Any recommendations for a coach gun?

[surg_res]

Not big into shotguns, however, i've had an itch to buy a coach gun for HD and as a truck gun. Anyone recommend a make and guage? I personally like the 410, however, they are very difficult to find. I imagine that the 12ga wouldn't feel to fun to shoot. Thanks.

[DannyAbear]

Years ago i had a rossi 12 gauge, really not bad to shoot; here around the gun shows (baton rouge) I've noticed a couple of different brans, stoeger, i think was one of them can't recall the name of the other, anyway, they are available in 12 or 20 gauge, been thinking about a 20 ga. myself; Go to gunbroker.com and search 'coach gun' there are always several listed there.

Just checked, there are several 410s on auctionarms.

[OldTXCop]

Check at Academy. The Stoegers run $299. I have one in 20ga. Not too much recoil & it's a blast to shoot. My 100lb wife shoots it with no problem. There's not as much selection as 12ga. in buckshot, but #3 buck is fine by me.

[plom]

yep, Stoeger are very cool!
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/coach.tpl

Baikal make a nice one with external hammer too!

[chris in va]

Since we're on the subject...

Do you guys find it more difficult to hit clays with the sxs? I tried one last year and couldn't hit a darn thing with it. I have no problem with my 500.

[News Shooter]

Stoegers and all the others are great..would own one in a second. But, if you're going to be authentic and carry some style points this is it

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=77

[TWB]

I'd suggest buying a well used but tight sxs and saw off the barrels to the length you prefer. A good 12, 16 or 20ga should do fine, based on your taste. I'd suggest cutting it 3/4" longer than necessary to allow filing and evening and smoothing of the new end of the barrel. The gap/hole between the barrels can be plugged to an inch or two with any good putty epoxy, which then can be painted to the color you want, where it shows at the end of the barrel. For a front sight, go to a hardware store and buy a brass screw and file it down to a ball on a post. Drill the rib for the post through the metal and hardened epoxy within. Using a good liquid epoxy insert the brass post and allow the new sight to cure in place. (sometimes you can remove the old sight and use it instead.)

No matter what brand you use, it will be a heckuva lot cheaper, and you can avail yourself of a lot of older limited brand guns (hardware store marks, etc.) for a much better price, and comparable or usually, better quality. A gun of this type is a good knock-around gun for travel, vehicles of all types and HD.

My experience is that companies that make shorter barrel sxs shotguns want a premium for the short barrel.

[GoGo]

A 12g not fun to shoot? its a blast, all that kick and stopping power. You just have to be ready for it.

[surg_res]

Ok that CZ is something else! Of course I was thinkin more about a kick-around type gun. 20ga sounds like the way to go, even cheaper to shoot than the 410. Thanks for the input.

[KevininPa]

Check out Remington Spartans. They're actually Russian Baikals. Or find a used Baikal Bounty Hunter on Gunbroker. As long as it's a boxlock it won't be expensive. Around here a new Spartan runs around $270. And they are well built. I have the model with the exposed hammers, that was more expensive. I wanted the hammers because it stays loaded in my closet ( no kids at home anymore ), and I wanted to know exactly what the condition of the gun was ( cocked, uncocked ). I got a coach gun because my house has a lot of twists and turns. The coach is shorter than my pump.


Kevin in Pa