12 gauge Midland Arms Backpacker 18½ inch

[Elm Creek Smith]

I am considering one of these for a Jeep/backpack survival gun. It comes with a Beretta modified choke tube. I was thinking with the addition of a Beretta rifled choke tube that it would be ideal for taking game from birds to deer and maybe hogs, if necessary. Since it's so light, field loads in 2¾ inch (7½ and 6 shot) would be primary ammo with low recoil 00 buck and slugs for defensive use. I would relegate 2¾ and 3 inch sabot slugs for deer, hogs, and trucks (only if I put a strap-on recoil pad in the backpack!). A local gun shop has a used one for $159.00.

My wife and I travel a lot for her medical appointments and have come close to getting stranded by high water. I normally carry two 9mm pistols when we're on the road, but don't have a lot of room for a long gun. My other option is getting a DelTon AR pistol for $419.00 and putting an arm brace and a red dot on it. The disadvantage is that it wouldn't fit in my backpack.

What do you guys think?
https://www.shootmidland.com/products/midland-backpack-12-gauge-18-5-barrel

 

[DocRock]

I like your plan and your thinking. I would counsel in favor of a 20 ga 1 oz loads and 7/8oz slugs, but you aren't going to do any volume shooting and $159 is hard to pass up. I would suggest reduced recoil everything and one of those cloth belt bandoliers with ammo by group goes in the backpack with it.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I like your plan and your thinking. I would counsel in favor of a 20 ga 1 oz loads and 7/8oz slugs, but you aren't going to do any volume shooting and $159 is hard to pass up. I would suggest reduced recoil everything and one of those cloth belt bandoliers with ammo by group goes in the backpack with it.

I think the 20 gauge is a reasonable option, but..., as you pointed out, the 12 gauge is available now. With field loads, recoil won't be significantly more than a 20 gauge with denser and shorter shot strings. The sabot slugs would strictly be "kill or starve" ammo, especially for hogs.

 

[TTv2]

For any sort of serious defensive use, I'd choose the 12 over 20, just many more ammo options available. Since it's a break action, you could use the Aguila Minishells that have a mix of #1 and #4 Buck. Cabela's use to have a nifty Herter's 2-1/4" shell that had 6 pellets of 00 Buck, which on paper would be a 33% reduced recoil load, but after Bass Pro bought them they dropped any defensive Herter's ammo and now just make target/field ammo because Bass Pro is anti gun for self defense.

What tells me that 12 is right for you vs 20 is if you have any intention of taking a larger animal like a hog with slugs. I'm not all to sure what a 20 gauge slug is capable of, but again, 12 ga just offers you a lot in regards to slugs and both Federal and Aguila make the minishells that use slugs and they are very pleasant to shoot.

 

[troy fairweather]

These little buggers kick I'd get the 20. I Am still waiting for the rifle barrels they were going to come out with.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I contacted them and they said .22 barrels were "in the works" and larger calibers were being developed "overseas."

 

[TTv2]

I contacted them and they said .22 barrels were "in the works" and larger calibers were being developed "overseas."

They've been saying rifle barrels are coming for 2 years, at this point I don't believe it, it was just a marketing technique to sell the Turkish made shotguns for cheap. I'll still buy one, but I'm not going to until rifle barrels are available.

My guess is the reason they've been so slow with the barrels is they can't find a supplier to make them for less than the cost of the gun.

 

[Leadbutt]

I would go 20ga and then look into the Alaska barrel liners. 20ga will do fine, I have killed both hogs and deer with mine

 

[dodo bird]

Seems a little over priced for a used one. New ones often go for less if you look around. If you get it give us your review please. I’ve looked at those as well. https://www.classicfirearms.com/midland-backpack-gmbp1218-12ga-shotgun/

 

[SgtScrounge]

If you only intend to rely on it to kill game, it is fine. If you might have to rely on it for self-defense purposes, a single-shot puts you at a significant disadvantage. A pump or autoloader would be a better choice.

 

[jeepnik]

Survival hunting a single shot is fine. Any thing involving self defense requires something that has repeating capability. As to caliber/gauge anything for .410 up would be fine. A .410 slug will work on anything on two legs and anything on four you'd want to eat. But since "survival" usually means killing small animals or birds you don't need a 12 or even a 20. And consider the difference in the amount of ammo per pound in using the smaller gauges/caliber.

 

[BigBore45]

Fedarms makes one in 12,20 and 410. On gunbroker they go for around 65 bucks new. I have one. Just took a duck with it at 50+ yards. Good survival shotgun.

 

[jamesinalaska]

Sgt.Scrounge said it right that survival is one thing but defensive situations are another. Lets face it, when traveling alot (as you said you do, too) we often end up in less than desirable motels in the less pretty neighborhoods and an 18.5", double barreled, 12 or 20 gauge will bring you much more peace of mind than a single-shot. And, better still, the double barrel will break down into your backpack just as easily -if not more so- as that single shot.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Okay, I haven't bought the Backpacker,...yet, so no range report.

The question came up about defensive usage, so I thought I'd address that. On the road I carry a S&W Model 65-1 and a S&W Model 12-2. My wife's "little gun," a S&W Model 681 ND with Crimson Trace grips rides in the console.

 

[Ernie Bass]

I bought two of them and love them. One is a 12 ga with a 18" barrel and man is that a easy carry shotgun. I liked it so much I bought a 12ga. Turkey model with the Turkey Choke with a 22" barrel. And this is the model I recommend as it comes with a scope mount.
I do not care about the 22.barrel. Yes they did promise them bought ran into some restrictions importing them. Do not know the details.
I have no problem shooting these guns. Recoil is not as bad as the internet says. I do use a Shoulder pad and shoot Buckshot through them on a regular basis.

Do not care about a 22. or center fire barrel. Why? So easy to buy a 8" Rifled insert. In fact can by a 20ga insert, and on and on. I have a 22.cal insert and a 9MM from Shortlane adapters.

I was surprised how well this gun does with Buckshot. I shot quite a bit Using different chokes. Shoota as tight a pattern as guns costing 10 times as much. Also the 9mm does very well. These are one of the best deals going for Cost to quality. Very solid build. Try walking around with a shotgun that ways 4 1/2 lbs and a short 18" barrel that takes Beretta Chokes. Actually a cool little gun for sure.

Get the 12ga and buy a Shortlane adapter in 20ga. Heck, get all the adapters. This gun could come in very handy in the future.

 

[cdb1]

I wouldn’t waste my time with a rifled choke. 1-2” of rifling at the end of a barrel isn’t going to add anything to accuracy.

 

[Ernie Bass]

I wouldn’t waste my time with a rifled choke. 1-2” of rifling at the end of a barrel isn’t going to add anything to accuracy.

Who said anything about a rifled choke? What the heck are you talking about?

The INSERT is Rifled barrel that does not go on the end of a shotgun. It is a rifled barrel for centerfire or rimfire. Lol, the choke out of the end of the barrel is a Extended Turkey Choke.

 

[cdb1]

I was thinking with the addition of a Beretta rifled choke tube that it would be ideal for taking game from birds to deer and maybe hogs, if necessary.

Who said anything about a rifled choke? What the heck are you talking about?

That is what I’m talking about. To the people I know “choke tube” means interchangeable screw-in choke. In addition the context of the OP’s previous sentence leads one to believe he’s talking about a screw-in rifled choke, not an insert.

It comes with a Beretta modified choke tube.

 

[cdb1]

Lol, the choke out of the end of the barrel is a Extended Turkey Choke.

After reading your post it’s obvious you think I was commenting on your post. I was commenting on the original post, it had nothing to do with you. I also know exactly what an extended choke is, I use them extensively on my wing shooting shotguns because they protect the crown of a barrel and I can tell at a glance what choke I’m using. I also have two extended turkey chokes, one for my Maxus and one for my SA-459 Turkey, both are custom SumToys. Below is a photo of my turkey gun with a turkey choke. LOL.

 

[entropy]

Who said anything about a rifled choke? What the heck are you talking about?

The OP did. (Below from, post #1) I would add to cdb1's admonition to avoid a rifled choke tube; they do little to nothing.

I was thinking with the addition of a Beretta rifled choke tube

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

The shotgun is still available as I write this. I may go get it after my next SS check arrives. In the meantime, I bought a S&W SD9 w/Hi-Viz sights. I'm headed for a third magazine this after noon.

As a matter of clarification, regular foster slugs do not gain much if anything through rifled choke tubes. However, saboted slugs most certainly do benefit from rifled choke tubes which have around three inches of 1:35 rifling and work on the same principle as the paradox guns that were in use in India and Africa in British colonial days.

 

[cdb1]

However, saboted slugs most certainly do benefit from rifled choke tubes which have around three inches of 1:35 rifling and work on the same principle as the paradox guns that were in use in India and Africa in British colonial days.

And this is based on?

 

[sean m]

Add a chamber adapter for 22lr and your pistol caliber of choice to it, and it would make a ideal truck beater.
https://www.gunadapters.com/

 

[entropy]

However, saboted slugs most certainly do benefit from rifled choke tubes which have around three inches of 1:35 rifling and work on the same principle as the paradox guns that were in use in India and Africa in British colonial days.

They didn't in my experience, and I tried every brand available at the time.

 

[WestKentucky]

With a gun like that I think I would skip slugs. Slugs are not easy to get good with and taking the time and practice with that gun to be good will be painful and expensive. For survival and defense, buck shot is nearly as effective and is a lot easier to shoot, especially when the critters decide not to stand around waiting to be killed. I do agree that a 20 would be preferred to a 12, but only a slight preference. The 12 is available, chokes are more plentiful, and low brass shells don’t kick much more. The only real downside to 12 is the Sasquatch stomper loads which will seldom be fired, and a little bit of weight in gun and ammo if/when your carrying it.