Universal Shotgun Rib Mount

The question of acquiring a universal shotgun comes up for every shooter sooner or later. Acquisitions are not acquisitions. It is not difficult to buy, which is the semantic difference. A challenging part of the process is choosing which system to purchase. Today, hundreds of models, brands and calibers are available in the arms market. For shooters, however, the concept of a universal shotgun is like the philosopher’s stone – some do not believe in its existence, while others search for it. This article will examine the main types of shotguns and highlight the characteristics of their uses to determine whether a universal shotgun exists or is merely a fantasy.

Types Universal Shotgun Rib Mount

A shotgun is a smoothbore gun that uses cartridges that perform the function of a shotgun. Shotguns are primarily used for hunting upland, field birds and game, and amateur and sports shooting.

A high-quality shotgun should have a uniform shot cloud, a good working range, and ease of use. There are three main types of shotgun layouts:

• Fractured single barrel.
• Double-barrel fracture with horizontal trunks.
• Vertically arranged double-barreled fractures.
• A pump-action system.
• Loads by itself.

When a hunter sets himself the goal of finding a shotgun that meets all his needs, he must choose among models in one of these execution schemes.

Single-barreled “fractures”

The single-barrel guns, while not universal in use, are incredibly close to being considered such despite needing to be reloaded after each shot. Compactness and low weight are the main advantages of these systems. When hunting “birds” on land, you have to walk a lot, but you don’t shoot often, so the one cartridge in the barrel is enough.

Single-barreled shotguns have identical shot characteristics to their multi-shot counterparts except for the number of charges. The target is reliably hit at a distance of 35-50 meters when their shots are of good quality and barrel integrity, which is typical for shotguns. 

Shotguns with a single barrel are inexpensive even in store windows, and they can be purchased on the secondary market for one and a half to two times less. For the purchase of a first weapon, a single-barreled shotgun meets the requirements of contemporary Russian legislation. It is safe to conclude that single-barreled guns are very close to universal use, even if they are not entirely universal. 

Classic “horizontal”

Most of these weapons are double-barreled shotguns with horizontal barrels. Using two choke constrictions in different barrels, you can use a shot at different distances without compromising the uniformity of the talus. 

In addition to their suitability for different types of hunting, they come in a wide variety of models and calibres and are affordable, as they say, for any budget. 

Over-and-under shotguns

Undoubtedly, this type of shotgun is as popular as the horizontal shotgun. You can find various models, brands, and price categories in the modern market – from cheap guns for general consumption to highly customized, expensive guns. 

Shotguns with vertical barrels have the same features as their horizontal counterparts. However, “verticals” are equally famous for sports usage and hunting. Beginners and professionals alike choose over-and-under shotguns for skeet shooting. 

Leading European manufacturers, like Benelli, manufacture entire lines of shotguns with horizontal barrels designed explicitly for clay pigeon shooting with the specific needs of this category of buyers in mind. A sporting shotgun differs from an ordinary hunting shotgun in that its barrel and chamber last longer. 

While hunting conditions allow for one or two shots per day, sporting shotguns face a constant load, which creates unique requirements for their “survivability”. If you understand that versatility means the ability to use a shotgun both in hunting and sports, then you can safely classify an “over-and-under” as such. 

Pump-action shotguns 

The pump-action shotgun is the newest type on the Russian civilian market. In the 90s, domestic stores began selling pump-action pumps. There has been no doubt that pump-action shotguns are reliable and unpretentious weapons since then. 

A pump-action shotgun’s structure and reloading ability make it almost impossible for the cartridge to jam or not feed. Therefore, reloaded ammunition is widely used in pump-action shotguns. Pump-action shotguns are available on the modern market in many different models for hunting, amateur shooting, and self-defence. They are the fastest-firing, manually loaded, highly survivable weapons in their class. Sport and hunting are equally suitable uses for pump-action shotguns in modern shooting practice. One of the sports disciplines of the IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) is tempo shooting with pump-action shotguns. 

Self-loading shotguns

Applied to weapons of this type, the definition is accurate – powerful – fast. The fastest-firing smoothbore weapon is the self-loading shotgun. With fast firing, soft recoil, and low barrel bounce, you can cover duck flocks in flight and keep hares and wild boars at bay. In various types of hunting worldwide, “self-loading” rifles are widely used and come in a wide range of models. 

The self-loading gun is also used in sport shooting, is in regular service with the armed forces and police worldwide, and is a reliable self-defence weapon. Having a high rate of fire and large magazine capacity allows “self-loading” guns to be used for a wide range of purposes.   

Using a self-loading gun requires careful and regular maintenance because the gas exhaust mechanism (especially the gas exhaust channels in the barrel) is prone to contamination. A clogged gas outlet will turn your “semi-automatic” into a handgun, destroying its primary advantage. 

Several factors always influence a person’s choice of weapon, but the most important one remains their subjective attitude, the old “like it or not” principle. It is not the model or the manufacturer that determines the versatility of a shotgun but rather the shooter and the tasks he has been assigned.