Beginner Shotgun

Make sure it fits, recoil sucks when it doesn't!! I went through 6 shotguns until I finally had someone help me out in this dept... my 12ga now weighs 6.5 pounds and 3" shells are very manageable.
 
Back "in the day" ( that would be just over 50 years ago), after a year or 2 with an old .410, I broke into the big leagues with a 12 gauge Cooey single shot. It can lay punishment on your shoulder, but lighter loads are available to limit that a bit. With only one shot per opportunity in most bird hunting situations, you soon learn to use it effectively. Sometimes using a pump or an auto just allows you to punch "extra" holes in the sky, and that can be an expensive business. Not saying a single is necessarily the best choice for a beginner, but it is another option worth considering.
 
I just bought a H&R pardner pump (2 3/4-3'', 28'' barrel, screw in choke...)for 259$ but I saw it elsewhere around 200$. didn't have the chance to shoot it yet but it feel and look great.
 
Where did you find the Pardner? I was looking at one then called the local Basspro and they can't get them in Canada even though it is on their website so I have started to look for a different gun. I am in the same spot as the OP and I have narrowed my search to an Escort, 870, Maverick 88, Mossberg 500 or Pardner Pump
 
870 Rem express black synthetic stock 26" rem choke barrel.

I bought this gun for the same reason. Cheap and yet upgradeable.
First thing I did was strip it down and deburr the internals, then graphite and grease the action, coat the exterior in paste wax and dry cycle it. Then a couple years later I upgraded it with a tactical stock, fiber optic sight pins and a MONTH cammo kit. One piece at a time.
It works equally well on the trap and skeet range, upland birds, small game and in the duck blind.
Have a rifled barrel for it too but have not taken it deer hunting yet.
 
BMcK said:
I own several different types of shotguns, but I will NEVER sell my Cooey Single shot in 16 Gauge.
Click to expand...

Ammo isn't exactly cheap or widely available though. And only having 1 shot in a duck blind or on a skeet range is a limiter. All be it a good rabbit gun and upland bird gun.
 
Last edited:
fundmark19 said:
Where did you find the Pardner? I was looking at one then called the local Basspro and they can't get them in Canada even though it is on their website so I have started to look for a different gun. I am in the same spot as the OP and I have narrowed my search to an Escort, 870, Maverick 88, Mossberg 500 or Pardner Pump
Click to expand...
I buy it in a small local store here in quebec but I saw some on ellwood epps website.
 
Ammo isn't exactly cheap or widely available though. And only having 1 shot in a duck blind or on a skeet range is a limiter. All be it a good rabbit gun and upland bird gun.
Click to expand...

Very true. I only hunt upland game, and you don't normally get a second shot around here.
I'm starting to gather some supplies to reload for it, probably mostly black powder shells.
 
My first shotgun was a 12 gauge 2 3/4" Beretta A303 and I got it for $400. It was a really nice gun to shoot, it had light recoil and sighted up nice for me. I went out and got a Remington M887 in 3 1/2" chamber for geese and have had no issues at all with it, despite some reviews I had read about early production guns not firing due to the action not being fully forward. Mine has shot flawlessly, and it is pretty cheap to buy ($400 New in Box)
When you make your choice of gun I would recommend setting up a big sheet of paper with 1' radius circle drawn and shoot different loads thru different chokes at different distances(20 yards, 30 yards, 40 yards) and see what set up patterns the best out of your gun and choke combo. I shoot a modified choke most the time and I have chosen blindside ammo because of how it patterns with my gun. This also showed me that the Remington I have to aim a bit higher than my Beretta.
Hope this all helps.
 
Make sure whatever you get has a 28-inch vent-ribbed barrel, with screw in chokes.

Short barrels look cool, but they suck for any actual shooting.

Ghost ring sights also look really cool, but are less than worthless on a shotgun.
 
A nice used 870 is a good starter. I purchased one for $280 like new. I carried one in the Army and we beat the crap out of them. Keep in mind you get what you pay for. Don't bother with a short barreled without screw in chokes. They're louder and they have less muzzle control than a nice 26 or 28 inch barrel. If you can find a nice used 870 Wingmaster BUY IT!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom