Advice for a forst shotgun please

Its a pump-action, which is better for fast-paced bird hunting requiring you to hold as many rounds as possible. The pump-action also tends to be more reliable than the semi-autos while retaining all of the benefits of the semi-autos besides super-rapid fire.

Three rounds is the limit for migratory birds, and also for upland birds in some provinces. As for the benefits of a semi auto, the gas operated guns also provide noticeably less felt recoil than a pump action.
 
I understand semi-auto gives less recoil, but it also adds $1000 on top of pump-action gun. Therefore I decided to go with Benelli Supernova. Now what do you guys think about camo type paint on it? I was 99% decided about black till Cabellas offered me "Cabela's Canada Exclusive" with camo, some extra choke and shoulder belt for extra 50$ not even sure if them extra's are useful... any thoughts?
 
There is tons of debate on what shotgun is best for first-timers. Personally, I acquired a Remington 887 Nitro Mag. Its a pump-action, which is better for fast-paced bird hunting requiring you to hold as many rounds as possible. The pump-action also tends to be more reliable than the semi-autos while retaining all of the benefits of the semi-autos besides super-rapid fire.Its bang-for-the-buck value is tremendous. It holds a broad range of shot shell sizes (2 3/4, 3, 3 1/2), making it a multi-use gun for sure. As a Waterfowl and Upland bird guide, I can honestly say it's the toughest and most versatile shotgun I've used. To illustrate this, I will tell you a unfortunately personal story. I was once hunting in a Texas rice field, it was after the harvest as well so up-churned mud and gunk was what we had to walk on and interact with. The geese were so skiddish that we had to give up our hunting tarps and decoys and I had to stalk behind soggy old hay bales until I got close to the feeding flock and then jumping them, while providing my hunting companions with airborne geese heading there way. On my first jump I did, I ran straight for the flock and tripped immediately, into the thick, grainy mud. This mud got everywhere it could on my gun. In fact, after successfully bagging a nice sized Snow goose from the flock, I checked my mud-filled chamber and saw how truly dirty it was. Yet it still performed great the entire day, although that didn't help me get more geese. I also have used it on my upland hunts and it performed just as well. Its recoil is great for a 12 gauge and spare parts for it are all over due to the popularity of the gun. We do have it in stock here at Grouse for $449.97 in both 26 inch and 28 inch barrels. You can take a peak at it here.

Wow... just wow...
 
The op should google and search this forum on the 887. Perhaps the most hated Remington shotgun in history. Gun writers call it "the Remington 710 of shotguns". Hard to level a bigger insult.

They look cool. There. I was able to find something nice to say...

It's curious a dealer is pushing them - dormant stock issues perhaps?

These guns are not moving in the EE at the $300 price point, fwiw.
 
The op should google and search this forum on the 887. Perhaps the most hated Remington shotgun in history. Gun writers call it "the Remington 710 of shotguns". Hard to level a bigger insult.

They look cool. There. I was able to find something nice to say...

It's curious a dealer is pushing them - dormant stock issues perhaps?

These guns are not moving in the EE at the $300 price point, fwiw.


+1 the 887 is probably the worst piece of junk shotgun that Remington has ever marketed.


I understand semi-auto gives less recoil, but it also adds $1000 on top of pump-action gun.

I paid $1000 for one of my SX-3 shotguns, and $1100 for the other one, Cabelas is selling the Super Nova Cabelas exclusive for $889, not that I would ever purchase a firearm from Cabelas.
 
Well, that went weird..... Anyways.....

OP, aside from camo versus black, pick whichever you like best..... That being said, having multiple chokes will come in handy since you want to do multiple types of hunts with your gun......
 
I have a Benelli Super Nova and its been fantastic. I have used it in all conditions from rain to cold and snow and its has never gave me an issue. Had a Remington 1100 before, it was nothing but trouble. I think the Benelli provides excellent value for the money
 
The make & model of your first shotgun is much less important than getting experience with a shotgun. Go to a couple of stores, handle them, see which ones you like, shop for price, buy. Done.
 
There is a mag limit of 2 shells for hunting.

Three rounds is the limit for migratory birds, and also for upland birds in some provinces. As for the benefits of a semi auto, the gas operated guns also provide noticeably less felt recoil than a pump action.

Wow... just wow...

Hey fellas,

Just to clear things up here, Joe recently joined us from the great state of Texas, where the rules are slightly different, while he is completing his studies. Familiarizing ones self with the multitude of rules/regulations takes some time, therefore the quick correction was appreciated. He will be making a point of brushing up on his upland/bird rules ;) With that being said, if trying to provide personal experience and insight for the OP is a crime then he is most certainly guilty as charged.

As always have a great day boys, feedback is always appreciated!

Gerhard W.
Inside Sales
 
Last edited:
Hey fellas,

Just to clear things up here, Joe recently joined us from the great state of Texas, where the rules are slightly different, while he is completing his studies. Familiarizing ones self with the multitude of rules/regulations takes some time, therefore the quick correction was appreciated. He will be making a point of brushing up on his upland/bird rules ;) With that being said, if trying to provide personal experience and insight for the OP is a crime then he is most certainly guilty as charged.

As always have a great day boys, feedback is always appreciated!

Gerhard W.
Inside Sales

Thanks for the follow-up...

It was clear that was a post by a young member of your staff... no harm no foul, regardless of the amount of "fail" in that post.

Any young person excited about hunting is a good thing for all of us.
 
Guys, thanks for all your input, I ended up getting Benelli Supernova 12G Cabella Canada Special camo version. In Saskatchewan we have very limited amount of stores for firearms, so went with Cabellas..

As for Remingtons, I was told by a guys that I chat with on these subjects to stay away, so I did.. Not saying anything to people with different opinions.

Bought some Target shells and ear protection, so have to get in to a gun range to try it out.
 
Remington makes some beautiful shotguns, but their bargain/economy models leave a lot to be desired.

The supernova's a good gun. They don't fit me very well, but they are reliable and durable.

Guys, thanks for all your input, I ended up getting Benelli Supernova 12G Cabella Canada Special camo version. In Saskatchewan we have very limited amount of stores for firearms, so went with Cabellas..

As for Remingtons, I was told by a guys that I chat with on these subjects to stay away, so I did.. Not saying anything to people with different opinions.

Bought some Target shells and ear protection, so have to get in to a gun range to try it out.
 
Let's begin with what you don't need. You don't need an extended magazine. Your application doesn't benefit from rifle sights. You don't need a very long barrel. You don't need a pistol grip stock.

The important considerations are as follows. Gun fit is very important, not only does it provide a intuitive relationship between eye, bead, and target, a gun that fits correctly doesn't feel like it kicks as hard as one that is too long. A wood stock is beneficial to the extent that its easier to shorten or lengthen than a plastic stock. A shotgun needs a quality recoil pad, and if the length of pull has to be changed to suit you anyway, don't skimp on the cost of a high quality pad. Interchangeable chokes are beneficial, and make the gun more versatile, whether shooting skeet or pass shooting geese. A 26" barrel provides a nice balance between a gun that points well and that's still fairly compact, here 24" can feel a bit clubby and 28"-36" can feel like a lot of gun. You need a bead you can see. In this respect, an XS Big Bead is something you can install yourself; it just glues on over the factory bead, and is much easier to see. A sling can be beneficial, particularly when the gun is used in wet conditions hen you would rather not put it down. Furthermore, the use of a sling is less fatiguing than having to carry the gun in your hands for hours at a time.

Action type has much to do with personal preference, but here are some things to consider. Semi-autos have the advantage of a solid forend that doesn't flex or twist in your grip. In the case of gas operated actions, it can reduce the recoil sensation, but not with recoil operated actions. And obviously you can fire successive shots without moving your support hand. You can't short stroke a semi-auto, and it will run reliably provided you keep enough mass behind the gun, particularly recoil operated guns, although you can't really expect light target loads to cycle as well as full powered loads, although the "B" guns do reasonably well in this respect.

Pump action guns are usually less expensive than semi-autos, yet have a similar appearance and feel and weight, load in a similar manner, and can use similar accessories. The pump is generally believed to be more reliable, but this is a myth that needs to be put to bed. A quality semi-auto is equally reliable compared to a pump of similar quality when full powered ammunition is fired. The pump action though is usually easier to clean and maintain. Aftermarket barrels are available for many pump and semi-auto shotguns, if that is something you consider advantageous.

O/U and SXS guns are another option, and while they are a low cost option, and occasional an expensive target gun option, single barrel guns are not as useful. At one time double barrel shotgun came with fixed chokes usually F-M or M-IC, and occasionally M-M or IC-IC. Happily, quality double guns like their repeating brothers are becoming available with screw in chokes. The big advantage a double has is shorter overall length when the barrels are equal lengths to a repeating shotgun, or it can have longer barrel while the its the same length as a repeater. The double breaks don into a very compact package for transport or storage. It is simple to clean and maintain. My preference is a double trigger gun, but single trigger guns are available; recoil resets the trigger; as you can imagine, should light loads be fired, or a less than text book hold that fails to put enough mass behind the gun, could cause the trigger not to reset.

Occasionally one comes across a bolt action shotgun. These used to come in a couple of guises, the first were inexpensive, box magazine fed guns usually made by Savage or Mossberg; I haven't seen one in quite some time now. More common today are quality bolt action shotguns intended to be used in shotgun only areas, as short to medium range big game rifles. Typically these have receivers that readily allow the mounting of optics or receiver sights, and typically have rifled barrels. These guns are specialized, and are not particularly versatile beyond their application as big game rifles.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom