All-around Shotgun

[TommyTANK]

Im looking for a shotgun as a first gun. I would be using it primarily w/ slugs for whitetail (?rifled barrel?) but I want it to be compatible with bird hunting as well. Since Im a poor college student, Im hoping to spend no more than 500. I would like a simi-auto but for 500 I dont think I could get anything decent. Im leaning toward 12ga. any reason to go with somthing else?

[RonM]

Remington 870, all around shotgun.....

[TommyTANK]

870 was what I was thinking, I have heard good things from many people. Acually I used one for bird hunting and was rather happy with how smooth the action was and didnt have any problems with it. Is there anything else out there?

[dpv]

I can think of a really good reason to go with a pump. For that price you can buy a Mossberg 500 and have 2 barrels. put a rifled slug barrel on it and have a regular barrel as well. Select the choke you want for birds and another for buckshot if you wanted and you have everything you need. I wont argue with anyone about the asthetics of the mossberg to the 870. The 870 is pretty, svelt and feels good. But thru years of experience I have found the mossberg to be extremely reliable and field worthy.

That's just me.

David

[tofer]

870 vote here you can get a 870 combo for about 450 and have the best of both worlds i love mine and would never trade it for anything

[handloader1]

I would take a look at the Stoeger Model 2000 it uses the same action as Benelli Autoloaders. Good luck.

[semi]

I too would opt for a mossberg 500. i have had one for years and love it. Its reliable and shots 2.75" and 3" just fine. It cost me under $200 NEW.

[Joe D.]

My vote would be for them both. I've shot both and they are very accurate. The only difference that I see between the two is the 870 seems to be a little more compacted. The 500 is probably a little cheaper for both barrels. I have the 500 in black synthetic, it's very nice.

Get yourself a scope with good rings and mounts. The muzzle blast tends to loosen the cheaper set-ups faster which throughs off your accuracy trying to sight it in.

[spuddog]

I had the same issue a couple of years back and went w/ mossberg 835. I wanted a gun that would shoot 3.5" shells also. I don't need a slug gun, but this would work fine for that as well. The remington is more respected, but my experience has been that the quality and performance are about the same (someone is going to blow up over that). Check out the safety and release buttons on the mossberg. This was a big issue for me. The mossberg is more ergonomic and easier to access than the Rem.

The 835 does seem big and clunky compared to the 870, but I've had some awsome shots in the dove field with my Moss-835.

[TommyTANK]

ORIGINAL: handloader1

I would take a look at the Stoeger Model 2000 it uses the same action as Benelli Autoloaders. Good luck.

I heard that without spending more for a semi-auto you would get somthing of low quality and would have trouble with its reliability.

Thanks for your help and I think I will end up going to a gun shop and taking a look at your suggestions and see how they feel in my hands. Im kinda leaning away from an 870 just cause they are far too common but there probobly is a reason for that. I also want to investigate how quickly I can take it all apart for a good cleaning.

After I get one is there anything I need to know about breaking it in?