First duck hunt, now I'm shotgun shopping

hoytcanon said:
My son works in Outdoor Retail... He told me that the number one returned gun is the Benelli Super(Nova) pumps... You might want to keep this in mind... Mostly receiver issues. I used to recommend Rem 870's as a good starter gun... But I can't do that in good conscience any longer... Rem has gutted every desireable feature out of the Express models... So my recommendation for a pump gun is the Browning BPS... It will last you decades. Another alternative is a used Rem 870 Wingmaster... Just make sure that it has a 3" chamber... Truthfully, you do not ever NEED a 3.5" chamber, even for turkeys... My turkey guns are 3.5", but every tom that I have shot could have been taken with a .410. Good luck... Waterfowling is addictive!
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I have buddies with SuperNovas, and they love 'em, but they don't hunt that much.

Curious as to which features have been taken out of the Express 870s? They always looked the exact same to me as a Wingmaster, but with rougher mechanism and a crappy finish.
 
TheCoachZed said:
I do agree that you can kill almost as many ducks and geese with short shells. I hunt around the fringes of the season, though (think February sea duck hunt, when they've already been shot at for three months), and I don't think I'd buy another 2 3/4 only gun. I rarely use 3.5 shells though. I've bought two boxes, only for geese, and I could have likely used 2 3/4 on them.
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I have a couple 2 3/4" guns that are basically skeet only... On waterfowl, I only shoot 3" steel loads... I can't see myself ever using 3 1/2" on ducks or geese... But I do on turkeys, and with an 870 Express no less... which is how I know Rem cheaped out on them (compared to a Wingmaster), in every way possible...



TheCoachZed said:
I have buddies with SuperNovas, and they love 'em, but they don't hunt that much.
Curious as to which features have been taken out of the Express 870s? They always looked the exact same to me as a Wingmaster, but with rougher mechanism and a crappy finish.
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I am not slamming the Benelli Nova's, just relating a fact about the experience of a large retailer... many issues... I have never personally owned one... I'm setting myself up for a good flaming here, but I have never liked the look or feel of Benelli's (I'm ducking now!).

As for the 870 Expresses, they are right behind the Benelli Nova's... I have had repeated problems with my two, the action is rough and full of burr's, the finish (actually, "lack of a finish") is a joke, the stocks feel like 2X4's... again this is only one guy's opinion, don't be upset if you love them... I have slayed a pile of turkeys and ducks with them, so they do function... but I don't recommend them.
 
To the OP, I'm kind of in the same boat. After going to the Cabelas and WSS multiple times and handled as many shotguns as I could, I could tell right away that the Benelli felt a lot better to me than the Mossberg or Remington that I was looking at. Definitely go out and handle a bunch to see what fits you the best.
 
Try to find a good used rem 1187 they are excellent guns and there seem to be quite a few around in your price range. Hold out until you find the best one!
 
So I now own a new 870 sportsman. It was in my price range and a local sale. The money I saved allowed me to buy a bunch of shells. I have some black clouds fast steel #2 in 3 inch. And cheap federal #2 steel in 3 inch. Going duck hunting on Monday and not sure what choke to try first. I have the full in now. Any thoughts form the more experienced out there?

Thanks
 
Congrats on the new gun .mod is the tightest you want to choke with steel shot . if at all possible get out and pattern the gun with the loads you will hunt with .
 
The comments about for and feel are relevant but as far as quality the 3 best pumps are BPS, Super nova , & Remington 870 wingmaster everything else is inferior to these 3 as far as auto loader best $ value & guality win. Sx3 o/u new you have to spend 2k plus but seeing as u mentioned $650 the three pumps are your best choice and all 3 feel very different .
 
Winniepyr said:
So I now own a new 870 sportsman. It was in my price range and a local sale. The money I saved allowed me to buy a bunch of shells. I have some black clouds fast steel #2 in 3 inch. And cheap federal #2 steel in 3 inch. Going duck hunting on Monday and not sure what choke to try first. I have the full in now. Any thoughts form the more experienced out there?

Thanks
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Glad you got the 870! What price you pay if you don't mind I ask? I got mine at 350$
 
It's the sportsman with the gold trigger and upgraded stock. Or so I was told. It was $ a fair price at frontier in Prince Albert
Now to see if I can find a few ducks. Going out Monday. -4 with no wind at sun up. Here is hoping
 
EL34/6L6 said:
Go for either the Remington Versa Max or Nitro Mag
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Gonna second this. I got the Remington Versamax (original) and it is a godsend for my back especially with 3" and 3 1/2" shells.

They have the Sportsman model for $800. They just don't have the over molded rubber grips, the green hard case, and so forth. They come with one modified choke.
 
Good to gun shop. Shoulder a few and pick one that suits. One thing I recommend Ian
do not buy a cheap semi. If you are looking for a duck gun reliability is key and a cheap semi will not cut. I have a mossberg 930 and it will not cut it in the goose or duck blind.
 
There've been some great and informative responses here, Winnie...I'll hopefully not be too redundant.

The BIG factors in your decision should be Fit and Function. A poorly-fitted shotgun is misery. You won't shoot worth a damn with it and it will tend to be uncomfortable. Go to a shop with an experienced smith - one who can help you select a gun that fits you properly. Better yet, buy on that has fitting accessories with it (in pumps, the Super Nova and the Mossy 835 both have them - BPS doesn't, but a smith can fit it for you. As for function, if a pump is your preference, a Wingmaster or a BPS are as good as it gets from my experience. I'm pretty tall with long arms, and the two Novas I've owned fit like crap. Mind you, those guns work...I used it one sal####er eider hunts, ptarmigan hunts on northern Quebec in -40 weather, and muddy spring fields on snow goose hunts, etc. It never failed once. I have no experience with the Super Nova - I will say both are very clunky feeling guns, and they have loud pump actions and a loose fore-stock, making them worrisome if turkey ever enter in the menu.

If you get serious about waterfowl, you'll more than likely end up going after a semi. I would suggest saving a bit more and going after a quality semi or even a used one - a Winchester SX3 is a machine, and it comes with a shim kit...great gun.

As for the shells - if a Wingmaster fits you, don't let the 3" limit deter you - it isn't a limitation. Quality shells in 3" kill geese and ducks all season - early to late. I've fired case after case of each. I've guided, I've been in hunting videos, I've hunted geese from one end of this great nation to the other. I doubt I'll ever buy 3.5" shells again.

I hope the member who suggested the VersaMax has a lot of trouble free rounds through his - I would suggest you avoid that or any other newer Remington like the plague. What ever you decide, best of luck and enjoy.
 
brent4hire said:
I hope the member who suggested the VersaMax has a lot of trouble free rounds through his - I would suggest you avoid that or any other newer Remington like the plague. What ever you decide, best of luck and enjoy.
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Thank you for your concern and it's fair for you to say this considering Remington's reputation has been tarnished due to poor quality control in the past.

I was, admittedly, hesitant about buying my Versamax but ended up going for it anyway because the price was right for me (I got it for less than retail and mrsp brand new) and the form and fit was the best out of all the shotguns I've shouldered. The "Versaport" intrigues me and I have taken it out with multiple shells (2 3/4 target load to 3 1/2 and 3" magnums) with no FTE, FTF, or any errors of any kind.

It is a bit heavier (8lbs) than the other competitions (SX3, SA-08, Maxus, SBE2, A400, A300, etc); however, it does help with the recoil and it feels more balanced in the weight (keep in mind, some do complain they find it barrel heavy). The trigger is light enough. The original trigger was too heavy and Remington fixed it by making it a 4-5lb pull instead. I think it used to be 8-10lb?

My only complaint about the Versamax is the bolt release is too small. I will be ordering a replacement oversized bolt release button.

Am I allowed to link to a thread on another forum? It's a culmination of almost 3 years (started in Jan 2011) of posting. Most of the reviews are favourable. It's on shotgunworld if you guys are interested.

EDIT: Honestly, the only thing I can really say here is: shoulder the versamax. If it fits you, then cool look into it a little more. If it doesn't fit you, then no harm no foul.
 
++ on the Benelli Supernova. Everyone is making good guns but the Supernova is the only one that has a fully adjustable stock so if it doesn't fit right than get the salesman to install a different shim (included in the kit). If you do swap shims than read the manual and pay special attention to it. The Supernova also have a first class recoil system. My 14 year old shot 2 boxes of ammo one after another and not once did he flinch or say he was sore. Benelli also includes 3 chokes, built in sling mounts, a unique chamber clearing feature and extra large trigger guard for gloves. I know I sound like a rep but I cannot say enough about just how good these guns are and none of the other manufacturers are giving you the extras that Benelli does.
 
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