Shot Gun For a Young First Timer

fshfindr · January 26, 2015, 04:41 PM

I am not a hunter, so let's get that out of the way. I know pistols and a little about rifles and I have never hunted. We live in NJ and my 19 year old grandson wants to buy a used shot gun for hunting here. I asked him if he will buy a slug gun and he said no because he may want to use it as a shot gun at some time. For those who do not know, NJ is strictly shot guns and bows for hunting. So, can a slug gun be used for a shotgun (personally I don't see why not)? How should I advise him, he wants to get a deer.

Bob Wright · January 26, 2015, 04:49 PM

So far as the gun is concerned, any shotgun can fire any type of shotshell, shot or slug. Many folks won't shoot slugs in a full choke shotgun, but there is no harm in doing so. Shot gun slugs are "rifled" not for stability but to compress enough to pass through a full choke.

I'd suggest a good pump or auto. Doubles don't work too well for slugs unless the very expensive kind. A bolt action shotgun is fine for deer hunting, but pretty well useless for birds.

Bob Wright

aarondhgraham · January 26, 2015, 05:14 PM

You will probably get better answers in the shotgun forum,,,
But here's my stab at an answer.

I've seen this question many times before,,,
Here is what the answer often is.

Mossberg 500
Remington 870
Winchester 1100

These three seem to be the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks of the shotgun world.

Aarond

.

Dreaming100Straight · January 26, 2015, 07:23 PM

Quote:

So, can a slug gun be used for a shotgun (personally I don't see why not)? How should I advise him, he wants to get a deer.

There may be some exception, but a slug gun is a shotgun with barrel that has been specifically for slugs. The ones of which I am aware have rifled barrels and cantilevers that allow a scope to be mounted directly to the barrel. This permits the scope to be sighted in to the barrel with which it stays should another, perhaps a smooth bore vent rib, be mounted.

There are two primary types of slugs. Rifled slugs are meant to shoot through smooth (non-rifled) bore shotgun barrels and the other, Sabots, through rifled barrels. The Sabots are more accurate but more expensive.

Now the simple answer to your question is, "Yes." Both are shotguns and both shoot slugs. I should add that shot patterns very poorly through rifled barrels, which is why you probably think of smooth barrels whey you think of shotguns.

Bake · January 26, 2015, 07:46 PM

A pump w/2 barrels, plus chokes

BigJimP · January 26, 2015, 08:02 PM

A good all around shotgun...especially these days...will have changeable screw in chokes...to make it versatile ( so you can shoot lead shot for clays - and slugs for deer, etc ).

For many years the most common all around shotguns....were pump guns or semi-autos with 28" barrels.../ on a budget Remington and Mossberg make serviceable pump guns - but most will agree that a better option is a Browning BPS pump / on a budget Beretta makes a lot of semi-autos these days..or maybe look at the Browning silver series both good gas operated semi autos / in older technology - there are a lot of good used semi-autos out there from Remington...but get something with changeable screw in chokes ( that were first around in many guns in the early 1980's ) and stay away from fixed choke guns.

Extra barrels are expensive ...many mfg's will want over $ 250 for a 2nd barrel...

Virginian · January 26, 2015, 08:07 PM

Quote:

I've seen this question many times before,,,
Here is what the answer often is.

Mossberg 500
Remington 870
Winchester 1100

These three seem to be the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks of the shotgun world.

Aarond

Make that Remington 1100 and it makes a lot more sense.

Blindstitch · January 26, 2015, 08:08 PM

As stated buy a shotgun with a field and slug barrel and you will be fine.

Bake · January 26, 2015, 08:35 PM

Has anyone ever played with a smooth bore that was equipped with a rifled (interchangeable) choke?

KEYBEAR · January 26, 2015, 08:49 PM

Buy him a Pump or Auto . Remington 870 or 1100 is great and barrels are cheap on e-bay . You can buy the Remington at Wal-Mart at a good price . Also buy a 12 Ga. and if you find a used gun a fixed choke is just fine . Choke tubes can be a pain as you always have the wrong tube in the gun . With a fixed choke you never have the wrong choke .

Bob Wright · January 26, 2015, 09:15 PM

One of my favorite shotguns was an old J.C. Higgins slide action (pump) 12 ga. with adjustable choke and vent rib. These were actually made by Hi Standard, the Field King, as I remember. Choke could be varied from extra full to open choke simply by turning the outer sleeve of the choke.

I tried this choke once shooting down into the Mississippi River. At extra full and at a distance of about sixty feet, (down) the splash seemed to be about six inches in diameter! Opened up it was maybe three feet in diameter.

I paid $75 for the deluxe model.

Bob Wright

aarondhgraham · January 27, 2015, 09:48 AM

Quote:

I've seen this question many times before,,,
Here is what the answer often is.

Mossberg 500
Remington 870
Winchester 1100

These three seem to be the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks of the shotgun world.

Aarond

Quote:

Make that Remington 1100 and it makes a lot more sense.

Yep, you're correct,,,
Mea Culpa.

I meant to type Winchester 1200.

Aarond

.

baddarryl · January 27, 2015, 10:33 AM

Old Winchester 120's are quite the bargain and can be found with removable chokes.

FITASC · January 27, 2015, 07:15 PM

Foster slugs use a smoothbore barrel while Sabot-slugs require a rifled barrel. Rifled shotgun barrels are only good for those type of slugs, while the smoothbore can also be used with shot

There are many good brands in pumps and semis:
Ithaca 37, Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Browning BPS, Benelli Nova, Winchester 1200 are all decent pumps.
Those same makers, along with Beretta, also make great semi guns.

Slugs can thump; personally, I would opt for the gas gun.

SARuger · January 27, 2015, 08:48 PM

For my 13 year old I picked up a NEF Pardner 20ga single shot and sent the barrel off to be bored and tapped for changeable chokes. He can use this little gun for anything its needed for. I paid $75 for the gun at a pawn shop, $55 for the barrel work. The chokes are the expensive part at $30 each but I have two shotguns that use the same chokes. I bought one of each.

Doyle · January 27, 2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Has anyone ever played with a smooth bore that was equipped with a rifled (interchangeable) choke?

Completely useless marketing gymic. You'll do just as well shooting foster slugs through the smooth bore.

FITASC · January 27, 2015, 09:34 PM

Quote:

The chokes are the expensive part at $30

That is really cheap. There are others that go for over $100 each.

RMcL · January 28, 2015, 07:43 AM

The use of a shotgun slug for deer hunting in New Jersey requires that the barrel have some type of rifle sights. Field shotguns (no rifle sights) are required to use buckshot during the deer season.

essonlaker · January 28, 2015, 08:55 AM

I agree with a rifled barrel/field barrel pump or auto combo being the best for him.

I just bought my first gun myself, but have been around/ shot firearms throughout growing up. I bought a Weatherby PA-08 slug gun combo and put a Bushnell 1-4x32 on the slug barrel's cantilever scope mount.

Unfortunately my guns going back to weatherby for repair/ replacement. but that's possible now a days as nothings made worth a crap, even with a more expensive gun, that's why they have warranty. I will post my experience with their customer service.

I've already used both barrels, the versatility of a combo makes it a great first gun. the area where I live is bow,shotgun and muzzleloader only for deer so the rifled barrel with scope and hornady SST's is a great deer gun for here IMO but I can use the smoothbore for trap shooting, and to try my hand at other things. without having to buy a new gun or barrel.

Creek Henry · January 28, 2015, 07:42 PM

I just got my son an 870 youth for cheap (used). Nice gun and all he will need for years.

Dreaming100Straight · January 29, 2015, 12:03 AM

A good basic gun that he can grow with and find to be a keeper when he is ready for something else. I assume it is a 20, which may be plenty as he grows but if not there are standard size 12's aplenty.

RMcL · January 30, 2015, 06:25 AM

From the OP:

Shot Gun For a Young First Timer

"...my 19 year old grandson wants to buy a used shot gun for hunting..."

Thunderkiss · January 31, 2015, 08:50 AM

Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 express in 12 gauge are both great starter shotguns. They both can take a lot of abuse and continue running. Both are reasonably priced and both have a lot of aftermarket parts available.

January 26, 2015, 04:41 PM	#1
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Shot Gun For a Young First Timer I am not a hunter, so let's get that out of the way. I know pistols and a little about rifles and I have never hunted. We live in NJ and my 19 year old grandson wants to buy a used shot gun for hunting here. I asked him if he will buy a slug gun and he said no because he may want to use it as a shot gun at some time. For those who do not know, NJ is strictly shot guns and bows for hunting. So, can a slug gun be used for a shotgun (personally I don't see why not)? How should I advise him, he wants to get a deer. __________________ Richard L.

January 26, 2015, 04:49 PM	#2
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	So far as the gun is concerned, any shotgun can fire any type of shotshell, shot or slug. Many folks won't shoot slugs in a full choke shotgun, but there is no harm in doing so. Shot gun slugs are "rifled" not for stability but to compress enough to pass through a full choke. I'd suggest a good pump or auto. Doubles don't work too well for slugs unless the very expensive kind. A bolt action shotgun is fine for deer hunting, but pretty well useless for birds. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

January 26, 2015, 05:14 PM	#3
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	There are three that get recommended a lot,,, You will probably get better answers in the shotgun forum,,, But here's my stab at an answer. I've seen this question many times before,,, Here is what the answer often is. Mossberg 500 Remington 870 Winchester 1100 These three seem to be the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks of the shotgun world. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

January 26, 2015, 07:46 PM	#5
Bake Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Location: San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Posts: 482	A pump w/2 barrels, plus chokes __________________ 1. The pattern board is your friend, use the Dam thing!!! 2. The maximum range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually measured in miles, and means nothing. 2a. The effective range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually (the ability of the shooter) measured in yards, and means everything.

January 26, 2015, 08:35 PM	#9
Bake Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Location: San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Posts: 482	Has anyone ever played with a smooth bore that was equipped with a rifled (interchangeable) choke? __________________ 1. The pattern board is your friend, use the Dam thing!!! 2. The maximum range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually measured in miles, and means nothing. 2a. The effective range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually (the ability of the shooter) measured in yards, and means everything. Last edited by Bake; January 27, 2015 at 12:14 AM.

January 26, 2015, 08:02 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	A good all around shotgun...especially these days...will have changeable screw in chokes...to make it versatile ( so you can shoot lead shot for clays - and slugs for deer, etc ). For many years the most common all around shotguns....were pump guns or semi-autos with 28" barrels.../ on a budget Remington and Mossberg make serviceable pump guns - but most will agree that a better option is a Browning BPS pump / on a budget Beretta makes a lot of semi-autos these days..or maybe look at the Browning silver series both good gas operated semi autos / in older technology - there are a lot of good used semi-autos out there from Remington...but get something with changeable screw in chokes ( that were first around in many guns in the early 1980's ) and stay away from fixed choke guns. Extra barrels are expensive ...many mfg's will want over $ 250 for a 2nd barrel...

January 26, 2015, 08:08 PM	#8
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	As stated buy a shotgun with a field and slug barrel and you will be fine.

January 26, 2015, 08:49 PM	#10
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	Buy him a Pump or Auto . Remington 870 or 1100 is great and barrels are cheap on e-bay . You can buy the Remington at Wal-Mart at a good price . Also buy a 12 Ga. and if you find a used gun a fixed choke is just fine . Choke tubes can be a pain as you always have the wrong tube in the gun . With a fixed choke you never have the wrong choke .

January 26, 2015, 09:15 PM	#11
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	One of my favorite shotguns was an old J.C. Higgins slide action (pump) 12 ga. with adjustable choke and vent rib. These were actually made by Hi Standard, the Field King, as I remember. Choke could be varied from extra full to open choke simply by turning the outer sleeve of the choke. I tried this choke once shooting down into the Mississippi River. At extra full and at a distance of about sixty feet, (down) the splash seemed to be about six inches in diameter! Opened up it was maybe three feet in diameter. I paid $75 for the deluxe model. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

January 27, 2015, 10:33 AM	#13
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	Old Winchester 120's are quite the bargain and can be found with removable chokes.

January 27, 2015, 07:15 PM	#14
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	Foster slugs use a smoothbore barrel while Sabot-slugs require a rifled barrel. Rifled shotgun barrels are only good for those type of slugs, while the smoothbore can also be used with shot There are many good brands in pumps and semis: Ithaca 37, Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Browning BPS, Benelli Nova, Winchester 1200 are all decent pumps. Those same makers, along with Beretta, also make great semi guns. Slugs can thump; personally, I would opt for the gas gun.

January 27, 2015, 08:48 PM	#15
SARuger Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 954	For my 13 year old I picked up a NEF Pardner 20ga single shot and sent the barrel off to be bored and tapped for changeable chokes. He can use this little gun for anything its needed for. I paid $75 for the gun at a pawn shop, $55 for the barrel work. The chokes are the expensive part at $30 each but I have two shotguns that use the same chokes. I bought one of each.

January 28, 2015, 07:43 AM	#18
RMcL Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 273	The use of a shotgun slug for deer hunting in New Jersey requires that the barrel have some type of rifle sights. Field shotguns (no rifle sights) are required to use buckshot during the deer season.

January 28, 2015, 08:55 AM	#19
essonlaker Member Join Date: January 10, 2015 Posts: 21	I agree with a rifled barrel/field barrel pump or auto combo being the best for him. I just bought my first gun myself, but have been around/ shot firearms throughout growing up. I bought a Weatherby PA-08 slug gun combo and put a Bushnell 1-4x32 on the slug barrel's cantilever scope mount. Unfortunately my guns going back to weatherby for repair/ replacement. but that's possible now a days as nothings made worth a crap, even with a more expensive gun, that's why they have warranty. I will post my experience with their customer service. I've already used both barrels, the versatility of a combo makes it a great first gun. the area where I live is bow,shotgun and muzzleloader only for deer so the rifled barrel with scope and hornady SST's is a great deer gun for here IMO but I can use the smoothbore for trap shooting, and to try my hand at other things. without having to buy a new gun or barrel.

January 28, 2015, 07:42 PM	#20
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	I just got my son an 870 youth for cheap (used). Nice gun and all he will need for years.

January 29, 2015, 12:03 AM	#21
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	A good basic gun that he can grow with and find to be a keeper when he is ready for something else. I assume it is a 20, which may be plenty as he grows but if not there are standard size 12's aplenty.

January 30, 2015, 06:25 AM	#22
RMcL Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 273	From the OP: Shot Gun For a Young First Timer "...my 19 year old grandson wants to buy a used shot gun for hunting..." Last edited by RMcL; January 30, 2015 at 03:28 PM.

January 31, 2015, 08:50 AM	#23
Thunderkiss Member Join Date: November 17, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 97	Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 express in 12 gauge are both great starter shotguns. They both can take a lot of abuse and continue running. Both are reasonably priced and both have a lot of aftermarket parts available.