and shot 5 for 5. Both 20ga together made a 13 of 15. The .410 went 6 of 8 and I was out shells (had other family shooting too).

Does this make sense? Not a bit. But I have the fun of owning a variety of makes and models. I can hit with any of them and they’re all slightly different in one way or another but I like variety and the challange of excelling with something different………from time to time. I must admit I prefer having a different gun for deer as well. I don’t have a good reason, just like knowing that “that gun” only comes out when venison is the subject. As for the 250yd shot…..well, a BDC SlugHunter scope on your slugster might be an option but shotgunning for that kind of distance is something I’ve never had to look into because I hunt in a rifle zone. I initially think a seperate gun for this purpose will carry a better confidence in the shot you have to make. That’s solely based on my comfort zone. The less guess work, the better.

I truly believe, if you want cost effective, do-it-all weaponry, keep it simple and get good with what fits you well. Otherwise, buy what you want and go have a good time!