Shotgun advice

[kracey]

I am interested in doing a little dove or crow hunting or something I could use for squirrel. I want a semi-automatic in a small caliber like the .410 or 28 guage. Any ideas or suggestion on what guage to use etc.? also, something fairly cheap.

[Tominator]

.410 or a 28 might be too small for crow, unless you can get them really close.

I'd suggest a 20 gauge. I use a 20 almost exclusively for dove, rabbit, and pheasant.

Good, cheap 20 gauge, I'd recommend the Remington 1100.

[David_218]

[ QUOTE ]
.410 or a 28 might be too small for crow, unless you can get them really close.

I'd suggest a 20 gauge. I use a 20 almost exclusively for dove, rabbit, and pheasant.

Good, cheap 20 gauge, I'd recommend the Remington 1100.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that a .410 or 28 gauge might be too small for hunting Crows. I like using a .410 3" for Squirrels, but a 20 gauge would be better for Crows.

[too_pointer]

I agree with the .20 ga. It will fit more of your hunting needs.
too_pointer

[lil hunter]

You should definetly use at least a 20 gauge for crows. A 410 would probably work for the other stuff you said, but it's still not the best choice.(in my opinion). You should check out the rem. 11-87 sportsman guns.

[AJ]

I would stick with 20 ga and up for the greater payload capacity for crows. The small gauges are harder to reliably connect with. Its not that there is more power in a 20, 12, or even a 10 ga, its about amount of payload. Each pellet in the pattern of a .410 has the same power as a pellet in a 10 ga pattern when they exit the bore at the same speed. Its just that there are so many more of them in the 10 ga's pattern.

The 410 bore or the 28 ga will be fine for dove and quail.

If you want something cheap, get a 12 ga. Small autoloaders are anything but cheap. Most of them are skeet or sporting clay guns and are over $900. Charles Daly has a 28 ga semi for $459 (MSRP). You can get a pump chambered for either one. Remington and Mossberg make pumps in 410 and Remington has the 28 ga 870.

[kracey]

Alright, Thanks for your input. AJ I didnt know you lived so close to me. I live in Woodstock VA about an hour from you.

[AJ]

You are very welcome. Yep, I saw that. I was out your way scouting in the GWNF. You will have to join us in the Sporting Clay Shoot. It was going to happen tomorrow but we may need a boat to get from station to station.

[ketchum]

Go with the 20 the ammo for the 410 or the 28 is outrageous. If you check Wal Mart enough you'll find a beretta 20 on sale.

[LifeNRA]

Get a 12 gauge! Then you can hunt everything from dove to goose!!! If you buy a pump with a rifled barrel you can even hunt deer with it!

[kracey]

I own a 12 guage it came with 3 different chokes. I was just think that would be a little bit big for something like a dove.

[AJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I was just think that would be a little bit big for something like a dove.

[/ QUOTE ]

Feed it some 7/8 oz loads. They have very little recoil and are super deadly on doves when the shooter does their thing.

[kracey]

Alright, I'll give that a try. What size shot? and also which choke tube? I have: A turkey choke (but not that one obvisouly), Imp., Mod., or full?

[tedicast]

A friend of mine just bought a 20 gauge Berreta autoloader at Walmart. It is all black, 26" barrel, for $300. I'm not sure of the model, but I was really surprised by the feel of the gun.

[AJ]

[ QUOTE ]
What size shot? and also which choke tube?

[/ QUOTE ]

For doves, I use #7.5 or #8 shot. Choke tube selection is determined by how far you are shooting. If they are only giving you 30 to 40 yard shots, I like modified, improved modified, or even full choke. If they are flying under 35 yards, I like improved cylinder or modified. That's one of hte biggest benefits of a o/u or sxs shotgun, you can use different chokes. One of my favorite combos is improved cylinder for the first shot and improved modified for the second shot. If I miss on the first shot the second shot will be farther away.

choke tubes range from most open to tightest:

cylinder
skeet
imroved cylinder
light modified
modified
improved modified
full
extra full
super full