Help me pick....

[deadcoyote]

This is embarrassing as I normally get annoyed by all the help me pick whatever AR or glock threads.

I own a mossberg 500 12 gauge with an 18" barrel and a 24" rifled barrel with sights on it. I also have an old stevens 530 12 gauge with a 32" full choke barrel.

I'm looking to buy a dedicated upland game shotgun quail, grouse, and rabbits. I've got a pretty low budget. One of my local gunshops has a used full choke 28 gauge H&R single crack barrel for $200 in good shape. Seemed decent enough but ammo is pricey. I can buy a maverick 88 20 gauge with a 26" barrel and modified choke for $205 shipped from buds guns. Of course I've gotta add $40 for receiving. What say you learned shotgun people?

[Lonestargrizzly]

Get the 20 gauge.. I dunno though, it seems like you have the HD role filled with the mossberg and the outdoors role filled with the stevens.. you just want to get a shotgun in a different gauge or do you use the stevens for trap?

[Thefeeder]

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mossberg-500-12ga-28-ventilated-ribbed-barrel-accu-chokes-Matte-black-/121982864524?hash=item1c66becc8c:g:EXwAAOSwWntXMklY

Done

[Irishfisher]

deleted

[SoCalPI]

20ga. But you didn't say what your budget is (unless it is $240). There might be other options.

[pennstater]

Pretty sure the Maverick has screw in chokes. If so, they work with Carlson's choke's. These are very good, inexpensive chokes. I'd look there. For what you want to do, this might be the right choice.
If you need more info, PM me.

[bigbossman]

Older Stevens 530 shotgun with fixed choke barrel, no. CA is going lead free, and shooting steel through it would be a bad idea. You could use bismuth, but that assumes you have a lot of money for shells. Rabbit and quail shooting burn ammo.

Single shot 28 gauge, no...... for a couple of reasons.

1) Again, steel...... 28 gauge is going to be much harder to find steel loads for, and even then you'll likely be limited to two or three shot sizes - 8, 7-1/2, and maybe 6.

2) If you've ever stepped into a covet of quail before, you know that one shot isn't going to cut it.

Do as thefeeder suggested earlier - buy a Mossberg vent-rib barrel that accepts choke tubes, and open up your world for less than $150 (Mossberg barrels tat are threaded for chokes accept both Mossberg and Winchester choke tubes). Or buy the 20 gauge package.

[pennstater]

I believe bigbossman pretty much nailed it. It's what I did to inexpensively deal with Ca.'s "lead free" crap. Two Mossberg's: a 20 and a 12.

[deadcoyote]

Get the 20 gauge.. I dunno though, it seems like you have the HD role filled with the mossberg and the outdoors role filled with the stevens.. you just want to get a shotgun in a different gauge or do you use the stevens for trap?

My thinking was the stevens with a full choke in 12 gauge would destroy the birds. I was gifted it years ago, don't use it too much. When I was young I shot a lot of grouse and quail with a full choked .410, and at close range it would damage birds pretty badly. I like the fact i can get 3/4 oz steel 20 gauge loads.

[JagerDog]

If you like pumps and want a nice 20g (or 12g) upland gun, look to a used Ithaca model 37.

For your intended quarry, a fixed IC would work well.

Yeah...it'll cost more, but is arguably the finest upland pump to bless wingshooting.

[deadcoyote]

If you like pumps and want a nice 20g (or 12g) upland gun, look to a used Ithaca model 37.

For your intended quarry, a fixed IC would work well.

Yeah...it'll cost more, but is arguably the finest upland pump to bless wingshooting.

I don't want to be Debbie downer, but my finances are low after my truck died and I bought a new rig. My 7 y/0 really wants to go with me upland game hunting, and I figured strike while the irons hot to try to keep this momentum going.

[JagerDog]

The cheapest entry would be a barrel for your Mossberg. 26-28 inch with screw-in chokes desired. IC being 2nd choice. The aluminum receiver and thumb safety make not a bad upland gun.