what is the best shotgun for turkey and deer hunting?
May 7th, 2010 by eranio
I have been advised to use a remington 1187. I would just use the modified stock choke for turkey and buy a slug barrel for deer. Is that the best choice? I dont want anything crazy, just a good, reliable and versitile gun.
Posted in best shotgun
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
You can’t go wrong with a Remington shotgun of any kind but I really like my 870 Wingmaster and my Remington 1100.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
H&R pardner pump 12 guage.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
To me, you’re really asking four questions: 1) Remington vs. other brands/makers, 2) semi-auto vs. pump, 3) gas vs. inertia in semi-autos, 4) purpose-built vs. generalist.
1) Remington is a fine brand. If you’re looking a Wal-Mart or the gun store in a smaller community that only has parts for one shotgun, Remington will be it. You can always find a Remington shotgun in your price range and everyone will be familiar with the model nomenclature. Mossberg competes with it in the value (good quality, good price) category, but Remington’s can go up alot in price point too.
2) The 1187 is a semi-auto that has an action that’s been around for quite a while in gun terms. It cycles lighter rounds reliably (Guns, 9/2005), something that can be somewhat of a problem for semi-autos. By definition this action will be more difficult to keep clean, need more care and be more complex to completely disassemble than a pump. (I point this out since you seem to be rather new to shotguns–which is great.) I like pumps most for defensive shooting. There’s not only less to fail, nothing replaces the racking of a pump shotgun as a "Leave now!" invitation. The gas system in the Remington (please don’t call it a "Remmy"–ever) reduces recoil well. I think that can be an important part of your decision. That said, my thin daughters have handled my pump 12 gauges without any flinching since their teens.
3) You can have your semi-auto and still have a lower maintenance gun. There are non-gas, inertial systems such as the one make famous in the Benellis (http://www.chuckhawks.com/benelli_inertia_action.htm). I’m not knocking Remington when I say that I like the Benelli system as well. I have a Browning Gold that is like the Remington gas system and it’s my favorite all-around shotgun. I also have a Super Black Eagle (SBE II). It doesn’t seem to me that it absorbs as much as the direct gas system guns, but it’s easier to clear (gas tube!) and seems willing to run forever without signs of sticking due to fouling. And it costs more… much more. Then there’s the Beretta gas system… It’s supposed to be self-cleaning. You know there’s no free lunch, though. (If you only read one link I’ve given, read this on gas systems: http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_gas_actions.htm. I love Chuck Hawks’ site.) If you hear about the dove hunts in Argentina then you will hear about Berettas and Benellis. I have a Benelli Nova (pump) in camo that goes for around $400 on sales at big gun stores when hunting season starts. I think its a good comparison model for a pump vs. the 1187.
4) There are several sub-models of the 1187. You can get it in a longer barrel for waterfowl. It comes in a mid-length sportsman’s model (good all-around choice) and one styled to be a tactical shotgun. You won’t need the longer smooth barrel for turkey–just a tight choke. (You can buy the gun this way or get an aftermarket turkey choke tube to install.) You can buy the turkey specialist (http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-11-87/model-11-87-sportsman-super-mag-shurshot-turkey.aspx) and still swap out to a slug barrel (one here with links to others: http://www.cabelas.com/p-0005760212138a.shtml). The thumbhole stock on this sub-model is a personal preference (IMHO). You can get a barrel that is cantilever (scope mounting rail attached to the barrel itself; http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/99537-1.html).
What you most need to consider: fit. It’s amazing how one shotgun may “shoulder” (come up to a natural pointing position and seat well) for you than another. You need to go to a gun store and shoulder a few shotguns one right after the other to see what I mean. Here is where you get into gun geometry and hear terms like “comb” and “pitch” (http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.shotgun-stock-fitting.html). When I’ve helped a friend purchase a shotgun, this has almost always (OK, always) settled which one they purchased. If you have to adjust your face to the stock, you may miss a shot. This wastes shells and may lose the game you hunt. Advice is a good place to start, but don’t stop there. Handle some shotguns, listen to advice from someone who can talk to you about how a shotgun fits you. There are many good shotguns (I own six), but not one of them is a gun that won’t fit you.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Use a rifle.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
1187?….
Just get a general duty field model……
Yeah yeah we all now thaey make all sorts of turkey shotguns, deer shotguns, etc, etc…… All those shotguns are application specific… and in my opinion just a tad bit over rated……..
Purchase this no nonsense field model…. with a choke change you can use this for turkey, deer or whatever…..
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-11-87/model-11-87-sportsman-field.aspx
This shotgun is a good reliable and versatile gun…… Later if you want a rifled deer barrel then order a barrel from Remington……
ALSO — If I am not mistaken – That 1187 shotgun is a nice shotgun but isnt it expensive?…. I think you could purchase 2 pump shotguns for the price of one of those…. Consider a Remington 870 with a deer barrel and then a Remington 870 set up for turkey?…..
This one for turkey…..
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express-shurshot-synthetic-turkey.aspx
and this one for deer……
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express-synthetic-deer.aspx
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
I have a setup for my Mossberg 500 that works for me. I have a 28" barrel with a turkey choke and a rifled barrel with a cantilever scope mount. I also have a buttstock with interchangeable inserts so that I can have a high comb for the scope. The rifled barrel gives me 2" groups at 100 yards using sabot loads.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:36 am
if you want a shotgun stick with a mossberg 500 or remington 870. both are as reliable as they make, good priced, will last a long time, and easy to disassemble/clean. if you are new to shot guns i would highly recommend these, you can buy a slug barrel for deer and a tight wad choke for turkey.i have a remington 1100, but for hunting turkey (and most everything else) i use my mossberg 500. i would recomend a rifle for deer though, you can get a marlin 336 for a good price. these pumps do kick a little more though, but if you want to hunt, then you need to be a man about it anyway. pump guns are also very easy to convert into a home defense weapon if this makes any difference.