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What do you guys think of the Stoeger side by side coach guns?

Online reviews are mostly good. I would be shooting mostly slugs out of it (and admittedly rarely at that), but I'm having a hard time finding any experiences shooting slugs out of the simpler models.
All my experience is with semi-auto and automatic rifles; I don't know anything about shotgun ammunition (nor admittedly much about shotguns period!). Is 20 gauge really that much harder to find than 12? Should I just get a Remington 870?

Thanks!

Schleppy, as a gun amatuer I thank you for your insight on this. As a soon to be father of a lil girl, I really thank you for this. I think that might be what I'm looking for to protect my lil girl from all them trouble makin boys. Can you buy shells loaded with rock salt or do you load those yourself to shoot them boys in the behind

schlepporello wrote: If you want to put a sting in someone's butt, buy a cattle prod. Guns ain't for scarin' people in this fashion.

I hadn't thought about the cattle prod, but it might make the missus a lil happier than the gun

and they're ALWAYS too loud!

Bob Kolada wrote:I would be shooting mostly slugs out of it (and admittedly rarely at that), but I'm having a hard time finding any experiences shooting slugs out of the simpler models.

Instead of slugs, have you considered these?

Remington Premier Copper Solid Sabot Slugs:
Designed for use in fully rifled shotgun barrels, Remington Premier Copper Solid Sabot Slugs are ideal for longer shots. Each solid-copper slug is encased in a high-performance plastic sabot that greatly enhances in-flight performance and, thus, accuracy. Upon impact, they reliably expand to 2-X caliber with virtually 100% weight retention.
http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/ ... 854a.shtml

Marty "almost afraid to ask why you would buy a shotgun solely for shooting slugs"

In the neighborhood where I grew up, hunting was restricted to slugs or shot, no rifles due to high population density. I think there are many such areas on the outskirts of the suburbs, where the flourishing deer population has created a sort of backyard game preserve situation. If you have a reasonably large and private back yard, some skill at placing a slug, and don't mind eating a lot of venison, it could be well worth your time.

I was able to check one (Stoeger coach) out in a gun store when I visited my parents. The fit felt fine and I got the feeling that I could get used to reloading it pretty fast (though ideally I will acquire more guns eventually.... ).
I still have to get my FOID (Illinois license), and I thought some types of shotguns were not allowed while others were so I need to find that out first.

MartyNeilan wrote:almost afraid to ask why you would buy a shotgun solely for shooting slugs

Because it's cheaper than a big caliber rifle (though I have seen .45/70 Marlin's for under $600, it'd be nice to not have to pay 100 bucks for a box of 20 or whatever...)!

It looks like the Stoeger supremes have screw in chokes. Would that mean they could be fired without?

Any recommendation for a shorter SxS shotgun that can shoot slugs, has a single trigger (I think I've shot rifles too often to get used to double0), and is not too expensive? Under 500 would be sweet.

Quick question Bob, just what do plan on using this shot gun for? If you want to do skeet or upland bird hunting - pheasants in South Dakota - a 12 gauge over under would serve you well. If you are going deer hunting and need a slug gun the 12 gauge Remington 870 or Winchester pump would serve you well. Cabelas would be a good source for a slug gun.

The Stoeger coach double barrel shot gun is only going to be useful in cowboy action shooting where period pieces are called for - single action revolvers, Winchester lever action rifles and a double barrel shot gun.

I don't think that highly of a Stoeger double barrel shot gun. Go with the 870 or Winchester pump and have fun. Also, if you have not shot a 12 gauge very often, you will have to get used to the recoil. Even if you are shooting trap or skeet with trap loads, if you do not have the shot gun mounted correctly on your shoulder when you pull the trigger - you will have a bruised and sore shoulder. I've been there and done that. A .410 can give you the same amount of fun but with less kick - it will be an excellent slug gun for deer as well. But as a trap gun, you will need to be a very good shot gun shooter - the .410 has a smaller shot pattern.

Thanks for the replies guys!

Rev Rob wrote:Quick question Bob, just what do plan on using this shot gun for? If you are going deer hunting and need a slug gun the 12 gauge Remington 870 or Winchester pump would serve you well.

I may be moving to a place where large animals like to eat/trample people; so, I suppose this would be mostly to keep around for that (day-to-day and camping, though the vast majority of the time I would be inside so I wouldn't necessarily need something with a lot of rounds; and as for camping I am also planning out a handgun, which now in Chicago will have to wait til this silly little business gets resolved)....

The Stoeger coach double barrel shot gun is only going to be useful in cowboy action shooting where period pieces are called for - single action revolvers, Winchester lever action rifles and a double barrel shot gun.

....and fun times shooting. I think SxS's are super sweet, though I'd probably have as much fun for the same cost with an 870 or the like. But a coach gun breaks down so small (not to imply that I am looking at a tactical coach; this is the best broken down picture I could find in 1.5 minutes ) and the simplicity of it is very attractive!

Also, if you have not shot a 12 gauge very often, you will have to get used to the recoil. Even if you are shooting trap or skeet with trap loads, if you do not have the shot gun mounted correctly on your shoulder when you pull the trigger - you will have a bruised and sore shoulder. I've been there and done that. A .410 can give you the same amount of fun but with less kick - it will be an excellent slug gun for deer as well. But as a trap gun, you will need to be a very good shot gun shooter - the .410 has a smaller shot pattern.

I think I came clean in my first post, but to be clear I've never fired a shot gun.
A .410 or probably a 20 gauge would be cheaper fun but I'd rather have a little extra overkill so I don't get eaten or some such thing!
I have almost zero interest in shot loads, so I'd probably use mini-slugs or some such thing for most of my shooting around to prolong my shoulder and wallet. I've read some good reviews on Aguila min-slugs and they seem to be a better $ for shooting around, but they don't work too well in pumps (would work fine in a SxS).

schlepporello wrote:Do not under any circumstances shoot any shotgun equipped with screw-in chokes without the chokes installed.

That's good to know!

As for other S & S shotguns with a single trigger and under $500? I'm at a loss. I have my Rossi Overland and my Winchester 1300 Defender, I'm plenty happy with them.
Now in the single vs double trigger debate, my O & U has a single while my S & S has doubles.

The easy answer is to get your Rossi heavily modified and sell it cheaply to me.

Bob Kolada wrote: I may be moving to a place where large animals like to eat/trample people

How large? When I read a statement like that, I tend to think I'd like to get in more than 2 shots (if needed) before reloading.

Look for a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/835. Get both the regular barrel and the rifled slug barrel. They're easily interchangeable and about the most versatile firearm on the market.

I can't seem to find new Winchester 1300's for sale, at least while searching online. Any ideas? Are they discontinued or something?
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/ ... mid=512209

steve_decker wrote:How large? When I read a statement like that, I tend to think I'd like to get in more than 2 shots (if needed) before reloading.

Brown bears and moose. I am not adverse to buying a second bigger/more capacity/.... gun.

If you are traveling to bear country - as in Grizzly bear - pack some high test pepper spray. I have a 9.2 once can of UDAP for such a contingency. You can purchase it at Cabela's. With pepper spray, you just have to point it in the general direction of said bear. If you miss with your coach gun, your bacon will be eaten by said bear.

Moose are just as unpredictable and dangerous as bears. Pepper spray will work against them as well.

Rev Rob wrote:If you are traveling to bear country - as in Grizzly bear - pack some high test pepper spray. I have a 9.2 once can of UDAP for such a contingency. You can purchase it at Cabela's. With pepper spray, you just have to point it in the general direction of said bear. If you miss with your coach gun, your bacon will be eaten by said bear.

Moose are just as unpredictable and dangerous as bears. Pepper spray will work against them as well.

You might want to read this before you bet your life on pepper spray.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1245.html

lgb&dtuba wrote:

Rev Rob wrote:If you are traveling to bear country - as in Grizzly bear - pack some high test pepper spray. I have a 9.2 once can of UDAP for such a contingency. You can purchase it at Cabela's. With pepper spray, you just have to point it in the general direction of said bear. If you miss with your coach gun, your bacon will be eaten by said bear.

Moose are just as unpredictable and dangerous as bears. Pepper spray will work against them as well.

You might want to read this before you bet your life on pepper spray.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1245.html

Bear spray, shotguns, and .44 magnums have all been ineffective in some cases at stopping grizzly bear attacks. Don't trust bear spray to be effective? You had better make damn sure that your shot placement, under extreme duress, is accurately placed into the central nervous system of the bear. I have an acquaintance who used to guide for elk in southwest Montana that came across a female grizzly and her cub. My acquaintance, who had scared off many grizzlies during his life as a back-country guide, thought he had scared this one off as well. An hour later, this female attacked he and his client. He was able to put a .270 round through her on her initial charge before she knocked him down with a blow to his head. She turned her attention to his client and began chewing on her face. My acquaintance found the rifle, chambered a new round, shot the bear again to keep her of his client, and again found the bear on top of him, chewing on his legs. He was able to put six .44 magnum rounds into her head, neck, and shoulders before the bear finally walked off. Both my acquaintance and his client survived. The bear was found dead a half-mile down the trail from where the attack took place.

The bottom line is that if a bear wants to attack you, you're probably going to get attacked no matter what deterrent you're carrying, be it bear spray, a SXS shotgun, or a .44 magnum. Your best defense is to be aware of your surroundings and hope that you've made enough noise to scare any potential grizzlies off.

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I don't have an opinion on Stoeger shotties, but if I were interested in stopping animals, I'd rather have more than two rounds immediately available. My 870 has never let me down on a bird or duck hunt and it has been dragged through some nasty stuff.

Steven