I'm a new hunter and am looking for an all in one shotgun for now. Is there one that will do quail, duck, pheasant, etc? Or will I have to get more than one to cover all of the above?

Any thoughts or opinions would be helpful! I'm looking around $800ish.

One option is to pick up a shotgun like the Remington 870 (and there are of course, others as well) that you can change the choke tubes, or even the barrels.
I have a 20 GA Mossberg 500C, that has several different barrels. I can use it for HD, for bird hunting, or small game.

A pump gun with screw-in chokes, or for that matter, the old-style adjustable choke, will get you going for a lot less than $800.

870 and a bunch of shells would be a nice way to get rid of $800

A older wingmaster in good conidition would be even nicer though IMO

I'd spend the extra and get an 1100 that way you have a better 2nd shot capability on birds and skeet


Mike

But your wierd like that

Our current look at shotguns is that you need a specialized one for each target. The shotgun is probably the most verstile weapon there is and frankly the stock 870 can do all you want and more.
I think of my grandfather who killed everything available to him with a Remington model 11 12ga with a poly choke. Would we think if this as a prime quail gun today? Probably not. Squirrel? Deer? Geese with a 2 3/4? NEVER!

Did he do it and is the gun with the right ammo capable? SURE!

Get a gun that feels good for you to swing and handle then study up on getting the right combo of choke and shell for your situation. That will carry you a longer way than buying 12 shotguns.*

*~NOTE: I would never admit this to my wife!!!!!!!!

Or whatever flavor of shotgun you like: the Rem 870 and the previously mentioned Ithaca 37 are great dependable choices, and go with IC or lt mod fixed choke.

With the quality of todays shells choke is way overrated with the exception of the extreme at both ends.

IC choke works for just about anything and everything when combined with a good shell and used within reasonable shotgun ranges. This applies to the 12 ga. With the smaller ga. you may want a lt.Mod to fill in the gaps due to less number of shot.

ITHACA 37

A 22LR, a .30-06 bolt action, and a 12-guage pump - it's all you really need. The rest is for $hits and giggles.

I have multiple barrels for both the 870 and the BPS. About an 18 1/2" barrel for tight cover jump shooting, think spruce hens, is slick. A 24" barrel for almost everything and a long barrel for pass shooting. A slug barrel may get more use elsewhere and may be a better choice.

Looking around for spare barrels at gun shows will usually turn them up. $75 is the most I have had to pay for a NIB barrel for either the BPS or the 870...
art

I grew up shooting a Remington 870 with a plain (no rib) 28" fixed Modified barrel, 2 3/4" only. Nothing felt handicapped by using it.

Killed everything from doves to geese and turkeys with it.

A M870 will just keep on running when most everything else has broken, gummed up, or jammed in some other way.

For $800, you are WAY ahead. Get a M870, a bunch of shells, pocket the rest, and go kill anything you want to!

I don't like the 870 because I've twice had stoppages in the feeding system. That said, for road hunting an 18" 870 is hard to beat. But thats hard to wingshoot with.

In truth I do almost all my shotgun hunting with a 12ga Franchi O/U but it's too heavy for upland hunting. 7 pounds carried at port arms effects my shooting by the end of the day, even if that shotgun is perfect for clays. I'm going to switch to a 20 or 28 SxS for pheasant and quail, and I can use the 12ga wingmaster for turkey.

Sorry for the rambling, it's late. Cliff notes, I could hunt with anything, but one shotgun isn't enough for me.

The closest I found is this Browning B525 in 12 ga 3" with Invector chokes. It swings like a... double, shoots lead and steel in std. or magnum loads in all possible choke combinations.

Just cleaned and put away my 870 yesterday, since duck season finally ended on Jan. 31. I am continually amazed at the reliability of the 870. Over many long seasons it just keeps on ticking . . . and ticking. Hard not to like, even though it ain't that pretty.

870.00

Yes I am


I'm trying to convince my wife she NEEDS a Sporting 28!

Mike

What she doesnt have one yet???

870 pump or 1100 mag.

I also think that the Remington 870 is a great choice for an all around shotgun. I have had one for a long time and I still use it regularly with both vent rib and rifle sight slug barrels. If you have the money though, you might want to look at the Beretta 3901. It's also a great shotgun-- but a gas autoloader.

Good luck!

Model 500 Mossberg with an adjustable choke. Never could see the sense in interchangeable tubes. Didn't like them when the old Cutts Compensator was around don't like them any better now

Bulbboy, Go to the turkey thread and look at the post " show your turkey gun". Mine is posted with 5 barrels. Remington 11/87 and buy the extra barrels from smooth bore to rifled for sabot slugs. Just a great outfit for shotgun only towns. Steel choke tubes for water foul also available.

Ken

Field grade, good used model 12 Win. 16 bore. With todays ammo it is better than ever.

870 Special Purpose 12ga with the 23" barrel and an IC or X-full choke covers a lot of ground....

If you want to spend more, a Benelli SBE with a 24" barrel is about the best all-around gun I've ever owned.....

12g - pick the gun that fits you best

Pumps
870 with the second rifled barrel (not much of price difference)
Browning BPS
Ithaca Model 37

Semi-Autos
Stoeger M2000 synthetic (great value, great shotgun for the price)

"All Around"? Remington 1100 12ga w/choke tubes A Beretta or Benelli would be great too. I like O/U 20ga w/28"bbl, but I'm old.

If forced to chose one for "one all around, do it all shotgun" I would put my money on a 12 gauge Remington Wingmaster with a 3" chamber, 26" barrel, equipped with Remchokes. The aftermarket barrels, stocks, choke-tubes, and accessories make it the closest thing to being all around. A pump will feed nearly anything in all kinds of weather conditions, and the 870 is easy to strip.
PS All that said, I don't even own one - everyone knows you cannot do it all with a single shotgun!!