What kind of bird if I may ask and define "close cover" please.
Yep - It sounds to me short, and snappy is better for you for this than longer and smooth.
Here in the South we have a variety of cover. We used to have quail near where I am currently.
Deer hunters "brush hunting" , and I mean thick brush, use Lever Action 30-30s as some cover is so thick and shots that close, a Slug from a shotgun is best.
26" barreled shotgun can be way too long. So many use 23" Bird guns with slugs, or 18.5" to 20" shotguns for deer and other "concerns".
Birds , rabbits same cover. One person said deer and rabbit down here reminded him of woodcock back home. One is "snap shooting" more so than sustained or swing thru lead.
Here is , IMO, where again the Combo shotguns shine. These combos with 26"/28" bbls and a rifle sighted shorter bbl.
That shorter bbl works great for deer, and HD, and even though many like me do not like sights on a "bird gun" - the darn thing works for real close, tight cover.
See we have up some mean critters out where the thick cover is. Hawgs, I mean , mean suckers, in that thick cover while hunters are going after deer, swamp rabbits, or to a clearing where birds might be, a Hawg run up onto to you, or a Bear, or a Dope heads. Not the time for a gun to whack a tree, or get caught up in vines, briars, growth. I mean I have been up onto a fallen tree, I could hear the Hawg, I could NOT see the Hawg, and I'm taking looking straight down and no more than 10 steps. I stay put real well.
This is why a lot of folks use - same ideas as Dangerous Game hunters use, short barreled shotguns, like coach guns. NO optics, no sights , reliable, not affected by seeds in action ...just "right there" and fell game.
Yes they carry slugs while bird hunting. Hear a bird dog yelping for help and cannot see but hear a Hawg, matters get tense, and serious, and slugs replace birdshot real fast.
Armed Bear,
You are learned and have lots of knowledge. You are a shooter and shotgunner, I respect your experience, and postings.
You have the correct basic fundamentals down pat, you practice and continue to .
You know about sustained, pass thru and snap shooting techniques and when to apply the technique for task.
Just remember Dwell Time on Semi's, 23" seems to be the shortest bbl to go to. Pumps and S/S are not affected by Dwell Time in keeping the gun running...only restriction is the legal bbl length and total length of shotgun.
Browning's 20 ga B-80 [ forgot bbl lenght, pretty sure 23"] , Rem 20ga English stocked Bird gun in 23" bbl are great, proven guns. They do shoot slugs very well if need arises.
You know about Pumps, and Coach Guns.
You are more aware of game, cover and all yiour way than I am, but if "tight" I have no problem with a 20 ga coach gun or Steven's 311.
Nor do I with bone stock 18.5 " - 20" gun.
Only thing I want personally is some choke or options for choke. Cyl bore is fine, if patterns and slug show to do so in patterning or grouping.
My personal thought has been on a single bbl gun, having "near" mod POC is real versatile, use chilled shot to open up pellet load #1, hard shot for load #2. Slugs tend to group better for me with some choke [IC-ish to Mod -ish]
Two bbl gun offer other choke combo options. Also one is liable to tote, more than shoot, you alluded to that in Original Post.
You know all this, just fun to kick around and share.
I am curious to learn from you the bird/ game, habitat and methods used. Oh the shotgun and loadings as well.
Steve
