What would you recommend for my first shotgun?

I

ik0n

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Kitchener
Hey all,

I'm planning on getting my first firearm soon.
Based on my intended uses and some background information noted below, do you have any brands/models that you'd recommend I check out?

Background: Due to sports injury (baseball) I have a bad shoulder (rotator-cuff tendonitis).
Firing off a couple of dozen target loads doesn't exactly hurt my shoulder the day of, but lifting my arm up the following day above my shoulder does expose some tenderness.

My intended use for the firearm is in the following preferred order with #2 & #3 being CLOSE.
1. Turkey 2. Waterfowl 3. Upland 4. Small game.

I would like to spend $1,000 or less but if there is something up to the $1,200.00 range that might be THAT much better, I could possibly go that high.

I have shouldered a Remington 870 Express and it feels good. I've also shouldered a Browning BPS and it felt good as well (just behind the Remington).
However, due to my shoulder I've been considering a Semi in the hope/anticipation that it might be a little easier on my shoulder.
I was looking at the Remington Versamax but I've read some things online and heard things from Colleagues that I should maybe not be considering it?

Anyways, any input you might have is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
 
Buy an Autoloader that is capable of 3 inch magnum loads and is gas operated in the recoil department.
The recoil will be much less than a pump action shotgun...even if one installs a sumptuous soft recoil pad on it.

You might also try one of those recoil pads that goes on the inside of a short or shooting jacket to help spread the recoil over a larger area too.
Browning makes those types of pads..just as an option on what to look for.
Rob
 
Autoloader is the way to go. Also if you are willing to look at used then you can often find ones that have custom recoil pads for extra protection
for your shoulder. Often you can find them in nice condition too with all the chokes you want and of course the price is often better than new too! :)
 
Last edited:
I have to agree about the autoloader. Would add that i had a Benelli and the inertia recoil shotguns like Benelli, A5, Franchi, etc are much harder for recoil. My current multiuse gun is a Beretta A303 with a sighted 20" barrel and a 26" mobil choke barrel.

I have heard good things about some lower end semi's, and much of what one hears negative is from people who shoot thousands and thousands of rounds a year.
 
Ben_in_Canada said:
First shotgun, see if Corwin Arms has any more of the Asena's left.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...HOTGUN-Clearance-Price-Were-477-00-Now-317-00

I'm using one for shooting clays, might be good on your shoulder.
Click to expand...

FLYBYU44 said:
Weatherby SA 08 is a good autoloader, mine was a soft shooter.
Click to expand...

The asena and weatherby are both Turkish guns, so they should be nearly identical for takedown and maintenance. I have had good luck with a Mossberg 930 as well. Like the others have said, stick with a gas semi, get one of the PAST recoil pads and if you can find them and if the gun likes them, try some reduced recoil loads.

You may want to try a 20ga as well, it might limit you a bit when duck hunting, but for turkey and upland 12ga can be a bit of overkill. If you find a good deal within your budget you may want to look at a decent shooting, but not necessarily pretty 12ga for ducks and a nicer 20ga for the rest.
 
Last edited:
The Winchester SXP. When fired the bolt partially comes back to assist with quickly chambering a round. So not only is it the fastest pump shotgun on the market it is soft recoiling. A good portion of the felt recoil is burned off moving the action to the rear. The felt recoil is far less than my 870 and it is a great shotgun over all. It is way below your price range but as long you are not a gun snob its great.
 
Gnome75 said:
The Winchester SXP. When fired the bolt partially comes back to assist with quickly chambering a round. So not only is it the fastest pump shotgun on the market it is soft recoiling. A good portion of the felt recoil is burned off moving the action to the rear. The felt recoil is far less than my 870 and it is a great shotgun over all. It is way below your price range but as long you are not a gun snob its great.
Click to expand...

I'm not a gun snob in the least.
With that being said I will typically buy something that I know is QUALITY over something that is potentially lower quality. Quality isn't always reflected in price.
I was also looking into the Winchester SX3.
 
Gnome75 said:
The Winchester SXP. When fired the bolt partially comes back to assist with quickly chambering a round. So not only is it the fastest pump shotgun on the market it is soft recoiling. A good portion of the felt recoil is burned off moving the action to the rear. The felt recoil is far less than my 870 and it is a great shotgun over all. It is way below your price range but as long you are not a gun snob its great.
Click to expand...

The SXP recall, due to guns being discharged without the trigger being pulled makes me wonder about the SXP. That being said, I have fired a couple of SXP shotguns, and I own an SX-3, and recoil wise, the SX-3 is significantly softer.
 
Remembered my buddy has a wrecked shoulder from rugby (plus just about everything else....) and was working with a budget so he went to auctions. He ended up with a Browning Gold Hunter from an
auction and also liked the Remington 11-87 for recoil. Got a really good deal on the Remington with all the kit.
 
Milanczar said:
Remembered my buddy has a wrecked shoulder from rugby (plus just about everything else....) and was working with a budget so he went to auctions. He ended up with a Browning Gold Hunter from an
auction and also liked the Remington 11-87 for recoil. Got a really good deal on the Remington with all the kit.
Click to expand...

Auctions are okay, provided you have actually shouldered the gun, or at least the same make and model. However, purchasing a shotgun without trying it for fit is not a good idea.
 
Anyone have any experience with ATA Venza or the ATA CY?
The CY seems to be the same as the Weatherby SA-08.
Read a review on each from Calibre but nothing longer term.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom