[BUCKMARK]

Your on the right track.

The 870 would make a great choice for both hunting and defense.

I would go with a bargain priced 870 Express synthetic stock with a 26" or 28" REMCHOKE barrel. The use of choke tubes will help you with all phases of hunting from doves to turkey.

Use this gun for hunting and H.D. until you decide to buy the 18" H.D. barrel for the gun. I would add a Trijicon bead sight for night use.

Leave the H.D. barrel on the gun year-round until the night before hunting trips, then take the 30 seconds to convert it back to a field gun.