First all purpose 12 gauge pump-action, what would you choose?

Don't worry about a shotgun made in Turkey. Many fine shotguns come from there and more than a few major manufacturers get their shotguns made there.
The plastic trigger guard thing, is as overblown as the non-replaceable ejector. Problems with both the 500 & 870 are both very rare. Both sides have their die hard fan boys. Both are excellent.

Go to a store, or better yet find people you know that have them and give all that you are interested in a try, if possible.
 
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delavan said:
I'm eyeing those 2 kits:

http://www.cabelas.ca/product/39602/winchester-sxp-campfield-3-12-gauge-pump-shotgun-combo

and

http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3964/mossberg-500-combo-3-12-gauge-pump-shotgun

I just don't like the plastic trigger guard and plastic safety on the Mossberg. I assume you have to be quite unlucky or rough to break those, but is it overblown? I seen a few reviews that mentionned that the 500 is NOTORIOUS for breaking at the trigger guard housing (close to the loading port).

The 870 is always recommended by a lot a people and most swear by it. There is quite a few people that complain about having to polish the internals and remove a burr before it cycles properly...I would like to blindly buy the 870 based on reputation only, but hey I just can't do it...
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Go on line and check out the older Ithaca M37 reviews. All steel receiver.

maybe
 
delavan said:
Hi,

I'm about to buy my first shotgun. I settled for a pump-action.
I want a versatile and durable gun that will last a long time.
I'm new to hunting anyway, so it's hard for me to exactly tell my preferences. I want to learn how to shoot, try different things like clays, small game, etc...

I figure I need a 26-28" barrel (I would prefer the 26", just for compactness). I wouldn't mind a 3.5" chamber, to cover the spectrum, but it's not an obligation. Budget $500 MAX

-Mossberg 500 (plastic trigger guard)
-Rem 870 Express (non replaceable riveted case ejector)
-Winchester SXP field or black shadow (import from turkey)
-Weatherby offerings (import from turkey)

I don't want to start a big debate on the moss vs 870, but I reallly like what I read on the WIN SXP.

any ideas?
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a 26" barrel should be decent for what you want, but a 28" won't hurt either, and will make it a little easier to shoot clays with I suspect? Also, I know at least one range around me has a 28" barrel length minimum, I suspect it is either so the report isn't so loud as to bother the golf course next door, or its for safety, to ensure that a moron swinging his gun won't get the gun out of the stand...

to address the individual guns:

mossberg's trigger guard - for me, that would be a no go, but can it be replaced easily enough? if so, it might be a good choice. i just don't like the idea of something that small and that important to safety being plastic. a gun without a trigger guard is a risky thing when walking through the bush (yes I know your safety is on, but safety's fail, and if you trip and the safety has failed, and the trigger guard is broken or breaks in the fall, who knows if the gun's going to go off...). if it can be replaced, it sounds like a good option.

rem 870 - i love it mine. reliable as all hell, takes a beating, lots and lots of parts in the aftermarket for it if that's your thing (mine is dressed up in wood, it's an old wingmaster, and it's beautiful. but you can just as easily tac it out if you want, or do what you want - i'm sure you can do that for the mossy too though). I wouldn't worry about the extractor. it IS replaceable, just not easily by the home gunsmith. it certainly can be done, though you will either end up with rivets on the outside of the receiver that aren't ground flat, or you'll end up grinding, polishing, and rebluing your receiver. but it can be done by yourself. if you don't want to, your gunsmith will charge you between 50 and 80 bucks or so. the one guy i asked about it said 75 bucks all in for it (i asked because, since mine is older, it is currently wearing a 2-3/4" ejector, whereas the barrel that's on it is chambered in 3". figured it might be nice to have the ability to shoot 3" shells, especially when duck season comes around for my first time. but it certainly is replaceable.

winchester - heard a lot of good about it, never tried one, but the import from turkey thing isn't really a bad thing i don't think. i don't know who makes them in turkey, but if it's anything like the other turkish guns i've used, being made in turkey isn't a bad thing...

weatherby - i've got the SA08 (semi auto) and i love it. reliable, super light weight, and a really nice handling gun. i'd buy another in a second, but my biggest problem with it is, the aftermarket is crap. i don't know that there is anything available in canada for it on the aftermarket. and as for parts to repair it - if you break something i'd suspect your smith is going to have a much harder time finding or getting parts, compared to the remington and mossy options, and probably the winchester option. i've heard that the PA08 (pump) is also a great gun, but i'm sure the same thing applies - no aftermarket parts available, especially compared to remmy and mossy, maybe win. maybe they are available in the states, i haven't looked, and i don't know how importing smaller parts is from the states, haven't bothered trying yet.

hope this helps

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tbrwlf said:
Go with a preloved 870. good solid gun. the 500 is nice but an older 870 is better.
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this is exactly what i did. i found a wingmaster, made in 1969, and it is awesome. well built, great fit and whatnot, and you can tell it was made properly. all the newer parts fit it, including the express barrels (though you will need a new mag cap, which is cheap enough). but for the money, a preloved 870 has to be one of the greatest deals. i got mine for 240 bucks, with some shells and clays. turned out the choke was stuck in it and i suspect that's why he sold it so cheap - took me a day of soaking in penetrating oil and buying a 15 dollar choke wrench with a hole for a 3/8" ratchet, and i got it loose and out. cleaned the threads and I am using that choke still.... just lubed haha.
 
Thanks everybody,
and a special mention to krprice84 for the substential answer!

On the pre-owned/pre-loved aspect, I'll see what I can get. The Remington seems really hard to pass, especially the old days ones...
 
Mossberg M500 Combo. Gives you a bird barrel with a changeable choke and a deer barrel, either rifled or not.
A Maverick Model 88 is the same thing at a bit less money.
A 3.5" will just have more felt recoil. Does nothing a 2.75" or 3" won't.
 
Get the one that points where your are looking- and not all guns are the same, some 870s point different to others in my experience for instance. I wouldn't worry about 3.5" shells.... Heck, I don't even worry about 3" shells personally but that's me. If it is your only shotty I'd make sure it had choke tubes so you don't have to try shooting skeet with a full choke or trap with a skeet choke. A 26 or 28" barrel would be a good general choice. Other option is a multi barrel set, but that's more money. The combo guns are good value though and very versatile. Fit is the biggest thing though. If it doesn't point where you are looking when you shoulder it you won't hit what you are pointing at. Seems simple but fit isn't always what people put emphasis on. Good luck and it is hard to make a bad choice with what you are looking for.
 
I have been researching this same thing for a while now. I'm a newbie, just like you delavan, so I'm interested to see what you finally go with! I have never owned a shotgun before, little to no experience with them except for just a few days ago I got to try a small selection out at my local range doing some clay pigeon shooting. Great advice I think from all those saying to try out some of the firearms first if you can to get a feel for them.

I myself have been leaning towards the Mossberg combo as well. I don't have the budget for a higher end gun, or more than one gun, and am looking for a multi-purpose gun to shoot some clay pigeons at the range, maybe do some upland bird/waterfowl hunting once or twice a year and possibly a deer hunting trip once every year or two.

I was concerned about the plastic trigger guards on the Mossbergs as well, and was wondering if their failure was blown out of proportion. But then I read from a few different sources that if you go with a Mossberg 500/535, the entire trigger assembly is interchangeable with the 590A1 (which has a metal trigger guard). I'm not sure how available these trigger guards or assemblies are, or how much they cost, but assuming you take reasonable care with the fire arm I'm thinking that a) chances are you likely won't have issues, at least for a while, b) they look easy enough to replace even with another standard plastic one, and c) you should be able to reasonably upgrade to the metal assembly if you choose.

I was also considering the Maverick 88, but I'm thinking of paying a bit more upfront for the 500 or 535 as they mostly come with sling studs as well as drilled & tapped receiver for sights/scope (though you could also get a cantilever deer barrel for the Maverick I believe, if you are so inclined to go that route).

Good luck!!
 
I love my Mossberg 835. Come with a riffling barrel also. It's was my first gun and I loved it. Used it for waterfowl, upland and deer hunting. Works great still using it. Comes with 26" shotgun barrel. Reasonable priced also. It's my beater gun. I've dropped it, tracked it through mud you name it still shoots like the first day I bought it.

Good luck.
 
Everyone should own either an 870 or a mossberg 500 (or both).


and if it were me i would not go 26" barrel again. mine just sits in my safe and my 97 0 (goose gun) wears a 30". my mossberg has it's 28 on there for about everything else.
 
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trebor2880 said:
Or an 870. But buy an older one in good shape. They don't make 'em like they used to.
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I would like to point out that the Ithaca always had an interuppted thread lockup, versus the 870 which is just a 'slip fit' into it's receiver.
A tremendous advantage with slugs from the get go.
The Ithaca Deerslayer has been very accurately popping big game since 1959.
Of course the newest line is kind of pricey though.

just saying

Edit: Except the as advertised aluminum received Ultralight, the Ithaca shotgun design always came with all steel components.
I have seen more then one 870 that mysterously lost it's slug zero at any distance past 40 yards. This is a very rare event with a good condition M37 Ithaca. The M37 slugshooter never needs help from shim-stock. ;)
 
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I bought an 870 express (the 'sportsman field' model) as my 1st shotgun. Lots of fantastic things about the 870 platform - easy to field strip, reliable, versatile, etc. but the finish on the new Express just plain sucks. Mine would rust if you looked at it wrong. I ended up Duracoating mine.

Still have it, I ended up spending $ into making it what I wanted. Would have been better off buying a used Wingmaster instead.
 
In this price range it has to be an 870, save a couple more bucks or find a used wingmaster. I have not seen any gun jam more often than a Mossberg.
 
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