First Shotgun

Kevdubbya

Kevdubbya

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Chatham ON
Been looking at models for weeks.
Can't decide.
Been playing skeet weekly with my Grandfathers old pump.
It has a fixed full choke so not ideal..
Csnt decide if I want an all rounder for the occasional duck hunt or a skeet specific gun..any thoughts?
It would be my first.
 
As your first shotgun, I would get something universally useful. Hard to go wrong with a pump action, Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 (or Maverick 88 if you're really pinching pennies) are reliable, will last forever, and have good resale value if you decide to sell down the road. You can get turkish guns for cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

For a skeet specific gun you're probably looking at an over-under or SxS, and those are going to cost significantly more money than a pump action. You can get cheaper OUs and SxS, but then you're either dealing with old guns with fixed chokes or turkish stuff that doesn't have a good reputation for long-term durability. A decent semi auto is another option, but again, its gonna cost you significantly more than a pump action. A semi auto would be more at home in the duck blind than a SxS though.
 
Kevdubbya said:
Been looking at models for weeks.
Can't decide.
Been playing skeet weekly with my Grandfathers old pump.
It has a fixed full choke so not ideal..
Csnt decide if I want an all rounder for the occasional duck hunt or a skeet specific gun..any thoughts?
It would be my first.
Click to expand...

I started with guns in 1964. Shooting / hunting is like golfing. You need a different club ( gun) for different
shots. Using a "Do it All" gun is only right if you can't afford any other way.
 
cooey43 said:
I started with guns in 1964. Shooting / hunting is like golfing. You need a different club ( gun) for different
shots. Using a "Do it All" gun is only right if you can't afford any other way.
Click to expand...

If this were true than half the golfers out there would only be using a 7 iron and putter (aka pump 12ga and a 22lr)...

More options certainly don't hurt, but I can kill birds and big game, shoot skeet and trap, and defend my house all with a single 12ga pump gun.
 
That is a lot more budget than most people buying their first shotgun. I like a gun with utility, so I'd go with a semi. Beretta, Benelli, and Browning all have well-regarded semi auto options in your price range, I'd go to a gun store and see which fits you the best and go from there. At the end of the day any shotgun worth $2000 is going to be a pretty good gun, so you should focus on figuring out whether you want a SxS or semi (semi has more utility to me personally, but SxS are certainly more ###y) and then figure out what fits you the best.
 
Kevdubbya said:
What do you think about Browning BPS?
Worth the jump from Mossberg or Remington?
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The BPS is a good gun for sure. The only issue I ever had with mine was not racking the action fully back, but far enough to release the next shell from the magazine. With a bottom eject design like the BPS, this makes for a difficult jam to remedy.
 
Beretta 1301 is a real winner in my mind! A LOT of gun for the money! The new Comp versions have a longer barrel better suited to your tasks than the tactical. I own the tactical and love it! My 2 cents.
 
Kevdubbya said:
Great, thanks ��
Regarding fit, is this just what feel best in your arms when aimed up?
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Not quite. Fit on a shotgun refers to how it points, a shotgun that fits you properly will point to where you're looking without having to think about it or make any adjustments. As shotguns are supposed to be pointed, not aimed, this is critical to actually hitting your target consistently.

This will give you a good idea of the concept: https://www.theyorkshiregent.com/shooting/gun-fitting-guide-fit-shotgun/
 
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You never said what your gramps old shogun was, you could possibly get a new barrel for it with interchangeable chokes. Though I do get the wanting something new as well. If all you are doing is skeet/trap then go over under. There is just something classy about that...which is probably why I don't have one lol
 
paul792 said:
You never said what your gramps old shogun was, you could possibly get a new barrel for it with interchangeable chokes. Though I do get the wanting something new as well. If all you are doing is skeet/trap then go over under. There is just something classy about that...which is probably why I don't have one lol
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He also didn't mention if Gramps' gun was now his or not. One could always have a fixed choke opened up if the gun fits well and he wants to keep shooting skeet with it. Isn't terribly expensive either, a place local to me does it for $75.
 
Kevdubbya said:
What do you think about Browning BPS?
Worth the jump from Mossberg or Remington?
Click to expand...

The Browning BPS and Remington Wingmaster are IMO the nicest (non tactical) hunting/sports pump shot guns on todays market !

They are definitely a step up from the Rem 870 Field or the Mossberg 500.
 
I only have a Benelli Nova pump, among about a dozen others, but I highly suggest looking into Benelli. I'm a casual trap/wing shooter but I've always had a knack for it and going from a 870 Supermag to a Nova made shooting clay pigeons automatically easier. It was neat and I have an entry level Benelli.
 
^ Ooops, forgot the Benelli. Nice gun too !

Hammering 3 1/2" inch out of the Super Nova certainly left an impression with me.
 
I'm not a super regular duck/goose hunter but I have couple 3.5" pumps. With friends that you know can take a joke it's fun to load some ~2 oz load in the tube first, then a handful of light trap loads and hand it to them. I'd neve do it to someone that might jeopardize their getting into the hobby/sport.

But it can be funny.

But for roughly $600 the nova is a solid shotgun. I only imagine the Super Nova is better. I would think the Super Vinci Semi (~$1700) would shoot really nice.

riversrest said:
^ Ooops, forgot the Benelli. Nice gun too !

Hammering 3 1/2" inch out of the Super Nova certainly left an impression with me.
Click to expand...
 
Suther said:
He also didn't mention if Gramps' gun was now his or not. One could always have a fixed choke opened up if the gun fits well and he wants to keep shooting skeet with it. Isn't terribly expensive either, a place local to me does it for $75.
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Gramps' gun is now mine, and although it's nothing special, it's sentimental and I'd rather just get something new to call my own than go cutting the barrel or anything.
It's a Canadian Sportsman Model 269 Series e
 
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