Do all shotgun

[pastorp]

Greeting all from the frozen north.... My current, do all shotgun is a Benelli M190, in 20ga. It started life as a synthetic stocked, 28" barrelled, with 5 chokes stock benelli.  I sent it off for a nose job cutting the barrel down to 18&1/2" and having it threaded for the tru-chokes. At 6lbs it's a joy to carry. Short & light. And with 3" brenneki slugs capable of killing anything in Alaska. 

Regards,

[spruce]

Good choice.
 
Never been able to figure out why they insist on putting 26" or 28" barrels on pumps and autoloaders.  Makes sense for pass shooting ducks/geese or some of the clay target games, but certainly not (in my mind at least) for grouse, woodcock, etc in heavy cover.  I mean, it's about the same OAL as a double with 32" or 34" tubes - not something generally seen in the grouse coverts!

[Foggy]

I use q 870 compact 21' barrell have a smooth slug barrel I got here. love it it will knock down about anything in VA
Foggy

[hunt-m-up]

Picked up an H&R Pardner pump 20 guage camo, 21" barrel for my daughter to use during the youth deer season, one of these days I may even let her shoot it! It swings and points pretty smooth. With a Bushnell red dot she's holding 3-4" groups with Fed slugs at 50 yards,should do what we need it to do. I'm almost wondering who I bought it for though, if I was still slug hunting instead of mz she would have to share. I forgot how much lighter and faster those short barrels are.

[dougk]

Greeting all from the frozen north.... My current, do all shotgun is a Benelli M190, in 20ga. It started life as a synthetic stocked, 28" barrelled, with 5 chokes stock benelli.  I sent it off for a nose job cutting the barrel down to 18&1/2" and having it threaded for the tru-chokes. At 6lbs it's a joy to carry. Short & light. And with 3" brenneki slugs capable of killing anything in Alaska. 

Regards,

Hey Byron

how is the recoil with those 3 inch brenneke black magic slugs?

Doug

[Rock Home Isle]

I'd have to say that my Do Anything Shotgun would be my Remington 870...probably the best shotgun ever made. 

[pastorp]

dougK,

Tolerable.. I don't plan on shooting very many at a time, and if a brownie gets after me I doubt I'll even notice the recoil. 

How are they in your 12 gague?

Regards,

[QuailKiller]

I thought I would revive this thread and add that I have been thinking about getting a 870 20ga youth model.  I can put a longer stock on it, and a 2 shot magazine extension.  With its 21" barrel containing screw in chokes, it should be an awesome do all shotgun.  From deer to quail to man, it should do it all.  It is a lot more convenient to carry a pocket full of 20 ga than it is to carry 12ga and with 3" shells a 20ga really packs a punch!

[huntswithdogs]

My "do all" shotgun has been a 12ga Mossberg 500. It usually wears a 20'' barrel with screw in chokes. Skeet to deer, it don't matter.

HWD 

[scootrd]

Bryce Towsley with outdoor life weighed in on his top 5 Waterfowling shotguns.

You concur with his choices?

1. Winchester Model 12
2. Remington Model 870
 3. Benelli Nova
4. Ithaca Model 37
 5. Mossberg 500

[cwlongshot]

I'd have to say that my Do Anything Shotgun would be my Remington 870...probably the best shotgun ever made. 

I have to take your comment to task and say that I staunchly disagree with your appraisal! 

It IS the best shotgun ever made!! 

Merry Christmas everyone,

CW

[cwlongshot]

Bryce Towsley with outdoor life weighed in on his top 5 Waterfowling shotguns.

You concur with his choices?

1. Winchester Model 12
2. Remington Model 870
 3. Benelli Nova
4. Ithaca Model 37
 5. Mossberg 500

The M12 is  not very durable. but beautifully handling and classic in its lines.

The 870 will do it all, THE pump shotgun. ALL others are judged by.

The Nova? All time best? It hasn't proven itself it's just a pup.

The Ithaca is another excellent pump gun. It's sleek lines and bottom eject make it a southpaw favorite. Good choice.

The lone problem I have with the 500 is the plastic fire control.  Oh and the plastic safety is not very durable either. But over all another excellent gun.

A couple notable additions.

The Win 1897, yup the thumb buster. It should be mentioned. Again intricate in design a true classic.

Lastly the excellent 590 Mossberg. It corrected some of the 500 s short comings. Another excellent shotgun.

None are as pretty as a light English SxS or as quick as good fitting I/O. But overall tIf it needs doing, the pumps will get it done!

JMHO of coarse.

CW

[dukkillr]

Bryce Towsley with outdoor life weighed in on his top 5 Waterfowling shotguns.

You concur with his choices?

1. Winchester Model 12
2. Remington Model 870
 3. Benelli Nova
4. Ithaca Model 37
 5. Mossberg 500

First my bias, I love Model 12s and I kill a lot of waterfowl every year.  I bet I kill more ducks with a model 12 each year than most do with any gun.  Still, I put it away when the little ducks move south. 
 
This list is written by a guy who maybe weekend warriors it, or hunts at some fancy duck club with a felt fedora and tweed jacket.  You can tell because he's listed guns that cannot be fixed in the field.  You can't even fix a model 12 or 37 on a tailgate.  Hunting layouts in the rain, big water in 20 degree weather, swamps with dogs... He's right to not list an auto, but he's wrong to pick guns that are so hard to fix.  Also, a hardcore waterfowling gun must be weather proof.  Model 12s and 37s are all blued.
 
1) BPS - People who pick something else do so for reasons that do not include the utility of killing
2) 870 - Older is better here, and can still jam when your cold fingers dont get that shell all the way into the magazine.  Bad jam.
3) Nova - It's an 870 only uglier and slightly more modern
Huge drop off
4) Any of the various currently made autos
5) Any of the various cheaply made pumps not to include Mossberg or Winchester
6) Mossberg pumps
7) Any of the modern Winchester pumps
 
I suppose if you were willing to bend the rules a bit you could get a Model 12 up there.  A 3" heavy duck gun in 28" Modified that has been camo dipped would slide nicely inbetween slots 2 and 3 I think, or maybe between 3 and "huge drop off".

[hunt-m-up]

Interesting turn this took from talking about an all purpose gun shooting slugs to those that are best for waterfowl hunting. Different applications favor different guns, action types, and barrel lengths otherwise they would look all like an 870 Express with a 26" barrel. (BTW, there's a huge distinction between the Express and the Wingmaster.)

[evidrine]

Do all shotgun=mossberg 500 in my opinion.
smoothe bore with interchangeable chokes, rifles slug barrel with scope already mounted, and Muzzleloader barrel. One shotgun, multiple used. A tru "do all" shotgun in my book.
 
cwlongshot, are you referring to the trigger safety on the mavericks? The safety positioned on the top of the reciever of my 500 is as reliable as they come.

[SHOOTALL]

Good choice.
 
Never been able to figure out why they insist on putting 26" or 28" barrels on pumps and autoloaders.  Makes sense for pass shooting ducks/geese or some of the clay target games, but certainly not (in my mind at least) for grouse, woodcock, etc in heavy cover.  I mean, it's about the same OAL as a double with 32" or 34" tubes - not something generally seen in the grouse coverts!

safety , a short bbl gun in a blind with other shooters can get in trouble. If you are siting in a blind a 28-32 inch gun standing on the floor muzzle up is in view all the time. lower the muzzle height and it is below your chin a bad place if it gets knocked over or some other accident .

[mcwoodduck]

I think it is hard to pick one shot gun to do it all.
Maybe that is why I have 24 of them.
from 410 to 10ga and from field to target models.
With that said.
If I had to limit my self to one shotgun.  I think it would have to be an auto or pump in 12 ga and a couple barrels.  Would prefer the option of 3" or 3.5" but 2 3/4" shells work.
B1- 28 to 30" for water fowel, upland, and target
B2- 20 to 24" smooth bore with rifle sights and choke tubes for deer, turkey, and three gun.
B3- Maybe a rifled slug barrel.  I prefer open sights.
B4- maybe a 21 or 22" barrel for upland birds in the woods like Grouse in NY, or woodcock in NC where the trees are dense and not a lot of swinging room.
 
 

[cwlongshot]

Evidrine,
The fire control is the trigger group. it's housed in plastic held in position by a single pin and two plastic nubs. If struck the nubs break rendering the firearm useless.

The safety on the top rear of the receiver is also plastic screwed to a weak linkage again if struck will break. Sometimes rendering it useless but always making it unsafe.

Otherwise it's a good shooting general use shotgun.

CW