Guns International

Advice needed about clay shooting and HD shotgun

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  • Zoltan

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    Jul 1, 2020
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    Austin
    Hello!
    I am new to guns. Never had one and almost never shot from one. But I decided that I want to buy a gun for home defense. And to make it more fun to learn using it I want to learn clay shooting.
    From what I read on the internet the biggest difference between guns for HD and clay shooting is barrel length, but I could use two different barrels, short for HD and long for clay shooting.
    My current plan is to buy a shotgun with long barrel for clay shooting and later add a short barrel for home defense. I consider primarily new model Remington Model 870 Express Trap which seems to be built exactly for this purpose and within a decent price range (yes I know it is out of stock but I am in no hurry and I hope they will be on sale again soon). What do you think about this plan? Will I be able to use this shotgun with a short barrel (I am thinking of 18" or so).
    I also have a general question about importance of a shotgun being built for clay shooting. There are many Remington 870 Model guns and their price starts at about $300 with a 28" barrel. What does this Trap model have that adds so much to its price? There is also a more expensive model Wingmaster which is also Model 870 but MSRP is over $800. Do they worth these money if they are based on the same inexpensive Model 870, and if they worth, then why? What do they offer for these money?
    There is also a combo model Model 870 Express Combo with two barrels in one package. Does it worth to buy such combo or is it better to buy separate shotgun and extra barrel?
    I also looked at Mossberg 500 and 590 but nothing caught my eye so far, so I mostly looked at Remington. I am sure it is possible to buy a similar combination of two barrels for different purposes for a Mossberg shotgun but I didn't decide on particular models. Any recommendations are welcome.
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    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
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    Dec 15, 2019
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    Welcome to TGT first of all.

    Several gun manufacturers make combo barreled shotguns, And it's very good option to make a shotgun more versatile for several different applications.

    Shorter barrelel shotguns, are much handier for home defensive purposes.

    Personally, I'd steer away from the Remingtons. Their QC has slipped quite a bit over the last several years. I'd look at the Mossberg 500 series of shotguns. Comparable pricing to the Remingtons, and vast assortment of aftermarket support for them as well.
     

    Moonpie

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    Gunz are icky.
    Your plan is sound.
    The barrels can be swapped easily and quickly.
    You’ll save a little money buying the combo kit from the start.
    You may have to buy a choke tube for the shorter barrel.
    The price difference between the Express and Wingmaster guns is fit, finish, quality of wood, etc. The Wingmaster is much higher finished gun.
    You could probably save a little money hunting around for a used Wingmaster and then purchasing the short barrel.
    Shooting clays is fun.
    Good luck on your new shotgun.
     

    Zoltan

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    Jul 1, 2020
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    You could probably save a little money hunting around for a used Wingmaster and then purchasing the short barrel.
    Thank you for your answer. Yes I considered looking for a used Wingmaster, especially since now nothing is in stock. But being so new to guns I am afraid I will not be able to assess its condition and unable to use manufacturer's warranty.
     

    single stack

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    I’m firmly in opinion that the best shotgun entry level choice is a pump gun combo.
    Adding another barrel after the initial purchase is more expensive in the long run.
    I have a Mossberg 500 with a slug length barrel for home defense. I also have a bird length barrel for it.
    The slug barrel probably has 50 rounds through it.
    The bird barrel has probably 3000.
    These days the old Mossberg is relegated to rainy day weather.
    I’m old and have other dedicated guns for the different clay shooting games.
    The Remington Express Trap has favorable reviews at its price point but, they are purpose built to shoot high to accommodate the rising target presentation in American Trap.
    That is not optimal for general shotgun shooting.
     

    Big Green

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    Before you buy handle the 870 and the Mossberg 500. I prefer the safety on a 500 over the 870. Both good firearms with a TON on aftermarket support. It all comes down to personal preference.

    And if you prefer the 870, look for an older used model. Hopefully cheaper and Remington has had some quality issues in the last few years. Older Remingtons are built like tanks.
     

    Zoltan

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    Jul 1, 2020
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    I think I found an idea combo by Mossberg, it is model 54169. It comes with 28" and 18.5" barrels, pistol grip and 3 extra chokes. Looks like exactly what I need. It is out of stock everywhere too, so I can only hope they appear on sale again soon.
     

    Vaquero

    Moving stuff to the gas prices thread.....
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    Mossberg does shotguns. And they do them well.
    Like International Harvester in the 1970s.
    "I need a truck". Go get an IH. It's what they do.
    Looks and brand names don't put food on the table.
     

    Zoltan

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    Jul 1, 2020
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    Thank you for this link! I see that something is still left online. I would very much prefer to buy my first gun in person but if I don't find anything offline for a week or two I may try to do it online after all.
    I also have a question. This shotgun 28" barrel is listed to have Modified Choke. Does it mean that it is fixed on this barrel and I cannot change it?
     

    seeker_two

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    That place east of Waco....
    Thank you for this link! I see that something is still left online. I would very much prefer to buy my first gun in person but if I don't find anything offline for a week or two I may try to do it online after all.
    I also have a question. This shotgun 28" barrel is listed to have Modified Choke. Does it mean that it is fixed on this barrel and I cannot change it?

    Yes. If it has choke tubes, it will list them.
     

    MTA

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    This is a sweet shotgun that is in stock. You can do clays, HD, waterfowl hunting with it. It shots 2 3/4, 3 and 3.5" shells.

    Most of my pump shotguns are mossbergs, but I would still take an old remington too. I would not buy a new remington unless it was a wingmaster but why do that when I can get a mossberg for 1/3 the price.

    https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=129554&avad=211021_c1bbd0721
     

    Jack Ryan

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    Aug 22, 2016
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    Eseldorf
    Hello!
    I am new to guns. Never had one and almost never shot from one. But I decided that I want to buy a gun for home defense. And to make it more fun to learn using it I want to learn clay shooting.
    From what I read on the internet the biggest difference between guns for HD and clay shooting is barrel length, but I could use two different barrels, short for HD and long for clay shooting.
    My current plan is to buy a shotgun with long barrel for clay shooting and later add a short barrel for home defense. I consider primarily new model Remington Model 870 Express Trap which seems to be built exactly for this purpose and within a decent price range (yes I know it is out of stock but I am in no hurry and I hope they will be on sale again soon). What do you think about this plan? Will I be able to use this shotgun with a short barrel (I am thinking of 18" or so).
    I also have a general question about importance of a shotgun being built for clay shooting. There are many Remington 870 Model guns and their price starts at about $300 with a 28" barrel. What does this Trap model have that adds so much to its price? There is also a more expensive model Wingmaster which is also Model 870 but MSRP is over $800. Do they worth these money if they are based on the same inexpensive Model 870, and if they worth, then why? What do they offer for these money?
    There is also a combo model Model 870 Express Combo with two barrels in one package. Does it worth to buy such combo or is it better to buy separate shotgun and extra barrel?
    I also looked at Mossberg 500 and 590 but nothing caught my eye so far, so I mostly looked at Remington. I am sure it is possible to buy a similar combination of two barrels for different purposes for a Mossberg shotgun but I didn't decide on particular models. Any recommendations are welcome.

    Sounds like a plan.

    Good luck.
     

    rotor

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    I think I found an idea combo by Mossberg, it is model 54169. It comes with 28" and 18.5" barrels, pistol grip and 3 extra chokes. Looks like exactly what I need. It is out of stock everywhere too, so I can only hope they appear on sale again soon.
    Very good choice. They make a similar combo for the Mossberg Maverick 88 that will do you very well. I think for sporting clays I like an auto or an over-under best. Speed is essential. For home defense I use an 18" Maverick 88. Inexpensive and works great. #4 buck indoors, 00 buck for outdoors.
     

    Spcwolf

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    Apr 16, 2013
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    My friend I have exactly what you need and can attest to the quality, accuracy, reliability and value of this deal here from mossberg.

    https://www.mossberg.com/product/maverick-88-security-field-combo-31014/

    maverick 88 is the working mans mossberg line.

    I personally own the 7+1 20 inch security model and use it for my home defense.

    This deal was not available when I bought it or I would have bought this instead. You get the long and short barrel. I would not hesitate to buy this if I was in your position.
     

    Zoltan

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    Jul 1, 2020
    8
    11
    Austin
    Hello again! I had time to do additional research and I want to hear your opinion on Winchester SXP system. How good are these shotguns? There is a combo 28" and 18" available for sale even now like this one.
    There is also a model designed specifically for trap shooting for sale on Cabela's but in this system I don't see as many options available for customization and didn't figure out if it is possible to buy an extra short barrel for it for home defense.
    They however market some interesting feature that I didn't see in Mossberg and Remington. I wonder whether it is worth it "inertia-assisted slide-action that can deliver three shots in a half second" or is it some marketing speak?
     
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