Pump Shotgun for IDPA 3-gun

[Spike]

I'm looking for a shotgun for IDPA 3-gun. I read the thread on the semi-auto shotguns for 3-gun but just can't afford the money for a decent semi-auto hence looking for a pump.

I'm a total noob to shotguns. Prior to last Sunday when I shot a friends 870 the last time I fired a shotgun was 30 years ago at NRA gun safety.

I did like my friends 870 quite a bit and am considering that as one of my choices. My main questions are around barrels. It sounds like in some stages both shot and slugs will be needed. Would I want a smooth bore barrel? What about length?

Any help is appreciated.

- Spike

[1911fan]

Shot shells abhor a rifled barrel, the centrifugal force imparted throws the shot out wide.

I don't shoot idpa so I don't want to be seen as an expert on their needs, but 870's and 1100's can be fitted to do anything one should expect a shotgun to do, and the prices of the accessories will be reasonable.

[EJSG19]

NSFW

[hammAR]

You already got the answer on the barrel..................so I will continue on:

Yes, I want a “reliable” shotgun and I can think of no one who does not. I also want a “good” one. What good is, worth the money is, and various and sundry emotional pleas amount to is confusion more than basis. We all know the “I love my Berazzi or Remchester,” but it is very hard to discern what is meant. Comments like “shoots great” and “patterns great” are fundamentally meaningless comments. What “great” may or may not be is a wildly subjective area.

Of course, new shooters don’t always help the matter. They want the “best” and of course the cheapest in the same box. They want an “all-around” gun, although there is no such thing. They want to hunt a bit and use it for clays, but there is a big difference between shooting hand-trap thrown targets a couple of times a year and becoming a weekend warrior on a sporting clays course. Then there is the “lifetime gun” and “heirloom gun” doctrine, though no one really defines what lifetime means. Much of what is discussed in shotgun land is focused on measuring the immeasurable. Felt recoil, handling and stylistic considerations (“looks great”) are a few of the qualities, though present, that have not been quantified with any clarity and likely will not be.

The best selling pump gun in history is the Remington Model 870, and the most famous is probably the Winchester Model 12. Winchester introduced the Model 1300 pump gun in 1964 as a replacement for the Model 12, and has produced it ever since. The 1300 was designed to be less expensive to manufacture than the classic Model 12, but maintains the fastest, most reliable manually operated action on the market. So for those looking for a known, reliable, affordable shotgun in a pump action the Winchester 1300 should not be overlooked, it gets you fast shooting, more reliability and build quality in a shotgun than can be had in other repeating shotguns, by no small margin. Simple is good; there is less stuff that can go wrong.

[Spike]

I guess I should clarify what I'm looking for. I just want something that I can use for IDPA Multi-Gun SSG or ESG. It says "Pump only in 12 or 20 gauge, with iron sights only. No more than 5 rounds may be loaded in the magazine at any time, 6 rounds max in gun." I don't hunt so I don't need it for that. I don't need to be a tactical operator and I'm not going to be competing in the Nationals.

The idea is to try something new, gain some skills, and have fun.

- Spike

[EJSG19]

I guess I should clarify what I'm looking for. I just want something that I can use for IDPA Multi-Gun SSG or ESG. It says "Pump only in 12 or 20 gauge, with iron sights only. No more than 5 rounds may be loaded in the magazine at any time, 6 rounds max in gun." I don't hunt so I don't need it for that. I don't need to be a tactical operator and I'm not going to be competing in the Nationals.

The idea is to try something new, gain some skills, and have fun.

- Spike

I'd take a piece of paper, and make 3 sections on it. Write one of each in each section: Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Winchester 1300. (My personal bias would make me hope to hit the 870 or the 1300 first!)

Then tape it to the wall, put on a blindfold, and throw a dart. Closest section wins. (the differences are so small that a "total noob" may not really care or notice.) for example: Tang safety or trigger guard safety? Who cares, you'll get used to either one unless you are particularly picky about such things like me. even if you are, it still makes a no real difference either way.

Same can be said for barrel length, type of sights, wood vs. synthetic, what choke to use, etc. The differences are small enough that unless you are competing with the best guys there, you won't care what you have. I'd have to say though, you surely want a smoothbore over a rifled barrel... Smooth you can shoot both just fine, rifled can only shoot one type well.

I'm not a 3 gun guy (yet, or ever, not real concerned right now), but the same applies to self defense, shooting games, or hunting. I've outshot guys with guns costing 5x as much as mine, and have also been outshot with guns cheaper than mine. The focus should be on your skills, not the gun, for any beginner in any discipline. If you aren't certain, don't sink tons of money into something you aren't sure you'll like. Get something fairly mainstream, so if you don't like it, you can re-sell it without a huge loss.

[DeanC]

Has anybody used or seen anybody use one of those Escort shotguns? Every time I pick one up they feel very "right". Not to mention the low price.

[xxForceTenxx]

I guess I should clarify what I'm looking for. I just want something that I can use for IDPA Multi-Gun SSG or ESG. It says "Pump only in 12 or 20 gauge, with iron sights only. No more than 5 rounds may be loaded in the magazine at any time, 6 rounds max in gun." I don't hunt so I don't need it for that. I don't need to be a tactical operator and I'm not going to be competing in the Nationals.

The idea is to try something new, gain some skills, and have fun.

- Spike

Ahh, the shotgun bug bit...

I can't speak specifically to IDPA as I'm starting to read up on it now. But, if that's all you're going to use it for (hopefully not as I think you might enjoy skeet/trap as well if we get out for a session or two), I'd recommend a smooth barrel 20 gauge due to less recoil, and slightly lower costs. Smooth bore can be used for both shot and rifled slugs.

As mentioned, the rifled barrels are not good for shot as I've been finding out from various readings. About the only thing I've found that can be fired through a rifled barrel is sabot slugs. Going to be expensive shooting that for practice and IDPA unless I get a shorter smooth bore barrel for regular slugs.

What about something like this in 20 gauge? http://remington.com/products/firearms/ ... round.aspx

[macphisto]

Maybe you can afford a semi-auto and just don't realize it.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/52355

[hammAR]

Maybe you can afford a semi-auto and just don't realize it.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/52355

afford it, yes.....
realize it, guess he can't...........OUT OF STOCK

[xxForceTenxx]

Maybe you can afford a semi-auto and just don't realize it.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/52355

Did you miss the part about IDPA only allowing pump shotguns?

[macphisto]

Things tend to have a way of coming back into stock. Or Thunderjohn can probably get him one on its way tomorrow. I just sent him to Bud's for the pic, basic specs, and example of a good price. Thanks for logging in today, though!

[macphisto]

Maybe you can afford a semi-auto and just don't realize it.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/52355

Did you miss the part about IDPA only allowing pump shotguns?

There are different divisions with separate equipment requirements. See page 14: http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPA_DMG_ ... 062010.pdf

Thanks for trying, guy!

[Spike]

Maybe you can afford a semi-auto and just don't realize it.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/52355

Very interesting. Thanks.

[gman1868]

http://www.brianenos.com/forums