Pump action advice

S

Spitefiremk7

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Vancouver Island
Hey all,

Looking into buying my first shotgun. I have a fair amount of experience but I've been getting a lot of mixed reports on my search so far.

Looking for a versatile pump for clays, ducks and geese. May move on to big game latter on. Preferably wood finish, 12 Ga, 3.5 inch shells. Does not have to be new. The short list includes;

Browning BPS
Remington 870
Mossberg 500
Ithaca 37 (if the price is right!)

Thanks and I look forward to you advice,
Joe
 
Go to a firearms store and ask for each one to make a comparison. All of your list are great shotguns, it will really come down to what you find the best on a subjective choice.
 
Spitefiremk7 said:
Hey all,

Looking into buying my first shotgun. I have a fair amount of experience but I've been getting a lot of mixed reports on my search so far.

Looking for a versatile pump for clays, ducks and geese. May move on to big game latter on. Preferably wood finish, 12 Ga, 3.5 inch shells. Does not have to be new. The short list includes;

Browning BPS
Remington 870
Mossberg 500
Ithaca 37 (if the price is right!)

Thanks and I look forward to you advice,
Joe
Click to expand...

From your list only 2 are 3 1/2" capable the BPS and the 870, Mossberg does make roman candle shooting pump guns but they aren't the 500. 3 1/2" shells are not needed for 98% of all shotgunning and for the 2% of the time it is useful most shooters never achieve the skill to capitalize on in my opinion.
For the moment I am going to assume that you are referring to the express when you talk about the 870 not the wingmaster, in which case because the wingmaster sets a much higher standard of quality, people tend to ##### and moan when their gun for half the price is not as refined. Not that they aren't serviceable and capable guns Mossbergs don't fit me well so I no longer own any. I will however always have multiple 870's including at least 1 express, they are my go to for a loaner gun and hunting in a layout boat or the salt. I know people will chime in pointing out that the finish on the express is prone to rust but I'm not above painting an express and giving it a good matte clear coat if its my sal####er gun. The salt is the only time I have seen basic maintenance not keep my express rust free.
The Ithaca and BPS are to me the equals of the 870 wingmaster in terms of quality, and each has its areas where they surpass the others, many in a subjective personal manner, for example the 870 wingmaster fits me as well as I have any reason to hope a factory shotgun would. The ithaca is lightest great asset if carrying it for upland, the BPS is heaviest nice for reducing recoil and it also has the most available factory finishes and is the only one currently manufactured with a 3 1/2" chamber if that is really important to you, and the 870 Wingmaster is the easiest/cheapest to get aftermarket accessories for.

So pick a price, pick the features you can and can't live without and go handle the guns that meet your requirements I can't tell you which will be best fit or feeling in your hands.
 
Spitefiremk7 said:
Hey all,

Looking into buying my first shotgun. I have a fair amount of experience but I've been getting a lot of mixed reports on my search so far.

Looking for a versatile pump for clays, ducks and geese. May move on to big game latter on. Preferably wood finish, 12 Ga, 3.5 inch shells. Does not have to be new. The short list includes;

Browning BPS
Remington 870
Mossberg 500
Ithaca 37 (if the price is right!)

Thanks and I look forward to you advice,
Joe
Click to expand...

You need a 3.5" pump like you need a hole in the head. Very little in the way of advantage and an immense increase in recoil. The pump will give you no benefit of recoil reduction like a semi would. For most waterfowling a 3" shell will suffice and will be all that you want. Waterfowl hunting, as you know, is a high volume affair. You don't want to be banging away all morning with 3.5" shells unless you're the sort that wants to rent space in Mr Grey's basement. Consider your limit for Canadas and snows...you're looking at shooting over a box of ammo assuming that you never miss. No thankee suh. And for shooting clays over the back 40 you certainly won't be using even 3" shells.

For all intents and purposes a 3" Remington 870 will serve you perfectly. An Ithaca 37 would be a nice gun (I have one as well as two 870s) but they tend to be light which doesn't go well with high volume shooting. I'm not a fan of the Mossberg or the Winchester so they're out. You might also look at a Benelli Nova but the Remington will get you out in the field for the price of dinner, drink and a movie with the wife (or whatever facsimile of wife you might have).
 
ithaca 37's are easy enough to find. I've bought 2 on the EE in the last 3 months. the price is right on them too! I paid 300 and 270 (before shipping) for them!

If you live near Wingham, hunters haven has a m37 listed for 289 right now. (Was in there yesterday(5/23/15))

I own all of those listed except the BPS, and for me, i rank them as follows.

I Like my ithaca m37 best. It feels good in my hands and I seem to be pretty decent at hitting the clays with them.

Then I like my mossberg 500. the design of the button placements makes sense to me, and I like this layout the best.

my Rem is a wingmaster and it's great, but I personally don't like the shell raiser, it gets in the way when i try to load shells into it. this one is the only one that's fussy about the brand of ammo i shoot with it also. (doesn't like Mirage by Clever, or Challenger ammo. but shoots bigger brand names (Federal and Winchester) just fine.

if you can try before you buy then go and do that! all of em are great so whatever you choose will be a good choice.
 
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