Gunshow This Weekend, Looking for a Shotgun

[Ajcrash]

Well, there is a gun show in town this weekend, generally I find them fairly worthless unless I'm in need of ammo. However, I'm in the market for a shotgun.

The local Big 5 has a Mossy 590 on sale, so I went and looked at it. I didn't really care for the feel of it, to me it seemed cheap. I didn't care for the plastic trigger guard mostly.

So now I'm leaning toward an Remington 870. I'm looking for a HD shotty, but would like to have a dual use should I want to bust clays, or bird hunt. This has me looking at the 870 combos.

Anyone care to take me to shotgun school?

[Brickboy240]

Go with the Remmy 870. Theres simply no way to go wrong with this pumpgun. You'll love it!

- brickboy240

[GURR]

The Remington 1100 is a nice all around semiauto. Everybody wants the 1187 now so you should be able to find a nice used one.

[bat1159man]

AJCRASH -

You can spend a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending upon your likes and needs so it is and always will be a personal choice based uopn a fefw criteria -

First, do you prefer a pump action, semi-auto or OU/SBS.

Second, what guage are looking for - you have said "bust clays or bird hunt" so I imagine it would be a 20 or 12

Third, what other uses would you want it for - deer hunting, home defense, varmints?

Fourth, how often/much do you plan to use it?

Last, what is your price range.

There are a lot of excellent shotguns out there. I have a Mossberg 835 synthetic pump action that has been great for pheasants, chukkers, doves, turkeys and rabbits. I can swap barrels to use rifled slugs for deer hunting. Last time I butsed clays, I hit 81 out of a 100. People might think they feel cheap but it has taken a lot of punishment and always fired.

The Remy 870 pump is a fine shotgun and the express combo has both the rifled barrel and the smoothbore. The Browning BPS is a good bottom eject shotgun

Winchester makes makes very good shotguns too as does Benelli.

Good luck and good hunting (for that shotgun)!

[danp]

The Mossbergs may feel cheap, but they are doing good service for the military.

The 870 is tough to beat and there are lots of aftermarket gadgets for them.

The Winchester 1300 is a close second IMO. It has an alloy frame, so its lighter. Some say that the alloy is not as durable, but mine has thousands of rounds through it and its still going strong.

I hunt with a 12ga BPS and its a great gun, although heavy. I also have a SXS Stoeger 20ga that's light and fast for upland game.

If you are looking for a dual-purpose gun, for clays/hunting and HD, I'd go with the Mossberg 500, Remington 870 or Winchester 1300, simply because you can get short barrels easily. They are all pump guns and are pretty much bullet-proof. There's not much to go wrong with them and the manual of arms is very easy to learn and become proficient with.

[Barbarossa]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Go with the Remmy 870. Theres simply no way to go wrong with this pumpgun. You'll love it!

- brickboy240

+1

870 is fool proof and easy to work on.

[jnclement]

The 870 is still the gold standard in pump shotguns. And you can find them used for next to nothing. Mossberg is doing good service for the military, but they were still just the low bid, and Remington chose not to compete.

[Ajcrash]

Responses in bold.

Originally Posted by bat1159man

AJCRASH -

You can spend a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending upon your likes and needs so it is and always will be a personal choice based uopn a fefw criteria -

First, do you prefer a pump action, semi-auto or OU/SBS.

I'm looking for a pump, less to break, or potentially go wrong.

Second, what guage are looking for - you have said "bust clays or bird hunt" so I imagine it would be a 20 or 12

My main interest is in a 12.

Third, what other uses would you want it for - deer hunting, home defense, varmints?

Off hand I'd say HD/varmints, possibly some trap/bird shooting.

Fourth, how often/much do you plan to use it?

Probably not to often, but I may fall in love with it, and want to shoot it a lot.

Last, what is your price range.

Again off hand I'd venture a guess at around $300-$600 or so.

There are a lot of excellent shotguns out there. I have a Mossberg 835 synthetic pump action that has been great for pheasants, chukkers, doves, turkeys and rabbits. I can swap barrels to use rifled slugs for deer hunting. Last time I butsed clays, I hit 81 out of a 100. People might think they feel cheap but it has taken a lot of punishment and always fired.

The Remy 870 pump is a fine shotgun and the express combo has both the rifled barrel and the smoothbore. The Browning BPS is a good bottom eject shotgun

Winchester makes makes very good shotguns too as does Benelli.

Good luck and good hunting (for that shotgun)!

[bat1159man]

Originally Posted by Ajcrash

Responses in bold.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bat1159man
AJCRASH -

You can spend a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending upon your likes and needs so it is and always will be a personal choice based uopn a fefw criteria -

First, do you prefer a pump action, semi-auto or OU/SBS.

I'm looking for a pump, less to break, or potentially go wrong.

Second, what guage are looking for - you have said "bust clays or bird hunt" so I imagine it would be a 20 or 12

My main interest is in a 12.

Third, what other uses would you want it for - deer hunting, home defense, varmints?

Off hand I'd say HD/varmints, possibly some trap/bird shooting.

Fourth, how often/much do you plan to use it?

Probably not to often, but I may fall in love with it, and want to shoot it a lot.

Last, what is your price range.

Again off hand I'd venture a guess at around $300-$600 or so.

There are a lot of excellent shotguns out there. I have a Mossberg 835 synthetic pump action that has been great for pheasants, chukkers, doves, turkeys and rabbits. I can swap barrels to use rifled slugs for deer hunting. Last time I butsed clays, I hit 81 out of a 100. People might think they feel cheap but it has taken a lot of punishment and always fired.

The Remy 870 pump is a fine shotgun and the express combo has both the rifled barrel and the smoothbore. The Browning BPS is a good bottom eject shotgun

Winchester makes makes very good shotguns too as does Benelli.

Good luck and good hunting (for that shotgun)!

AJ,

Sorry, forgot one last question - synthetic or natural wood?

You have a lot of responses that the 870 is the way to go. I cannot argue with them. It is a very nice shotgun and well proven in the field. I have used one on a number of occasions and enjoyed the way it handled. The Mossber 500 is a good option but I prefer my 835 because it is chambered in 3.5", it is light, tracks easily and is a quick pump.

If you go new, the 870 will be anywhere from $350 to $500 depending upon straight 870 or 870 express combo. The Mossberg 500 and 835 will be $300 to $400. Since you are going to a gun show, see what your prices are like. If you are disappointed, don't buy and look around at local gun shops, Cabellas, Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain. They all have sales at different times of the year and youcan get pretty good savings. Check out some used shotguns. There are many that have been traded in on newer "fancier" brands and can be very good deals. It would be a way to get into a model at an inexpensive price to see if it really works for you.

Don't mean to be this long winded but I have been a shotgun enthusiast since I was 12 and that was a long time ago! No, smart comments now guys!

[Ajcrash]

I'm fond of the durability aspects of a synthetic, but ascetically wood to me is nicer.

I'll look around at the show and handle various shotguns and see which one talks to me.

Thanks all for the recommendations and opinions.