First gun for a beginner.

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Edgar Shiggins

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Hey guys,
I'm a new PAL holder and want to get into small game hunting and duck hunting. What would you recommend for a beginner shotgun? And with which action pump/semi?
Any help would be great.
Thanks
 
Pump: Browning BPS, Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Benelli Supernova
Semi-auto: stick to Italians - Benelli M2 or Beretta A400.

The pump would be a cheaper way to dip the toes in the shotgun game to see if you like it or if your interest lasts.
 
Edgar Shiggins said:
Thanks for the advice. I've been looking at the Mossberg and the Remington, what do you think would be your price limit on either?
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Take an average price on retailers websites, assume a 15% sale discount, add an applicable tax - it would give you a good price for a new one.

If you have patience, you may even get a better price privately or on super clearance like Black Friday but it may take too long and you can miss the shooting season
 
I'd say you need a .22 of some sort, and a pump shotgun. Both are cheap enough you can find a decent quality specimen for two or three hundred each. Brand of firearm is less important at this stage than anything else. And use the rest of your money for ammunition and practicing. Especially the wing-shooting.

An Imp Cyl choke would be your best friend at this stage.
 
My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500 field/defense combo. It has served me extremely well and will be handed down to my kids... Cant go wrong with a pump. Remington's have cross bolt safety, slide release in front of the trigger and in my opinion are not ergonomic when compared to the Mossberg, but both are loved by many.

My votes a Mossberg!
 
Don't rule out an Ithical 37; they are a very good "Browning BPS" for less money, but they too are starting to go up in price.
 
IvoB said:
If you're looking at the Mossberg consider the Maverick 88 less expensive version of the same gun. Cabelas has them on sale now for $299
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Maverick 88 is a good value. I prefer the safety on a 500 (tang safety vs a crossbolt) but I'd take a Maverick over a turkish pump any day.
 
Thanks for the recommendation! I just purchased the Maverick 88 and it will be here beginning of next week. Nice looking gun and can't beat the price.
 
I would go with the semi-auto shotgun, as long as your budget stretches to $1000 or $1200. Get something decent, and you'll have it for life. I find semi-autos are way easier for beginners, compared to pumps. I've watched so many new pump users short stroke it, accidentally open the action with recoil, then close it again without realizing (action then locks) and be unable to pump the next round, etc. Semi-auto is comparatively foolproof, you load it, charge it, and once you start shooting the gun does the rest for you and you can just concentrate on your target.

The best shotgun is something that fits you really well and points naturally at a target. Try LOTS of guns in the store, shoot your buddies' guns, handle everything you can before you make a decision. Don't buy a gun online that you have not handled. That fit is all important. If you're like 6 foot or over, beware some guns like Mossberg pumps with the short length of pull (distance between the trigger back to the end of the stock on your shoulder). I find this is the killer aspect for fit, from experience, where other people shoot these way better than I do!

I'd get something with a synthetic stock, they are super durable and you won't have that hesitancy when it comes to taking your lovely new gun out into foul weather, disgusting swamps, tree-covered (scratchy!) creeks or just transporting it all over the trails in your truck.

Whatever you choose, good luck and safe hunting!
 
Being a new hunter I would say to initially avoid semiautos. The problem in my mind is a new hunter can get excited suddenly seeing game and lose track of the fact that every time they pull that trigger a new round is chambered. Every new hunter I’ve trained was started with an action that had to be manually operated until gun safety becomes muscle memory and the initial excitement/panic that they can experience has gotten under control. Only one man’s opinion but I think safety trumps a high rate of fire in inexperienced hands.
 
For a beginner upland AND ducks. 12 gauge is the way to go.

USED - A vintage 870 Wingmaster with mod choked barrel (you'll need mod as a full choke can cause issues with the steel shot you need for ducks in most places)

NEW - Mossberg 500 or Winchester SXP of whichever configuration you prefer. 28" barrel would be best - definitely no shorter.

Good luck with your first shotgun!
 
Buy the lightest and cheapest gun you can. Load it with the heaviest loads you can get and when your shoulder is hurting the next day after each hunt from trying to fire howitzer rounds through a pea shooter then you may want to think long and hard about the advice you were given here to buy something of better quality with some recoil saving features built in. Just saying...
 
Everyone's gunna hate this but I bought a turkish pump and it was a great buy. The thing is, you're going to end up buying other guns in the future once you figure out what kind of hunting/gun you like. Then you can buy yourself something nice. It's my opinion that you just buy something reliable (I have a canuck defender and it's got over 1000rds in it no prob) and spend on ammo and gas. Once you figure out the type of hunting you like you won't have to ask the forum what gun to buy��

Ps. Whatever shotgun you get, removable chokes are almost a must
 
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