The best beater shotgun for waterfowl in harsh conditions?

In real crap conditions, and forced to work real dirty, my experiece is that Mossberg's are more reliable than Remingtons. I've used both (along with Winny 1200's) on and off for about 25 years. My beater shotgun is a Mossberg 500 that I got used for about $120, and it works great.
 
a lot of people(myself included) find it hard to justify paying 800+ bucks for a gun that will kill no more or better than a 350-400 dollar one.if you are looking for a fowl weather beater pick up a 870 rem.if it should end up taking a swim in the water/mud/muck or the dog decides to use it for traction getting in or out of blind/boat it will not bother you.
 
diesel_weasel666 said:
I use my mid-80's 870 Wingmaster w/ fixed full choke. Payed $180 for it 2 years ago and it has never let me down, just gotta pump it like you mean it.
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I think I have 11 Wingmasters /870's in the house.
My son's POS wingmaster broke a few weeks back in the middle of a skeet round - crap, you'd think it would last more than FORTY YEARS before breaking??!!:D
No kidding, the gun was actually assembled from parts - no one original part, not even the stocks, and the slide was used when it was assembled in 1966-67!.
the action bars let go right at the slide barrel!:eek:

That being said, this gun did hard duty every weekend for years at a trap club, got hunted, and it is my son's trap gun.
hundreds of thousands of rounds , without a doubt, and that is the only thing that has ever broke on the shotgun.
There is a reason I use them for loaners when holding shoots!!:p
Cat
 
I don't know guys,that Mossberg looks pretty appealing and for 430$ taxes and shipping included it seems like a steal,it sounds like as long as you arent a "short shucker" it is pretty reliable too.I think I will check out my local gun dealers to see what they handle like and if they have them in stock,if not cabelas seems to have a good deal on them.
Thanks,
Hunter.
 
I have an early Remington 870 Express magnum. (made before they went to crap) I also have a brand new Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump, synthetic stock, fixed MOD choked vent rib barrel. After using both I feel I would use the MOSSY more as a beater because of it's synthetic furniture and it's no frills options. (none) The 870 Express is a great gun but the wood stock could be an issue if alot of wet weather is encountered. Both of these guns work great and the Mossy is a little lighter. Either of these would be my choice.
Darryl
 
I'll re mention the maverick/mossberg pump families. I'v had both and still have the mossberg and am trying to worm my way back into my maverick. Any mossberg pump is a good investment imo for sure.
 
necktiemcgee said:
I'll re mention the maverick/mossberg pump families. I'v had both and still have the mossberg and am trying to worm my way back into my maverick. Any mossberg pump is a good investment imo for sure.
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This is also true. There is nothing any better than a Maverick 88 until you get up to the Benelli Nova. In my opinion the Rem 870 price range pumps offer nothing over the Maverick 88. Therefore the next step up from an 88 as far as I am concerned is the Benelli Nova.
 
well in that case I think I will invest in an ulti mag(as much as I like the price of the maverick my hunting buddy had one and it seemed to have a tendency to jam whenever he needed it most) plus the 3.5" is a really appealing to me because of all the goose hunting and pass shooting I do_One last thing though,can you guys reccomend a good full steel shot choke and where to buy it?I was thinking about a patternmaster black cloud choke but could not find a place that stocked them.
Thanks,
Hunter.
 
well I got lucky and found a used(but still in box) Browning Bps 3" shadow grass camo'ed 26 inch barreled beast.what do you guys think,I am going to go take look at it today,any thoughts with the 26 inch barrel?I figure with the invector plus choke tubes it shuld not hurt my pattern any.
Thanks,
Hunter.
 
well I was convinced on the browning once I got to rack that slide and put it to my shoulder.I have never had a shotgun fit me so perfectly,so anyway I bought it on the spot along with an carlsons black cloud long range steel choke that the sales clerk sold me on,long story short I took it out and went through a box of shells in a matter of minutes just getting used to the gun.Now I am ready to go BUST SOME CLAYS!
Thanks,
Hunter.
 
i own an 870 3 1/2 supermag in duckblind camo. I did a few alterations. Changed the extractor to a non mim one, changed the follower to a aluminim one. I've put a lot of ammo through that gun. Both lead and a lot of different steel loads. Hunting ducks, geese, sharptails, ruffed, and spruce grouse. Dusted many clays with it as well. round after round after round reliable. I had one failure to extract, that was last year, that's when i got a machined extractor. haven't had any problems sinced. Buy one and give the birds a Remington Retirement.
 
happykal said:
i own an 870 3 1/2 supermag in duckblind camo. I did a few alterations. Changed the extractor to a non mim one, changed the follower to a aluminim one. I've put a lot of ammo through that gun. Both lead and a lot of different steel loads. Hunting ducks, geese, sharptails, ruffed, and spruce grouse. Dusted many clays with it as well. round after round after round reliable. I had one failure to extract, that was last year, that's when i got a machined extractor. haven't had any problems sinced. Buy one and give the birds a Remington Retirement.
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Too late now...........no but I did get to handle a supermag at the gun shop and to tell you the truth(and no offense intended by this) it felt like crap compared to the browning and felt very awkward to shoulder and swing,I belive that your gun is a great firearm and I love remington(at least the "old" remington)but it seems like the firearms they manufacture now are nice guns,but there are also alotta' duds coming from that factory
Thanks,
Hunter.
 
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