New shotgun
 

Am looking to get a shotgun. I want to be able to turkey hunt primarily, but I would also like maybe into duck, pheasant, trap and or skeet. It will most likely be in 12 ga. I am not sure what shotgun would be good for all of these things. I have heard great things about the Remington 870. Would that be my best choice? Do you guys have any suggestions?

Got 4 870s. They are great guns used them for turkeys, small game and some upland birds. Never hunted ducks but one of the 870s I have the guy I got off of used it for ducks before steel shot was required.

12 gauge autoloader.

Good "kill all" first gun;


http://www.stoegerindustries.com/m3500-shotgun

In a pump id go mossberg 500 great shotguns. For what u want id go autoloader reminton bennile if u got the cash. Nothing wrong with a 870

I prefer mossbergs because of the location of the safety. It couldnt be in a better spot for hunting. I have a mossberg 500 and dont have any complaints at all.

I am a Mossberg guy its really all I own. But if you are wanting a gun for so many diff things you are gonna need to invest in numerous chokes. And since you want to go from deer to turkey to ducks a pump is nice but you really want an autoloader. Especially for ducks and all. Personally I use my pump Mossberg 835 for everything. im used to the pump so much so hunting geese or ducks and having to shoot fast is just normal. So yea Id say Mossberg 500/835..semi auto..get a barrel that's not to long and not to short since your using it for bunch of things. Like maybe a 26" or something. let us know what you get

The Mossberg 500 Combo with cantilevered slug barrel (rifled) and vent rib field barrel is a good option. I have one, but mine has the smooth bore slug barrel with rifle sights. The slug barrel will shoot rifled slugs into a 2-3" group at 50 yds no problem, and those slugs cost a whole lot less than sabots. I could take a deer out to 75 yds with no worries. With the standard full choke in the field barrel, I have shot turkeys out to 35-40 yds, so the gun will do what you're looking for. An 870 is just as good a choice. Can't lose either way you go.

I do my slug hunting with a scoped Marlin 512 bolt action. The gun is no beauty queen, but it shoots the bullseye out at 100 yds, and I've taken a pile of deer with it.

Don't know your budget and you didn't say. You also didn't say what action you would like. For my nickel I would go with the 870 combo new and a old wing master 870 used. Great shot gun simple and very rarely give any trouble. With choke tubes you can change them to do all you require.
Won't be the greatest trap or skeet gun but it will get you by.

A nice OU will also do all you require and is simple in operation and lends its self to trap and skeet a bit better.

My brother would argue that the SS is the way one should jump.

As a reloader I detest hunting for my hulls.

:D Al

I would have given the same advice on the 870 combo, but I bought one about 6 years ago. The bluing (or whatever it is on newer Rem's) seems terrible to me and the stock and foregrip seem cheap as well. To me, that indicates the whole gun is probably cheaply made. I had a similar problem on a Rem ML (turns out it's not manufactured by Rem, but Rem was willing to slap their name on it). So, I'm pretty much down on Rem lately. For the money, I think it's hard to beat Benelli (I own a Supernova and love it). I have friends that love their Mossbergs, but don't have any personal experience with them.

Nothing wrong with the Rem. 870.

Also check out the Benelli Nova pump. I have a Nova set up for turkey and it has done great. A wide variety of choke tubes are available for all both of these proven pump actions.

My personal favorite is an over/under. With screw in choke tubes, you can easily hunt any flying game and shoot Trap, Skeet, or Sporting Clays. You also have two shots just as fast as you can pull the trigger.

I bought my Browning Citori a little over 20 years ago and I have shot well over 100,000 shells through it and it still shoots great.

Rem 870's are fairly inexpensive, but are reliable guns. About 10 years ago a local sporting goods store had a sale on Rem 870's so I bought one, mainly for upland bird hunting and for shooting steel shot for waterfowl. Extra screw in chokes are about $20 each, and again, with a quick change of chokes you can shoot just about any shotgun sport with an 870. Mine has the black finish on the metal and is in a black plastic stock. I call it my ugly gun. I have run 25 straights at Skeet with it, I just have to remember to pump it for the second shot in doubles.

I'm not a fan of auto loaders. Every year just before bird seasons open, a lot of "once a year" shooters show up at our Skeet range. There is always someone with an auto loader that has a problem with a jam, or stuck shell, or some other problem.

Got to say, ive taken about everything you can legaly shoot in Illinois with my 870. been dunked in mud, dropped in a creek, rained on in the field, and more. keeps on shooting

For the game you want to hunt I would say you want the option to shoot up to 3.5" shells, with that said I would look into the Mossberg 835, or the 870 Magnum. If you want to shoot up to 3" shells look into the the Mossberg 500 combo on Sale at Dick's Sporting Goods for $300, or the Remington 870 combo for $420

"bowhuntercop" said it....that's what I said the other day on here. The Mossberg 835 is a great gun. that's what I have. the option to shoot the 3.5 is awesome. You can mount like a red dot scope or something on it if you wanted for turkey hunting or deer hunting and take it off for wing shooting or shooting into thick brush etc. That gun is a beast. Ive dropped mine, lost it, shut it in the hatch door of my jeep, all kinds of stupid things and it shoots perfect. It doesn't really like the cheaper ammo, like it shoots federal coppers better than just regular federals. And they are priced affordable and you can find them anywhere and in any camo pattern or black.

all this talk about new shotguns..my Mossberg 835 is older model its been around for a while and even though it shoots great still, I wanna get a new 835 and set it up just for turkey hunting/deer. aaaaaaaa someone lend me the money for it! hahaha

Benelli! Theres nothing like em.

X2 on the Stoegers.

I bought the M3000 Camo Turkey edition this spring and love it! The only noticable difference between mine & the M3500 is the latter accepts up to 3-1/2" shells. While the M3000 will take 3" shells. I don't plan on using over 3" shells while hunting, so I went with the M3000 for $100 less price. They have a great Benneli inertia driven action. This allows the trigger group to remain very clean compared to other gas operated semi's. I believe them to be a very reliable & quality shotgun for the money.

P.S. Also bagged my first tom with it. 25lbs with 1-1/4" spurs!!

So many choices, and so few of them are actually bad!

One of the few times in your life you're going to be in that situation :)

Try one of these: Baikal MP-153.
Tough, cheap autoloader, shoots 3.5 shells.

But Remy 870 is a fantastic gun. I have three now, and I used to a few more. So is a Mossy 500 and a Mossy 835.

I could talk merits of each, and many others, for hours.

Handle and shoot as many of them as possible and see which ones you like best.

Then see what deals are available.

Your choice may become obvious at that point.

Was at a turkey shot more then 50 percent of the people their were using 870. A lot of rem 1100 as while. A couple of Winchester models 12. But mostly remington.

The Benelli Nova is a great gun. I use it for hunting just about anything and have never had any problems with it.

How often are you going to be shooting any of the game or sports you mentioned?

That's the second most important aspect to choosing the proper firearm for you. Fit and feel is the first.

If you'll be shooting trap primarily with a little hunting on the side, the shotgun will be very different than if you'll be turkey hunting primarily with a little upland hunting on the side.

If you'll be doing a little of everything, then an all around shotgun, 24-26" barrel will do everything you need. I highly recommend the Benelli Supernova for an all around scattergun. The Rem 870 would be my second choice, with the Mossberg 500 a distant 3rd.

If you'll be specialized into one more than the others, then get an appropriate firearm for that purpose. You mentioned that turkey will be your primary use, with a little of a lot of things on the side. An ideal turkey gun, in general, is a pretty specialized model, with adaptations that make it less-than-ideal for wingshooting. Skeet guns are specialized, trap guns are specialized, waterfowling guns are specialized, and upland guns are specialized.

If you're talking about competitive level shooting in either trap or skeet, then don't even consider anything but the ideal weapon for those sports. Casual shooters playing trap, clays, or skeet games for fun can get away with it, but if you want to compete, get the right kit - you can't drive a minivan at the Indy 500.

Spare barrels are a good option, but watch your prices. You generally have to buy used spare barrels to really save money. In plain terms, the difference between owning TWO Rem 870's versus one with two barrels might be within $100. I'd be confident that you could buy two used Rem 870's for cheaper than a New 870 and a New spare barrel.

So you have to make your pick for whether you want a master of all that's a master of none, or a model that might be perfect for your primary use, but could still occasionally do the others well enough for government work.

nothing wrong with an 870, but if price isnt an object id look hard at benelli. Buddy of mine has a super black eagle that i love, if i ever run across a deal on one its my next shotgun.

There is no "do all" shotgun. A pump, whether a Remington 870 series or a Mossberg 500 is a good start. If you end up liking shotguns like I do it will become an addiction. You have been warned. Buy another gun cabinet/safe. There are so many wonderful shotgun brands and models out there. . . . .I have nearly every action type, and several of some. Beware of side by side guns, they are one of the most addicting.