Buying first shotgun - Interested in Winchester SXP of some sort, some questions.

Thanks, that camp and field combo is appealing. From a purely aesthetic pov though I really dig the tan colours though.

Still debating about LH models. I want to get a bolt action rifle too and that will almost certainly be a LH model, not sure if I want to do that with a pump gun.
 
JW85 said:
Thanks, that camp and field combo is appealing. From a purely aesthetic pov though I really dig the tan colours though.

Still debating about LH models. I want to get a bolt action rifle too and that will almost certainly be a LH model, not sure if I want to do that with a pump gun.
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You are left handed and you have an option to buy left or right, why would you choose to buy right with the ejection port throwing across your face... and if you have a bad primer the gases are headed towards your face as well. Look for a Browning...
 
guntech said:
You are left handed and you have an option to buy left or right, why would you choose to buy right with the ejection port throwing across your face... and if you have a bad primer the gases are headed towards your face as well. Look for a Browning...
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1. Easier to share with friends.
2. Resale.
3. More comfortable with it (at this point, I've used only right handed firearms, I like being able to verify safe more easily as well).
4. Less likely to get the exact model/variant I'd like.
5. Parts compatibility if I want to switch anything up.

Just my thoughts. That being said, if the shotgun tends to eject in a problematic way, ie back towards face or even the body I don't want that. I don't find the shell crossing the edge of my vision problematic.

Is the issue with a bad primer a serious risk? I've never heard of that before, what would typically happen?
 
JW85 said:
1. Easier to share with friends.
2. Resale.
3. More comfortable with it (at this point, I've used only right handed firearms, I like being able to verify safe more easily as well).
4. Less likely to get the exact model/variant I'd like.
5. Parts compatibility if I want to switch anything up.

Just my thoughts. That being said, if the shotgun tends to eject in a problematic way, ie back towards face or even the body I don't want that. I don't find the shell crossing the edge of my vision problematic.

Is the issue with a bad primer a serious risk? I've never heard of that before, what would typically happen?
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1. Browning BPS is a bottom ejection with a sliding safety on top... very suitable for your left and right handed friends.
2. It has a high resale value and is easy to sell as it is a quality firearm equally suitable for right or left handed shooting
3. Irrelevant, every gun is slightly different and may require some shooting to become accustom to it.
4. At this stage you don't know what you really want.
5. What are you switching up? It will be your first gun...

Gases blowing back in your face are not common, but if gases escape backwards out of an action eye damage can occur easily. One of the reasons we wear eye protection. Bottom ejection pumps offer the best protection.
 
As a southpaw that shoots shotguns I’ll add my two cents, shooting a rh shotgun as a lefty is easier than not. You can look into the loading port to see if it’s clear easier, port loading is done with your support hand which is on the same side as the ejection port ( No reaching over or under to drop a shell onto the lifter like a right hander.). I’ve never been hit in the face or noticed shells as they eject, easier to clear a shell if you tilt the action over and point the port down. You can easily port load side ejecting guns while it’s shouldered, not so with a bottom ejecting gun. Parts are easier found for a rh gun, show me an off the shelf short barrel for a LH 870. I’ve never seen one.

The only thing that can be a pain is the cross bolt safety but it just takes some practice to disengage it, or buy something with a tang safety, or buy a LH cross bolt safety. Shoot a rh pump shotgun as a southpaw is easier and I don’t think I’d ever see a need to own a LH shotgun, I’d buy a bottom eject gun but it wouldn’t be the reason I bought it.
 
guntech said:
1. Browning BPS is a bottom ejection with a sliding safety on top... very suitable for your left and right handed friends.
2. It has a high resale value and is easy to sell as it is a quality firearm equally suitable for right or left handed shooting
3. Irrelevant, every gun is slightly different and may require some shooting to become accustom to it.
4. At this stage you don't know what you really want.
5. What are you switching up? It will be your first gun...

Gases blowing back in your face are not common, but if gases escape backwards out of an action eye damage can occur easily. One of the reasons we wear eye protection. Bottom ejection pumps offer the best protection.
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Can you handload a single shot into a bottom eject? Or must it be inserted into the magazine and then cycled in?
 
JW85 said:
Can you handload a single shot into a bottom eject? Or must it be inserted into the magazine and then cycled in?
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I know you can single shot directly into the chamber with the Browning BPS... and I think you can an Ithaca 37 as well.
 
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Why would one ever need to keep the gun shouldered while dropping one into the chamber? It would be awkward at best...
 
Butcherbill said:
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Not as quick as on a side eject but with practice I bet it would be possible shouldered.
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Thanks, thats very helpful, I was having trouble understanding how it would work. The BPS is actually catching my eye.

I should connect up with a trap club or club in NS and see if I could get any test shots with some of these models.
 
guntech said:
Why would one ever need to keep the gun shouldered while dropping one into the chamber? It would be awkward at best...
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Periodically while I’m hunting I happen upon more than 3 grouse, I have had to port load a 4th or 5th shell quickly to get my bag limit for the day. Port loading while the gun is shouldered is a quick way to drop an extra bird or two without loosing my sight picture completely. It’s also known as combat loading, not as easily done on a bottom eject pump shotgun.


 
Oh yes I forgot about the combat loading...

For combat and zombies I just take the plug out...

If I was still hunting, I would have a BPS with a 26 or 28 inch choke tubed barrel...
 
guntech said:
If I was still hunting, I would have a BPS with a 26 or 28 inch choke tubed barrel...
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Personally I have no use for my 28” barrel, it’s pretty much useless around here for hunting, a 14” or 20” choked barrel is a lot more useful for me while I’m grouse and rabbit hunting. I should probably sell the 28” but then I’ll probably find some use for it.
 
guntech said:
Oh yes I forgot about the combat loading...

For combat and zombies I just take the plug out...

If I was still hunting, I would have a BPS with a 26 or 28 inch choke tubed barrel...
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Any thoughts on stock material/finish type? The wood looks very classic and nice but the composites (including the patterned ones) look good, do they hold up well?

I want something I can use for trap and skeet and also hunting (including rifled slugs). 26" would be a little easier to move around but wonder if I'd miss those two inches for trap.
 
The purpose of a longer barrel is for the sight radius and more accurate pointing at longer ranges. A 28 inch barrel on a pump or semi will give plenty of sight radius... but a trap gun is specialized and is different than a hunting gun in stock dimensions. A higher stock makes your shot pattern shoot higher than where it is pointed... so you don't have to cover a rising clay bird to hit it... If you are going to shoot a lot of trap you will end up buying a gun just for that.

If you are just going to mess around a bit shooting trap a 26 inch barrel with a modified choke would work fine... and slip in the improved cylinder tube and shoot skeet as well... and do what you want in the field.

I much prefer pretty wood (but more expensive) but the composite stocks (cheap to produce) can take a lot of abuse in the field better than wood can. That being said wood can be looked after... just have to be more careful in handling.
 
For what it's worth... I went to buy an 870 one day and they just sold the last one. There was a used sxp on the rack, it looked new... So I grabbed it.

Absolutely zero regrets. It's a great shotgun. And I shoot it very well.
 
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