If you decided upon just one shotgun...

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This is what I take with me quite often. "In The Truck Gun"

This one is always handy.

Never hunted with a shotgun .. never shot on shotgun ranges or matches. Got nothing against it but just was never interested enough to do it.

I have 20's but for my one and only it's not even a consideration. 12's and components simply outpace it by such a margin it's only if you WANT a 20. Performance too, it's .357's and .44 Mags. Sure one can do what the other does with some skill, why handicap yourself? I'm also considering a tactical/survivalist angle. I'm surprised at how close these two are set up, I didn't really notice until I laid them together.

I have trouble between these two. The 870 is a testament to itself. Look how modified it is. That is possible by the rife aftermarket. It is a Magnum receiver with a standard 2-3/4" barrel on it with screw chokes. I think the barrel is 22-23". I had a 9-shot extension on the mag tube, but I put it on my 1100. With the exception of the trigger guard (alloy) it is all steel. Late ones have many plastic parts and modified mag tubes that hamper modifications for added capacity. I'd much rather have a classic 870 than a brand new one. In my view they are very shoddy. The design is proven and familiar to me, I can fix about anything that goes wrong except riveted components in the frame that could break. Very unlikely though. The mag feed opening has a floppy lifter you fold in to load. Never liked that. Early ones were chrome and later ones are blued, can tell from a mile away. The bolt locks into the top of the frame, not the barrel.

The Mossberg is a common later 500 Turkey special with 24" magnum barrel and screw chokes. Very handy and sturdy. Dual action bars I deem necessary on a pump (sorry M12). The loading chute is wide open to access, I like that. Bolt locking is into an extension on the barrel itself, the frame is alloy. The 3-1/2" magnum Mossbers are steel and more bulky, longer stroke to pump too. Do you really need 900 grs. of shot traveling 1400 fps from a 8 lb. gun? It HURTS! (the M500 weighs about 7 1/4 lbs.) The safety is a tang style, again a positive feature. But it is plastic, they make metal aftermarket buttons. Also the mag tube follower is plastic, not steel or aluminum which I desire. Again you could remedy that. I note the top of the receiver is factory drilled and tapped for scope base. Either gun is tops for a one scattergun battery. Not sexy or fancy (I feel very Jim Taylorish) but both are more than up to the tasked it might be asked. It's more up to the man wielding them.

A good double barrel would do just as well. You have the option of an instant second shot with a different choke. But they are a bit heftier, being basically two single shots lashed together. One side can break and the other can still function, mostly. Side locks are totally two independent systems. Domestic box locks do share a few fire control parts internally. I have two Stevens doubles I dearly love. A 20 and 16. If I ever see a .410 version at a reasonable price I'll own one also. Ditto for a Fox BSE in 12 or 20. I love the old Winchester 24 too, just me. I enjoy meat and potatoes scatterguns.

In the south Mossberg's and 870's, 1100's too are scattered everywhere. There is a reason.