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The Shotgun as a Utility Piece |
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Steve Steinke |
I live in an area that you can’t use a center fire rifle to hunt big game. I like to deer hunt. I like to turkey hunt. I goose hunt a few times a year. I try to call a few predators in the winter. And on occasion, I take a grouse or two. So with all of this said, the perfect gun for me would be the utility shotgun. Something that is light with a short overall length.
I have found a gun that fits this bill well. It is a gun from the Charles Daly line of semi-autos. It is called the Field ERCT Semi Auto (with adjustable sights). It is a gas operated semi-auto with a matte black finish and black synthetic stock. The barrel is 22” smoothbore with an extended rifled choke tube. The overall length is 42 ½ inches and weighs 6.35 pounds. It comes in 12 and 20 gauge, but for me the 12 gauge seems more fitting. The gun comes with a rifled choke tube.
For the Field ERCT to be a true utility gun, you will need to purchase more choke tubes. You will need an extra full for Turkey Season, a full for goose or predators, and maybe a cylinder for everything else. In my neck of the woods, we drive deer on small farm lots. The action can be pretty quick. I prefer a semi-auto with open sights. To me, this is the quickest setup for shots in the 75 to 80 yard range. A second shot is sometimes needed in the winter when you have heavy gloves, a large parka, and all the other necessities to keep you warm. A pump is sometimes hard to get a fast follow-up shot. Or, let’s face it, sometimes you just miss. The 22 inch barrel comes in very handy in the thick underbrush when spring turkey hunting rolls around. Just screw in the extra full turkey choke. The short barrel is also very handy in a lay-out blind for incoming geese or a ground blind for predator and turkey hunting. A cylinder bore choke tube in the barrel makes the Field ERCT a great camp gun, able to handle threats from marauding “animals” and can even take the occasional grouse.
The gun is a simple and rugged design. It comes in black or camouflage (I feel black would be the better all-around choice) With a MSRP of $399.00 in the black, it is well below most semi-auto shotguns on the market. Don’t let the price tag fool you into thinking this is a cheap gun. Fit and finish are good and the simple gas system will give you years of fun and dependable service. Other barrels and choke tubes are also available if needed. If you are in the market for a utilitarian shotgun or are on a budget, this gun could fill many roles. |