Good overall shotgun for first time buyer?

I Love my 870 Express. It functions flawlessly, the chamber was smooth as silk from the factory and it looks and feels great. The only thing you must do before taking it out in the rain is to soak it in hot water to dissolve the salts left over from the chemical bluing process. After that, using a hot air gun, heat the receiver and barrel while melting Vaseline or paste wax into the pores of the metal. You will never find rust on your gun and can throw it in the bottom of a boat while duck hunting without worry.

The 870 trio (3 barrel combo) is a steal.
 
Another vote for Winchester, I have a Black Shadow and Defender, both have run fine and the SXP is the smoothest, fastest pump on the market.
 
Mossberg or SXP. 26-28" barrel. Field grade.

That'll be enough to get you going.

I prefer Mossberg mostly for the shell lifter that stays out of your way when loading and the lefty friendly safety.

Don't get hung up on capacity. You're loading only 1 or 2 shells max for clays, and 2 in the tube for hunting. It's only the run n gun games that need more.

I do have a 590a1, though, and it makes a hilarious and satisfying skeet gun. I'm a bit strange, though, and have a thing for riot/trench guns. Cylinder bore severely limits its effective range to maybe 30yards. It's not a do-all first shotgun.
 
Single 28" barrel with a removable choke is all you really need to cover hunting.
You can use rifled slugs for big game, and put a turkey choke in for birds.
However, if you want better performance and longer distance hunting game, get a rifled barrel with sabot slugs and sights. You will significantly improve accuracy at longer ranges.

Also consider gauge when looking. 12 ga is most people's standard and you can't go wrong, but 20ga is less recoil and weight to carry... Though It's also more expensive to feed.
 
adrenaline681 said:
Wouldn't the 20" barrel act the same way than the 18.5" if I remove the X-Full choke and install a cylinder choke? Plus I would have the option of installing any choke I want, plus having the Fiber Optic sights? Because the 18.5" doesnt accept any choke.
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I get what your saying but really not sure how your going to use it.
If your going to the range to pattern and shoot skeet or trap then go with barrels for chokes. Me I fish and go to the range, shoot clays in the bush with buddies.
I like the short smooth barrel to pack with me on deep wood fishing trips, pack slugs shorter barrel doesnt get in the way as much. Longer barrel with chokes is more accurate at the range. All depends on how your going to use it long term... My $0.02
 
adrenaline681 said:
Wouldn't the 20" barrel act the same way than the 18.5" if I remove the X-Full choke and install a cylinder choke? Plus I would have the option of installing any choke I want, plus having the Fiber Optic sights? Because the 18.5" doesnt accept any choke.
Click to expand...

It would, you would just have marginally tighter patterns. Install a mod/Imp cylinder choke and you will get the best blend for rifled slugs and shot.
 
I have around 15-20 shotguns. Out of all of them, the one I use the most - hunting, skeet, card-shooting, etc, is the cheapest one I own: my 870 Express 12-gauge. I think I paid around $425 for it. 26" with screw-in chokes. It sits in my Wildcat, gets banged around in my truck, has been submerged, and has never had a hiccup in over 5 years. Fires everything. It ain't fancy, but she's a good old work horse.

Cannon
 
Sorry to revive an old thread, but I am curious to see for those of you that have the Winchester SXP Shadow Defender 12-gauge shotgun. How do you like it? Has it held up over the years since this thread was started? I am looking at buying one. Thanks in Advance.
 
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