First shotgun?

rgc · November 19, 2002, 08:28 PM

If I wanted to buy one all around shotgun for home defense and a little hunting, with a 24 in or shorter, what would be some good ones to look at.

12 gauge and low to mod price point.

Thanks

FPrice · November 19, 2002, 08:39 PM

Two suggestions:

1. Look for the thread entitled "Ultimate Combat Shotgun". That will give you some good introductory information on choosing a SG.

2. Look for posts by Dave McG. He probably has the best common sense when it comes to shotguns on this forum. You can learn an awful lot by following his advice.

Good luck.

Dave McC · November 20, 2002, 05:36 AM

Thanks for the endorsement, Frosty.

There's a lot of choices here for what you want, RGC. Mine and certainly a good choice for anyone is a 870 Remington. If you can locate a police turnin, that's the way to go. Cruiser guns get carried a lot,rarely shot,and usually are surplussed due to age, not use. They'l be dinged up on the outside and darn near new inside.

If there's no turnins around, try out the Big Four and pick the one that feels best.

And mine the Archives, there's gigs of good input there...

HTH...

No4Mk1 · November 21, 2002, 12:10 AM

Where do you even start to look for a "police turnin" SG? I would love to find one of these, but wouldn't even know where to start..??

HL.

Dave McC · November 21, 2002, 05:24 AM

Almost all depts, HL, rotate their inventory through a local dealer, who advance credit on the tradeins against the cost of new weaponry. Let your fingers do the walking, calling all the dealers around and asking if they have many used 870s. When you find a shop with lots of these, Eureka!

The dinged exteriors will keep lots of folks from buying them, the shop has little invested, and until they get down to just a few left, prices will be great. One still can get a turnin for as little as $155 on occasion, tho $200 is more common.

Unless you pick the agency trainer, chances are it's had less than 100 rounds through it. Dinged finishes can be upgraded with Parkerizing, paint, slick treatments like the Robar stuff, or just lived with.

HTH....

FPrice · November 21, 2002, 08:18 AM

"Where do you even start to look for a "police turnin" SG? I would love to find one of these, but wouldn't even know where to start..??"

It probably helps to be in a small town with only one dealer (gun-type). If you can make a contact with the PD, or a local dealer, ask them how and where the PD turns in it's firearms. My local dealer if a former LEO himself and advises our PD on firearms and training.

I got one of our local PD's old shotguns, a Savage Model 69RXL, for only about $150 through him. It had some external wear but was in very good shape. It has only one slide bar vs. the two found on many other SG's, but for the price and the amount of use it will see, I think it will do. It had a nice sling on it and I added a stock-mounted elastic 5-round shell holder which gives me a 10 or 11 round capacity. It may not be pretty or fancy, but I think it meets Dave's basic qualifications.

No4Mk1 · November 21, 2002, 09:39 AM

Great advice! Thank you. I think I know one of the dealers around here that has a couple of police contracts. I'm going to check them out this weekend.

Thanks again.

rgc, hope you didn't mind me taggin on to your thread.

HL.

rgc · November 21, 2002, 09:44 AM

You asked a great question.

Dave McC · November 21, 2002, 03:55 PM

Frosty, it probably does.....

The criteria are simple.

It has to have at least a two shot capacity.

It has to go bang on demand and only then.

YOU and it have to hit what you want to most of the time.

We get hung up in brand loyalty sometimes, and there's some good shotguns out there that are not big name brands.

FPrice · November 22, 2002, 08:20 AM

"It has to have at least a two shot capacity."

Okay, got that covered.

"It has to go bang on demand and only then."

So far, so good. It has (and has not) when proper.

"YOU and it have to hit what you want to most of the time."

Doggoneit Dave! I KNEW you were going to make it hard!

Seriously though, SG is my weakest of the three firearms but I am trying to correct that. Or, at least, bring up my pitiful skill level with some regular and hopefully well thought-out practise sessions. Unfortunately the place I am currently located has a severe lack of people whom I can practise and study with. So I depend upon this forum to give me ideas I can work with.

So far, TFL is helping.

Cowdogpete · November 22, 2002, 12:10 PM

Let me suggest the 870 Express Combo package.

It has a slug barrell with rifle sights and a longer "bird barrell"

If you think you want to shoot birds or trap you will appreciate the longer barrell and proper choke.

The slug barrell is great for deer and other large game and my personal choice for a defensive gun.

You can't beat the 870 for the price.

my $.02

Dave McC · November 22, 2002, 08:55 PM

Courage,Frosty,I never promised you a rose garden(G).

Got a skeet or trap range nearby? Good polace to improve your "Chops".

The thread I posted on HD preparation may help you.

November 19, 2002, 08:28 PM	#1
rgc Member Join Date: June 27, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 20	First shotgun? If I wanted to buy one all around shotgun for home defense and a little hunting, with a 24 in or shorter, what would be some good ones to look at. 12 gauge and low to mod price point. Thanks __________________ Send lawyers, guns and money Dad, get me out of this. -- Warren Zevon

November 19, 2002, 08:39 PM	#2
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	rgc... Two suggestions: 1. Look for the thread entitled "Ultimate Combat Shotgun". That will give you some good introductory information on choosing a SG. 2. Look for posts by Dave McG. He probably has the best common sense when it comes to shotguns on this forum. You can learn an awful lot by following his advice. Good luck. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

November 21, 2002, 12:10 AM	#4
No4Mk1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 431	Where do you even start to look for a "police turnin" SG? I would love to find one of these, but wouldn't even know where to start..?? HL. __________________ The beauty of Grace is that it makes life not fair.... http://www.guncollectorsforum.com

November 21, 2002, 08:18 AM	#6
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	hlmcfa... "Where do you even start to look for a "police turnin" SG? I would love to find one of these, but wouldn't even know where to start..??" It probably helps to be in a small town with only one dealer (gun-type). If you can make a contact with the PD, or a local dealer, ask them how and where the PD turns in it's firearms. My local dealer if a former LEO himself and advises our PD on firearms and training. I got one of our local PD's old shotguns, a Savage Model 69RXL, for only about $150 through him. It had some external wear but was in very good shape. It has only one slide bar vs. the two found on many other SG's, but for the price and the amount of use it will see, I think it will do. It had a nice sling on it and I added a stock-mounted elastic 5-round shell holder which gives me a 10 or 11 round capacity. It may not be pretty or fancy, but I think it meets Dave's basic qualifications. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

November 21, 2002, 09:39 AM	#7
No4Mk1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 431	Great advice! Thank you. I think I know one of the dealers around here that has a couple of police contracts. I'm going to check them out this weekend. Thanks again. rgc, hope you didn't mind me taggin on to your thread. HL. __________________ The beauty of Grace is that it makes life not fair.... http://www.guncollectorsforum.com

November 20, 2002, 05:36 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Thanks for the endorsement, Frosty. There's a lot of choices here for what you want, RGC. Mine and certainly a good choice for anyone is a 870 Remington. If you can locate a police turnin, that's the way to go. Cruiser guns get carried a lot,rarely shot,and usually are surplussed due to age, not use. They'l be dinged up on the outside and darn near new inside. If there's no turnins around, try out the Big Four and pick the one that feels best. And mine the Archives, there's gigs of good input there... HTH...

November 21, 2002, 05:24 AM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Almost all depts, HL, rotate their inventory through a local dealer, who advance credit on the tradeins against the cost of new weaponry. Let your fingers do the walking, calling all the dealers around and asking if they have many used 870s. When you find a shop with lots of these, Eureka! The dinged exteriors will keep lots of folks from buying them, the shop has little invested, and until they get down to just a few left, prices will be great. One still can get a turnin for as little as $155 on occasion, tho $200 is more common. Unless you pick the agency trainer, chances are it's had less than 100 rounds through it. Dinged finishes can be upgraded with Parkerizing, paint, slick treatments like the Robar stuff, or just lived with. HTH....

November 21, 2002, 09:44 AM	#8
rgc Member Join Date: June 27, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 20	Not at all . . . . You asked a great question. __________________ Send lawyers, guns and money Dad, get me out of this. -- Warren Zevon

November 21, 2002, 03:55 PM	#9
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Frosty, it probably does..... The criteria are simple. It has to have at least a two shot capacity. It has to go bang on demand and only then. YOU and it have to hit what you want to most of the time. We get hung up in brand loyalty sometimes, and there's some good shotguns out there that are not big name brands.

November 22, 2002, 08:20 AM	#10
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Dave... "It has to have at least a two shot capacity." Okay, got that covered. "It has to go bang on demand and only then." So far, so good. It has (and has not) when proper. "YOU and it have to hit what you want to most of the time." Doggoneit Dave! I KNEW you were going to make it hard! Seriously though, SG is my weakest of the three firearms but I am trying to correct that. Or, at least, bring up my pitiful skill level with some regular and hopefully well thought-out practise sessions. Unfortunately the place I am currently located has a severe lack of people whom I can practise and study with. So I depend upon this forum to give me ideas I can work with. So far, TFL is helping. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

November 22, 2002, 12:10 PM	#11
Cowdogpete Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2002 Location: Bosque County, TX Posts: 265	Let me suggest the 870 Express Combo package. It has a slug barrell with rifle sights and a longer "bird barrell" If you think you want to shoot birds or trap you will appreciate the longer barrell and proper choke. The slug barrell is great for deer and other large game and my personal choice for a defensive gun. You can't beat the 870 for the price. my $.02 __________________ Smoke on THR I love the smell of cordite in the morning.

November 22, 2002, 08:55 PM	#12
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Courage,Frosty,I never promised you a rose garden(G). Got a skeet or trap range nearby? Good polace to improve your "Chops". The thread I posted on HD preparation may help you.