Completely new to hunting and gun ownership
 

My dad grew up on a farm but my mom never let us even go near guns growing up. I'm 21 and I love skeet shooting, and I want to get into hunting, probably deer, pheasants, turkey, etc.

For my first gun, what would be the most versatile gun, since I'll just own one? I was thinking a shotgun - Remington 870 Super Mag?

I just wanted any advice anybody could give me as to the best way to just get out there and start. What do I need before I start?

Why just one, only joking 870 is agood gun

Everybody I talk to recommends it compared to the Mossberg. I'm fine with that, probably gonna buy a new one.

Which 870 would be the best for this different stuff?

Yea I use the 835 cause it cheap at the time and I beat it up pretyy good.
The 870 super mag sounds good for what you want to do.

I've entered only 2 shooting match events in my life with shotgun. One was sporting clays, the other skeet. I got 1st place with one and 2nd with the other using a Winchester 1200. I love it so much, I'd love to get another. I say this not to impress, but to impress upon you that no matter which gun you use, if you shoot it alot, you'll get comfortable with it. Next shotgun I'm getting is a Remington 870 because I've heard nothing but good about it. I suspect if you get one, you'll be shooting awesome with it in no time!

I highly suggest since it's your first, that no matter what happens in the future, always keep it and never sell or trade it. Not many people have their first guns and it's sentimental. Nice to hold a gun many years down the road looking back many years back down the road and reflect the times you had with it.

iSnipe

I'll go with 870 on the next one too. The 835's action is a little sticky. yea its clean

The first gun I purchased was a model 870. I still have it 35 years later. It will serve you well. Like these guys said, regular practice will help you. Go with someone that has experience with firearms to give you some shooting and safety pointers. Hunting and shooting are great activities. Enjoy yourself.

I got you beat ole man, I've had mine for 41 years. I have an 870 with a 26" improved cylinder and another thats a 30" full choke.
The 870 improved is an excellent slug gun even with a smooth bore barrel. I can put slugs in a pie plate every time at 100 yrds, with open sights. :fighting0007:

Bobby

Maybe I wasn't clear

I want to get into hunting, and I want a gun that will be very versatile

Which gun is recommended? Which barrel length?

Anything else I should know?

I would go to the gun store and check'em out. Just get the feel of'em and one will stand out and fit just right. The best versatile gun for a beginner, I think, is an over and under single shot. You can have a 22cal. on top and a shotgun on the bottom. But whatever you choose, make sure you go to a range and practice, it's very important...

sounds like you like the 870 you could go with the combo. comes with 2 barrles 26" smooth bore and 22" (i think) slug barrle. super mag combo

i didnt shoot a gun till i was 18 so i know how u feel on my 18 birthday day i went out a bougth me a single sot 12 gauge went to the libary started going hunting every weekend and got on the intenrt net my adivce is go buy a used gun cuz there is a 98% u will find something u like better to spend 400 on a new gun not my cup tea and put the word out that u want to go hunting with everyone u know mostly get out in the woods and fields and clubs good luck

Practice. Alot.

and Scout. Alot. You'll learn more about game and the woods by being out there, following trails, looking for signs they leave behind. Perhaps invest in some decent binoculars so you can observe. For me, that's almost as much fun as actually hunting.

I don't have much experience with shotguns as opposed to rifles. We have good dove hunting here but it never really appealed as much to me.

Yeah, I was looking around, and it seems that might be the way to go. Very versatile.

Are there any problems with getting synthetic?

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. Any recommendations on a cheaper but still quality set of binoculars?

Sounds like you need a few good gun safety courses before you go on this voyage.

Yeah, I just got done with school... that's first on the list

[quote=eric_b;3532750]Maybe I wasn't clear

I want to get into hunting, and I want a gun that will be very versatile

Which gun is recommended? Which barrel length?

Anything else I should know?[/quote]

An 870 is a great gun. It has double slide rails to prevent jamming when cycling the gun. The receiver is milld from a solid block of steel for function and strength. There are also the most amount of aftermarket accesories available. Keep in mind that "fit" is most important when it comes to a shotgun. Since it typically isnt aimed, but "pointed at a target, it must fit you well. The best advice I can give you is purchase it with a 26" or so smooth barrel and try it on. While holding it in your hands, close your eyes and put it up to your cheek. Open your eyes and if you can see down the barrel and the sights are aligned, that gun will probably be accurate for you. http://www.remington.com/products/fi...ss_compact.asp

If you will also hunt deer with it I would suggest you get a rifled barrel, either open sights if that's what you prefer or a cantilevered rifled barrel that will allow you to mount a scope on the barrel. This way the barrel can be removed with the scope as a unit so it will maintain its zero, or scope/barrel alignment.
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...hetic_deer.asp

Here is the 870 with cantilever scope mount:
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...press_slug.asp

As other have stated practice with each barrel until you are proficient. I will caution you that rifle slugs are pricey and your ability to practice may be limited. I would stock up after hunting season looking for deals at stores like Gander and dicks, looking to unload post season inventory.

My advice would be to strive to have a shotgun and a medium bore/caliber rifle also if serious about deer hunting, although many people hunt with shotguns exclusively. .

I'll second the combo package.

I bought the stock smooth-bored Remington 870 Express from WallyWorld brand new for under $200 out the door. Based on my reading, I thought I might have to invest in a rifled barrel to use it as a slug gun for deer hunting, UNTIL I mounted a Leupold VX-1 1-4x shotgun scope on it and started shooting the Remington Slugger 2 3/4" and 3" rifled slugs and zeroed the thing at 100 yards. It gave me 3 inch groups out to 150 yards! I was amazed. That is a very versatile gun, and has already proven itself on two wild boars, and two turkeys. It's quite possibly the only hunting gun one might ever need/want for Eastern hunting.

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.

Ha. Well, I'm sure you're right, but I only want one shotgun, really. One that is very versatile and what not

A rifle will come later, I'm sure

Here is my recommendation for a 12 gauge;


http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/i-12_waterfowl.php


http://www.impactguns.com/store/650350407037.html


This gun can do it all........................and will last you a lifetime.



Note: For all additional chokes buy extended type !

Ya I made the same mistake I got a mossberg 12ga for xmas a few years ago I should have got a semi. The 500 is a good gun but I need asemi for duck and bird hunting. I see no reason to have three or four shotguns. now rifles are another story.