I second the Handi Rifles.H&R make a no frills,accurate and dependible rifle witch you can get extra barrels for including a nice rifled slug! As for the SSI,I have owned one and it was a peice of #&*% Now I own three of the H&R's .1 rim fire 22lr 22mag 17hmr,1 center fire 223,22-250,243win,44mag,450 marlin,410ga.,12ga extra full,12ga rifled and one old 1920's 20 ga. that I just had to have. By the way the 450 marlin is the worst shooting barrel(not including12ga slug) at @1 inch a 100 yards! The 223 will(with my hand loads)shoot .244 c-t-c all day.

Contender, Encore and NEI all have shotgun barrel options.

With the Mossberg you are restricted to 12 Ga. With the T/C Encore you have the choice of 12 or 20 Ga. With the T/C G2 there is the 410 and I believe the 20 Ga barrels. I think T/C may have a 28 Ga. in there somewhere. I don't think you would find a more backpack friendly rifle than the T/C's, although you have the choice of the Springfield Armory M6 Scout in 22 Hornet/410 or 22l.r./410. My vote would be for the more versatile T/C's.



Steve E.........

Thanks guys! I think I need to find a good gun shop and look them all over before deciding. I had a Contender before and it was ok so maybe the Encore is the way to go.