First Shot Gun

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thisandthat

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Hi All....

Trying to do my research. I've got a few ideas of guns that would be good and wanted to see what you experts thought.

Criteria;
Reliable
Available and reasonably priced rifled barrel

Use:
Killing birds, clays, and perhaps some deer

Remington 870
stoeger m3500
Weatherby SA08
benelli nova

Other ideas?

Good quality pump vs. cheaper auto loader?
Do I want 3.5"?
 
I would go with a quality pump over a cheap autoloader. A cheap autoloader will likely just give you headaches whereas a quality pump will be extremely reliable and a pleasure to use (as long as you're fine with the need for pumping between shots - if you're not, you will get used to it quickly enough). Bottom line is, if price is an issue, I would rather have something at the top of a given price range (eg. top of the line pump) than at the bottom of a price range (economy autoloader). Buy an autoloader or an over/under once you can afford a good one. The Nova is a great pump gun. You do not need 3.5" for anything.
 
i would add in the Mossberg 500
wide range of accessories and barrels etc for any activity
If you don't plan on modifying it you can also consider the Maverick 88
all the 500 barrels stocks etc fit it except for the fore end which is different
and is a really attractive price about 235.00
is my first shotgun and i love it ,note you will need a limb saver though if shooting the 3 inch slugs or buck as it kicks
like a mule.
 
mossberg 500 and the remy 870 are good deals all can be had with 2 or 3 barrel combos for around the 500$ mark give or take i've had both not with all barrels but both guns i do tend to lean towards the 870 a bit overall it just fit better and seems to be a little tighter built it was an older 870 express wood gun that always functioned as it should. the mossy was light i found the slide to rather loose on it maybe just mine but it was plastic camo but it did the job both were decent guns in there own right try them all and you'll pick one that fits you and you like the best.
 
I vote 870, but get a combo with whatever you decide. Birdshot doesn't work out of a rifled barrel. My combo has a 30 inch vented goose barrel and a short iron sight smooth-bore. You can do just about any hunting or shooting with a good combo.
 
Ya the plan was to have 2 barrels, one gun to rule them all. Not sure how much I'll actually use the rifled barrel if I get a proper rifle.
 
Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are both good choices for a first gun. Can't comment on the others, haven't used them. Best advice is to handle before you buy and figure out which gun fits you the best. I find the 870 points best for me. I have the 3 1/2" but the 3" is good enough for hunting and clays. The 3 1/2" just kicks more and throws a few more pellets down range. Sometimes I think the only reason I bought it is to let my friends try it and watch them wince.
 
thisandthat said:
Not sure how much I'll actually use the rifled barrel if I get a proper rifle.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, you might want to consider whether you actually need it or not. For the same money, you'll get a nicer gun in a single barrel model as more of your $$ is going toward the build quality of the gun itself rather than toward extra barrels.
 
Remington 870 + 1, more smoother action than the Mossberg 500, the framing action on the Rem 870 is larger than the Mossberg, when you take the Mossberg, you can twist the pomp action so easily......not good in my book...., more rigid for the Rem 870 ,.....and the action of the Rem 870 is sooooo smooth.......
 
Stay away from whetherby. An acquaintance got one and it had major issues with the action. Ended up returning it and got 870. I have 3 myself...Get 3'. no real benefit in 3.5. If you want autoloader 1100 series are good guns but for a first gun pump is better choice. Simply cause is more reliable and you can get more for the money.
 
First choice would be a slightly used Wingmaster 870, not an express 870. Second choice would be a Browning BPS, only because the Remington fits me better.
 
Everyone has a story about a certain brand of gun that was nothing but problems or will shoot 10 million rounds without a misfeed or cleaning. Fact is, most of the popular models function just fine, though each has it's own quirks and common issues that you can research.

If it were me buying a first shotty, I would be looking at common pumps like the Rem 870, Moss 500 and Beneli Nova. Don't worry about having a 3.5" chamber. You might buy one box of 3.5" to try it out, but then it's just a novelty unless you are specifically shooting geese at some distance. I also personally wouldn't bother with the rifled barrel. Rifled slugs in a smooth bore can hit at 75 yards and you can pick up a cheap rifle in a deer cartridge like a savage axis for just over $300.

If you are dead set on having a slug barrel be aware that barrels are hard to get for benellis for some reason.
 
I would go Remington. You can shoot 500 rounds through it and then use it as a baseball bat. Have experience with Mossberg 500, it just felt flimsy to me, even my $300 12.5" Norinco feels sturdier and all around more solid. I would stay away from the mossberg, and go with the 870 it is relatively cheap, super reliable, and easy to customize should you choose to do so.
Just my 2 cents :D
 
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