rbduck

PB, I have been using 870`s for 35 years and have never have a problem with them. Now I use an 870Express which I have had for 10 years. With the 28"bbl,3"chamber, and all the chokes, it pretty well covers all my waterfowl needs here in Manitoba. You can`t go wrong with one.

Ron<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Let em land!

seadog

I agree with duck , 870 is hard to beat on reliablity, have hunted with the same one for the past 25 years, with no maintenance to the gun other than the once a year cleaning b4 hunting season. It actually saved my life once.

skeeter 7MM

PB, the 870 is a good pump and it won't bust the bank. The other thing is since everybody has gone hawg wild on 3 1/2 inchers, their are some great deals to be had on 3&quot; used right now. Private deal my buddy picked up a Browning pump 1000 gun for 300 bucks in showroom condition, why b/c the guy figured he needed to shoot 3 1/2 shells....hog wash I say. Sure the 3 1/2 with steel is nice, but definitely not essential IMO. Just like any other weapon know your effect range and go to town.

I have a 1300 (35 years old) only a 2 3/4 chamber and have no problems pulling them down over dekes. In fact it is my fav. deke gun & a family tradition.

I wouldn't be afraid of starting off with a 3&quot; and it probably will save you some money too. Just a thought.

Briman

Go for a 870 express, Wingmaster is well worth the extra $150 or so if you pony up the cash, or a Browning BPS. You cannot possibly go wrong with any of these shotguns. 3 1/2&quot; magnums don't give much of an advantage, if you are shooting far enough to need these shells, you are shooting at birds too far away and wasting money. Regardless of what others say, you don't ned this, I've taken alot of the Giant subspecies of Canadian honkers with 2 3/4&quot; shells, before I finally got myself a 3&quot; magnum. If you are going to use it for turkey hunting, then 3 1/2's have a definate place. The only disadvantage I could possibly find to buying a BPS is that if you ever want to buy a slug barrel, they run well over $200 while slug barrels for 870's are a dime a dozen. I doubt this would be an issue for you though since you seem to have a nice 7mm to hunt with already.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

Chipola Creek

Sounds like no one is using doubles for geese or ducks...what's the reason?

Heaven is best viewed from a deer stand at sunrise in the forest