I just got my PAL this week, and I am looking for a good all-round shotgun. I would like to get the most utility out of it that I can without breaking the bank. I have interests in hunting birds, deer, and maybe the odd game of trap. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Good 1st shotgun
- Thread starter aharpe
- Start date
All round in the shotgun world usually equates to a pump.... I'm not sure it does any single thing as well as an auto or an O/U or even single shot but is does all things adequately. If you are looking for a budget priced starter shotgun....you shouldn't go wrong with a Remington 870 or Benelli Nova.
darkshadow
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- OH Ontario, OH NO!
Grizzly from Canada Ammo.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
12gauge 870 pump
approx. $300
approx. $300
- Location
- Southern ON.
My first shotgun was a winchester 120 ranger 3" with removable chokes. I love the gun and would never part with it. I bought it used. The gun is 30 years old. I would consider used guns as well as new ones for your first gun.
I know, I know, you all are going to say it's too short, but if I was going to have only one good all-round shotgun and I wanted to have it without breaking the bank, the short HP9-1 would be it.
Except for it's one and only caveat, the fact that you can't take it with you (to the U.S.A.), you could do a whole lot worse.
Except for it's one and only caveat, the fact that you can't take it with you (to the U.S.A.), you could do a whole lot worse.
First shotgun
First, welcome to the fold! You will enjoy the outings you make and each one adds to your ability to improve at whatever you choose to pursue.
I vote for a good used 870. rugged, honest, reliable and easy to re-sell when you're ready for more specific options
Me too, have one I would not take in a canoe for fear of sinking it outright! It should have come with wheels.
First, welcome to the fold! You will enjoy the outings you make and each one adds to your ability to improve at whatever you choose to pursue.
I vote for a good used 870. rugged, honest, reliable and easy to re-sell when you're ready for more specific options
I just picked up a mossberg persuader today, i plan on buying a longer barrel as well to make it better suited for an all-round shotgun. Extra barrels are cheaper to buy than the 870's so that is nice, can buy a couple more barrels and have lots of fun.
If i wasn't left-handed i probably would have bought an 870 but the mossberg is lefty friendly and i actually like how it feels when i shoulder it.
Andre
If i wasn't left-handed i probably would have bought an 870 but the mossberg is lefty friendly and i actually like how it feels when i shoulder it.
Andre
Pick up one of the two-barrel pump combos that combine a 26-28" barrel with choke tubes, and a shorter (possibly rifled) barrel with sights. Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, etc. any of them would do you fine. There's nothing magical about any brand at this level, they'll all do the job. Pick the one that likes you the best.
1300_stainless
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia, Canada
I have to agree with the 870. Mine hasnt failed me yet. Mossbergs are made better theses days, but I personaly like the "feel" of the 870 better.
The Cocker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fraser Valley B.C
The Mossbergs are priced well and you can get them with kits of two barrels pretty cheap.
I also have an 870, it's fine and all. Just more expensive than the mossberg we have.
I also have an 870, it's fine and all. Just more expensive than the mossberg we have.
1300_stainless
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia, Canada
Handle a few before you choose and purchase one that fits in your budget and fits you comfortably.
There are several reasonably priced pump shotguns that could get you started for small game, deer, and casual target shooting.
The Mossberg 500, M535, M835, and Remington 870 Express are all available in combinations with 26 or 28" barrels with (modified tube for Remington and M835, or three chokes for M500 and M535) , plus a rifled shotgun barrel with sights.
The Maverick 88 (economy version of Mossberg) comes with a 28" barrel with modified choke tube. There's also a combination Mav 88 with 28" fixed modified and 18.5" cylinder choke, or an M500 combo with 28" barrel (3 chokes) and an 18.5" cylinder barrel.
Most of these shotguns are chambered 3", but you can get 3.5" chambers in the M535, M835 and Reminton 870 Express Magnum, which may come in handy for certain waterfowl/geese situations or turkey.
There's also a number of inexpensive short barrelled pump options, such as the Norinco HP9 (870 Clone) with 14" barrel and cylinder choke, or the Canada Ammo Dominion Arms Grizzly, which toutes a 12.5" barrel with modified Invector Choke. The latter also comes with ghost sights for an extra $10, which makes it a neat small game, deer and defence shotgun. The Maverick 88 and Mossberg 500 Persuader models are also available at reasonable cost, though like the HP9, they are essentially defence shotguns that can double for upland game unless you purchase a longer barrel with choke tubes.
All of these shotguns or combos are reasonably priced. Buying used could land a better quality shotgun for a reasonable price (i.e. if you could get a Remington 870 "Wingmaster" for little more than the price of a used "Express" model, I'd say go for it). A lot of older guns have fixed chokes though, and in the case of full choked guns are usually sub par for upland and don't usually pattern well with steel shot for waterfowl either.
There are a few good, inexpensive used doubles like the Stevens 311 that can occasionally be found at a reasonable cost (I got one about three years ago for $225 shipped to my door). Another general purpose shotgun might be a Savage 24 (12, 20 or .410 ga with .22LR or larger calibre), though finding used ones can be hit and miss, and they retain their value. I'd like to get an imporved cylinder and rifled choke tube (and maybe Red Dot sight) for my Savage 24F Combo, which comes in .22 hornet with a 12 ga barrel and modified choke tube, which would make it handy for all sorts of hunting scenarios. I got mine used for approximately $450, which is a bit cosltier than the other options discussed.
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Frank
The Mossberg 500, M535, M835, and Remington 870 Express are all available in combinations with 26 or 28" barrels with (modified tube for Remington and M835, or three chokes for M500 and M535) , plus a rifled shotgun barrel with sights.
The Maverick 88 (economy version of Mossberg) comes with a 28" barrel with modified choke tube. There's also a combination Mav 88 with 28" fixed modified and 18.5" cylinder choke, or an M500 combo with 28" barrel (3 chokes) and an 18.5" cylinder barrel.
Most of these shotguns are chambered 3", but you can get 3.5" chambers in the M535, M835 and Reminton 870 Express Magnum, which may come in handy for certain waterfowl/geese situations or turkey.
There's also a number of inexpensive short barrelled pump options, such as the Norinco HP9 (870 Clone) with 14" barrel and cylinder choke, or the Canada Ammo Dominion Arms Grizzly, which toutes a 12.5" barrel with modified Invector Choke. The latter also comes with ghost sights for an extra $10, which makes it a neat small game, deer and defence shotgun. The Maverick 88 and Mossberg 500 Persuader models are also available at reasonable cost, though like the HP9, they are essentially defence shotguns that can double for upland game unless you purchase a longer barrel with choke tubes.
All of these shotguns or combos are reasonably priced. Buying used could land a better quality shotgun for a reasonable price (i.e. if you could get a Remington 870 "Wingmaster" for little more than the price of a used "Express" model, I'd say go for it). A lot of older guns have fixed chokes though, and in the case of full choked guns are usually sub par for upland and don't usually pattern well with steel shot for waterfowl either.
There are a few good, inexpensive used doubles like the Stevens 311 that can occasionally be found at a reasonable cost (I got one about three years ago for $225 shipped to my door). Another general purpose shotgun might be a Savage 24 (12, 20 or .410 ga with .22LR or larger calibre), though finding used ones can be hit and miss, and they retain their value. I'd like to get an imporved cylinder and rifled choke tube (and maybe Red Dot sight) for my Savage 24F Combo, which comes in .22 hornet with a 12 ga barrel and modified choke tube, which would make it handy for all sorts of hunting scenarios. I got mine used for approximately $450, which is a bit cosltier than the other options discussed.
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Frank
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
Browning BPS, Enough said. Resale is higher than an 870, reliability is a pump gun trait not just a remington trait, Remington doen't offer overbored barrells and quite frankly the new Expresses are roughly put together junk. (Flak jacket on)
