Hunters have a love affair with rifles. They are enamored with the wide range of calibers and configurations, from cowboy lever-actions to super-accurate bolt-actions, and light-weight semi-automatics, which offer superior firepower and high magazine capacity.
But the most practical firearm that every hunter should own is a smoothbore — a shotgun. For a number of reasons, the top choice is a pump shotgun.
Pump shotguns have very few working parts so they are reliable and virtually indestructible. They function in the most miserable conditions imaginable, from being dropped in the mud to coated with freezing rain. They can be taken apart in a matter of seconds, and are easy to clean, or clear obstructions from the barrel.
They are short, lightweight and easy handling, and can be fitted with a wide array of specialty barrels and chokes so hunters can pursue a wide range of “game.” This includes shooting lead or non-toxic shot at clay targets (skeet, trap, sporting clays), rabbits, quail, squirrels, grouse, doves, ducks and geese, wild turkeys, coyotes and even big game like white-tailed deer, when shooting slugs from specialty barrels.
Pump shotguns are affordable, too, and there’s good availability of extra barrels and accessories, such as camouflage stocks, high-visibility sights, and detachable sling swivels, so the shotgun can be carried over the shoulder on a padded strap.
Remington 870
The most popular brand of pump shotgun on the market is the Remington 870, which has become the best-selling shotgun in history. The Remington 870 was introduced in 1951, marketed as a modern, streamlined, rugged, reliable, and relatively inexpensive shotgun. Originally, 15 models of the Remington 870 were produced.
Sales have been steady through the decades, reaching two million by 1973. By 1996, spurred by sales of the basic Express models, which were added as a lower-cost alternative to the original Wingmaster line, sales topped seven million guns. On April 13, 2009, the ten-millionth Model 870 was produced.
The 870 features a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver, tubular magazine under the barrel, dual action bars, internal hammer, and a bolt which locks into an extension in the barrel.
The original 870 models were offered with fixed chokes. In 1986 Remington introduced the new Remington “Rem Choke” system of screw-in chokes.
Initially, the Rem Chokes were offered only in 12 gauge in barrel lengths of 21, 26, and 28 inches. The following year the availability was expanded to the 20 gauge and included other barrel lengths.
Today, there are hundreds of variations of the Remington 870 in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges and .410 bore, including youth model for girls and boys, or small frame adults.
One of the most popular models is the Express, a value-priced shotgun that retails for about $400.
The Express has a matte blue/black bead-blasted finish, with hardwood, laminated hardwood or synthetic stock options. They are chambered to shoot both 2 3/4-inch and 3-inch shotshells, in 12 and 20 gauge.
Fitted with a 20-inch slug barrel, with adjustable sights, the Remington 870 becomes a formidable close-range deer gun, when hunting in thick cover from a treestand or ground blind.
The recommended shotshell for smoothbore slug barrels is the Premier Copper Solid Sabot Slug, The one-ounce slug is all copper and encased in a plastic sleeve (sabot). The load’s muzzle velocity is 1,500 feet per second (f.p.s.).
Felt recoil is significant, so Remington makes the Slugger Managed-Recoil (45 percent less recoil) Rifled Slug, which has a 1,200 f.p.s. muzzle velocity.
For more information on Remington 870 shotguns and the wide variety of hunting ammunition, visit Remington’s website.
Be a “one gun” hunter. Get a pump shotgun and you’ll be ready for every almost season on Kentucky’s hunting calendar.
Art Lander Jr. is outdoors editor for KyForward. He is a native Kentuckian, a graduate of Western Kentucky University and a life-long hunter, angler, gardener and nature enthusiast. He has worked as a newspaper columnist, magazine journalist and author and is a former staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine, editor of the annual Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide and Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide, and co-writer of the Kentucky Afield Outdoors newspaper column.
Hello I just bought a Simi old police issue short barrel shotgun. 2 3/4- 3″ slugs . I’m new to hunting. And need more info. Idk if I have choke?. What and why is needed?. And plug?. If I use only 3 rounds as law allows why I need choke. if I following the rule?.. do I need a longer barrel with choke?.
Thanks for any help
Ranger lead the Way