First Shot Gun

Ithaca 37 is a nice gun but my vote is an old wing master or mossberg 500. The 870 express is a cheaped out pos. Mossberg has the most options for extra barrels at affordable prices.
 
Benelli hands down, if you can afford it, get the Supernova.
Worth every penny.

Remington has QC issues, not a fan of Mossberg either.
Browning BPS is a great gun, next best thing to the Benelli.

Buy the best you can, your 12 ga. Is going to be one of your most-used guns.
 
I would take the 870 or the benelli over the mossberg. I'm my opinion the mossbergs are junk.

Don't be concerned with a 3.5 chamber. If you can't hit it with a three inch and three and a half isn't going to help you lol
 
What is your limit? A used NEF single shot $150 will do what you want. A used Winchester 1300 $250 will work. An old 870 Wingmaster $ 250 will work. Nothing wrong with Browning, Ithica or Bennelli. Note the new shotguns from Turkey from Hatsan, Winchester and Weatherby also work well. A $1000 will get you a used over and under Browning that will last you a life time.

You ask for a rifled barrel for bird? weird. Rifled barreled shotguns are for slugs not shot. A 20" barreled IC choke shotgun is good for 100 yards with slug. 200 yards with accuracy with rifled barrel. I've shot deer with a single shot shotgun with a 28" barrel and full choke. Works, but don't expect it to be fun and comfortable. I like many others have multiple shotguns with preferences for certain tasks.

Field birds I prefer a side x side 20ga. Nice and light, swings fast.
Deer 12 ga pump rifled barrel with scope
Duck 12ga pump
Piss around take camping in the boat a Marine finish 12 ga. (Picked up a Hatsan myself)


It all comes down to you and what you like. I hate o-rings in semis

If you decide to get into action shooting a Benelli M2, or M4. If just for fun and giggles, a Hatsan MPA TS.

So you can pick up a shotgun used for $150 or spend over $4000 new, it's up to you. You wouldn't use a 32oz framing hammer to hit finishing nails. Same goes for all the different variants of shotguns.

What is your limit to spend?

Criteria;
Reliable
Available and reasonably priced rifled barrel

Use:
Killing birds,,,,WON'T WORK
clays, ... WON'T WORK
and perhaps some deer Will WORK
 
Last edited:
My opinion may be biased because I haven't owned or fired many of the ones listed, but I have a 870 synthetic 3" and it's a beautiful gun. It's very smooth cycling, never had a misfire or jam and feels great to shoot. I will have this shotgun and won't have a need for another one for a looooong time. They are also very easy and fast to strip down and clean. I have done ALOT of homework on which are the best value for the cheaper end guns and the majority seems to say get an 870.
 
just went thru this process myself and my choice was --Browning BPS. After reading hundreds of reviews on every pump out there, the BPS was the only pump that I couldn't find a single negitive review or unhappy owner. I read hundreds of reports from unhappy owners of 870's and 500's, cycling problems, quality problems etc. Shoulder as many as you can, but definatly try the BPS, then spend the $600 or so on it, and hand it down to your kids 20 years from now :)
 
Is is common or possible to have a semi auto that will shoot light target load and 3"? Or is that like asking for a car that does 200 miles an hour and 80mpg
 
You ask for a rifled barrel for bird? weird. Rifled barreled shotguns are for slugs not shot. A 20" barreled IC choke shotgun is good for 100 yards with slug. 200 yards with accuracy with rifled barrel. I've shot deer with a single shot shotgun with a 28" barrel and full choke. Works, but don't expect it to be fun and comfortable. I like many others have multiple shotguns with preferences for certain tasks.

Criteria;
Reliable
Available and reasonably priced rifled barrel

Use:
Killing birds,,,,WON'T WORK
clays, ... WON'T WORK
and perhaps some deer Will WORK[/QUOTE]


Hi,

Rifled barrel for Deer, smooth barrel for bird and clay. Seems like rifled barrels are hard/impossible to find for some guns, and want one that at least has the option to put one on in the future.
 
Talking to a guy selling a used 1100, but he says it won't cycle anything less then a heavy 2 3/4", can this be modified to take a lighter load if need be?
 
I picked up an 870 express last week, I've had m12's, Novas, and a BPS as far as pumps go. Got the express for 299$ new and based on reviews was not expecting much. I got it home stripped it, cleaned it, oiled it, and then oiled and cleaned it again and so far I have no complaints, though there's only 200 rds down the tube ranging from cheap target loads to slugs so far zero problems.
Fit and finish wise, well it's a 300$ gun. But it's gone bang every time it's supposed to.
I have no complaints .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom