Favorite Hunting Shotgun

[Watusi]

What is your favorite hunting shotgun and why? I'm not talking about skeet or trap guns, which can be as diverse and expensive as you can imagine. I'm talking about working guns you use afield for upland birds, waterfowl or small game, or even slug guns for deer or whatever.

 

I imagine lots of you hold strong affection for some of the classics like the Browning A5 or the Remington 870 Wingmaster. What about you? Is it a jack of all trades gun you use for everything or do you have different favorites depending upon what type of hunting you are doing?

 

I am looking forward to your replies. I enjoy hearing about guns that have been handed down or about guns that have served faithfully for years, etc. Maybe I will get an idea about a gun that I would never have considered owning before. At any rate, please share.

 

I have a Remington 1100 LT-20 that I wouldn't trade for anything. And early 80's model, it is an easy carrying gun and with its original vent rib modified barrel, it is a great rabbit gun. I have also used it with a slug barrel on a few deer hunts in certain conditions. I just love shooting that thing it is tight and smooth and dependable.

 

Although I would never hunt with it now, I also have an old Stevens breakdown single-shot that belonged to my grandfather (even though technically it belongs to my uncle now). The forend stock is held on with black electrical tape and the finish is just terrible. I consider that gun to be irreplaceable, even if fairly worthless by gun standards. When I was a kid my grandpa used to let me clean it regularly and I kept it oiled and ready to go. I don't think I ever knew of him shooting it, but if he had taken the notion to, it was ready, lol. The first time I shot it was when I was about 12 years old and I ended up flat on my back with a sore shoulder and a wounded pride.

[Harry Doyle]

What is your favorite hunting shotgun and why? I'm not talking about skeet or trap guns, which can be as diverse and expensive as you can imagine. I'm talking about working guns you use afield for upland birds, waterfowl or small game, or even slug guns for deer or whatever.

 

I imagine lots of you hold strong affection for some of the classics like the Browning A5 or the Remington 870 Wingmaster. What about you? Is it a jack of all trades gun you use for everything or do you have different favorites depending upon what type of hunting you are doing?

 

I am looking forward to your replies. I enjoy hearing about guns that have been handed down or about guns that have served faithfully for years, etc. Maybe I will get an idea about a gun that I would never have considered owning before. At any rate, please share.

 

I have a Remington 1100 LT-20 that I wouldn't trade for anything. And early 80's model, it is an easy carrying gun and with its original vent rib modified barrel, it is a great rabbit gun. I have also used it with a slug barrel on a few deer hunts in certain conditions. I just love shooting that thing it is tight and smooth and dependable.

 

Although I would never hunt with it now, I also have an old Stevens breakdown single-shot that belonged to my grandfather (even though technically it belongs to my uncle now). The forend stock is held on with black electrical tape and the finish is just terrible. I consider that gun to be irreplaceable, even if fairly worthless by gun standards. When I was a kid my grandpa used to let me clean it regularly and I kept it oiled and ready to go. I don't think I ever knew of him shooting it, but if he had taken the notion to, it was ready, lol. The first time I shot it was when I was about 12 years old and I ended up flat on my back with a sore shoulder and a wounded pride.

 

I have two loves, and can't pick between the two, mainly because they both do the jobs and do them well.

 

1) Mossberg 500 12 gauge (28" barrel", camo colored)- It's my Turkey baby....use 3 1/2" shells. Pump.

 

2) 1953 Winchester 16 gauge Pump...yes, a 16 gauge. It's my Rabbit and Duck hunting choice. I only shoot 2 3/4" out of it. One of my grandfathers (who just passed away in November) gave it to me a few years back. It was actually the first gun I had ever shot (that I remember). He bought it for $99 (shipping and everything) from a Sear's catalog in 1953. It holds a special place in my heart, as you can imagine

[spindoc]

I don't have just a single gun I use. I have multiple shotguns. My favorite is a Remington 1100 special field 12ga.. Bird hunt with it. I own 2 of them. My youngest has staked a claim on the other. My go to gun is another Remington 1100 12ga. I traded for a denture when I had an office in Louisa (didn't claim it as income either, ha). And my turkey gun is a Remington 870 Supermag with a thumbhole stock. I have several other shotguns, all that we use, none that are showpieces. I don't believe in that.

[Watusi]

I once received two rabbits, quartered and frozen, as payment doc. For fun, had our secretary call the IRS to ask them how we should claim it as income. Told them we could value live rabbits, we could value rabbit pelts, but these were neither and we were stumped. After a lot of quesitons, they finally told her they would get back with us. We got a letter from them about a month later saying they still hadn't come up with an answer but they would be in touch. Never heard from them again. I'm surprised we didn't get audited, lol.

[spindoc]

That's good stuff 2C. I wish we could go back to the barter system sometimes. But that doesn't make politicians wealthy.

 

I also have a very nice Browning Cynergy over and under I like. It's the featherlite and it is just that, remarkably light. However, when it's showtime, I still find myself with the special field in my hand. I grew up with a wingmaster, and I suppose I simply can't get away from the Remington. The L.O.S. down the vent rib of a remington is like a form fitted pair of underwear you can't seem to get rid of. Seems like I don't have to concentrate on the shot as much because I know the gun so well. It just goes where I think it's gonna go.

[Watusi]

Anybody else?

 

Anyone ever own a Winchester Model 37 or 37A? I'd like to know how many of them are still out there. My other grandfather had an old Winchester 37A with the gold trigger that I won a turkey shoot with one time when I was 13. When I was a teenager I wanted to learn how to refiish guns and he let me refinish that 37A and I also refinished a Remington 511 .22 that my other Grandpa had. I did a decent job on the wood, but the blueing left a lot to be desired. It looked good for a while but it wore off pretty quickly.

 

I have the 511 now but after my grandpa died, I don't know what happened to the 37A. Somebody in the family probably traded it for something along the way.

[leatherneck]

I have an old Browning side by side, 20 gauge which is my primary upland bird hunting shotgun. We've both picked up a lot of nicks and scars over the years.

 

Thought about mentioning some others, but I've become paranoid about publicly disclosing what guns I own. Don't want the authorities showing up in the future asking me where all those guns were that I mentioned having on BGP.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I've got a nice little Browning Citori over-under that I've used for quail and dove hunting - although I've not had the chance to go very many times. That's DEFINITELY something I'd like to change.

 

For turkey hunting, it's my old Sears Ted Williams shotgun. I did some research on it, and it's a Winchester Model 12 that was manufactured and branded for Sears. My serial numbers put it manufactured in '62 or '63. It was the second gun I ever got, and I've always loved taking it out. Shot some clays with it the weekend before last, as a matter of fact.

[Larry Warner]

For small game it is no doubt my Winchester Model 12 sixteen gauge pump. There is no doubt it is the sweetest gun I have ever carried in the woods for squirrel or rabbits. For waterfoul and turkey I prefer my SBE2 twelve gauge or my Browning Gold 10 gauge auto, depending on the situation.

[1968isaac]

In the early 90's, I purchased a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag with the short 24" barrell. The 835 may have just been introduced in the early 90's? (Help Doc). Anyway, its my favorite. I've harvested 50 or so turkeys with this shotgun and have hunted grouse, rabbits and squirrels with it. My only complaint, this gun has a long stock and is not very good for grouse and rabbits because it can be difficult to shoulder quickly.

[1968isaac]

Anybody else?

 

Anyone ever own a Winchester Model 37 or 37A? I'd like to know how many of them are still out there. My other grandfather had an old Winchester 37A with the gold trigger that I won a turkey shoot with one time when I was 13. When I was a teenager I wanted to learn how to refiish guns and he let me refinish that 37A and I also refinished a Remington 511 .22 that my other Grandpa had. I did a decent job on the wood, but the blueing left a lot to be desired. It looked good for a while but it wore off pretty quickly.

 

I have the 511 now but after my grandpa died, I don't know what happened to the 37A. Somebody in the family probably traded it for something along the way.

 

Yep. I once had the single shot Winchester model 37A in 16 guage. Dad bought it for me when I was a teenager. I FOOLISHLY sold it a long time ago. I would give 5 times what he paid for it if I could find it.

[KYSportster]

I have a 16 gauge Stevens side by side double barrel that belonged to my Dad that I like to use for squirrels. The gun must be 50 years old, but it gets the job done. 16 gauge ammo is getting hard to find for some reason. Don't really understand why.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Anybody else?

 

Anyone ever own a Winchester Model 37 or 37A? I'd like to know how many of them are still out there. My other grandfather had an old Winchester 37A with the gold trigger that I won a turkey shoot with one time when I was 13. When I was a teenager I wanted to learn how to refiish guns and he let me refinish that 37A and I also refinished a Remington 511 .22 that my other Grandpa had. I did a decent job on the wood, but the blueing left a lot to be desired. It looked good for a while but it wore off pretty quickly.

 

I have the 511 now but after my grandpa died, I don't know what happened to the 37A. Somebody in the family probably traded it for something along the way.

 

Yep. I once had the single shot Winchester model 37A in 16 guage. Dad bought it for me when I was a teenager. I FOOLISHLY sold it a long time ago. I would give 5 times what he paid for it if I could find it.

 

So what's so desirable about the 37? Is it just the simplicity of it?

[spindoc]

I have a shotgun question for some of you. I had a patient whose husband passed away a few years ago, and she knew I was a hunter because her husband and I had talked about it when he was in the office. She brought a list of guns he had to me one day and asked if I'd be interested in in perhaps buying some of them. I said sure I would. I go to her house at lunch one day, and she has a Browning Belgium Sweet 16 with gold trigger and inlay, very good shape and a Browning .22, also Belgium and in excellent shape. I bought them both. I still have the .22 but sold the Sweet 16. I know some of you will say I'm nuts, but I tried to shoot the thing, and I just can't shot those shotguns with the jacked up breech like the Auto 5 and the like.

 

Do any of you have a Sweet 16 and still shoot it? Or the 12 ga of the similar frame?

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I have a shotgun question for some of you. I had a patient whose husband passed away a few years ago, and she knew I was a hunter because her husband and I had talked about it when he was in the office. She brought a list of guns he had to me one day and asked if I'd be interested in in perhaps buying some of them. I said sure I would. I go to her house at lunch one day, and she has a Browning Belgium Sweet 16 with gold trigger and inlay, very good shape and a Browning .22, also Belgium and in excellent shape. I bought them both. I still have the .22 but sold the Sweet 16. I know some of you will say I'm nuts, but I tried to shoot the thing, and I just can't shot those shotguns with the jacked up breech like the Auto 5 and the like.

 

Do any of you have a Sweet 16 and still shoot it? Or the 12 ga of the similar frame?

 

My ex's dad had a 12 ga that I LOVED shooting. It took a little while to get accustomed to the feel of the recoil....there was something more mechanical feeling to the Belgian Browning. I got used to it though, and I really liked the gun. I've come close to picking one up on a couple of occasions now.