Need help with a shotgun question.....

[artech]

I'm trying to talk myself into replacing my carbine - style rifle with a shotgun. I need some help doing it.

I've always liked carbines, but the fact is that for the shooting I do I think a shotgun may even be superior. My carbine shooting is almost always at 100 yards or less, hell, usually at less than 50 yards. Sometimes at less than 50 feet.

Is there any reason that a good rifle sighted shotgun can't or won't perform at these close ranges? I'm OK with the ammo capacity and reloading issues, so that's not a consideration in my case.

I know there are WAY more types of available ammo for the shotgun and that the shotgun is more versatile, so why the hell am I having so much heartburn over switching to a shotty?

Can somebody help me? Or do I just need some Prozac?

 

[Rupestris]

When you say "replacing my carbine" does this mean you must give up the carbine in order to get a SG? Is there no way you can keep both? and last, what type of shooting do you do?

 

[Smoke]

If forced to choose between the two, I would pick th shotgun....but thats me, other here might feel different.

There is no reason a shotgun can't perform at the ranges you mention. 100yards with slugs takes a little practice but is manageable. inside 50 is great.

The 870 express combo packages are great value, rifle sighted smooth bore barrel for slugs, buck, and defensive purposes. And a longer vent rib for busting clays and small flying mammals.

There are other guns equally suited, 870 is just my preference.

As Rupestris indicated, though, can you keep the carbine and add the gauge?

Smoke

 

[artech]

Sorry, should have been more specific. I have both a Mossberg 590A1 and a FAL carbine, but what I mean by "replace" is what should I train more with, or what is out of the safe and available. I figure I can only really stay good with two guns at a time so a pistol and a rifle, the rifle is what I'm trying to figure out here.

My shooting is mostly defensive training, I'm not a LEO or mall ninja, I just want to protect my own. I also do some hunting, but not as much as I used to. I wish we had an IDPA around here but we don't. Maybe an ID"S"A?

Geez, the 590 with slugs is probably even a better deer gun for the Maine woods, too! Why am I having such a hard time giving up the carbine?

 

[riverdog]

I would practice with all three, shotgun, rifle and pistol; don't sell yourself short. For PD, the carbine would be my last choice because its range and caliber point to offense rather than defense, but I'd still practice with it.

I regularly shoot pistol (1911's and S&W revolvers) at an indoor range as well as Skeet & Trap at a local club. For me to pick up a Garand or a Rem 700 and start shooting 200 and 300 yards would mean driving a lot farther, but if that weren't an issue, I'd shoot all three disciplines. They're different, not mutually exclusive.

 

[christophera]

Sorry, should have been more specific. I have both a Mossberg 590A1 and a FAL carbine, but what I mean by "replace" is what should I train more with, or what is out of the safe and available. I figure I can only really stay good with two guns at a time so a pistol and a rifle, the rifle is what I'm trying to figure out here.

I understand about the training. I have one pistol, one shotgun, and a .22 rifle. My dad has...god knows what...20+ firearms. Last time we went shooting he was doing good but I was hitting pretty much everything(close distance.) He said "Good shooting" and I kind of said thanks and shrugged it off. He said " No you're a pretty good shot." Then it hit me. I train with two firearms, he trains with 20+ so comparitively I am good even though compared to some other shooters I'm average. So I get the focus on a couple of firearms thing.

To the problem you stated, you really need to evaluate your shooting habbits. I would say that if you really like your FAL which it sounds you do, stay with it. The shotgun is more verstaile but if you don't need to hunt your food and you can use your pistol for HD, the shotgun really doesn't offer more in the way of SHTF defense. Of course a standard shotty is more PC to be carrying around in a SHTF scenario. Carrying an assault type weapon labels you as an enemy in most cases.