Read and learn more about shotgun hunting accessories. For more, visit the Hunting website Hunting FAQ – ICPDLeadersStatement.net
Q: Shotgun deer hunting scope!?!?!?!?!?!?
Hello, I just got a new Mossberg 500 12 gauge shotgun combo. It came with a fully rifled slug barrel and the all purpose barrel. For deer hunting with this gun, what scope would you recommend? I am looking for a nice high quality scope under $150. Also what ammo or other accessories should I get? Is a scope recommended for turkey hunting? Thanks, Please help!
I want a scope for deer hunting. How is a 2-7X32 Nikon, is that too much zoom power?
A: Don’t buy some cheap scope because the recoil from slugs can turn it into a paper weight.
For about 50 bucks more you can buy one of these;
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0038614712551a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=shotgun+scope&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
I am sure you want a scope that will last the life of the gun that’s why I suggested the Leupold.
You could get some of the other cheap scopes like a Tasco, Bushnell or one of these;
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044767712738a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=shotgun+scope&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0064065713115a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=shotgun+scope&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
But just read all the reviews for them and you will see some had to buy another scope. A friend of mine is a penny pincher and I told him to by a quality scope. He went through 3 cheap scopes and finally bought a quality one. I pointed out for the cost of 3 cheap ones he could have bought the nice one. I made the same mistake years ago though, bought a cheap shotgun scope and it worked great. Went on a hunting trip in some fairly cold temps and when I shot the cross hairs started to move with each shot.
Don’t get a high magnafaction scope for it. With the short range of slugs you don’t need anything more than a fixed 4 power although a 2x to 6x would be fine. Its better to have a wide field of view with a slug gun than high magnafacation.
With a fully rifled barrel you can shoot sabot slugs with very good accuracy out to 150 yards.
Here is a good read explaining slugs;
http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_slugs.htm
I use these;
http://www.smokewagongear.com/p-1243-12-gauge-bonded-sabot-slugs-remington-premier-accutip-12-ga-3-slug-pra12m.aspx
Or I handload my own.
I know some use a scope for turkey hunting but you don’t need one. Just pattern your shotgun on paper at different distances. And when you understand your pattern you just aim for its head and you should be fine. You want 80% of your shot in a 30 inch or less circle, if you can get 80% in a 24 inch circle even better! Buy an extra full turkey choke tube and use #4 or 5 lead shot, some use larger shot like #2.
Hope this helps you.
Merry Christmas!!!!
Q: What is the best shotgun for home defense and what accessories will I need?
I have been researching for about 2 weeks now on a home defense shotgun. I have looked at everything from the cheaper end NEF Pardner to the more expensive Remingtons and Mossbergs. I was thinking later I may buy a longer barrel to go hunting with buddies. Are they all easy to convert? Not sure which one to go with. I have about a $175-$ 300 budget. Should I go used?
Did some more shopping around at the gunshow this last weekend and around town. Found a Maverick 88, 28in barrel at my local Academy for $169, saw the 18in barrel online for $71 at Buds. Im still hesistant to go that route vs saving a lil more and just buying a combo kit from Mossberg?
A: A remington 870 or mossberg 500 will do fine. You just need to focus on finding a 1.85 or 20 inch barrel. I would avoid the cheap chineese pardner, but thats just me. Barrels are actually quite expensive, and in the price ranges you are looking at, it might just be better to buy a second shotgun for hunting. A barrel for an 870 will set you back almost $200, and a whole new gun sells for under $300. (most big stores and walmart sell either for about $260)
As for ‘accessories’: Dont hang crap on your gun 
) About the only semi-practical ‘accessory’ on a defensive shotgun would be a flashlight, and MAYBE a set of tritium sights, but they are expensive. Forget the laser, ACOG sight, bayonet, sling, shell holder, cup holder, cell phone holder, etc. its just ‘Tacki-kool” and not practical.
Going used is not a bad option, just shop gun shops and not pawns unless you know what to look for or the shop gives some type of warranty. Its common that there is no warranty on used guns.
Q: Gun Help Please?
Ok, I made my decision to go with the Remington 870 12 gauge pump shotgun for hunting and home defense. (I live in Kansas)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4665590
Is the 20″ barrel good for home defense and hunting? I am going hunting with my friends and not exactly sure what they will be hunting, most likely a mix of different animals. Anyway, I thought that I could just use a barrel for home defense, and when I go hunting I can purchase a seperate barrel and just change them accordingly. What would be a good size barrel if the 20″ is too short for hunting? What would be a good size barrel if the 20″ is too long for home defense? And finally what other home defense/hunting accessories/ammo should I purchase while buying the gun? Thanks!
**EDIT**
I can get an 870 20″ for $229 and by the 28″ barrel seperate, or I can get the 870 28″ for $199 and get the 20″ barrel (or shorter) seperate. Which should I do?
A: an 18″ barrel is ideal for home defense. limiting the bumping the gun into walls in the dark. the longer the better for hunting. 00 buckshot for home defence as well unless you live in an apartment, so that you wont shoo through the walls id recomend #7 birdshot if you do live in an apartment.
Q: Good Mossberg 500 accessories?!?!?
Hello, I have a mossberg 500 shotgun with a slug barrel. I’m going to use if for deer hunting. What are some useful or nice accessories should I purchase for this gun?
Also how does a sling fit on this gun? Were does it hook up and what kind of sling should I get? What other accessories are available?
Thanks Please Help!!!
A: Couple of questions have to be answered first. Is it a rifled slug barrel or a smoothbore slug barrel? Does it have rifle sights or a bead? Is it tapped for a scope or have a cantilever mount?
If it’s a smoothbore barrel, buy yourself some “rifled slugs” and shoot at least a hundred in practice. If it’s a rifled barrel, do the same with some sabot slugs. If it’s got rifle sights, learn to use them and make sure they’re adjusted correctly. If it’s a bead, shoot another fifty slugs to be sure you know where it’ll hit. If it’s tapped for a scope mount on top of the receiver, and you have a bead, consider a low power 1.5-2X scope….if it has rifle sights, a scope can still help but practice helps more.
A sling mounts in the rear sling swivel stud screwed into the buttstock. If yours has none, none was ever installed. Do so now. A set, front and back studs, is like $10. The front stud will screw into either the bottom of the barrel ring just under the barrel takedown screw or into the front of the takedown screw itself. If you have neither hole, go to Brownell’s and buy a takedown screw with one. It’s not expensive.
“Slings get in the way on pump shotguns.”
Not in my use of them, they don’t….and you’ll have to carry the gun into the woods somehow. Tying up your hands ALL the time by hand carrying it isn’t too smart.
Q: christmas gift advise for husband?
okay, guys, i need your help…
my hubby really wants hunting gear. he used to hunt, but all of his stuff was stolen years ago and he has NOTHING to hunt with. SOOO, i was thinking of investing in a shotgun or rifle for him and then asking our family to all get in on it and buy the hunting accessories (clothes, tools, ammo, etc). My only problem is that IF i do that, i can’t really get him anything else. we are limited on money and i can’t get a ton of gifts. would it be better to get him the one big thing he has really been wanting for a while, or a bunch of little gifts that i know he wants (cuz he’s pointed them out)? we usually have a bunch of gifts under the tree and open on on crimmis eve, then take turns opening gifts…i just don”t know what to do. i don’t want the ONE gift to be a disappointment in itself. How do you feel about getting one gift vs. many?
A: Maybe he has pointed out the smaller gifts in hopes of one or more of them because he knows the finances too?You will have to be the best judge of that.If it is something he has wanted for awhile and hasn’t changed his mind he probably will like it fine.Not much help I know.Well that is a hard choice. I guess I would go with the most wanted item.Merry Christmas!
Q: can stock acc. from the Remington 870 fit on the new 887?
i was looking into buying the Remington 870 shotgun when i seen they have a new model out. the Remington 887, almost totally weather resistant. perfect for hunting. i was just wondering if some Remington 870 stock (the butt of the shotgun) accessories would fit on the 887.
seeing as how the 887 is so new there aren’t many accessories out yet. and the 870 being the most used shotgun in the world i was wondering if anyone knew if i could just buy a 870 stock and bolt it on?
A: You have a good question. I was curious so I went to find out. The results from my trusty local gunsmith (Chris): they are a new design (one that’s getting a lot of criticism by users and prospective buyers) and are only similar in aesthetic lines to the 870. Stocks cannot be interchanged between them so an 870 compatible stock will not work with the new 887. If you want customization, stay with the 870.
Q: Mossberg 590 accessories..?
Ive been looking to buy a shotgun for a couple days now and it finally hit me. I wanted an semi auto, but cant hunt in PA with one, so had to go with a the 590 12 gauge. This being my first shot gun, I want the thing to look mean and have no clue where to look to customize it. Any help? Thanks.
A: EBAY is always a good one. IF you don’t find anything on one day you may find it the next OR the next week….just depends. Also check Gunbroker.com, go to the homepage/website and click on “shotguns” in the rifle category. It’s all auctions…you can try to win your accessories OR many sellers list items with a “buy it now” as an option.
I set up my 1967 Remington 870 Wingmaster using both Ebay and Gunbroker.com
Goodluck–
Q: Which gun do you think is better?
First thing is first, when you buy a shotgun for hunting deer what should you look for? There are two different types shotguns I was thinking about getting. Shotgun – Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. You can include any accessory you would get on it. I also want to get a rifle. Should I get a 30-06 or a .308? I want to use them for hunting. Is there any gun that you think would be better?
I was thinking about getting a Remington Model 700 rifle.
A: You’ve made some pretty good choices there, though I prefer Winchester, Savage, and Browning rifles over Remingtons and I prefer the .308 over the ‘06. There is nothing wrong with your choice, these are just my preferences. Either caliber will serve you well.
I’ve owned Mossberg M-500’s for over 30 years. For an all around shotgun, you can’t go wrong with a M-500 and three barrels. A 28″ screw-choked barrel birds, turkey and small game, a 20-24″ rifled slug barrel for deer, and an 18.5″ cylinder bored barrel for things-that-go-bump-in-the-night.
Doc
Q: Mossberg’s Marinecote, what is it ?
I built a tactical shotgun out of my Mossberg 500 this summer for fun. Now I want to upgrade it to be more weather resistant, so I was thinking of getting a M-500 Mariner and swapping my accessories and putting my M-500 field back to normal for hunting season.
So I just wanted to know, What is the Marincote ?
A: Marinecote is a baked on finish similar to parkerizing but more resistant to salt spray.
Q: First Gun Purchase Help?
Ok, I decided to go purchase this tomorrow for $389. The 12 guage with the 28″ and 20″ barrel.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express_combos_specs.asp
What other accessories should I purchase to? The gun is going to be used for home defense and hunting. Should I get a gun case, cleaners etc….? Also, I’d like to purchase some birdshot, buckshot, and slugs to test each of them out. The 28″ barrel has a Modified Rem Choke. What can I shoot out of that, birdshot, buckshot and slugs? The 20″ barrel is a Fixed Improved Cylinder. I assume I can shoot anything out of that, right? And lastly, this is the selection of ammo I would like to choose from:
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshell/
What would be the best birdshot, buckshot, and slugs to choose? Not really sure which is better 2.75 or 3… Thanks!
A: Just my opinion, but I think you picked a good gun.
Buy a good cleaning kit, get a one peice cleaning rod, a little extra money, but it saves hassels. I personally clean all my guns with a product called EZZOX. It’s difficult to find in my area, but really, must of the cleaning products work more or less as billed and they do a reasonable job. I got to using EZZOX on my carry gun, and it sort of spread.
If you’re using the gun for home defense you’ll want to keep it handy, but for transport to the feild for hunting get a gun case. Local law may require it, so check that. A call to the State Attorney generals office will cover you on that one.
Buy a selection of ammo in 2.75 ” for starters. 3″ shells hit harder on both ends and there is no sense in getting beaten up. Try to find some #4 buckshot for the home defense role. For hunting I like big shot, # 2 if you can find it, it’s fewer pellets to dig out, and 1 or 2 hits kills the little critter. If you hunting doves or empty soda bottels full of water, get some real cheap #8’s. For slugs, buy a varity and see which gives the best group. The same slugs work differently in different guns. I have an 870 that I set up to shoot slugs, it’s best with BRI sabots, but it’s no better than my old Davis side by side with K-mart federal slugs, go figure.
Practice a lot and learn safety first and foremost. Guns are just simple tools, but one slip up on your part can make a real mess out of the guy next door.
Q: Gun Help Please!?
Ok, I made my decision to go with the Remington 870 12 gauge pump shotgun for hunting and home defense. (I live in Kansas)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod…
Is the 20″ barrel good for home defense and hunting? I am going hunting with my friends and not exactly sure what they will be hunting, most likely a mix of different animals. Anyway, I thought that I could just use a barrel for home defense, and when I go hunting I can purchase a seperate barrel and just change them accordingly. What would be a good size barrel if the 20″ is too short for hunting? What would be a good size barrel if the 20″ is too long for home defense? And finally what other home defense/hunting accessories/ammo should I purchase while buying the gun? Thanks!
**EDIT**
I can get an 870 20″ for $229 and by the 28″ barrel seperate, or I can get the 870 28″ for $199 and get the 20″ barrel (or shorter) seperate. Which should I do?
A: Okay, here you go. I would say at least a 28 in barrel for hunting birds and a No 6 to No 8 shot. For home defense, I would stick with the 20 in. barrel and 00 buckshot. If you are hunting non flying game such as deer, you can purchase a slug barrel. Also, for waterfowl such as geese, I recommend a 3 in shell in No 4 shot. Also, you may have interchangeable chokes which will affect the pattern of your shot. For hunting birds, like pheasant that fly slower I would use a Full choke which will give you a tighter pattern at a longer range, and for faster flying birds such as quail, an improved cylinder choke, which will give you a bigger pattern, and make it easier to hit the fast buggers.
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