Thank you for your input.
You made some great points.
I'll look into the Magpul stock you mentioned.
Another newbie needs help - Too many choices
- Thread starter Nikuser
- Start date
Thank you for your input.
You made some great points.
I'll look into the Magpul stock you mentioned.
lipervitch
CGN Regular
- Location
- Chatham-Kent, ON
I'm very new to shotguns and picked up a Mossberg 500 field gun. 28" barrel. I use it mainly for skeet shooting and have put almost 500 rounds through it without a single problem. I don't find it difficult to shoot pairs with a pump and I'm very new to the sport. The one drawback of using a pump for skeet shooting is you have to bend over to pick up the empty shells.
A drawback I can deal with considering the cost of an over/under.
I'm still leaning towards the 500. I like the idea of having an after-market stock to adjust the fit. I found the Winchester had a better fit (for me) out of the box.
You wont even have to stoop over to pick up another hull if you have on of these MOJO Outdoors Pick Stick Magnetic Shotgun Shell Retriever .
This uses a rare earth magnet (iirc) and have pretty good pulling power holds up to 25 hulls ( bit extreme )
Wave it around the hulls on the deck and they flock to the magnetic stick.
To the OP, buy what you can afford and enjoy.
Rob
That is why us older guys shoot O/U shotguns for clays. Anything less than a loonie just isn't worth bending over to pick up.
That is why us older guys shoot O/U shotguns for clays. Anything less than a loonie just isn't worth bending over to pick up.
That I can understand.
That is the one thing most ppl seem to agree with.
An oft quoted statistic but....
Wingmaster weights the same as the much vaunted Beretta Silver Pigeon 1
Now if you buy one of the wooden clubs from Browning, there certainly is more weight.
The O/U does have the advantage - both field and clays - of rapid choke selection to adapt to different targets.
Rob!
This. Unlike many here, I DON'T have a hate-on for the 870 Express though. Were they as terrible as many people here suggest, they wouldn't sell like they do. What I have seen (from personal experience) is that 870 Express models tend to get treated poorer than 870 Wingmasters because they're "just 870 Expresses". Then, surprise-surprise..they start having issues. I've yet to see a nice Wingmaster put away wet~can't say the same for nearly every 870 Express I've been asked to look at! Surface rust, stuck choke tubes, filthy mag tubes, gummed-up followers, etc. etc. etc.
Before all the experts pop-out of the woodwork~YES Nikuser...Wingmasters are better guns. Better finish, better materials in some places, smoother actions, nicer to work on~usually nicer guns to own/shoot as a result. Period, full stop, no argument. You ARE better off with a Wingmaster than an "Express" model. However, treat an Express like you would a Wingmaster, and it will serve you well. Upgrade the extractor and the gap (in my opinion) closes further. The only real issue I've worked-on with Expresses that Wingmasters don't have trouble with is chambers. Sometimes rough on the Express models, but the remedy is an easy one.
To touch on the other models mentioned here~the Mossberg model 500 is one that surprised this long-time Remington guy. Cheaper feeling, lighter (aluminum receiver) but points well and function is 100%. In fact, if you had to carry an 870 or a 500 a LONG time...you'll probably wish it was a 500 you owned. I don't own a 500, but there is a model 500 I want..and can't seem to find. Recently discontinued model, but not what you're after anyway.
The Ithaca 37~not sure how I feel about these, but I inherited one a couple of years back and I've never owned a smoother-pumping shotgun..or one that shouldered so naturally. Lightest all-steel pump gun I've ever handled too. It's a WWII-era 16ga so for my purposes...very limited, but an awfully sweet gun nonetheless.
Re: clays~I shoot trap as a total hack..but a hack that has been at it for over 32 years. lol I've always shot field guns doing it (Remington 11-48, Remington 870) and I've always had a great time doing it. However, I've yet to score 25/25.
Can't seem to get past 23/25...but I've hit that milestone a few times. I recently spent more time shooting a Browning Citori O/U in 20ga. and while consistent good scores seem more consistent with it, I wouldn't ever recommend it as someone's "first" when you have so little experience..and have a wide range of applications in mind.Incredibly information and we'll written reply. Thank you.
I believe I am getting more and more comfortable with my 500 choice... If I find a good value Wingmaster on EE, I may go that way. But you have ALL been so helpful.
I believe I am getting more and more comfortable with my 500 choice... If I find a good value Wingmaster on EE, I may go that way. But you have ALL been so helpful.
This. Unlike many here, I DON'T have a hate-on for the 870 Express though. Were they as terrible as many people here suggest, they wouldn't sell like they do. What I have seen (from personal experience) is that 870 Express models tend to get treated poorer than 870 Wingmasters because they're "just 870 Expresses". Then, surprise-surprise..they start having issues. I've yet to see a nice Wingmaster put away wet~can't say the same for nearly every 870 Express I've been asked to look at! Surface rust, stuck choke tubes, filthy mag tubes, gummed-up followers, etc. etc. etc.
Before all the experts pop-out of the woodwork~YES Nikuser...Wingmasters are better guns. Better finish, better materials in some places, smoother actions, nicer to work on~usually nicer guns to own/shoot as a result. Period, full stop, no argument. You ARE better off with a Wingmaster than an "Express" model. However, treat an Express like you would a Wingmaster, and it will serve you well. Upgrade the extractor and the gap (in my opinion) closes further. The only real issue I've worked-on with Expresses that Wingmasters don't have trouble with is chambers. Sometimes rough on the Express models, but the remedy is an easy one.
To touch on the other models mentioned here~the Mossberg model 500 is one that surprised this long-time Remington guy. Cheaper feeling, lighter (aluminum receiver) but points well and function is 100%. In fact, if you had to carry an 870 or a 500 a LONG time...you'll probably wish it was a 500 you owned. I don't own a 500, but there is a model 500 I want..and can't seem to find. Recently discontinued model, but not what you're after anyway.
The Ithaca 37~not sure how I feel about these, but I inherited one a couple of years back and I've never owned a smoother-pumping shotgun..or one that shouldered so naturally. Lightest all-steel pump gun I've ever handled too. It's a WWII-era 16ga so for my purposes...very limited, but an awfully sweet gun nonetheless.
Re: clays~I shoot trap as a total hack..but a hack that has been at it for over 32 years. lol I've always shot field guns doing it (Remington 11-48, Remington 870) and I've always had a great time doing it. However, I've yet to score 25/25.
