All-around Shotgun
 

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?

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

Remington 870, all around shotgun.....

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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?

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

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?

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

I have a Mossberg 500 combo. Nothing wrong with it. For the money you can't beat it. Get a combo with a rifled slug barrel and a bird barrel that takes choke tubes and you're all set. Still have money left over to buy ammo and all the other stuff you'll need. You can get these for 250 -275 new.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

check out Ithaca's as well ....own one ( model 37 ) and it has to be one of the better made/quality pumps.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

You should at least look at the Mossberg. Mine has served me well, and was a really good deal ($189 new four years ago). Even though I've always been a Remington lover, I swear by Mossberg, and I've had a few. I even got good performance out of their old bolt guns as a kid. Some gun snobs might cringe, but you might also check out Charles Daly Field Hunter if you are set on a semi in the $400 range. My brother really likes his, and he's a die hard Remington lover as well. That Daly is one light and easy pointing shotgun.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

870 super mag synthetic, can handle 3 1/2 shells and the 2 3/4 as well and wont run you more than 500. u can use it for anything: upland game, waterfowl, turkey, and slugs as well but i think buckshot would work better with the smooth barrel (i dont know much about using shotguns on whitetail, nobody ever does it in texas)

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

For around $500.00 there are some great semi auto's out there. They are very reliable, have very good quality, and have a lot of fetures. Take a look at the Beretta's 390, 3901, ES100/Pintail, Franchi 612, and the Weatherby SAS.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

I wont be shooting buckshot, unless im mistaken, it is illegal in Wisconsin. So I am looking for somthing that I can get a rifled barrel for.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

For sure the 870, greatest all around shotgun and not to much money to pay...

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

mossberg 500 can't beat 'em for price or reliabilty

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

My dad borrowed a Winchester 1300 to use for opening weekend this year, good looking gun, smooth action and it seemed to fit me well. It had a smooth barrel on it with the vent rib sight on it and when i brough it to my shoulder it lined up perfectly. This is another one I will take a look at when i get a chance to head to the gunshop, what are your opinions on that gun?

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

Nothing wrong with the 870... But I see no reason not to go with the mossberg, save the money and put it towards a scope. I have both, and the only difference in my mind is that the turkey choke that came with my mossberg patterns significantly better than remingtons turkey choke... I had to buy an aftermarket choke for my 870 which ran me 30 bucks.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

I shoot with guys who have all four guns (Moss/Maverick 500, Rem 870, Moss 835, Win 1300) and I have shot all of them. The Win definately has the smoothest action and I felt it pointed well. I like the Rem, but not as smooth as the Win, good rep for reliablity and parts are easy to come by. Mossberg has them beat on price and reliability is good and improving, ergonomics of the gun are a big plus. The Moss feels a bit clunkyer in the hand. Whether or not you want to go with a gun that handles 3.5 inch shells is purely a matter of choice based on expected use. For me I went the 835 in matte black for 3.5# shell versitility and for the ergonomics. I think I could have been happy with either one. I make it a point not too shoot other guns too much so that I don't keep second guessing myself. However, when I do I realize how much I love the Moss saftey/release configuration.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

well... must not be too many browning fans out there??? I'd go with a browning bps 12 gague w/28" barrel. A Benelli Nova is a decent shotgun under 500... i also hear good things about the winchester 1300's but i have no experiance with them myself.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

Maybe try to find a 1100 Remington Auto some where.

RE: All-around Shotgun
 

Remington Model 870 is the gun for you. Pick up a new express for $220 or a used Wingmaster for a little more. Spend the rest on a rifled slug barrel. You'll never need another shotgun unless you really get into it and start collecting or keep different actions to choose from in your gun cabinet.

Although, my turkey gun is a Mossber 835..............