Shotgun for Piggies

[Rascal]

Ok, I know that Upper Cottonwood only allows shotguns hunting, so I would like some help from you experienced people.
What kind of shotgun should I concider buying? i.e rifled or smooth bore, barrel length,cartrige size 3 1/2 max? You know stuff like that. I also would like to use it for home defense if possible. perhaps a second barrel.
lastly a manufacture/ model recommedation, and why?
Thank you all in advance.

 

[BirdDawg]

I just use my remington 12 guage and rifled slugs......pretty acurate......as for home protection I use a dog....LOL....I have a lab thats a great watch dog.....in fact, if anyone ever broke into my house I'd bet that lab would watch the whole time.

 

[Speckmisser]

BirdDawg has a shotgun he'd probably let you use for pigs. It's real good if the pigs are hiding around a corner (as they often do). If the pig is right in front of you, aim the gun back over your shoulder in the other direction, and you'll probably get him.

Seriously, I'd recommend a good pump gun with a slug barrel. Rifled barrels with the modern slugs will probably give you the most "rifle-like" performance, however, a smoothbore with rifled slugs will work pretty well at reasonable ranges as well. If you like, you can scope it, or you can shoot with iron. That's purely up to you.

As to slugs.. just like any other "best ammo" question... try some and see what works best with YOUR gun. Every gun handles different loads better than others. I'd consider using regular 2 3/4" slugs, since I don't think the tradeoff in recoil vs. performance justifies the 3" magnums. Not sure that anybody makes a 3.5" slug at this time, and you sure wouldn't need that anyway.

Good hunting!

 

[pbrdog]

The Mossberg 500 Crown series comes with a 28" vent rib barrel w/all 3 chokes and a slug barrel w/rifle sights. You can pick one up for under $250 if you look around for the sales. I got my son one at Sports Authority a couple years ago. Good luck.

 

[BirdDawg]

well I see Speckmisser is giving away my secret shooting tips on how to use my new remington boomerang 12 guage.....I'll loan it to you but you have to take a class to learn how to shoot acurately with it.....

 

[BLASTMASTER]

I usually just use my single-shot 12ga with 2 3/4" rifled slugs, that I got at Walmart for $80. So far, I got only one opertunity to shoot with it, and bacon on the table at 50 yds! And, I had no problem reloading fast, even under stress. So I say, it's more about what you're comfortable shooting, and walking around with, than performance.

 

[leony]

Upper Cottonwood allows rifles. Lower Cottonwood is shotgun only.
The chance of find a pig there is very low though, and it's some steep terrain.

 

[raidernation]

Actually there are alot of hogs down below. Problem is they all come down late at night. I have seen hogs at the gate entrance into the forebay. Going back to High School days I had a few friends that would poach in the camp ground areas with a Bow or Handgun during this time of year when there are no campers. I am NOT encouraging this I'm just stating that "I knew a few crazy kids that........". (And also stating that there are hogs there) Going by legal standards however as LEONY stated it is indeed tough to hunt. It's better to go when it cool (Winter and Spring) However, thats when the grass is taller and you cannot spot them. If you walk along the shore in the back of the forebay you will see plenty of tracks where they come to get water at night. So they are there its just next to impossible to have a succesful hunt, Especially with a Shotgun. There's my .02

 

[Backcountry]

Originally posted by Speckmisser@Jan 8 2004, 07:14 AM
I'd consider using regular 2 3/4" slugs, since I don't think the tradeoff in recoil vs. performance justifies the 3" magnums. 

No truer words spoken! I never considered myself recoil sensitive until I sighted in my Mossy 590 with red-dot scope and 2 3/4 inch slugs this past summer (Federal and Brennekes). Yikes! That left a mark! One or two won’t kill ya, but 5-6 (or 20 in my case) and you’re gonna have a nice bruise if you don’t wear a maxi-pad… I can’t believe I broke down and bought one of those… OK guys, bring on the “you wear a dress” jokes.

Backcountry

 

[Hntrjohn]

I use a remington 1100, with a rifled choke tube with 2 3/4 one ounce slugs when I hunted Panoce near Los Banos. Did a number on the hog.