Looking for my first shotgun for waterfowl hunting

Start with a pump. For under $500 semis are going to be hit and miss - my $300 Turkish semi runs great, but not all of them do.

Mossberg 500 gets my vote. Maverick 88 as a suitable alternative. Remington 870s are good too, but I prefer the controls on Mossbergs - the action release is behind the trigger guard rather than infront like the Remington and a lot of Turkish designs. To me that's a huge difference, to some its irrelevant.
 
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Start with a pump. For under $500 semis are going to be hit and miss - my $300 Turkish semi runs great, but not all of them do.

Mossberg 500 gets my vote. Maverick 88 as a suitable alternative. Remington 870s are good too, but I prefer the controls on Mossbergs - the action release is behind the trigger guard rather than infront like the Remington and a lot of Turkish designs. To me that's a huge difference, to some its irrelevant.
Would you advise buying new or used?
 
Would you advise buying new or used?
I love used guns. That said, when I was a new gun owner with limited experience evaluating used guns the peace of mind that comes with buying new was worth something too.

I don't think you'd go wrong either way, just be aware of what you're getting. As an example, a lot of used mossbergs are fixed full choke guns that aren't recommended for steel shot. If you have any friends who already waterfowl ask their opinions if you find something you might like. Or ask on here.
 
your price point is going to buy you a piece of chunk and yes i get it not everyone has money spend so no disrespect but all you will buy is a problem like a maverick 88 and yes guys will jump in and say i have one for 5 years no trouble it will happen
action arms break miss fires trigger assembly fails on and on
best pics
benelli nova or super nova
remington field master not the last version of what ever there cartridge sticking gun was called express
semi
no stoger or other turkajunk
beretta enter level 300
for what it's worth
just saying
my qualification for these statements
have worked in the firearms industry since 1977 still do
10-12 years winchester warranty smith
10-12 years remington warranty smith Fabarm warranty smith plus have worked on every make since 1977
i have seen a few models
well now let's bring on the internet educated options
 
Igor C, I don't know if that's your real name or a pseudonym, but I will advise you to look at the banner advertisers at the top of the page.

Many folks come onto this site with their cell phones and miss a lot, or find it too tedious to look at what's being displayed.

You should click on the Intersurplus banner and peruse their offerings.

They have several shotguns that would fit your needs nicely, as long as you don't mind a used shotgun.

I would suggest an over/under or sideXside chambered for the venerable 12 gauge up to 3 inches.

For waterfowl hunting, I like a barrel at least 24 inches or 50cm long and a single trigger, but dual triggers will do just fine.

There is a certain "nostalgia" about using a good O/U, or SxS to take ducks/geese etc with.

This is right at the top of your price range and it's chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells, but it will likely do everything you want it to, and its a fine looking shotgun. It needs a new recoil pad, such as a KiKeeze or its equivalent, but for what you would be getting, it's an excellent place to start from, using a good quality shotgun that will last a lifetime.

The longer barrels help keep your swing on the flying target consistently easy.


    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
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Simson SxS 12GA​

Sale price$445.50Regular price$495.00
Sale
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Default Title
Quantity


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Description:​

  • 12GA
  • Extractor
  • Barrel length : 27 1/2 inch
  • Length of pull : 14 5/8 inch
  • Chamber : 2 3/4 inch
  • Chokes : Full & Full
  • Weight: 6.44 lbs

Condition

 
your price point is going to buy you a piece of chunk and yes i get it not everyone has money spend so no disrespect but all you will buy is a problem like a maverick 88 and yes guys will jump in and say i have one for 5 years no trouble it will happen
action arms break miss fires trigger assembly fails on and on


Out of the hundreds of posts I've seen on this topic, this is one of the only ones I've seen claiming the Maverick is prone to breaking.
 
I have seen a few Maverick shotguns fail and all were caused by broken action arms. There have been a few posts with people saying the Blueline are a good gun for the money. Apparently an 870 knockoff. I have no experience with them??
 
Igor C, I don't know if that's your real name or a pseudonym, but I will advise you to look at the banner advertisers at the top of the page.

Many folks come onto this site with their cell phones and miss a lot, or find it too tedious to look at what's being displayed.

You should click on the Intersurplus banner and peruse their offerings.

They have several shotguns that would fit your needs nicely, as long as you don't mind a used shotgun.

I would suggest an over/under or sideXside chambered for the venerable 12 gauge up to 3 inches.

For waterfowl hunting, I like a barrel at least 24 inches or 50cm long and a single trigger, but dual triggers will do just fine.

There is a certain "nostalgia" about using a good O/U, or SxS to take ducks/geese etc with.

This is right at the top of your price range and it's chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells, but it will likely do everything you want it to, and its a fine looking shotgun. It needs a new recoil pad, such as a KiKeeze or its equivalent, but for what you would be getting, it's an excellent place to start from, using a good quality shotgun that will last a lifetime.

The longer barrels help keep your swing on the flying target consistently easy.


    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA


    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Simson SxS 12GA

Simson SxS 12GA​

Sale price$445.50Regular price$495.00
Sale
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Default Title
Quantity


Adding product to your cart

Description:​

  • 12GA
  • Extractor
  • Barrel length : 27 1/2 inch
  • Length of pull : 14 5/8 inch
  • Chamber : 2 3/4 inch
  • Chokes : Full & Full
  • Weight: 6.44 lbs

Condition

full and full is no good for steel unless you paid a smith to ream it out, or shoot the very expensive nontox shot

My suggestion would be a winchester sxp. wait til someone puts on a sale to get it under $500 .
 
Last edited:
Be patient, sniff around for a used Remington 870 WINGMASTER pump with either a 26” or 28” barrel. Either IC or Modified FIXED choke. Either choke will pattern regular lead and various non toxic loads extremely well. Mine has run reliably for 50 years and is good enough for another 50. Can’t say that about some of the new kids on the block. Be prepared to pay just a bit more, into the $650 range for a minty specimen. You will have no regrets.
 
full and full is no good for steel unless you paid a smith to ream it out, or shoot the very expensive nontox shot

My suggestion would be a winchester sxp. wait til someone puts on a sale to get it under $500 .
The paste was just an example of what's available. There are others on the site that would be quite suitable.
 
Id stay away from the Mossberg's can't get parts in Canada anymore. Huglu has no warranty center in Canada either Oh and the warranty Centre for all Remington is closed temporarily for upgrades to the facility. I have a Winchester SXP and it is pretty nice, most prices I see are $540+ I've heard mixed reviews on the Stoegers some people Love them some people hate them.
 
I have 2 Remington 12GA 870 Wingmaster guns, circa 1968 and 1973. Both have been put through the paces over the years in dusty goose pits to rain and wet snow in the duck blind. I use to shoot cases of shells out of them when a case was 20 boxes. Not once did I ever have one of them fail me. They work in all weather conditions and if need be can be used as a boat paddle .
I also have 2 Benelli Nova shotguns in 12 and 20GA, so far they have been OK but I haven't put them through the paces like I have with the 870's. But I find when I cycle the Benelli it sounds cheap/clunky unlike the smoothness of the old 870, hell even the newer 870's sound cheap compared to the older well built models. I'm not even certain if Remington still makes the Wingmaster; Likely only the cheap Express models
 
Look for a Mossberg 400 or 500 used, or a Remington 870.
$500 or less and you will have all the shotgun you ever need. And if you get bored of it you can buy all sorts of accessories.

Or I like what the other guy posted about the used double barrels for sale at like Intersuplus. Great deals for great hunting shotguns and still have enough money left over for a flat of shells.
 
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