What are some commonly available marine 12 gauge shotguns here in Canada. Also how corrosion resistant are they, is a light splash of salt water going to cause them to rust? Are they all stainless steel/aluminum ,composite or are there many plain steel parts as well.
marine shotguns
- Thread starter mark123
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Shotguns around here are exposed to some pretty harsh conditions with respect to wind driven salt spray, riding in boats and shooting cracker shells. The Remington Marine Magnum is certainly a favorite and to a lessor extent so are the shiny versions of the Mossberg 500/590s and Winchester 1300s. None of them rust as quickly as a blued gun, but it all comes down to how much care you give your gun. If exposure to salt water is a regular thing, I would regularly spray out the trigger group and shell stops with a water displacing aerosol, and if your gun has a steel follower, swap it out for a nylon one. There's nothing like needing to shoot quickly only to find the follower has rusted to the inside of the magazine tube and the gun has to feed by gravity.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
In a general comparison between the 870 and 500/590's, I believe the Mossbergs have a distinct advantage. The Mossberg's shell stops are designed for easy removal, so never become a problem, where the 870's can break free of their stab locks, and tie up the gun. The Mossberg has an ejector secured by a screw, whereas the Remington's is riveted in place, and is a problem to swap out. The Mossberg safety is located conveniently, and doesn't require movement of the trigger finger to engage or disengage. The Mossberg's action release does not require the shooter to break his firing grip to manipulate.
When I said to a lessor extent, I was referring to local popularity as it pertained to marine shotguns; around here the Mossberg tends to be the runner-up behind the Remington. But if folks really looked at the differences between the two guns, I think most would go with the Mossberg. In a comparison between the two brands, regardless of finish, the split is probably closer to 50/50 as the majority of guns encountered are blued.
When I said to a lessor extent, I was referring to local popularity as it pertained to marine shotguns; around here the Mossberg tends to be the runner-up behind the Remington. But if folks really looked at the differences between the two guns, I think most would go with the Mossberg. In a comparison between the two brands, regardless of finish, the split is probably closer to 50/50 as the majority of guns encountered are blued.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I have no experience with the Optima, although looking at it, the trigger group appears to be an 870 copy and the barrel retaining system looks similar to Mossberg's. The key to the value of this gun lies in the quality of the components and the care and workmanship of their fitting.
Have a Mossberg 590 Mariner 9 shot. It's a very nice piece of kit. It cycled slick right out of the box.
The finish seems very resilient. Use it for skeet sometimes.
I like it very much
Very valid points. Especially the action release.
There was. Beautiful piece with that wood furniture They have an NRA Coastal Marine Defender in their Historic products section.
The finish seems very resilient. Use it for skeet sometimes.
I like it very much
Very valid points. Especially the action release.
There was. Beautiful piece with that wood furniture
They have an NRA Coastal Marine Defender in their Historic products section.
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I have a Winchester Marine Defender. All stainless polished to a mirror finish with wood furniture. Everything is shiney on this gun right down to the trigger and sling swivels. It is a very pretty gun in a Tony Montana kind of way. Strangely it has rifle sights, but the barrel is not rifled. I guess that they are somewhat scarce as I've never seen another one in person other than my own.
$1200!? Wow. I paid a lot less than that for mine.
Not sure if he sold it, but that`s what it was going for.
i'd say your best bet would be a mossberg, i grew up on the local tug boats and back a few years ago on one of the tugs they use to keep a old mossberg 500 mariner with a top folding stock. the thing went trew hell and back (including being droped in the lake) and the thing never failed to fire. they are built like a tank. it bairly even had any rust on it.
Well I suppose any gun is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay. I've had quite a few guys that have asked me to sell my Marine Defender, but I don't have any desire to be rid of it.
They are gorgeous. Cherish it and shoot it.
