Call me Ahab

posted by Caleb on May 27

The Horrible Frankenshotgun is now complete; I took parts from a grand total of 5 different shotguns that I scrounged from the internets (and in one case was found by an intrepid reader) to complete my awful monster. I apologize for the expression in the photo, I was not expecting the camera to go off when it did, otherwise you’d be treated to the exact same smile that I have in all the NRA Convention photos.

I need to get out to the farm and see how it handles slugs, buckshot, and birdshot. My original intention behind this gun was to use it for Canada Geese, however after some research it seems that the general consensus is that 20 gauge 2 3/4 are a little light for geese unless you’re taking extremely close range shots. I’ll probably pick up a 12 gauge to begin my war on the Feathered Menace.

I’m sure I can find some use for a light kicking 20 gauge shotgun though, if it’s reliable with slugs and buck it would make an excellent gun to keep by the bed in the event of a home invasion zombie apocalypse.

posted by Caleb on May 9

My BAG Day gun has turned into some kind of devil hybrid project, as it seems that finding certain parts for a Remington 11 in 20 gauge is slightly more difficult than I would have expected. Namely, the part I’m having a hard time getting my hands on is a 20 gauge barrel for the dang thing.

Because it’s become a horrible frankenbeast of a shotgun using parts from all over (including a Browing Auto-5 stock), I’ve taken to calling it the Frankenshotty, which makes me laugh every time I say it. To complete the Frankenshotty, all I need at this juncture is a 20 gauge barrel, which is actually quite difficult to find. The problem is that the e-gunparts guys are sold out, and I can’t use a Browning Auto-5 barrel on it because the ejectors don’t match, and of course this is the time I can’t find anything on Gunbroker.

Now, if one of you fine gentlemen or ladies who reads here happens to have a line on some 20 gauge Remington 11 barrels, drop me a line. Seriously. Because I have an awesome shotgun just waiting to be born. And besides, you know you want to contribute to something with an awesome name like “Frankenshotty”. Plus, if I get a barrel for this thing, it will be the first gun project that I’ve ever actually completed that required more work than dropping in a cylinder conversion.

posted by Caleb on Apr 22

I’ve got the receiver, and I just ordered the forearm off EBay for the Remington Model 11.  Now, I have a question for the shotgun experts out there regarding a stock and barrel for this thing.  I asked our resident general gun knowledge expert and she wasn’t 100% sure, so I’ll ask the lazywebs in hopes of an answer.

I know that the Remington 11 is a licensed copy roughly of the Browning Auto-5 shotgun.  I have had a hard time finding a barrel and buttstock online for the Remington 11, so I’m wondering if a buttstock made for an Auto-5 is going to fit my gun; and the same question for a 20 gauge barrel.  If anyone knows the answer beyond a shadow of a doubt, drop me a comment or email.  My email address is in the “contact” link up above.

posted by Caleb on Apr 15

The Auction has ended, and I am victorious!  Click below for a picture of the “gun” that I picked up.

Anyone know where I can get the furniture and a decent barrel in 20 gauge?

posted by Caleb on Apr 15

BAG Day is here! What did the Gun Fairy bring you for BAG Day? Unless something goes horribly wrong in the next 10 or so hours, the Gun Fairy will be bringing me a nicely re-blued Remington Model 11 20 gauge receiver/action. Just the action and receiver, I’ll have to buy the stock and barrel later from elsewhere. But the price was so good, and I love buying things on Gunbroker so I just had to have it. I’m going to put a nice 18/19 inch barrel on it and use it for a home defense scattergun, a category in which my gun locker has been sorely lacking.

The finished product should look roughly like the below, although in 20 gauge instead of 12. Photo by Oleg Volk, lifted from The Arms Room. It’s a gorgeous photo, click to enlarge it. I hope that mine looks half that good.

posted by Caleb on Jan 31

I’m sure that a lot of shooters out there are like me, and have thought about getting into trap shooting, but because they’re not “into” shotguns are kind of put off by the high price of a lot of trap guns on the market.

H&R Firearms, which is a subsidiary of Marlin (which has now been bought by Remington) has introduced a trap model of their incredibly versitile line of of Topper shotguns.

I love my Survivor .410/.45 Colt shotgun, it’s handy and accurate.  I give H&R a lot of respect for making quality, affordable guns that get the job done.  Based on my experience with other H&R guns, if you’re looking for an entry level trap gun, you probably won’t go wrong with an H&R.

posted by Caleb on Jun 5

As I mentioned earlier, I’m looking to pick up one of the H&R Tamer shotguns, partly to feed my desire for more firearms marketed for “survival”, partly because I like single shot shotguns, and also because I plan to wage war on squirrels on my father in law’s farm come August.

However, I’m now presented with a problem. You see, when I originally formulated this plan, I was unaware that there was a 20 gauge version of the Tamer, I was under the impression that it was going to be .410 or nothing.

Now, I’ve got no beef with the .410, in fact I think it gets a poor rap a lot of the time. That being said, the 20 gauge would take my survival shotgun out of the “dusting squirrels” category, and place it seriously in the area of a true survival weapon, able to perform multiple functions well.

On the other hand, one of the reasons I want this gun is because single shot shotguns are about as user friendly as you can get, and I wanted Mrs. Ahab to be able to shoot and enjoy this gun. A 20 gauge doesn’t particularly bother me, but I don’t really have a solid frame of reference for whether or not she’d be sensitive to the recoil from a 20 or not. So that would be a point for the .410.

Obviously, the whole reason I’m posting this is to get your feedback - it’s a blog after all. So here’s a short pros & cons list for the 20 vs .410.

20 Gauge Pros
- True multi-purpose firearm, for a “survival” shotgun the ability of the 20 gauge to effectively deal with small game, deer sized game, and two legged predators is desirable.

- Wider selection of ammunition, owning to the fact that the 20 gauge is a lot more common that .410 shotguns.

- Less likely to be mocked for having a wimpy little .410.

20 Gauge Cons
- More recoil than a .410, which might be a problem for Mrs. Ahab.

- Ammo is heavier than a .410, which means that I have to carry more weight p/shot.

- Not a 12 gauge.

.410 Bore Pros
- Slightly lighter than the same gun in 20 gauge, easier to handle.

- Ammo is lighter as well, less carry weight is always a good thing.

- Less recoil than the 20.

- Less destructive on small game than 20 gauge.

.410 Bore Cons
- Less ammo selection, especially in the area of slugs and buckshot.

- Less power for things larger than small game, such as deer sized game.

- Likely to be mocked for having a girl’s gun.

Opinions in the comments are welcome and solicited. If it makes any difference, I’m leaning 20 gauge right now.