What to look for when buying a new gun?

[oneskilledshooter]

Please forgive the newby question here.

I am new to shotguns and am going out to buy a new one tomorrow. I am looking at a Mossberg 535 (pump of course) ATS 3 barrel combo with camo paint. I am fully aware that this is a cheap gun and quality varies.

I realize that if I really want a better built shotgun I need to put up more cash, but this buy is meant as a hunting tool to tide me over for a while.

What do you guys look for when buying a new shotgun in terms of fit, finish, tolerances, defects, etc.? The shop that I am going to has at least 10 of them in stock, so I will be able to take my pick of the litter.

 

[a j cave]

the shop should be able to help u. The stock should not catch or bind as u bring it up. you also should be able to look down the barell & not have to move your face or neck. The gun must come up easy and quickly point where u are looking. this is just a start, but a good staff will help with fit & stance. AJ

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

As already mentioned......gun fit is the priority. To add a bit more.....

- Check for proper receiver to barrel fit during assembly etc.

- Work the action (try a couple or more shotguns if you are able to) using snapcaps....the gunshop will likely have some available. Determine which one feels smoother among the ones you tested.

- Test loading/extraction (proper ejection) using those snapcaps

- Test the trigger + safety catch functions....dry fire using those snapcaps

- Test individual choke fit + check out the threads

- Ensure overall fit/finish is acceptable, the camo paint job was thorough etc

 

[Grouse Man]

More important than which individual gun, ask the shop owner what happens if something goes wrong with the gun. Will he stand behind it and give you a new gun off the rack, or will he make you go through the warranty process?

The fit of a shotgun is probably more important than any other criterion. If it doesn't snuggle into the correct position when you mount it, you've lost the greatest advantage to wing-shooting, which is NOT thinking about aiming the gun. If you are thinking about the bead, the rib, the hold, lining things up, the cheek weld, etc. you are NOT thinking about leading the bird.

Try all the guns in the store from all makes and models. Take your hunting coat. Good luck.

 

[straightshooter]

Take your hunting coat.

There's some good advice you don't often hear.

 

[oneskilledshooter]

Thanks for all the great tips! And thanks grouse man for bringing me back down to earth. I should be thinking more about how the gun shoulders and fits than anything else, for sure. I was thinking about remington 870, but I have tried a couple of them on clays and I just can't get them to work for me. I think that the length of pull on them may be a little long for me, but I am not sure.

I have been looking at the benellis today because they seem to be better built than most and they come with shims to customize the fit (at least some do) so I will have a look at those too. Any out there with these? They claim that the supernova reduces felt recoil by up to 60%??? That doesn't sound too realistic to me...

I have been surprised at what shotguns that other guys own that I have tried at the range that shoot really well. Just goes to show that you have to just look (and try) lots of different ones with an open mind. And while wearing your hunting coat! (thanks straightshooter, that wouldn't have come to mind!)

 

[stubblejumper]

As previously posted,the number one priority is fit.Stocks can be shortened,but the sight picture must be correct in order to be able to shoot the gun to your/it's potential.
After that it comes to reliability,and I prefer the 870 or the Benelli in that regard.
If your reference to trying guns on clays means trap,be aware that trap guns shoot to a quite different point of aim than skeet/sporting guns,or field guns.For this reason,most people shoot under the targets when using a non trap gun.

 

[oneskilledshooter]

Thanks for the tip stubblejumper. How can I check in a store if the site picture from one shotgun is better than another? Does that have to do with the drop? Is this the purpose of the benelli supernova interchangeable combs? Oh and all of the guns that I have tried were actually field guns. Shotgunners at my club tend to be hunters out for practice.

 

[stubblejumper]

How can I check in a store if the site picture from one shotgun is better than another? Does that have to do with the drop? Is this the purpose of the benelli supernova interchangeable combs?

Just throw the gun to your shoulder and see the position of the rib and the bead.My skeet gun has a mid point bead as well and the two beads form an 8.Sometimes shims are used where the butt joins the receiver to adjust the gun for a proper sight picture.