help me with my gun decision

[BOOTYMONSTER]

i currently have no fire arms but im about to buy a gun for hunting . here in va some areas are shotgun only and im strongly considering getting a shotgun combo with a slug barrel and regular barrel . id really love to have a 30-06 but given that ill have to hunt public land where ever i can find it i dont want to limit myself to any less areas than whats available . i really have no desire to hunt birds (well.....i may try turkeys ....just maybe ) and im mainly interested in deer , according to remington,winchester and several other ammo makers their high end sabboted slugs are able to be shot accurately up to about 200 yards IF I DO MY PART ,and i dont really forsee a shot that long or longer in the areas that i currently know about . also these slugs seem to be more than powerful enough for even bears should i get that brave or have a chance to .i dont have the income to support me having multiple guns (maybe another in a few years)and im thinking this would be the most cost effective route for me as well as being a firearm that will humanely dispatch the game i'm after .
 i know i will need to pratice to hone my shooting skills and i figure i can use cheap slugs for that and use the high end ones for hunting being sure to make my last pratice shots with high end ones to comfirm the sighting .i do plan to get a scope for the rifeled slug barrel .i do have a break barrel pellet gun that i feel im pretty accurate with and i know the shotgun is going to have real recoil (ive shot a few and a 30-06 and im ok with the recoil) .
the gun combo im considering is the pump action mossberg 500 in 12 guage , im not interested in the ability to use 3 1/2 inch shells as every forum ive read about them is not kind to them to say the least .the scope will probally be a bushnell banner series or a leapers TRUE STRENGTH series . i really like what ive read about the H&R /NEF guns and was looking at the new pump action pardner but theres not much info on it .
  do yall think im on the right track or would you recomend a different route . ive been lurking here for a long time and really respect the opinions of most on here . thanks in advance for your opinions .

[manofthe45]

I think you will be happy with the 12 combo.  With a rifled barrel and modern slugs they are very accurate.  I will say this I would not switch practice and hunting rounds.  Try several to see which is best and then stick with that one round.  When you practice with what you hunt with you have absolute faith in it.  Good luck and shoot often

[Redhawk1]

The 12 gauge will work just fine, I live in Delaware and it is a shotgun only State. My most accurate slug gun was a Remington 1100 using Remington solid copper 2 3/4 inch slugs. A 12 gauge make a great bear gun.

[nasem]

Well, let me make it easier for you to decide... What is your maximum budet your willing to work with ?

#1)  I ask becuase, sabot slugs (used in rifled barrel 12-ga shotguns) cost close to 2-3 dollars per shot (not per box)... Usually $12-15 for 5 shots.  This is the worst ammo to use for "practise", they are TOOOO costly, even if you reload, the reloading components for them will cost you about 1.5 per shot.  you will not get much practise with these sabot slugs and at 100 yard shots so you'll never have room to improve your accuracy.

#2)  If your not going to use sabot slugs, but instead ur going to use "regular" ko slugs or rifled slugs or what (the once you can use in a smoothbore barrel) your not going to get much accuracy at 100 yards.  Some peeps get like 7" groups which is pretty sad for hunting.  Of course I have NEVER tried rifled slugs from a smoothbore, but peeps say they are not accurate at all @ 100 yards.  Plus they cost about 50-60 cents a pop.

A smarter choice for you is to get a nice pump or semi auto shotgun (with smoothbore only) and use it for your bird hunting. and get a semi auto or a bolt action 30-06 for your deer / black bear.  That way you can have both worlds.

You can get a nice used pump gun (I strongly recommend remington 870 wingmaster with 26" 3", you can get one from $200-230).  And you can get a nice semi-auto 30-06 (used), something like a browning BAR (and this is one of the best semi autos in the industry for hunting class) for around 400-450.  Or if you don't like the semi 30-06, get a nice bolt action 30-06 (like a Howa 1500 or Mosberg ATR)  Howa is like 300-350 and the Mosberg is about 250-300.  Both are GREAT guns.

Now, spend an additional $125 on a Nikon Prostaff 3-9X40 from www.theopticzone.com (life time warrenty, can't beat that, anything that ever happens to the scope, they will repair it or replace for you for free).

One more option you have is to get a Spartan spr 453 semi-auto 12 ga in 26 or 28".... Those are the best bang for the buck, $350 brand new semi auto smooth bore, has GREAT reviews.

[curdog]

the 12 combo should do you fine. i do like my 35 rem. in lever action marlin for thick hunting

[bearfat]

Make it the 12 gauge.

Of all my guns that could frequent my cabin in northern Minnesota such as various bolt action guns, handguns, lever guns, semiauto guns, etcetera...the Remington 870 pump makes the trip the most often. It will take buck shot, bird shot, and or slugs and I can set it up for 30 yard shots for coyote or crow hunting. Plenty good for deer and bear.

It almost made the bear hunt this fall.

The 12 gauge does have as much power as a 30-06 at it's muzzle. Heard alot of good things about the Mossberg.

But make it a 12 gauge...nothing smaller.