The 870 is as proven a gun as you can find. The 870 express is not. There are alot of them out there, but they do not hold up as well as the original 870 wingmaster. With a slug barrel you have a competent short range deer gun, with the option of getting a cantilevered slug barrel to scope out. Make sure you get a variable choke for the bird barrel, or your versatility will suffer greatly. For one gun versatility, small game/ deer, it is tough to beat.(yup, i got one).

I also think the 870 is a great first gun, and I would also get the combo package. If you get the one with the scope mount instead of the iron sights, make sure you mount the scope PROPERLY (or have a gunsmith do it) or you'll have mondo frustration with keeping the thing zeroed.

Also, I'd avoid the super mag. Just go with the 3" chamber. The super mag may be more "versatile", but I've experienced issues with it cycling the 2 3/4" shells smoothly. I have the 3" chamber and does well with both 2 3/4" and 3" shells.

Also, when shooting slugs and buckshot at the range, it ain't exactly fun (plus you're looking at $1/round [on the low end]). They kick like a mule and after about 20 rounds, I'm done shooting those. I say that to say, don't compare shooting slugs out of a 12 gauge to shooting bullets out of a rifle (well, depending on the caliber!!). What you'll need next is an M14. :) Talk about an awesome gun that shoots an awesome cartridge, accurate as hell...and is SUPER FUN TO SHOOT!! :)



P.S. I never shot, much less owned, a gun before last year. I now have two pistols and four long guns. I started deer hunting last season too and as far as the guns and hunting thing goes, well, I cannot believe that I went 30 years of my life without it. I cannot fathom how I missed out on that portion of our culture and history, but now I'm making up for lost time!! Now that I'm a gun owner, I can clearly see all the lies spewed forth by the media about guns. It's opened my eyes to a lot...

This one, as long as you clean it ocassionally.


http://www.beretta.com/Long-guns/Fie...2&idv=1&id=893

Well everybody, I appreciate the advice, I really do.

I went and talked to Jack Smith of Jack Smith Gun Sales in Des Moines, IA today. He's an honest guy.

I'll probably end up with the 870 express super mag combo with the rifled barrel, which I already pretty much expected.

Remington is giving a $30 discount until the end of the year, so it looks as though I'll have it sooner than expected.

Once again, thanks for all the advice, I appreciated all of it.

get an 870 wingmaster 3" chamber the expresses are ok but they have a stamped receiver while the wingmaster has a milled receiver also the wingmasters are a smoother action and nicer gun though the wingmaster is a bit more than the express also 3.5" are a waste of shot and powder

As for the synthetic question and binos...

The more I hunt, the more I like synthetic. The slight disadvantage to wood -vs- synthetic is that wood can absorb moisture and is susceptible to temperature and moisture(humidity) changes. This can warp the forearm slightly. This then can lead to undue pressure points along the barrel making it less accurate by being inconsistent. This is factor of rifles and not so much shotguns. Wood laminates are good at being impervious to the elements more than just stained oak, etc. Wood is very pretty. Makes a gun look nice, but can be bumped, dented and scratched, whereas synthetic is more tolerable to these factors. For the main part, I wouldn't worry too much about wood -vs- synthetic for a shotgun.

As for the binos, the best I have found for value and the high quality you get for the money, I love my Pentax. It's an older model, but I love the DCF WP models. The WP is "water proof". I have no reason to get any other bino at this point. I am very happy with what I have. However, should I want to get a similar quality bino, I highly recommend the Nikon Monarchs. Something along the lines of 8x42 will really open up your hunting world because binos get you to be pro-active when it comes to hunting. They keep you busy looking, searching.. and they really help you spot game before they spot you. They also help you see deer your human eyes could never see.

Good luck,

iSnipe

I agree about the consistency of synthetics. However, the ONE advantage wood has over synthetics when hunting is the noise. For example, the other day I was hunting with a synthetic stock (fiberglass), and I have these gloves that have these small plastic tighteners on them. I kept bumping them against the synthetic stock, and boy, in the dead quiet of the morning, it made so much unnatural noise it was ridiculous; I had to cut them off right then and there. That synthetic stock sure amplifies anything that's bumped against it. Not so with the wood stocks. And if ya bump a wood stock, it sounds much more "normal", as far as sounds in the woods go.

If I could go back, I'd get the Wingmaster (or police model) over the express. Quality is much higher. It is absolutely worth the difference in price. I'd follow that advice...and not because I'm giving it.

I think I've decided on the 870 Express Super Mag synthetic.....

I wouldn't mind a Wingmaster, but it's too pricey and too pretty... I don't want to have to worry about it getting scratched

I've heard more good things than bad about the 3.5" shells in the super mag, so I'll give it a shot

I'm gonna wait on the slug barrel.... I'm not gonna need it till next fall anyway, so I'll just spend that money later on

Any other thoughts?

any good shotgun will do you. I also ask why one. LOL I was in your boat to. My dad knew guys but my mom would never let them around. My parents split up for a few years and I talked my dad into buying me a 30-30 for deer hunting in ky. In 6 months I had two ars two shotguns and a rifle. When mom and dad got back to gather she got use to the fact they where around. Now I have a muzzleloader, glock, shotgun, and a 10/22 ruger. This spring I am getting a new AR in 308 caliber.
Welcome and one will not be enough real soon.