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

Mossberg can't be beat for the value, get the M500 with the 3 barrel set, 500$. You're all set for waterfowl, deer, and turkey. I've put a couple thousand shells through the Mossberg and Remington, I like the safety and slide release on the Mossberg much more, personal preference though.
 
Ok,

Although I really dig the SXPs, I made a move today.

I actually bought my shotty today at Cabela's Edmonton West side store. Really nice big store!

I picked the Mossberg 500 Combo with 2 barrels..28" (fixed MODIFIED choke) & 18.5" smoothbore, for $329 Cdn. Nice low sales tax in Alberta! Anyway, that shotgun will probably be a good average "do it all" rig. I like the tang safety location.

I realize it's a crude version of the 500 (only one fixed choke on the 28" barrel) and the riveted forend, but I wanted the 2 barrels and was looking for a cheap option. This fits the bill...I can't wait to clean it/try it with a couple boxes of 3" shells to break it in!


While I was there, I also picked a little Marlin 795 .22LR for $159 rimfire w/ an extra mag for $16. That will be good to plink and introduce the kid to the sport!
 
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You made a good purchase. My 835 is basically the same but cost more. If you do a lot of shotgunning you will want a more refined gun later (I do) but there is always a used market for the F150 of shotguns. Use it like a rental car and sell when tired of it.
 
Thx for the F150 analogy, it's kinda what I was looking for in a shotgun.
If I get more fancy along the way, it will always be time to swap!
 
Despite knowing I would prefer the location of the safety on the Mossberg 500 and believing it at least the equal of the Remington 870, I chose an 870 Express Super Magnum for my first shotgun because it was offered at a very good price with an extra barrel, (rifled for slugs.) It did anything I wanted it too, but eventually I replaced the 870 with a Mossberg 535. I don't think you'll be really unhappy with either, or many of the alternatives, and you aren't stuck with them for life. If one of them fits comfortably, and the price is right, get it.
 
About 30 years ago my Wife bought me a Mossberg 500 with the defender barrel and the 30" modified choke goose barrel, I am mainly a rifle hunter so the gun has not seen a lot of use but I have duck hunted, shot clays, carried it as a Defender and it has served me well.
 
medvedqc said:
if the BPS fits you you ll like it and wont let it go or you wont loose that much on resell it.
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Hhhmm.....a friend's friend has a BPS for bird hunting up here in the Lakeland area. The owner called it ajamatic himself. No dergree of effort could bring this thing to operate properly. It's gone now and no-one cares where it ended up. Another friend in Southern Saskatchewan has one, and he will not admit it's frequent failings. But his hunting buddies say otherwise as they spend lots of time in the same duck and goose blinds. He mostly uses his Nova pump or his O/U now and neglects to even mention the BPS under his roof.

lol
 
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Brutus said:
Hhhmm.....a friend's friend has a BPS for bird hunting up here in the Lakeland area. The owner called it ajamatic himself. No dergree of effort could bring this thing to operate properly. It's gone now and no-one cares where it ended up. Another friend in Southern Saskatchewan has one, and he will not admit it's frequent failings. But his hunting buddies say otherwise as they spend lots of time in the same duck and goose blinds. He mostly uses his Nova pump or his O/U now and neglects to even mention the BPS under his roof.

lol
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Late answer but i never had a jam with them maybe operator difference?
 
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The big problem with not only the BPS but ANY pump shotgun is the NUT BEHIND THE BUTT PLATE. In other words, Operator error. People tend to get excited and short stroke the pump gun, thus ending up with a shell or an empty case in the chamber, and the second one jammed behind it on the lifter. Of course, it is ALWAYS the fault of the shotgun and not of the person who did not operate it properly by pulling the fore end back fully to cycle the action.

I have two BPS shotguns that I use. A short field gun I bought back in the 80s with the 22 inch barrel and straight English style butt stock, and a higher grade BPS that had two barrels with it and some fantastic wood on it. Never had a jam with either of them for almost 30 years of use. I had a friend who consistently jammed his 870 Remington, even though he was aware of what he was doing. He just got too excited when he cycled the action when the shooting action was hot and heavy. He just short stroked it and it was not the gun's fault. I finally took it and drilled two holes in the lifter, about two inches apart, then used a Dremel to make a slot between the holes. That way, when he ended up with a shell jammed in the action, he could take a knife, insert it into the slot, and push the offending shell back into the magazine. Saved having to disassemble the trigger group each time.

The biggest thing with any shotgun is FIT. This is where it pays to handle a gun, especially in a gun shop or store. There are minor differences in guns, even in the same models. You could buy two models of the same shotgun in a store and they may or may not shoot the same for your build and shooting style. What to do when looking at a prospective purchase is to have the gun in your hands, about waist level. Then pick out an object, say a picture on the wall, face it, close your eyes, and raise the shotgun to a shooting position. Your eye should be aligned with the barrel, and the muzzle somewhere near the object you selected. The important thing is FIT as a Shotgun is POINTED and not deliberately AIMED like a rifle is. Your eye must be aligned with the barrel or rib on the shotgun.

Another big mistake people make is to buy a shotgun in the summer, when they are in light clothes. Then, they go afield in the fall in heavier clothes or sit in a duck blind with long underwear, heavy shirt and parks. This can change your shooting dramatically.
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Just had this decision to make and went with a Benelli Nova. I found one on sale for $480 but have seen them as low as $420 just too far away to make the trip. Good gun and fits me well. Bringing it up am right down the pipe every time. I like the Mossbergs layout the best slide release and tang safety just felt like they were in a better spot but when bringing it up it didn't fit me the best I was off to one side every time. All in all I doubt you could go wrong with any of them, just find one that fits you and buy it.
 
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