what shotgun should i buy?

Rem 870 express would be a good fit, but if you want to reach out farther i would suggest the Mossberg simple reason it takes a 3 1/3, as its already been mentioned. there all great guns so what ever fits your budget.
 
The Mossberg 535 pumps have the 3 1/2" chambers, the 500's are only 3".

Likewise, you can get the 870 in super mag (3 1/2"), just have to pull a few more bills out of the wallet compared with the 3" models.
 
If you want a decent semi in your budget put a WTB ad up in the EE or look around for a used Remington 1100 in 2-3/4". It wont be ideal for turkey or goose hunting but 2-3/4" slugs are generally more accurate for deer. The 1100 is great for skeet/trap and wing-shooting. If you want a shotgun that will do it all then get yourself a Remington 870 Express Magnum deer and field combo. If the Remington 870 Trio deal is available at your LGS then dont think twice about buying it, 3 barrels + 870 magnum for under 600$ is an amazing deal.
 
You get what you pay for in most cases (although there are some great values out there). A new 300$ shotgun will leave you crying in the field with missed doves because it jammed on the reload, crying in the marsh because it jammed on the follow up shot on a group of pintails. You may be ok leaning against a tree for turkey as you only get one shot off anyways.

Someone mentioned an used 1100. Good call. Reasonable cost forever gun. Also , the older 870s (blued) where very good shotguns, as were the earlier Model 31s. I would look for something blued, milled from steel (lighter and stronger) with a full vent rib and changeable chokes. Lots of options out there from the times before every manufacture was worried about maximizing profits.

I would rather haul around an ugly, overweight Baikal over under than worry that a 299$ 870 will stop functioning when I need it. And IT WILL stop. anyone who says otherwise has either been very lucky or doesn't actually have the experience. Especially in the super mag. The extra length receiver for some reason just does not like fast cycling of 2 3/4s.

Of course all my opinion, but it is based on what I see in the blind and on the sporting clay field.
C
 
The old wingmasters are as slick as a butter sandwich and are works of art. Theyre also only 2-3/4" for the most part. I have a newer express magnum and have never had a problem with it since I got it. I think a lot of guys that get frustrated with pump shotguns are short stroking them. All pumps especially the 870 like it rough, youve got to rack 'em with authority. The finish on it is rough but I love that fact that i can abuse it with having to worry too much about its looks. I dont cry when it gets kicked around the boat when we're out duck hunting but it has never failed to go bang.

Speaking of shotguns that are tough and ugly, the Baikal mp27 O/U is also an amazing value, the lock up is amazingly tight and is completely reliable. I cant believe they can be had at their price, especially mine which was only 350$ new.
 
Cardamonfrost said:
...I would rather haul around an ugly, overweight Baikal over under than worry that a 299$ 870 will stop functioning when I need it. And IT WILL stop. anyone who says otherwise has either been very lucky or doesn't actually have the experience. Especially in the super mag. The extra length receiver for some reason just does not like fast cycling of 2 3/4s.

Of course all my opinion, but it is based on what I see in the blind and on the sporting clay field.
C
Click to expand...

Tell me...from your opinion based in the blind and on the sporting clay field...what is the difference in the "extra length" reciever of my super magnum and my 1950 2 3/4" receiver? Oh and what exactly is the difference in the stroke of the action?

976sd2.jpg


The recievers actually have an identical length and the difference in the stroke of the action is only about 1/16"...that's it!!! The only thing a few of the "cheap" Express 870s need is a quick polish of the chamber and in some cases a quick filling of the extractor groove or the instalation of a non-MIM extractor which Remington will normally ship to you free of charge if you call to complain about extraction issues on a newly purchased gun!
 
Last edited:
Cardamonfrost said:
Buy a old Winchester model 12 for 299. take it to a gunsmith and have the action cleaned and stoned for 100. Perhaps have him put a full vent rib and a poly choke 2 on it for another 200.

I guarantee you will get more use out of it without jamming than anything else in the price range.

Never underestimate an old guy at the skeet field with a model 12...

C
Click to expand...


Thats very true, a fella at our range has one and keeps right up with all the fancy O&U guns there.
 
Perhaps receiver was a poor choice. There is no question that the carrier and bolt assembly is longer in the mag. If it didn't make a difference all shotguns would be 3 1/2, but as it becomes problematic they offer choices. Bigger actions are heavier and require more movement to cycle and particularly in the cheaper ones have a higher chance of failure.

That's just the way it is. If you want to do custom work, or complain, you can get around it, sometimes. All I am saying is I see it EVERY weekend when shooting clays. Someone new to the sport gets mad when they have problems on the doubles, and its always failure to extract.

Its only my opinion, but when they went on sale for 279 at Bass Pro, that's what they were worth.

C
 
Cardamonfrost said:
Perhaps receiver was a poor choice. There is no question that the carrier and bolt assembly is longer in the mag. If it didn't make a difference all shotguns would be 3 1/2, but as it becomes problematic they offer choices. Bigger actions are heavier and require more movement to cycle and particularly in the cheaper ones have a higher chance of failure.

That's just the way it is. If you want to do custom work, or complain, you can get around it, sometimes. All I am saying is I see it EVERY weekend when shooting clays. Someone new to the sport gets mad when they have problems on the doubles, and its always failure to extract.

Its only my opinion, but when they went on sale for 279 at Bass Pro, that's what they were worth.

C
Click to expand...
I had a failure to extract problem after a year owning my 870 express, all it took to fix it was working the extractor back and forth for a minute with my finger and out popped a piece of swarf from manufacturing that was causing an interference. Haven't had a problem since.
 
Cardamonfrost said:
Perhaps receiver was a poor choice. There is no question that the carrier and bolt assembly is longer in the mag. If it didn't make a difference all shotguns would be 3 1/2, but as it becomes problematic they offer choices. Bigger actions are heavier and require more movement to cycle and particularly in the cheaper ones have a higher chance of failure.

That's just the way it is. If you want to do custom work, or complain, you can get around it, sometimes. All I am saying is I see it EVERY weekend when shooting clays. Someone new to the sport gets mad when they have problems on the doubles, and its always failure to extract.

Its only my opinion, but when they went on sale for 279 at Bass Pro, that's what they were worth.

C
Click to expand...

Actually...you are assuming and you are once again wrong! The Super Magnum has a shorter bolt and the shell lifter is identical in length to the 2 3/4" and 3" versions. Also, the Super Magnum reciever is about one ounce lighter than the standard reciever due to the longer ejection port required for the proper ejection of the long 3.5" shotshells!

If you do not like the Remington 870 platfrom that's OK, it's your right, but please stop posting false information about the gun there's enough of that $h!+ on the web as it is! Thanks!

The bottom trigger assembly is from the Super Magnum. Top is the standard 2 3/4" & 3". Same for the breech bolts.
13z09zc.jpg


Right trigger assembly is Super Mag. Left is standard
2ugp2cy.jpg


Top slide assembly (part that cams the locking block up into the barrel extension) is Super Mag. Bottom is standard.
25gt650.jpg


Top Breech bolt is Super Mag. Bottom is standard.
2h705f9.jpg
 
Last edited:
I bought my Mossberg 500 combo all black for $329 at Cabela's in Edmonton last summer (2014). One 18.5 inch smooth barrel, and a 28" vented, fixed modified choke barrel. Cabela's doesnt seem to sell that combo at this very affordable price anymore...
 
Last edited:
galamb said:
What do you want to spend?

If you are on a budget there is a Mossberg Pump (model 535) 3 barrel combo 3 1/2" super mag chamber - 28" Vented Rib, 24" Turkey barrel/turkey choked with fiber sights and a 24" full rifled cantilevered (for scope mount) deer barrel.

Package can be had for about $600 (give or take if you shop around).

It's all camo which looks kinda cool.

Decent set up for "starting out"
Click to expand...


I managed to get the Mossberg 500 3-barrel combo (3") for just under $500 tax/shipping included during black friday :) Only complaint is the fibre optic sight on the turkey barrel is loose
 
Thanks for clearing that up, I get it now. Everything is the same between the 2 3/4 and 3 1/2.

The OPs question was what would you buy. 870 is not it for me.

I wish I had a video of one of my friends 870 jamming on the field this morning. It would be funny if it didn't make it twice as long for everyone to shoot a round.

C

VLT79 said:
Actually...you are assuming and you are once again wrong! The Super Magnum has a shorter bolt and the shell lifter is identical in length to the 2 3/4" and 3" versions. Also, the Super Magnum reciever is about one ounce lighter than the standard reciever due to the longer ejection port required for the proper ejection of the long 3.5" shotshells!

If you do not like the Remington 870 platfrom that's OK, it's your right, but please stop posting false information about the gun there's enough of that $h!+ on the web as it is! Thanks!

The bottom trigger assembly is from the Super Magnum. Top is the standard 2 3/4" & 3". Same for the breech bolts.
13z09zc.jpg


Right trigger assembly is Super Mag. Left is standard
2ugp2cy.jpg


Top slide assembly (part that cams the locking block up into the barrel extension) is Super Mag. Bottom is standard.
25gt650.jpg


Top Breech bolt is Super Mag. Bottom is standard.
2h705f9.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Get the mossberg 500 or 535 2 barrel or 3 barrel combo comes with all 3 chokes ... Actually the 3 barrel comes with 4 chokes, xfull turkey is included. Paid $540 bucks 2 years ago. Killed deer out to 125yrds with the cantiliever slug barrel, hammered 4 turkey's, haven't shot a frighten thing with the 28" waterfowl. Cause I hate plucking or skinning ducks and geese. This gun has been the do everything well gun. Tang safety so lefties can have fun too. It is made in the USA and good supply of replacement parts available.
 
Skeet, ducks and turkey can all be done with one barrel with interchangeable choke tubes.

Figure out your budget, and then we can tailor answers better. No sense in recommending a Benelli on a Mossberg budget, for example.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom