Went 12ga shopping tonight... My First!

MikeAK

MikeAK

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Now that my PAL has been issued I took off to start some serious shopping for my first 12ga. You guys remember that feeling!? Awesome!! I am sure I'll have multiple purchases through out my life but to start out I want an 18 inch with bead sight. Of all the shotguns I handled I was most impressed with the Winchester SXP Defender. It was the the one I kept going back to and the price was right. It is probably going to be my very first 12ga purchase.

Seriously though, what a great feeling going into the store not just to play but to actually know that one of them is coming home with me soon. I am sure the excitement will level off over time but that first firearm purchase is quite a feeling.
 
Congrats on getting your license and welcome to the world of shotgunoholics. :)

Oh and that's one nice shotgun.
 
Thanks guys. I hope that feeling never gets old. First time in a long time I felt as excited as a kid.
 
My first defensive shotgun was very close to being that same model.
I love the way it looks and handles.

I decided against it and went with the 870 Tactical for a couple reasons - Accessories are much easier to come by, in this case I wanted the ATI Talon stock with pistol grip. I believe the 870 also holds one or two more shells.
I'd have been happy with either but after 2 years with the 870 and thousands of shells fired, I'm thoroughly satisfied with my choice.

Good luck with your purchase. That feeling of buying your first firearm is a pretty special one.
 
Congrats... I bought a Mossberg 500 combo last April... came with an 18.5 and 28" barrel, best of both worlds. I took it out skeet shooting this past holiday weekend, what a blast.

Good times
 
Congrats, I went with a 12.5" grizzly only cause I knew I wanted an 870 with a 12.5" barrel, seemed like the cheapest way to get what I wanted, it fit the 6pos ati stock and forend without issue, if you plan on doing some upgrading I think I'd give the 870 a look if I was you.
The SXP looks great as is but I think you might be limited if you wanted to change up a few things down the road.
 
Fred, I've thought a lot about the lack of aftermarket parts with the Winchester but I'm not looking for something to build around. Even though I am new to this world I very much subscribe to the K.I.S.S. rule. I may add a flashlight to the barrel and probably a butt stock shell holder but that's it. So with saying that I'm very confident in my selection of the SXP Defender. It just feels best on my hands and arms.
 
silverfoxdj said:
Nice choice I have one with the combo barrels..
Click to expand...

silverfoxdj, that is the one I would like to buy but for some reason I can't find stock anywhere. Tried emailing a few shops but none seem to be able to give me any solid dates on availability. I have even read online that Winchester may have discontinued the Camp/Field model.
 
Warmest congratulations.... just so you know, this is only the beginning of your agony.... My first firearm, the day my FAC was issued, was an 870 Express (back before they were offered with a 3" chamber). I will never forget the experience of buying it... wow. I still have it, although it bears little resemblance to the shotgun I brought home that day. Well done, and well played.
 
Congrats man! Don't be shocked when you're looking at a safe full shotguns one day, it happens to all of us.

What else did you fondle, and what's your $$ budget?
 
My first shotgun...and actually the first firearm I ever bought was a Winchester 1300 Defender....Has always been a great shotgun and Ive never had any problems with it....
 
Yeah, everyone should own a 12guage shotgun, imo. I wasn't looking to break the bank so I set a $500 limit. Handled a lot from Remington and Mossberg, all the way down to Stevens and Weatherby. Kept going back to the Winchester SXP. It looked and felt like the better made firearm and the action is silky smooth. You see videos on Ytube where people keep saying this but the Winchester really is a smooth action shotgun. Love it.
 
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