new shotgun?

ivorytip

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I'm ready to take up upland game and waterfowl hunting a bit more seriously now and am in the market for a shotgun. any ideas on best options? my criteria... under $500, versatile, slug capable. if this is even doable??
 

kidoggy

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remington .870 goes for around $350. perhaps less if you watch sales and you can get a rifled slug barrel for it for a couple hundred more. even less if you buy a used one.
at least it's in the ballpark.

I bought one in 12 gauge a couple years ago, new, for 300. sportsmans wharehouse beat cabelas priceby 50 ish dollars.
 
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brianboh

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Jun 4, 2015
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I think I would get a stoeger. It has the same action as a benelli. I have shot several and have never had an issue and own the 20 gauge. The shoot fantastic and don't cost 1800. Buy a slug barrel for it and you can go kill some deer with it.
 

ivorytip

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money was burning a hole in my pocket, and was really wanting to bust some pheasants this next week. ended up getting rem .870 for $300 and some change. thanks for input guys. there was a benelli nova cammoed out that was appealing to me but it was used and don't realy know enough about shotguns to know if it was good or not, it was $330. should've shopped around a bit more but sometimes when ya got an urge you just got to follow through:)
 

Colorado Cowboy

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I have 3 870's, a TCMC trap model, a field model 26" mod barrel w/vent rib 12ga and a field model 26" ribbed barrel w/screw in chokes in 20 ga. All great guns. You won't be sorry.
 

buckbull

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If you decide on the two barrels for the 870, make sure you get the cantilever slug barrel. Pretty nice to be able to shoot slugs with a scope and then take the barrel off (with scope) for shotshells. I had this setup until I purchases a bolt action slug gun.
 

ivorytip

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If you decide on the two barrels for the 870, make sure you get the cantilever slug barrel. Pretty nice to be able to shoot slugs with a scope and then take the barrel off (with scope) for shotshells. I had this setup until I purchases a bolt action slug gun.
I can get that barrel and add on later right? there is a short range weapon only area for deer that I going to start buying an extra tag for, that's a big reason why I want to be able to use slugs. the guy said I can shoot slugs with the barrel that on it. I'm new to the whole shotgun thing, ive always used someone else's.
 

ivorytip

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he said the modified choke is in it now, he said if I wanted to shoot slugs to just take choke out. this accurate?
 

kidoggy

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congrats on your new scattergun, can't go wrong with the .870 .
I am not sure about shooting slugs with the choke out or if you need the other barrel. I wanted a scope so I went with the other barrel. when I use it for deer hunting I just swap barrels and rip a few rounds through it to make sure it is still sighted in. (usually it is) occasionally I hunt deer in morning and upland game later in the day. when I do this I have a ruger red label 12 gauge I use for the birds and just leave the slug barrel on the .870
 

Hilltop

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Best to use a rifled slug barrel. Without rifling it won't be accurate. The manufacturer also says not to fire the gun without a choke in as it can damage the threads.
 

Colorado Cowboy

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Best to use a rifled slug barrel. Without rifling it won't be accurate. The manufacturer also says not to fire the gun without a choke in as it can damage the threads.
The lead from a slug will build up in the threads and it will be a PITA to get out. Also steel shot will really screw up the threads.I would buy the slug barrel. You could also find a used barrel with out chokes and have a 'smith cut the barrel.
 

buckbull

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sounds like you made up your mind. You can shoot slugs thru a modified choke. You can even buy rifled choke tubes. I'd recommend a fully rifled barrel and shoot sabots. 870 with fully rifled barrel shooting sabots should get you 100 yards, maybe a little more.

You also may look into getting a H&R ultraslug. Its cheap and very accurate and gives you a dedicated gun. Lots of guys use them around here. very accurate and probably not much more than a cantelever rifled barrel.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/595795181
 

ivorytip

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what's the best riffled barrel for the .870? I guess I should've just got the combo deal that came with an extra barrel but figured I could find a better one.
 

ivorytip

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sounds like you made up your mind. You can shoot slugs thru a modified choke. You can even buy rifled choke tubes. I'd recommend a fully rifled barrel and shoot sabots. 870 with fully rifled barrel shooting sabots should get you 100 yards, maybe a little more.

You also may look into getting a H&R ultraslug. Its cheap and very accurate and gives you a dedicated gun. Lots of guys use them around here. very accurate and probably not much more than a cantelever rifled barrel.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/595795181
i will deff keep this in mind, thank you
 

kidoggy

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what's the best riffled barrel for the .870? I guess I should've just got the combo deal that came with an extra barrel but figured I could find a better one.
I can't speak to which is best(on this ten people would probably give ten answers) but the cantlever works well, scope capable. cost two to three hundred.
actually saw them recently on e-bay new for 12 gauge 24 inch barrel .870 cantilever for $215. I would say hard to go wrong at that price.
 

ivorytip

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almost worth just getting straight up slug gun like buckbull mentioned. that H&R isn't much more than that. single shot, but that's ok, I think.... but if I go the route of a single shot I might as well just use a muzzy. hmmm, choices choices.