Need help me choosing first my shotgun

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silenbam

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Hi, I want to start hunting and will definitely need a shotgun. I'll try to explain my needs and hope you guy can help me. I've done extensive search before posting, but I really want serious hunter/waterfowler advices. I'm someone who like to have something good from the beginning and could pay more initially to get something long lasting and I really like.

I want to hunt grouse and possibly other bird/fowl in future. Also, it could serve for deer, because ,where I live there are area where centerfires rifle is not allowed.

Concern:
- 3" vs 3.5" chambering : Is it dumb to buy a brand new shotgun that can't handle 3.5", or the 3" is just as good? According what i've read it doesn't seem like 3.5" is a must.
- Wood vs synthetic : Does wood hold up well with weather/water?
- Are Pump action shotguns suitable for waterfowl?

Leaning toward:
- 26" barrel : Seems easier to handle without real performance drawback
- Wood stock or waterfowl camo pattern
- Pomp action
- Remington 870, Winchester SXP, Weatherby PA-08 (all available in 26 in) : Not really leaning toward Mossberg 500.

Weatherby PA-08 Upland ($400 new+ tx&ship., hard to find used): Available in 3" chambering. The most good looking in my opinion. Review says buttery smooth action, but sometime talk about jamming (maybe problem fixed in 2015). Not the most sold shotgun, maybe finding parts could be hard in future, if needed.
Weatherby-PA-08-Upland-Pump-Shotgun-Left-Side.jpg

Weatherby-PA-08-Upland-Pump-Shotgun-Action-open.jpg


Winchester SXP: Seems nice with inertia assisted pump action (maybe useless?).
Black Shadow ($370 new+ tx&ship., hard to find used in 26") : Available in 3.5" chambering. I like wood better, but it's solid for the price.
512256391R.jpg


Field model ($400 new+ tx&ship., $350 for 26" on CGN) : Available in 3" chambering. Wood not as nice as the Weatherby.
sxp-field-z.jpg


Waterfowl hunter ($500 new+ tx&ship., hard to find used in either 26" or 28") : Available in 3.5" chambering. Gorgeous shotgun, but little bit expensive.
SXP-Waterfowl-Hunter-lo.jpg


Remington 870 express (used $300) : Someone could sell me his 870 in 3" chambering with 26" barrel. Receiver have been smoothed, jamming issue is fixed. Produced in 2009. Wood is on par with the SXP.
https://drive.google.com/folderview...Y3Z0FLOHVtQU1KVHZGY2E5LVlBWE1zelE&usp=sharing

Remington 870 express : This one was sold to someone on CGN, but this one has a really beautiful wood stock.(almost bought it for 300$) Any thought about the year/model?
See 4th picture on Google Drive

Your pick?
 
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Having 3.5" capability is nice, but reality is you won't need it. High Gloss shotguns such as the Weatherby PA-08 Upland look nice on a trap field or grouse woods but aren't ideal for waterfowl hunting where the glare may spook the birds. So far as jamming goes, all slide action and semi-autos can and occasionally do jam, accept it move on. On slide action jamming is usually operator error. Nothing wrong with your list as an entry level, going to upgrade later choice, however spending a a few hundread more will get into the cream of the slide action crop and a lifetime gun, Benelli Nova/Supernova, Browning BPS, Remington Wingmaster & Ithaca 37 are better options.
 
Looks like you've done your research. No, forget the 3.5", it is just not needed here.

Any of those pumps you've listed would work fine. A 26" barrel would be very nice.

Gun weight - a heavy gun is more of a detriment for upland hunting than a light gun is for waterfowling. So weigh how much of each type of hunting you plan to do.

The decision will really come down to which gun feels best to you. Location of safety, angle of wrist, size of fore end, balance, etc.
 
All the guns you noted except the Remington are made in Turkey. Not slamming Turkish built guns but as you said parts and service could be a problem down the road. I once owned a Weatherby PA08. It was a nice enough gun but I did not own it long ( it was like the 870 but not quite, it did not suit me). The 870 platform is the best you have listed. Plus points on the 870 are price, countless accessories for the 870 (chokes, stocks, barrels and parts for repair in the very rare event it needs repair.) The 870 Express will smooth up as well as any Wingmaster with use and they will take a beating. They have ridden in police cars all over the world for about 40 years and if a cop can't break it no one can. An extra slug barrel will cover your deer hunting needs nicely with the 870. Options include a rifle sighted smooth bore, cantilevered scope mounted rifled bore and rifle sighted rifled bore barrels all commonly available for the 870. 3 1/2" chambers are not needed for the hunting tasks you listed. 3" chambered Express will handle all your hunting requirements. Sling attachments for the 870 are also commonly available for the 870. The 870 can be had with camo finish. Synthetic stocks are an option on the Express (I use the terms 870 and Express interchangeably) I have used the wood stocked 870 for years and with minimal care it stands up as well as synthetic. A 26" barreled 12 ga Express with IMP CYL Rem Choke and some 7 1/2 shot will make a workable grouse gun. The express is a little heavier than ideal for this task but you are looking for a do it all gun and a little extra weight is one of the "gives" instead of a "take" when compromising. You can get an Express in 26" 20 gauge for grouse to match your 12 gauge in the future when you have a little extra cash to spend. That would make a nice pair with very similar handling characteristics and identical ergonomics. Total cost of the two guns would still be under 1000.00 a bargain. I hope this helps.

Darryl
 
Maritime Storm said:
Having 3.5" capability is nice, but reality is you won't need it. High Gloss shotguns such as the Weatherby PA-08 Upland look nice on a trap field or grouse woods but aren't ideal for waterfowl hunting where the glare may spook the birds. So far as jamming goes, all slide action and semi-autos can and occasionally do jam, accept it move on. On slide action jamming is usually operator error. Nothing wrong with your list as an entry level, going to upgrade later choice, however spending a a few hundread more will get into the cream of the slide action crop and a lifetime gun, Benelli Nova/Supernova, Browning BPS, Remington Wingmaster & Ithaca 37 are better options.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of this but I disagree with the statement that a gloss wood stock will cause enough glare to spook waterfowl. I do 90% of my waterfowling with a Browning Silver Hunter, 870 Wingmaster and a Browning Auto 5 magnum all blued and gloss wood guns, I don't kill any less ducks than I did when I used a camo gun. The 10% when I don't use a gloss wood gun are when hunting from a layout boat or when hunting the salt, not due to glare but because of the real possibility of loosing a gun so I use my synthetic 870 express because its much cheaper and easier to replace.
I'd lean towards the 870, if you can't find one with a 26" barrel the 28" is not the worst compromise ever.
 
My choice? I'd take the $300 870. It'll do you right for a bag full of birds and you won't be sad when it's field worn. 3" shells for steel shot are a must but I don't feel that 3.5 is that much better.
 
Cant go wrong with an 870 as per the mentioned reasons above (I own one). Just have to ask why you eliminated the Mossberg 500? Should definitely be considered, as they are a great gun (I do not own one, but definitely will add one to my collection at some point)

Great video discussing the differences between the two.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vaa6wsw7Ts 870 vs. 590 Fast forward to the 3 minute mark and he talks about the differences.
 
If I lean toward 3" chambering, I guess the Remington 870 express could be a better choice than the SXP field (although review are really good about it and it's action)... If I want something better in future the 870 would be easy to sell at almost no loss. All your inputs really help me narrowing my choice. I find the Weatherby look so nice, but it seems to be not selling that much. Any other input about the Weatherby PA-08?
 
Of the guns mentioned, I prefer the SXP. The Wingmaster isn't one of your options, and I have seen two many Express guns with rough chambers to recommend the Express. As for the chamber length 3" is just fine, you don't need a 3-1/2" chamber. I do own one gun with a 3-1/2" chamber, but I bought it because it was old stock on sale for less than a new 3" gun, and I never use 3-1/2" shells in it.
 
Gun fit must be key element when it comes to choosing a shotgun. From there it becomes simpler to go for a product that one may prefer. You may also wish to consider the Benelli Nova or Super Nova....the later model is equipped with an adjustable stock. The Benelli pump cost is higher but it is a very well made product.

Here's one for sale ...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1264402-Benelli-SuperNova-Camo
 
Stubblejumper, the 870 I mentioned has been fixed by a gunsmith by the current owner and shot flawlessly according to him. I would not concider a brand new 870 because the laminate stock is so ugly and you need to fix it outright.
 
Went to gun store and looked at the SXP Black Shadow and seemed really solid for the price. I found the quality of plastics quite impressive even if I'm more wood stock guy. The seller told me that 870s would rust easily compared to SXP because of its steel receiver. He said, for the price, it's really hard to beat with 3 chokes, 3.5" chambering and the choice of 26 inch barrel. The length seemed right for me and it's not really heavy. The had PA-08 pump seemed just really bulky in comparison to the SXP (don't have big hands too).
 
I own the black sxp. Its been a fantastic shotgun so far. The Turkish guns are well built IMO. I also have a rem870 express that lives in my 4wheelers cargo box. Its not as smooth as the sxp but the round count is a helluva lot higher and it hasnt failed yet. If you go rem870, be sure to replace the crappy extractor with a proper steel one.
 
If a gloss wood stock causes birds to spook the first 100 years of waterfowl hunting in North America should have been very unproductive?! Doesn't appear to have been that way though.

A gun chambered for 3" is plenty. If you're going to go 3.5" you might as well go big or go home by getting a 10 ga.
 
silenbam said:
Went to gun store and looked at the SXP Black Shadow and seemed really solid for the price. I found the quality of plastics quite impressive even if I'm more wood stock guy. The seller told me that 870s would rust easily compared to SXP because of its steel receiver. He said, for the price, it's really hard to beat with 3 chokes, 3.5" chambering and the choice of 26 inch barrel. The length seemed right for me and it's not really heavy. The had PA-08 pump seemed just really bulky in comparison to the SXP (don't have big hands too).
Click to expand...

I think you can't really go wrong with any of the three you are looking at. I bought a shotgun for a friend of mine and looked at those three same shotguns. I ended up buying an 870 express because it had a steel receiver. Another option you may want to look at is an 870 sportsman. It comes with three chokes and has nicer wood than the Express. Just food for thought.
 
You say you like the look of the Weatherby and the reliability of the 870, yet you eliminate the 500 which is just as reliable as an 870 if not more, and the 500 classic- all purpose field has just as nice a stock as the Weatherby, only downside is a 28" barrel but its a 500 so barrels and other parts are everywhere. Take your pick all the guns you listed are great, but just don't exclude the 500

http://www.mossberg.com/product/500-classic-all-purpose-field-50126/

500 all purpose field is nice too

http://www.mossberg.com/product/500-all-purpose-field-50136/
 
Personally I own a Winchester sxp, Benelli nova, Mossberg 500, and ive shot a lot of others, I buy 3.5" cause I like the option and its idiot proof as sometimes I bring people hunting with me that are nervous excited etc, and theres no loading the wrong shells as no matter what you do accidents can happen,if it was me id get the SXP I don't think you will be disappointed, its by far my favourite. That being said I hate my benelli and I hate my cousins 870, they just feel wrong, but the benelli does have that niche button for switching shells mid tube, don't count out Mossberg either their main base was shotguns for a long time, sure Winchester had the SXP recall, but they fixed it instantly and mine should be getting shipped back to me any day , what it boils down to is find one that fits you and shoot it till you burn the barrel off( metaphorically of course proper maintenance and use is important)
 
I have no experience with waterfowl but lots of years hunting Turkey and grouse with my shotguns.
I have shot almost all my turkey with an old 870 wingmaster. My new favourite is the mossberg 500.
Personally I don't care for the waterfowl camo unless the gun will be mostly used for that. The pattern stands out a bit much for Turkey and seems out of place for upland birds.
I have a bps with a 26" barrel and it's a fine gun worth considering, well built and the bottom eject is a nice feature for pickup.
I don't see the need for 3.5" shells u less you are a dedicated goose guy taking birds at extended range.
3" and the right ammo can do anything you will need and you will almost always use 2 3/4" anyways for upland. 3" for Turkey.
Wood vs. synthetic. I think it's mostly cosmetic. Synthetic won't crack but if you don't beat your guns it won't matter short of an accidental drop.
I find the sxp cheap feeling and the 870 quality has diminished in the past 5-10 years.

Take a good look at a mossberg field model with a barrel combo and you will be set for life. If you have extra cash go for the bps.
OR find a minty older 870 wingmaster.
Not everyone will agree with me but that my 2 cents.
Good luck
 
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