It'll make your shotgun look even more evil, but consider buying a Knoxx stock (http://www.knoxx.com/index2.html) aftermarket. It's very easy to add or remove, and while it won't make your Remmy look like a sporting gun, the difference in felt recoil may make the difference between your wife shooting the 870 or not wanting to touch it.agbullet2k1 wrote:...I think I'm going to end up going with the Remington 12ga. The 870 just seemed to fit better for me, plus they have a bit of a rebate going, which should just about cover tax. Now I just have to decide between wood grain or evil black.
New to shotguns...need some answers
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Re: New to shotguns...need some answers
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Re: New to shotguns...need some answers
matrxx wrote:anyone has experience with Winchester 1300 18" with plastic stock?
About the same as a Remington 870...those short barrels are specialized for in close, not so good for hunting though

However you can buy different barrels and that has the removable nut on the end which means you can swap barrels VERY easy
Winchester Model 1300 Barrels
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Re: New to shotguns...need some answers
You can swap barrels on a Remington 870 very easily, but ...
The base model 870 Express Magnum has a four-round magazine. Some of the defense models have an extended magazine (7 rounds, IIRC, but I'm too lazy to look). A barrel designed for one will not fit the other.
I've also found that it's difficult to buy a barrel for much less than an entire shotgun.
- Jim
The base model 870 Express Magnum has a four-round magazine. Some of the defense models have an extended magazine (7 rounds, IIRC, but I'm too lazy to look). A barrel designed for one will not fit the other.
I've also found that it's difficult to buy a barrel for much less than an entire shotgun.
- Jim
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Re: New to shotguns...need some answers
Yep. The Tac 2 has an 18" barrel and 2-round extension, for 6 in the tube. The Tac 3 has a 20" barrel and 3-round extension, for 7 in the tube. They have a few other features beyond the base 870; I have a Tac 2. http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... ctical.aspseamusTX wrote:The base model 870 Express Magnum has a four-round magazine. Some of the defense models have an extended magazine (7 rounds, IIRC, but I'm too lazy to look).
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Re: New to shotguns...need some answers
Well, I'll weigh in with my experience...
I bought my first shotgun several months ago. It is a Remington 870 express with an 18" barrel (open cylinder - no choke) and an extender tube bringing it up to 6+1. It is loads of fun to shoot, especially if you have a range that allows moving and shooting. I have lots of fun with moving drills against multiple targets. I bought the gun with home defense in mind. I did not expect to have so much fun shooting it at the range, but that has been a positive side-benefit.
As for other activities, I have shot skeet with it, and did pretty well, considering. Doing a round of single-clay pulls, I managed to get a little over 50% of them. This was my second time shooting skeet in my life. The short barrel was actually an advantage at station 8 (in the center with clays flying overhead), as low overhead flying clays are easier to target with less gun to maneuver.
I've also been dove hunting a couple of times with the gun and did decently, considering my inexperience. I would say that hunting birds with a shorter barrel is more of a disadvantage than it is when shooting skeet, especially later in the season when the birds are more skittish and keep a greater distance. I found that #6 shot works well out of my gun, and once I switched to it, I was able to take birds more reliably.
It is quite a light gun, so in heavier loads you're going to get a whole lot of recoil. I have found myself flinching with magnum buckshot and 3" slug loads if I'm not fully concentrating. This is coming from a guy who regularly shoots Mosin-Nagant rifles with ease. I have read and heard good things about the Knoxx stocks, and have plans for one as soon as I can afford it. They claim a 90% reduction in felt recoil, a figure I'm somewhat skeptical about. However, if it even comes to 50% reduction, That would make a world of difference. If you're getting a tactical shotty and have the means, I'd say get one. As someone said above, it could make the difference between your wife wanting to shoot it and not wanting to touch the thing. As for the 12 vs. 20 gauge thing, I'd go with the 12. The main reason is that 20 gauge ammo is more expensive, less common, and you will have less variety in loads/projectiles to choose from.
Given the choice, I'd go with the short-barreled gun and work my way up to a proper hunting/skeet gun when I was able. You can still hunt/shoot skeet with the shorty, just not quite as well. I'd take defense first over pleasure, and work my way to a new shotgun just for hunting/skeet.
I bought my first shotgun several months ago. It is a Remington 870 express with an 18" barrel (open cylinder - no choke) and an extender tube bringing it up to 6+1. It is loads of fun to shoot, especially if you have a range that allows moving and shooting. I have lots of fun with moving drills against multiple targets. I bought the gun with home defense in mind. I did not expect to have so much fun shooting it at the range, but that has been a positive side-benefit.
As for other activities, I have shot skeet with it, and did pretty well, considering. Doing a round of single-clay pulls, I managed to get a little over 50% of them. This was my second time shooting skeet in my life. The short barrel was actually an advantage at station 8 (in the center with clays flying overhead), as low overhead flying clays are easier to target with less gun to maneuver.
I've also been dove hunting a couple of times with the gun and did decently, considering my inexperience. I would say that hunting birds with a shorter barrel is more of a disadvantage than it is when shooting skeet, especially later in the season when the birds are more skittish and keep a greater distance. I found that #6 shot works well out of my gun, and once I switched to it, I was able to take birds more reliably.
It is quite a light gun, so in heavier loads you're going to get a whole lot of recoil. I have found myself flinching with magnum buckshot and 3" slug loads if I'm not fully concentrating. This is coming from a guy who regularly shoots Mosin-Nagant rifles with ease. I have read and heard good things about the Knoxx stocks, and have plans for one as soon as I can afford it. They claim a 90% reduction in felt recoil, a figure I'm somewhat skeptical about. However, if it even comes to 50% reduction, That would make a world of difference. If you're getting a tactical shotty and have the means, I'd say get one. As someone said above, it could make the difference between your wife wanting to shoot it and not wanting to touch the thing. As for the 12 vs. 20 gauge thing, I'd go with the 12. The main reason is that 20 gauge ammo is more expensive, less common, and you will have less variety in loads/projectiles to choose from.
Given the choice, I'd go with the short-barreled gun and work my way up to a proper hunting/skeet gun when I was able. You can still hunt/shoot skeet with the shorty, just not quite as well. I'd take defense first over pleasure, and work my way to a new shotgun just for hunting/skeet.