I second Superpig's suggestion. I shoot 2¾" rifled slugs out of my 870 Wingmaster with an IC choke and can hit a pie plate out past 75 yards with a rest, and just a bit closer than that offhand.

I wasn't using a choke, I was useing a slug barrel that came with the gun as part of a combo. I tryed several types of non sabot slugs but never could get good accuracy. I hunted with a Ruger 454 casull last year instead . With that I was getting 2" groups at 50 yrd useing a scope. I'd like the same out of a shotgun. I looked at some today and may get a 11-87 Rem. in 3 1/2" this would make a good turkey gun and slug gun. I may also try out a new rifled slug barrel for my 870 and just use the new gun for turkey. Thanks for the advise. Jim

If you're shooting a rifled barrel, go with sabot slugs. Rifled slugs shoot horribly out of rifled barrels. Make sure whatever ammo you use is specifically designed for rifled barrels and I'm sure you'll get much better groups.

I would recommend the Remington 870 express magnum as well. this shotgun is my first gun ever and this is the only shotgun I have in my collection of guns.

Well, first off, what's your price range?

Second, is this a dedicated turkey/deer gun, or also upland bird/waterfowl?

You can buy a rifled barrel for your Remington gun from Ithaca, cost you approximately $125-150.

If you want to spend 350-600, look at Ithacas, Benellis, Berettas or the 1187SPS is a nice gun.

We also don't know if you have a scope, plan on getting a scope, and which type of scope you may/may not have.

If its just turks & deer, I would suggest at least a red-dot, if not a full optic scope.

I just setup an Ithaca Storm, with rifled slug and ported turkey barrels, topped with Tru-Glo fiber optic sights. Picked up the gun as a promotion from Ithaca for $500. However, I'm in my mid-30's and wanted to get a scope...the eyes are still 10-20 & 20-20, but my dusk vision is wandering. Hence, I just ordered a 3-9X40 Burris FFII with spotting scope ($190) from NatchezSS (on sale), with a B-square mount and Burris Sig Rings ($60 total). Total package ~$800 after the shipping and fees...

You can reach out to 150 yards with Sabots through a rifled barrel, hence my decision for a high mid-range $ optical scope.


Some more info would help...

My max price would be $1000.00. Just a reminder the slug barrell my gun came with was smooth bore.
The main use for this gun would most likely be for turkey. I would like to use it for deer also but I may just try getting a rifled slug barrel for my 870. I looked at super black eagles and the price of the slug barrell alone was $400.00 combined with the gun it was too steep. I would like to try a good semi auto gun. That's why I was looking into the 1187 rem. I also like using red dot scopes for a shotgun I think a red dot can't be beat. Jim

Jim,

Check around, and go to Ithaca's website. I'm pretty sure you can get a rifled slug barrel, from 22-26 inches for either an 870 or 1187, for about 125. That would be the cheapest and fastest solution, especially with season approaching fast...

This is totally against the grain, because I usually reccomend higher quality guns, bbbbbbbbbut,

three years ago when I was low on funds and going out west to shoot ducks and geese I picked up a Baikal MP153 semi auto. I have to say that on three one week trips to ND I never cleaned it, babied it, just fed it 12 boxes of steel and lead, We shot our limits of ducks, pheasants and some geese. I never had a problem with the gun in three years and it patterns great with stock chokes. I shot 10 rounds of sporting clays with it.

You can get a rifled choke from Colonial Arms www.colonialarms.com for it and shoot slugs with it also.

Takes 3.5" mags and shoots my sporting loads (adjustible spring at the gas port)

It's not a "refined" or even "OK" gun, it's the down and dirty keep on kick'n feed it crap and never look back gun.

Oh yea I paid $299 for it!

Good luck hunting this fall

Jim, I just picked up a Beretta Pintail Combo 12 ga last week from Gander Mountain for $549, but there only on sale til October 30. It's a inertia recoil semi, and worked flawlessly when I shot it last week using 2 3/4 target loads on clays, and then I switched to the rifled barrel and shot 3 inch magnum slugs thorugh it.

It comes with a 28 inch smooth bore field barrel with three choke tubes and a 24 inch rifled slug barrel. The change over is easy to do with no tools needed, and the gun is real easy to break down without tools. I've been in the market for a decent all around 12 gauge for several years now and believe I found the one shotgun that will work for my needs, which are similar to yours.

I've read that this shotgun is being discontinued, so maybe you'll still be able to find some decent deals on it in the future.

Good luck

I have to agree with Pauly completly.