scope on a shotgun thoughts

novaderrik wrote:

calteg wrote:

novaderrik wrote: a scope seems like overkill, unless you want a cool conversation piece.. for home protection, do you really even need to buy ammo for it? if someone invades your house, the sound of a cocking 12 gauge coming from somewhere in the shadows would be enough to make their heart explode and their pants turn brown..

If I could set this post on fire, I would. Someone breaking into your house, especially at night, is determined/high enough to expect resistance. You racking a shotgun lets them know exactly where you are in the house. What kind of neckbeard spends $250+ on a shotgun and intentionally doesn't buy ammo? Ghost ring, alternating rounds of 00 buck and slugs. Spend some quality time at your local skeet/trap range, you'll make a few friends.

i didn't say to not buy ammo- i meant to say that it most likely wouldn't be necessary.. people break into houses that they think would be easy marks with little to no resistance- the sound of a 12 gauge getting ready for action in some unseen dark corner tells them that there will likely be some kind of resistance.

You're missing what the previous poster is getting at. The VAST majority of burglaries/thefts of residences happen during the day time when it is assumed no one is home. (I used to work theft claims for State Farm)

Now, if it is someone who knows you are older, female, or some other factor that would make you an easier mark, it may help. Then you may have a valid point.

I handled literally hundreds and hundreds, if not a few thousand theft claims.........I can count on one hand how many were home invasions.

rotard wrote:

iceracer wrote: Goes back to the days when it was called a 'scatter gun'. I certainly would not want to be looking through a scope when I fire my 12 ga.

You most definitely need to aim a shotgun. You can't chop down rows of zombies across a room with a single blast.

Oh, I agree. I once took the head off a white rabbit whilst aiming in the typical manner.

Get an eotech. They are good enough to hit a 6inch plate at 200 yards with a 223. If I had the money I would put one on my shotgun.

novaderrik wrote: a scope seems like overkill, unless you want a cool conversation piece.. for home protection, do you really even need to buy ammo for it? if someone invades your house, the sound of a cocking 12 gauge coming from somewhere in the shadows would be enough to make their heart explode and their pants turn brown..

Only an idiot carries an empty weapon into danger.

iceracer wrote: I certainly would not want to be looking through a scope when I fire my 12 ga.

People are getting confused - me included - because he called it a scope. We're thinking of a "scope" as being a little telescope with crosshairs in it mounted to the top of the gun. Totally inappropriate for a shotgun, unless you're doing something weird with it, though I agree you do need to aim a shotgun.

He's using "scope" in a different way, to mean any aiming device.

Seems to me a red dot makes the most sense rather than some kind of illuminated sights, because (assuming the dot is in working order) you can aim and fire the gun without having the stock at your shoulder if need be. I'm no HD expert, however.

If you're not shooting slugs, I wouldn't bother. Other mods seem to make me think you'll someday own an AR that looks like this

Also, screw flashlights for defense applications.....at night you might as well be saying "Shoot at the light" to any perp not blinded by said light. Same goes for lasers.

rebelgtp wrote: On the subject of shotguns I also have one of these.

I like those very much. Is that a Belgian made large magazine capacity one?

pilotbraden wrote:

rebelgtp wrote: On the subject of shotguns I also have one of these.

I like those very much. Is that a Belgian made large magazine capacity one?

I appears to be the first Winchester semi auto 12ga. I can't remember the model number at the moment. Also note, FN probably made these later on......Browning designed them. Browning had the shotgun trifecta, lever action, pump action, and semi. I have the Winchester 97 pump myself, IMHO, the best pump.

I have a $32 red dot on an NEF single shot 10 gauge. I like to shoot Federal's 1.75 oz slugs. No problems with the "scope."

yamaha wrote: It appears to be the first Winchester semi auto 12ga. I can't remember the model number at the moment.

That's a Browning A-5, or I'll eat my hat. Iconic shotgun, I've got one myself.

calteg wrote:

novaderrik wrote: a scope seems like overkill, unless you want a cool conversation piece.. for home protection, do you really even need to buy ammo for it? if someone invades your house, the sound of a cocking 12 gauge coming from somewhere in the shadows would be enough to make their heart explode and their pants turn brown..

If I could set this post on fire, I would. Someone breaking into your house, especially at night, is determined/high enough to expect resistance. You racking a shotgun lets them know exactly where you are in the house. What kind of neckbeard spends $250+ on a shotgun and intentionally doesn't buy ammo? Ghost ring, alternating rounds of 00 buck and slugs. Spend some quality time at your local skeet/trap range, you'll make a few friends.

Post of the week. Anyone who touts that old line has been watching too much TV.

Osterkraut wrote:

yamaha wrote: It appears to be the first Winchester semi auto 12ga. I can't remember the model number at the moment.

That's a Browning A-5, or I'll eat my hat. Iconic shotgun, I've got one myself.

I was thinking Winchester 11....but they both do look alike. I think John just did whatever he wanted with the designs....

Actually Oster and Yamaha you guys are both close but also both wrong. Remington Model 11 which was a licensed copy of the Browning Auto 5. The Winchester that was rushed into production to compete against the A5 and Rem 11 was nick named the "widowmaker". The Browning patents covered the bolt handle so Winchester instead made it so you grabbed the barrel and pushed it in to cycle the action. People tended to set the butt on the ground then go about cycling the action at times a shell was fired with the barrel pointing up at the operators head.... My father had a Belgium made A5.

My particular Rem 11 is a "Military Finish" model that was originally used to train aerial gunners how to lead targets. I still have the longer barrel then picked up a second barrel to chop down.

Another fun fact. This model shotgun was preferred by Clyde Barrow for being a compact and fast acting when the barrel and stock was cut down. This is where the term "whippet" came from for guns. They would keep the cut down shotty under their coat then whip it out when ready to rob a bank or when the law came around. For its time it was one of the most devastating weapons available.

Oh and speaking of the Winchester model 97 there is one out at my local shop I have been eyeballing. Though there is a Benelli M1 Super 90 sitting next to it that is also tempting.

In reply to rebelgtp:

LOL the more you know

rebelgtp wrote: Actually Oster and Yamaha you guys are both close but also both wrong. Remington Model 11 which was a licensed copy of the Browning Auto 5. The Winchester that was rushed into production to compete against the A5 and Rem 11 was nick named the "widowmaker". The Browning patents covered the bolt handle so Winchester instead made it so you grabbed the barrel and pushed it in to cycle the action. People tended to set the butt on the ground then go about cycling the action at times a shell was fired with the barrel pointing up at the operators head.... My father had a Belgium made A5. My particular Rem 11 is a "Military Finish" model that was originally used to train aerial gunners how to lead targets. I still have the longer barrel then picked up a second barrel to chop down. Another fun fact. This model shotgun was preferred by Clyde Barrow for being a compact and fast acting when the barrel and stock was cut down. This is where the term "whippet" came from for guns. They would keep the cut down shotty under their coat then whip it out when ready to rob a bank or when the law came around. For its time it was one of the most devastating weapons available. Oh and speaking of the Winchester model 97 there is one out at my local shop I have been eyeballing. Though there is a Benelli M1 Super 90 sitting next to it that is also tempting.

BRB, getting BBQ sauce for my hat.

My own experiences, mostly from hunting with shotguns.

Scopes not make for a shotgun die quickly from the recoil.

Scopes should be very low powered, otherwise you're admiring thread counts or hairs, and you cannot actually see the target.

Be very carefull setting up a scope, the recoil is strong, so the gun travels a fair bit. Getting hit with a scope really hurts, and it bleeds a lot.

Scopes need to let in enough light that you can see through them, otherwise it's all darkess and you can't see anything.

Red dots are cool, but the batteries have to be good, and you have to turn them on. You still have to sight them in, and set yourself behind it correctly to see it and use it. Not handy for hip shooting and the like.

A light gathering fiber optic front site can be neat, but also can let the target see you, especially when you move. Too good and the glow overwhelms your night vision.

Lasers sound nifty, but if you don't know where to look for it down range, you usually can't find it. Lots of time wasted hunting for it.

Ghost rings and the like are remarkably fast at target aquisition, from the shoulder.

The more a gun is accessorized with add-on farkles, the less well it tends to work. The balance is screwed up, it catches on things, time is wasted turning gee-gaws on. A simple clean gun and a lot of practice really seems to work best.