The All-Around Shotgun


Tip : Picking an all-around shotgun, one gun that does it all, is much easier these days. Interchangeable, screw-in choke tubes have tremendously increased shotgun versatility. Today's shotgunner can have it all, or at least most of it, in one gun.

With a pouch of standard choke tubes, including improved-cylinder, modified and full, the wingshooter can cover all the bases at all reasonable ranges. Add an extra-full "turkey" choke and you're ready for the big birds. There are even rifled choke tube extensions that will turn a standard smoothbore into a passable slug gun.

The 12 gauge does it all very well while a 20 gives up a bit of range and performance for turkey and slug-shooting at deer. Most modern guns, 12 and 20, come with a three-inch chamber and some 12s feature the long 3 1/2-inch chamber for the 12-gauge "super" magnum. A pump gun is likely the lighter and cheaper option. An autoloader adds some weight and expense but it takes the edge off recoil.