BP Survival 12ga?

[Where's Bruce?]

For backpacking when you wanna firearm for bears and as well as small game/upland gamebirds & waterfowl w/o all the weight, what is a good CA legal shotgun that isn't a PITA to pack? Thinking short barrel, composite stock but can take 3 or even 3.5 inch shells. A gun you could strap to your pack's Kifaru Gunbearer and carry comfortably all day for a week or two at a time and also use for home protection. It would take a beating (brush busting) and need to be reasonably priced. I already have a hunting pump w/ 28" barrel but it would be too big for what I'm talking about here.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I have a lever action 45-70 Govt but thought a scattergun might offer more versatility. No opinions?

 

[mtswampfox]

dont try it but you can shoot 410 shotgun shells in the 45-70. do it in my encore for snakes,,,,,but dont take my word on it

 

[weaver]

Lightweight turkey gun might be what your looking for. Most have short barrels and can shoot 3" or 3 1/2" shells

 

[ckleeves]

I'm not familiar with CA shotgun laws, but a 18.5" barreled Benelli Nova sounds like what your looking. 3.5 capability, reliable, and pretty much indestructible.

 

[Snipershirt]

Just picked up a Stevens 320 pump, 18.5 barrel, 3", all black with ghost ring sights for a little over $200. Comes is a few different configurations. Not sure yet how it'll perform, just figured at that price I'd give it a try. Plan to use it going in and out of my bear baits this spring. Good luck with your selection!

http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/stevens320pump

 

[jherald]

What about a good 3" 20 gauge remington pump gun. Lots of offerings for slugs, buck and just about any kind of shot you want for a 20. The gun is light, recoil is mild and if you sling a Brenneke slug out of one you have a formidable weapon. Check out some of the ballistics models for 20 gauge slugs. They do not dissapoint. I know from personal experience a 20 gauge slug will do a number on something big like a large bull moose.

 

[bbrown]

Another option would be pick up an 18" barrel for the shotgun you already have. Prolly cheaper and your already familiar with the feel and all the controls.
Here is the one I am looking at for my 870:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...xpress-12-gauge-3-18-1-2-rem-choke-bead-sight

Or this one with the built in mag extension:
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...-870-barrel-magazine-extension-prod58320.aspx

 

[larryschwartz]

Another option would be pick up an 18" barrel for the shotgun you already have. Prolly cheaper and your already familiar with the feel and all the controls.
Here is the one I am looking at for my 870:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...xpress-12-gauge-3-18-1-2-rem-choke-bead-sight

Or this one with the built in mag extension:
http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...-870-barrel-magazine-extension-prod58320.aspx

I was going to suggest the 870 also. I can be had with a short barrel as mentioned above, but more importantly is that it has a wide variety of barrels so you can use one gun for bear protection, turkey hunting with shot shells, and deer or other big game hunting with a rifled slug barrel. A very flexible platform.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Just picked up a Stevens 320 pump, 18.5 barrel, 3", all black with ghost ring sights for a little over $200. Comes is a few different configurations. Not sure yet how it'll perform, just figured at that price I'd give it a try. Plan to use it going in and out of my bear baits this spring. Good luck with your selection!

http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/stevens320pump

What's it weigh?

 

[Snipershirt]

What's it weigh?

The model I have is 6 1/2 pounds

 

[boom]

marine grade remmy 870.