What two shotguns to "DO IT ALL" ?

[Red State]

I have a Remington 1100 12ga with a 22" barrel and 3 chokes. It has a metal bead in the middle of the rib and a fiberoptic bead at the end of the barrel. With an extended tube it holds 8+1 and works well for home defense and low intensity 3-gun competitions. With the mag extension removed and a plug inserted, I have hit my share of doves and clay pigeons. But pretty much everything I do with this gun is a compromise.

So....the title pretty much says it all. Knowing that one gun doesnt work very well, what two 12 gauges would do the best job of covering all the scattergun bases?

I have a strong preference for semi-autos, but I am impartial regarding recoil/inertia actions vs. gas operated.
Reliability is a must. Other important factors include: trigger, ease of maintenance, durability. Of course fit is important, so please feel free to make more than one recomendation.

Below is how I envision the two different shotguns. Please tell me what model you would recommend for each role and what features you would be sure to include/exclude/upgrade.

Shotgun #1 would be for all wingshooting. Tasks would include:
-upland birds
-waterfowl
-skeet
-trap
This gun should be able to shoot at least 3" shells, but should also be able to cycle light 2-3/4" loads very reliably.

Shotgun #2 would be more general purpose. Tasks would include:
-defense against large predators
-3 gun competitions
-home defense
-deer hunting with slugs (and appropriate iron sights or rail for optics)

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

 

[oneounceload]

The current favorite semi on the clay target fields is the Beretta - in either 390 or 391 configuration. Soft-shooting, fairly lightweight makes it easy to tote in the uplands as well.

I do not use a semi for HD, etc, but I have read some good reviews about the Benelli and FN. Of course maybe a Beretta would also work, or keep your Remington for that

 

[Snakum]

One Remington 870 with a 20", remchoked, smoothbore barrel and ghost ring rear site. Maybe a second 26" choked barrel for ducks and geese.

At least, I'm hoping my one gun will do all those things you mentioned. I've seen others doing those things relatively successfully with a smoothbore 20" 870, except for the wing shootring. Even trap can be done with a 20" (or less) barrel.

 

[asahrts]

I personally like my Browning Gold Hunter (mine is a 2006 model i believe) for your #1 option. Its a great wingshooter and can handle various loads & there are 3'' and 3 1/2'' models. The only negative would be the people at the trap range complaining that my semi-auto throws shells at their head. However i don't usually care, especially if i have a good round going. The price was great for an all around sporting shooter with a great name brand/reputation.

 

[Mike U.]

A good pump gun would round out your needs, I imagine. Running a pump gun is dead simple and the design is fairly bug free.
Plus, 870's and Mossbergs give you the option of a plethora of easily swapped out barrels.
I'd run with a pump shotgun as my second if I already had a semi-auto.

 

[Virginian]

Get an 11-87 with a longer barrel for your wingshooting. Get another barrel for your 1100 and it's there for the other stuff. The guns are practically identical so there's no familiarization needed.
For your 3" and very light 2-3/4" I think you will need a gas gun. The Berettas, Browning, and Winchesters all seem to work too, if one of them fits better, go for it.

 

[Moose23]

You really need a pump gun. Personally I like old Winchesters, but the Remington 870 is very moderately priced, reliable as hell, and has a whole slew of options if you want to change configurations.

Most importantly, you can drag it through water, mud and crud, and it still goes "Bang" EVERY TIME you pull the trigger.

 

[hub]

I have a strong preference for semi-autos, but I am impartial regarding recoil/inertia actions vs. gas operated.

I'm with Virginian on this one, get a 11-87 for wing shooting and trap, and use the 1100 for hd, three gun, and deer hunting. The 22in vent rib with chokes is not too long and would be fine for rifled slugs, or you could get a rifled choke for sabots, also you could use the different chokes to find the best pattern out of the buckshot loads. I like how a vent rib points but if you really need some different sights they make some that clamp on to the vent rib. Something like these.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...425005000_425000000_425005000_425-5-0#reviews

Or if you really wanted optics then you can get a receiver mount.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...1_25890_425001000_425000000_425001000_425-1-0

 

[evbutler462]

I like a light gun for walking and shooting. A heavy gun will wear you down. Thus I use a Franchi 48 for the long walks. For the uplands, it can't be beat, IMO. Tote the 48 all day and you won't even know it is there.

For everything else, a heavier gun of your choice, like the 11-87 or the Gold. The heavier gun absorbs the recoil for clays and heavy duty shooting of slugs and buckshot, or heavy waterfowl loads.

 

[ColtraneM3]

My two are a Remington 11-87 12-gauge with a 28" barrel, modified choke and a bead sight and a Remington 870 Express Tactical 12-gauge with an 18" barrel, open "tactical extended Rem choke," XS ghost ring sights/rail and mag extension. I haven't had either long enough to tweak anything from the factory outfit, but they're pretty well-equipped out the door.

Here are the links to the respective pages on Remington's website:
Remington 11-87 Sportsman Camo
Remington 870 Express Tactical

 

[Red State]

Thank you all for your responses.

Right now I am leaning towards keeping my 1100 in its current configuration for HD and 3-gun and predators. What Hub and Virginian said made a lot of sense. If I ever wanted to use it to hunt deer, I would get the rifled slugs and add a rail (the reciever is already tapped) for some kind of optic.

And of course the new shotgun would be my wingshooter. After going with Remington, I feel like trying something new. Right now I am leaning towards a gas action because that will help with the recoil - even if it is a light gun.

Any comparative thoughts on the Winchester SX2 and SX3 or the Browning Gold or the Beretta 391?

Most of my wingshooting will be dove and quail. Ducks and chuckar are also possibilities. Hmmm............wood or plastic furniture?

 

[kanook]

I have a Mossberg 500 with a Knoxx recoil reducing stock.
The barrels are 28" vent rib and chokes
22" rifled slug barrel with scope mounted to the barrel
20" slug barrel with rifle sights
24" ported camo turkey barrel
18" barrel with heat sheild
22" or 20" 50cal muzzleloader barrel with fiber optic sights (hate the sight)

 

[PJR]

Shotgun #1 would be for all wingshooting. Tasks would include:
-upland birds
-waterfowl
-skeet
-trap
This gun should be able to shoot at least 3" shells, but should also be able to cycle light 2-3/4" loads very reliably.

Beretta 391. It's leads the pack in semi-autos particularly in its ability to handle 3" magnums and very light 2-3/4" loads. The only drawback is it might a touch heavy for upland shooting.

Shotgun #2 would be more general purpose. Tasks would include:
-defense against large predators
-3 gun competitions
-home defense
-deer hunting with slugs (and appropriate iron sights or rail for optics)

Benelli M2 Tactical or M4.

 

[Gordon]

I got a lot of SGs. But when I have to TAKE one to another state for deer and bird hunting I too take an 1100 Rem. Mine is a 3" Magnum, but with the RS 21" barrel with Rem chokes it has the 2 3/4" chamber and ports which let it shoot all the lesser shells.I bring an IC and modified choke along with the rifled tube for deer.
Sitting in my safe right now it does have a 2 round extension and the Weaver Quick detach mount has an M2 Aimpoint that I use for deer-and birds!