Budget minded shotguns.

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GummyMonster

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Good day all,
Hope your fall season is going well.
Question : I am looking for a couple shotguns for waterfowl hunting. I am getting back into hunting and a good friend wants to get into bird hunting.
Problem is all my shotguns are older and not suitable for steel shot.
For this year, we are after some functional but inexpensive guns.
I will use $500 as a cap to start with. Looking for opinions on options in double barrel, pump, or auto loaders.
Don't have to be fancy ,As long as they function well and can shoot steel shot loads for geese.
Thanks' in advance,
Ken
 
I can say that either the Remington 870 (the one i'd go with) or the moss berg 500 is a good budget starting point. I use my 870 for all kinds of hunting from bird to deer and it does the job. Can't say for the other action types
 
Hm, you know, this one depends.

If you're after good controls, I think the Mossy wins hands down. Safety on the top of the receiver, slide release behind the trigger guard. I want a 500 very much right now, simply for the controls!

Also, the lifter stays in the "up" position on a Mossberg, making loading a lot easier as well. On an 870, you must fight the lifter every time you wish to load the tube. Fight might be too strong a word, but on a Mossy, it isn't an issue. One less thing in the way.

I would lean toward a Mossberg 500 in an 8shot config for HD purposes, or a field/security combo to maximize utility.
 
I have two shotguns specifically for waterfowling.

(1) Benelli Nova pump
(2) Baikal MP153 semi

My go to gun is the semi, it takes the sting out of the 3.5 mag shells! LOVE IT!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. There was a Nova recently on the Equipment Exchange for $400 if I recall correctly...
 
Polar Man said:
Best deal in shotguns has to be the Mossberg 500 combo package, an 18.5 barrel and a 28 ribbed with a fixed modified choke for 299. It's at Cabelas and probably a few other dealers.
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Al Flahertys has that Mossberg combo with 3 barrels and 3 removable chokes for 489. For 10 bucks over budget I'd go and get a Weatherby SA-08. The semi is always more comfortable to shoot more shells out of. I've shot the SA-08 plenty, they are very reliable.


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What sort of shotguns do you currently have? You may be able to make them usable with steel shot by opening up the choke.
 
Lakefield Mossberg model L500 AB 30" full choke

Browning Acier Special 30" full choke

Winchester Model 12 Full choke.

What would the cost of re-choking these be, and is there any other problem that steel shot can cause, as these were all passed down to me and I do not want to ruin them.
 
Talk to a gunsmith. Changing one of your full choke guns to modified is not a big job, and would certainly be cheaper than buying a new one. Lots of guys are using modified 2 3/4" 12s for both lead and steel shot. Another option would be to see if you can have one of the barrels threaded to accept standard or thin wall screw in chokes, but getting that done and buying the chokes can start to cost real money ... perhaps enough to buy another shotgun.
 
win sxp 3.5 is what i have been looking for in new brunswick for 2 weeks now have emails out and phone calls starting tomorow not much reveiws yet but looks like a winner need to find one by oct 1 duck season
 
shopsteward said:
870 is not a bad gun but heavy I would not go with the Mossberg or the maverick cheap guns I would look at the weatherby semi auto it's priced right about 500
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"Heavy" in a pump has its pros and cons. If you're doing a lot of walking, it's a con; if you're doing a lot of shooting, it's a pro.
 
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