Looking to purchase first 12ga shotgun
- Thread starter camron4444
- Start date
I'll second the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 suggestion. Either are reliable workhorses.
Personally I like the Mossbergs, I prefer the position of the action release (behind the trigger guard, vs in front for the Remington), and I prefer the safety (tang vs cross bolt). Maverick 88 is also made by Mossberg, they're basically a budget 500 with a different safety (crossbolt on the trigger housing), 3/4 of the guys in my hunting group have Maverick 88s, they can be had for under $300 on sale and at that price they're really hard to beat. I started with a Maverick 88 but sold it to a friend after switching to shooting left hand and picking up a 500.
Remington has the advantage from an aftermarket perspective - more options for barrel lengths and stocks and such.
Personally I like the Mossbergs, I prefer the position of the action release (behind the trigger guard, vs in front for the Remington), and I prefer the safety (tang vs cross bolt). Maverick 88 is also made by Mossberg, they're basically a budget 500 with a different safety (crossbolt on the trigger housing), 3/4 of the guys in my hunting group have Maverick 88s, they can be had for under $300 on sale and at that price they're really hard to beat. I started with a Maverick 88 but sold it to a friend after switching to shooting left hand and picking up a 500.
Remington has the advantage from an aftermarket perspective - more options for barrel lengths and stocks and such.
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Depending on what you want it for will dictate what type of gun is best suited.
Budget is a second consideration.
Left or right hand shooting?
Personal tastes. Some can't use an ugly gun while some refuse to use a high end gun
Budget is a second consideration.
Left or right hand shooting?
Personal tastes. Some can't use an ugly gun while some refuse to use a high end gun
- Location
- South Southern Ontario
Mossberg for sure never owed a 870 but heard nothing but good thing's
Mossberg 500 can be had In lots of configurations from tactical to clay sports and everything in between.
But like was posted before "what are you looking to do with it?"
Mossberg 500 can be had In lots of configurations from tactical to clay sports and everything in between.
But like was posted before "what are you looking to do with it?"
Are the Beretta worth the price? I haven't had the advantage of firing mostly remingtons. I have noticed a hug price jump getting into the Beretta.
Cooey is an old Canadian company. A cooey model 84 is a single shot break action shotgun.
Beretta makes fantastic shotguns. Very much worth the price if you can afford it. But you'll want to figure out what fits you before dropping that kind of coin. A good idea would be to find a store that is knowledgeable about shotguns, and go try some out. If the staff is knowledgeable about shotguns specifically they can help you figure out what fits best.
I vote for Mossberg, I was a Remington fanboy for the longest time from having the 870s at work and at home. I recently picked up a Mossberg 590A1 for a family member as a paternity gift and it felt and looked great. I would for sure buy one for myself if I ever wanted to get back into pump guns
As said Mossberg and REM are good for all round. Stubblejumper. Had the best point, get to know fit first! It will save you money and frustration. A gun you have to make work is not as much fun and harder to hit with.
If I was starting out again, I would head to the neartest range and find someone there to show you some basic shooting skills. Handle as many different guns as possible and buy the one that fits you. Admit you know very little and many will want to help you. If your in south eastern ontario, your welcome to try any and all of my shotguns.
Longstud is correct. Most clubs have decent members that would be willing to help and even allow you to try their guns. Hit a skeet field you'll get a far greater variety of guns than you will on a trap field
As for Beretta and pricing. You get a great reliable functional gun. As of late their flagship production models have lacked in the finishing but they are well built guns. I'm a big fan of the a400 of which I have an a400 xplor in 12 20 and 28ga. I also have a 1301 comp which I absolutely love and use it for everything nowadays.
The 1301 comp is synthetic and offers spacers and shims to adjust to the user. The stepped rib helps keep your head up and improves visibility
As for Beretta and pricing. You get a great reliable functional gun. As of late their flagship production models have lacked in the finishing but they are well built guns. I'm a big fan of the a400 of which I have an a400 xplor in 12 20 and 28ga. I also have a 1301 comp which I absolutely love and use it for everything nowadays.
The 1301 comp is synthetic and offers spacers and shims to adjust to the user. The stepped rib helps keep your head up and improves visibility
This is the same as asking, what kind of car is the best?
Well ............ that WILDLY depends what you want to do with it and what sort of performance you expect out of it .... which you have declined to post.
All the guys posting this gun or that gun haven't bothered to consider the end use of the thing .... thus making any recommendation moot. IF, it turns out you are interested in trap/skeet, then neither the Rem870 nor Mossberg500 would be the right choice. If you want a worthwhile answer, you have to ask the right question, and "which is best ..." is not the right question.
My recommendation is, you tell us what you want to do with the thing and what you expect out of it. Then you will get a worthwhile answer here.
None of which will be applicable if he is looking for a bear defence gun for the woods.
Or a Win. 370, made in Canada.
