What gauge?

[Turdypointer]

Looking for a shotgun to hunt with, but I don't have enough money to buy a gun for deer and big game, then another for small game. What gauge should I use to be able to hunt both? Thx.

[hunter1992]

The best all around gauge would be 12 gauge. It is the most popular gauge so you will be able to find alot of accessories and good priced quality ammo.:)

[farmer]

hunter1992 is right the only addition I can make is to make sure that the gun can fire the various lenghts of 12 gauge ammo as this feature will only add to its versitility.

[Yooper]

A really good plan is to grab a combo shotgun set-up that has a barrel for shot and another for slugs. You can usually find a great deal on one of these this time of year and you'll have a great all-around gun. Mossberg and Remington have pretty good bets here. You can usually find a decent gun for around $300. It's easier to find one that'll shoot 2-3/4" and 3" shells. The 3-1/2" chambered guns are available in combos but usually cost more.

N.E./H&R single shots are another option. You can get a scattergun for less than $100 and their rifles are usually under $200. These are great firearms. The rifles shoot great. I have a .243 that is as good and accurate as anything I've shot. It cost me $160. They have a pump 12 gauge too that runs for around $150-175.

Set your budget and get the best you can afford. You'll be happy in the end.

[Flatcoat1]

Once you find that gun you want, take care of it. Ask any "old" hunter and they have a gun they have had for years - and still use. It only takes a few minutes to clean the gun after EVERY use. Doesn't hurt to take it out during the off season and clean it once a month even. You have made an investment in a gun, make an investment to buy some cleaning stuff and use it. (I have a 12 ga. that I hunt everything with. I do not make much money but love to hunt. I have used it for everything from ducks to doves, geese and deer, squirrel and rabbit. It does it all. I did spend some money a few years ago on a rifled slug barrel and scope. It fits the shotgun well.) Also, find out how you gun shoots by patterning several types of shells through it. It will be worth the money in the long run.

[Turdypointer]

Well, thanks for the input. I saw a combo at a local shop a couple days ago, had a 30-30 on top, 20 gauge on bottom. Not sure if it was 20 gauge, might have been 12, but would this be good to start with? Thx.

[hunter1992]

I don't know what makes the gun you are looking at but i think you would be better off getting a NEF 12 gauge shotgun and a NEF 30-06 rifle. You can get a NEF shotgun for around $90 bucks at walmart. A NEF rifle will be around $200. The 30-06 is a good all around caliber, you can hunt anything from varmints to brown bears.


NEF rifle (http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=6)


NEF shotgun (http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=3&subcat=1)

[Yooper]

I would hesitate to buy a combo gun. You really need to check local game laws on what you can and can't do with such a firearm.

[hunter1992]

I did some research and from what i read the combo made by Savage is not that accurate but I don't know any thing about the combo made by Spartan.

[Turdypointer]

Oh yeah, forgot to ask this. I thought a 12 gauge would be overkill for small game? Not so?

[hunter1992]

12 gauge is overkill for quail but it works. I would recommend useing 7 1/2 to 8 shot size for quail sized game.

[Flatcoat1]

I have used a 12ga for most of my hunting. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, doves, turkey, woodcock, grouse, pheasants, and even a groundhog. Sure, an occasional mistake happens when that squirrel or rabbit is too close and jumps right before you try a head shot and it becomes most unpalatable. It happens but not very often. If you have to decide not to shoot because the animal is too close - no big deal- wait! A 12ga used properly is a good gun for the all-around gunner. From low brass 8's to 3inch BB's. I have used them all.

[jonhearn]

I was going to say what Flatcoat1 and hunter1992 conveyed... 12 gauge is good all around, and if something is too close, just wait 'till its farther... anybody who pheasant hunts knows about that ;-) Just have to wait a second. And like hunter1992 said, just using a short tube and small shot, you can nicely pack home some quail. I've hunted quail with 12g. Just make sure you arn't too close or too far for your shot size. If you practice with your shot size, you can get comfortable with the range.
-Strait shooting!

-Jonathan

[midwest safari]

Turdypointer,
I noticed you are a junior member. Your age and hunting experience should determine the type of gun you choose. If you are just a begginning hunter or are a young hunter, I would suggest a 20 ga. I have hunted pheasants, quail and deer with a shotgun and a 12 or 20 will work on upland birds and deer. One of my hunting partners hunts pheasants with a 20 and he rarely misses. A 20 guage shotgun slug placed correctly will drop a deer much like a muzzleloader. If you are an experienced hunter and can take the recoil of the 12 ga, I would choose the 12, especially if you are going to use it for ducks, geese and turkeys.

My first deer shotgun was a Remington Wingmaster 12 ga with a 20 inch cylinder bore. With a scope, I was consistent to about 80 yards. It did have quite a kick to it. I also had a modified barrel I used for upland game. My next gun was a Remington 1100. I had two barrels, a 30 inch full choke and a fully rifled barrel with a scope mount. My range extended to about 125 yards, although I took most of my deer at less than 100.

I now use a B-80 Browning semi-auto. I have a Hastings fully rifled barrel with a cantelever scope mount and I have a 32 inch full choke barrel. I have taken an 8 point at 150 yards using Winchester partition gold sabots. The deer didn't go 3 yards after he was hit. I have hit pheasants at 60 yards with the full choke and dropped them.

Whatever type of gun you choose, you can never get enough practice. You need to practice shooting targets for deer hunting and you need to break some clay birds. Practice makes you a better hunter.

I agree with a prior poster. If you are going to hunt both deer and birds, I would get two barrels.

Midwest Safari

[hunter1992]

Your a junior member too Midwest Safari:D

[midwest safari]

Sorry,

I made a mistake on the membership thing. The advice still is good.

I need to be careful on the assumptions I make.

Midwest Safari

[Flatcoat1]

If / or when you find the gun you want, practice. Not only with one type of load. Even different brands will shoot differently. For deer I use a rifled barrel with a low power scope. For ammo I shoot the Winchester / BRI Sabot in 2 3/4". It shoots great! Out to 100 yards I am very accurate and so is it. I have killed over 30 deer with a shotgun with the furthest being 75 yards and the closest being 8 feet! The vast majority has been under 50 yards. A friend has the same set-up as I do. His gun will not shoot the Winchester with any accuracy but the Federal Copper solid is the shell for him. Same goes with buckshot. Some sizes shoot better than others. Take the time at the range and it will be worth it.

[Turdypointer]

Ok, forgot about this thread for a while. Anywho, this would be my first gun. I've shot plenty of guns before, and the bigger the better! I've also shot high powered rifles before, the recoil doesn't really bother me. I'd be hunting rabbits, squirrels, ect. as well as deer in the future. Would a 12 be too much?

[hunter1992]

If you plan on mostly hunting small game and upland game then a 20 gauge would be better but if you plan to waterfoul hunt then go with a 12 gauge. A 20 gauge slug would work fine on a deer.

[Turdypointer]

But would a 12 work for small game? The reason i'm asking is because my uncle is indefinitly loaning an old 12 gauge to me. If it does, what shot size should I use?

[Brent]

By small game what do you want to shoot, pheasants, rabbit, quail?

[Turdypointer]

Rabbits and squirrels mostly.

[Brent]

12 gauge isn't too much, but if you had the option to buy or get the choice I would just go with the 20 gauge. Depending on your age, a 20 gauge will be alot lighter and easier to carry walking around going for rabbits and squirrels. Overkill would be a 10 gauge :)

[Brent]

Squirrels and rabbits should not be shot with any shot other than a 7 1/2, 8 or 9 shot. This is good because these are the cheapest shells you can buy, since they use them for target shooting.

[Turdypointer]

Alright, thanks! I'm sure i'll be back with more questions...

[NE hunter]

no it shouldnt be . if you use a high shot like 8 or 7.5 in a 2 3/4 shell it will do fine and not be to much

[solestrutter]

not a chance. just get a wider choke say modified an shoot shot sives any where from 6 to 8 and youll do just fine. happy hunting.

[smallgamehunter]

Looking for a shotgun to hunt with, but I don't have enough money to buy a gun for deer and big game, then another for small game. What gauge should I use to be able to hunt both? Thx.


best all around shotgun i have seen is the 20 gauge. its light and shoots well and will kill deer and small game with the same knock down power of a 12 gauge

[hunter168908]

well turdypointer it isn't overkill on small game if u learn to use the right size shot on the game i brought down a quail this year first one i shot it w/ a 5shot quail u wanna use 567 and bigger game like pheasant u would use 4&5 shot when u go to buy shells look on the back of the boxs some companies will put shot size charts on the boxs helps alot it isn't a problem if u use the right shot for the right game. so i would go w/ the 12ga. it is a all around gun i just got one this november and i luv it first gun and i will have it for life. it is a pump w/ chokes nice gun. hope i could help bye happy hunting

[rooster52]

When I was young ,my brother bought me a 20 gauge/30-30 combo from H&R that rifle was very accurate and the shot gun took a bunch of small game. That NEF that other folks sugjested would be perfect in 20 or 12 gauge and a 243 or bigger caliber .