Semi or Pump??
 

Which does everyone prefer semi or pump? I currently have a Rem. 870 SPS-T but getting either a 870 or 11-87 in thumbhole stock just trying to decide which I should get HELP ME MAKE MY MIND UP ;)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

i hunt with an 870 express mag turkey gun with a 21 inch barrel. when i find the stock i want in camo itll be a collapsable m4 style camoed pistol grip stock. i think that will make the ultimate turkey gun. remington came out with one...mossberg makes the stock i want. i contacted Advanced Technology stocks and they said they will make their black model in camo soon...that was a long time ago..hopefully they come out with it sooner or later. i never seen the need for a semi in the turkey woods. if you do your part and wait for the shot your only going to need one shot. if your blazing at them with a semi(like im seeing more of on TV) your going to do more wounding then killing. i come from the school of 1 shot 1 kill and waiting for the perfect shot opprotunity. i was taught to hunt with single shots. my deer rifle dad made me only load 1 round in and only gave me 5 total. said if i couldnt get my tags filled with 5 shells i was SOL. so i guess its kinda...engrained in me to make that first shot count..but thats how it should be.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I currently own a pump gun (Win 1300), but if I had to do it all over again, I would go to a semi-auto instead. You can't beat the second shot capability of a semi-auto VS a pump gun. There's nothing to disrupt your sight picture, just squeeze the trigger a second time. Semi-auto's do weigh more than a pump, and that's one thing to take into account,as well asthe price difference as well. Personally, I like the Winchester X2 in a semi-auto, being that I'm a Winchester fan myself.;)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Bow!

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Pump gun. Never saw the need for a semi. I have one of the original 870 Express guns. I'm not fond of the 28 inch barrel, but it gets the job done. I'd like to get ashorter barrel some day, but since I added the camo stock and R3 recoil pad, I LOVE that gun :)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I like a pump for one reason... SAFETY!!!!! After I shoot a Gobbler and I get a little excited and for get to put on my safety... My gun is still safe because there is no live shell in the gun...

I ran up on a Gobbler with my 11-87 once and forgot to put on the safety. I was a little scared when I relized what happened[:o]

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

a 3 inch magnum turkey load in my 1300 cycles another round in just from the recoil. You can't help but be almost ready with another one in a fraction of a second. Given that why would I want more weight to carry. Pump for me.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Tough question there!

Real answer? Whatever you prefer.

I've been shooting autos for years (11-87, 1100, Win S X-2) but just recently purchased the Rem870 Thumbhole tactical yo-mamma turkey gun.

Why? cause I thought I would try out a pump. Thats all.

OK - I'll open the can of worms - does that pump really put you at a disadvantage over the semi for the follow-up shot?.............we'll first off, I'm with the guy on this thread that said I'm a single sot sort of guy. WE ALL SHOULD STRIVE TO BE THIS WAY. However, having said that, sometimes you need a 2nd shot, The semi-guys will tell you they can get that shot off faster, and the dudes that have been shooting pumps all thier lives say, yea, I agree, but you should see how fast I can get that second shot with the pump if I really want to. Which jams more often? I'm not going to touch that one, if you take care of your equipment you'll experience fewer jams but any shotgunner that tells you he NEVER had a jam is, well, you know.....

So, I just gave a big hot wind of opinion but you asked.

When it comes down to it, semi or pump in the turkey woods, we are shootin the gunlike a rifle, make sure you determine your point of impact, practice with a few different chokes and loads and when you get confidence with this at 30-40 yards it won't matter whether your shooting a pump or a semi cause he is going down on the first shot!

Good luck!

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I agree, honestly you probably won't get a second shot off anyway unless you handle recoil very well. I started with a mossberg bantam pump and 3 inch mags. It worked pretty well and the ported barrel helped with muzzle jump with real heavy loads. Didn't do anything for light loads though.

I eventually traded that and some other guns in to get a dedicated slug gun. Then I bought a H&R pump that I was going to use as my turkey gun. After getting that gun though I decided I wanted a semi just for giggles, I had never owned one. I ended up getting a used A-5 stalker light in 12 ga with a 21 inch barrel for a very good price. This will be my new turkey gun for now. Even though it only shoots 2 3/4 loads. The new Fiochi high speed pheasant loads are very impressive and I think that is what I will use along with an extra full choke.

I'm not using the A-5 because it's an auto, I'm using it because it fits me well, it's rugged and I like it.

I may get a 10 ga turkey barrel for my H&R ultra slug gun though.

I laughed when I read about racking another shell from the recoil. I actually did that with my buddies 3.5 inch remington. It kicked so hard I ejected the shell and half way racked another into the chamber.:D

Paul

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I love my 12 gauge automatic. I tried out a pump and never liked it. My auto is lighter then the Pump. i don't really know how you guys say you cant get a second shot off in the woods.. Its not that hard. Just my .02

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I have a pumper, less weight to tote in and out, and deadly within my comfortable range with it. It has rifle style Hi-Viz fiber optic sights, and an Undertaker choke, how much more could I need?

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Same here!

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I like my old bolt action 12ga.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I use a pump considering semi-automatics and automatics are illegal in PA.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Tell me, what does a semi-auto VS a pump have to do withsafety?
If you "forget" to put on the gun's safety, it doesn't matter what gun you have???? Also safe gun handling pertains to every gun, not just pumps?[:-]

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

C'mon Maytom, think about it?:)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Bowhunter46,

Better take another look at the regs there in PA.

You cannot use semi-automatic (and certainly not full-auto!)rifles or pistols forbut you are able to use a semi-auto shotguns last time I checked.

You do read the regs don't you?

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Pennsylvania Deer
SearchPennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency HomePrintable VersioneMail

Arms and Ammunition
General Statewide Seasons:(1) Manually operated center-fire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all-lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact;
Unlawful Sporting Arms: Automatic and semi-automatic rifles and handguns; and air or gas-operated rifles and handguns.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Better go back and read the first post!! He stated what do you "like better", a pump or a semi-auto!!
I live and hunt in NY, so what doI care what the regs are in PA?;)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Tell me, what does a semi-auto VS a pump have to do withsafety?
If you "forget" to put on the gun's safety, it doesn't matter what gun you have???? Also safe gun handling pertains to every gun, not just pumps?[:-]

This isWhat I was referring to!Does your Pump chamber a round in the chamber after you fire? Do you need to put the safety on or do you consider the other two in the tube unsafe?

I can see putting the safety on when firing a Semi, but not a pump, unless you chamber another!

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Not to get into a pi$$ing contest here, but you should always put your safety on after taking the shot and getting up to walk up to your bird.
At 52 years old, I know gun safety!!! Be it with a pump, single shot, semi-auto or what ever else gun you shoot. Bottom line, I like semi-auto's as well as pumps, and it's "MY"opinion that "I" like the Semi-Autos better for the very reasons I stated above. So, the fact that you or others don't, I could care less.;)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Anyone walking around me after a Shot, better have their Chambers opened or their doubles Broke Opened!

You quote that you are 52yrs old, youcould be my son!:)I started killing turkeys (Osceolas) in 1951 with a Winchester Mod.12/20ga Modified and did it untill 1967 when I switched to a BRN A-5 12ga Modified and in 1999 I swithched to Moss 835 12ga/ Turkey Full.

Maytom, like you say, Icould care less what you or others do:)

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

yeah i do read the regs.

I just over-looked the fact that it was only for rifles and handguns

sorry

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

Gosh BH46, I posted it for you! Am I reading the first part wrong?:)The way I read it is: Shotguns (Pump), No Buck Shot and No Full Metal Jackets for Rifles and hand Guns.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I believe that semi-autos are legal in PA, but you have to have the magazine plugged for three shots.
When will you guys be able to hunt on Sundays????

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

what wrong with the one you have ? that will take turkey fine with the right shell, choke, barrel combo. you really get only one good shot at a standing turkey. any shot after that.... well thats all luck, not wether you have a auto ,or a pump, or a single shot. I belive the sales hype with all theese new guns on the market makes us buy guns we dont really need. and keeps us from practiceing and getting proficient with one and sticking to it.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

300 ums,

I have a single shot, a pump, and an auto. I started with a single, went to a pump, then an auto. Now after several years, I'm back to a single shot. Just my preference, maybe going back for old times sake, I don't know. There's pros' and cons' to all.

I may regret going to a single, this season will tell. However, I have never taken a second shot at a turkey.

dog1

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

semi, beretta max-4 pintail 3''

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

It really doesen't have anything to do with gun safty...

I cant speak for every one. But I tend to get a little excited when I shoot a Longbeard... And after me forgetting once I thought that it would be a good idea to switch to a pump...

MT I hope that I can be as safe as you are when handling a firearm from now on!!! YMH

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I would say pump. How often are you going to need to shoot multiple times while turkey hunting? I have the Remington 870 SPS-T with the thumbhole and love how comfortable it feels in my hands!

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

ive had a pump mossberg 12 guage for a while. it works nicley on the turkeys but im gona need a new gun because its sights are broke ( has the rail thing on it and its rattley and moves to much to use the sights) so if i cant get it fixed Im looking at a new 12 guage. this time an auto loader. ive handeled a few auto loaders and they are light. the fore grip stocks dont look like they would get to ratteling like the gun i have now. I like the winchester sx3 but they are expencive so i might get a nother mossberg.

RE: Semi or Pump??
 

I use a 12g pump its nice[8D]