Need a shotgun for the GF

thegrandpoohbah

thegrandpoohbah

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I have gotten my GF hooked on recreation clay shooting. So far she has tried my CZ Canvasback and Norinco HP-9 (w/ a 28" barrel). She has also tried a friend's old Mossberg 500 though that had an 18" barrel on it. She prefers the feel of the Mossberg. She finds that my Canvasback kicks too hard and the HP-9 is both too heavy and the action not smooth enough. I am looking for a new shotgun for her in about the $400 range. We don't shoot clays a lot so nothing fancy is required. 12 gauge is preferable as 20 gauge is hard to come by locally. I am thinking about getting her a Mossberg 500 but is there anything else in that price range you would recommend? Does the Mossberg come in different grades (like the Remington 870 Express vs Wingmaster)? I've also seen a Remington 870 Sportsman w/ a 28" barrel and Hi-Viz sight for a little over $400. Where does that fall in the 870 line and is it any good?
 
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870's are usually great shotguns. I think the Sportsman is just an Express that's been gussied up a little bit. 500's are great too. I'd go to a store that has both, with her. Get her to pick 'em both up and see which on she likes better.

Also, check out Mossberg and Remington's sites to see what they are making these days. I know this sounds kinda dumb but some people forget. Weatherby even makes an affordable pump shotgun now: http://www.weatherby.com/product/shotguns/pa_08

If you want to go even less expensive there's also the Maverick 88 and some offerings from Hatsan that might fit the bill.

Just throwing out options. I think every manufacturer makes different grades of (shot)guns now so you should be gtg.
 
Not a big fan of Mossberg 500. Try searching the Shotgun EE for something used. I am not sure but previously the "sportsman" designation in Remington shotguns meant a cheaper/entry level version. If you are looking at ...for example a cheaper Rem 870...instead of going cheaper new...IMO look at cheaper old/used/quality....say a 870 Wingmaster.

Extend that to say Win model 12 vs 1200, older Beretta semi as compared to $1500 new one.

If you are looking at a entry level shotgun for a woman in clays....google is your friend. Lots of opinions, some by people going through exactly your choice. Since she has tried several actions, even a used older O/U like a Superposed that is already specific to clays. Also realize that the vast/almost all clays is shot with 2 3/4" target loads so a 3" gun is going to be rather unnecessary and heavy unless hunting is also possible.

Some of those choices, or choices talked about on shotgun forums are going to be out of your price range. Really need to check google for problems in the guns you are considering. Lots of Turkish guns, some of these are good...some not so much. Have to sort out the shotgun snobs that look down on anything either not $10K or a "B" gun, from people like you looking for a affordable starter gun.
 
So I got the Winchester SXP Trap. Not the Compact model but the regular 30" barrel model. And I kept it for myself so now I have to sell off one of the other guns to buy her the Compact. Maybe she won't notice that I have a new gun too?
 
Expecting a gal to shoot a full sized 12 ga is putting her at a serious disadvantage. She will be able to handle recoil better if the gun fits her, so a youth size stock is probably where you should start, although some of these are a bit narrow. Given your budget, perhaps you should consider a used gun for her rather than new; thus for the same money she has the advantage of quality, which is bound to translate into a nicer to use gun, with smoother cycling, and a better trigger.

I generally prefer the Mossberg 590 design over Remington 870's: duel extractors rather than single, floating shell stops rather than staked, an ejector that is held in place with a screw rather than a rivet, an elevator that is tight to the bottom side of the bolt, rather than one that must be pushed out of the way to load/unload, and a safety and bolt release that do not require breaking the firing grip to manipulate. The 500's barrel attachment system leaves something to be desired as you cannot conveniently clean or service the magazine, whereas with both the 590 and the Remington 870, the magazine is fully accessible with the removal of the threaded magazine cap which hold the barrel in place. Some older 500s have a loose magazine tube that can be unscrewed from the receiver which facilitates access to the inside of the tube, the spring and follower, but the recently manufactured ones are assembled with a thread locking compound that presents a difficulty.

All that said, its probably easier to find a slick 870 than a slick 590, although mine became excellent with little effort. Remington's QC has been brought into question in recent years, but if you you can up your budget slightly, S&J Hardware is producing a blue printed 870, made up from new receivers, check out their web page, then work you way to the custom shotgun page.
 
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I think you found a winner with the SXP. Nice guns for the money.

I wouldn't go near a new remington, way too many documented problems. Personally, I am a mossberg fan for many of the reasons boomer stated.
 
I was also worried about QC when I bought my new 870, but it's been running just fine. My 590A1 is nice too. Couldn't decide so bought both. Prefer the traditional front slide release over the rear mossberg style though.
 
I ran a bunch more rounds through the SXP today. It does kick harder than the HP-9 she uses now. That is set up with a Hogue stock and is heavier, so that probably eats up more of the recoil. I do like the SXP though so it will become my primary gun. I'll probably sell the Canvasback and use the funds to buy her something else.
 
Just an update in case anyone is in the same boat. It ended up being that a Mossberg 500 fit her the best. So I got her the 2 barrel "crown grade" combo from P&D. It fits her well and she hit 9/10 targets the first time she shot with it. Next up might be a bit of customizing with a Boyd's stock and foregrip.
 
thegrandpoohbah said:
Just an update in case anyone is in the same boat. It ended up being that a Mossberg 500 fit her the best. So I got her the 2 barrel "crown grade" combo from P&D. It fits her well and she hit 9/10 targets the first time she shot with it. Next up might be a bit of customizing with a Boyd's stock and foregrip.
Click to expand...
Sounds like its fitting and performing just fine as is...? Maybe let it be...
 
Ever consider one of the many styles of hatsan shotguns? I have the mpa-ts semi and love it!! Beautiful and functions great!
Good pricing too!

http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27_387&products_id=1588
 
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