What Shotgun would you suggest?

[Jon707]

I went to my local gun store to shop for a shotgun iam looking for something for pheasant and clays maybe some smaller birds i want to keep it down around 450-500 what do ya think?

[BILLY D.]

Jon

Just my personal opinion, but I favor the remington 870. Why? Versitility. The barrel selection is great, full rifling for slugs, they have Turkey barrels and all the standard barrels also. Barrel replacements are easy.

You can beat the heck out of the gun and it will still function. My Son proved this point. He's the only one I know that could abuse a crow bar and break it.

No they aren't as pretty as a Krieghoff or handle like a Perazzi (SP)
but as a working gun they can't be beat. Like I said you can hunt a whole lot of game with ONE gun.

As to your pistol choices I'd go Ruger 357 or a N frame Smith, preferably a M-27 with 4" barrel. There is a company in Illinois that will convert either brand to utilize Moonclips for fast reloading.

The only thing bad about the Smith, m-27, is they are heavy, but there bullet proof, no pun intended. Rugers are tough also and there is a vast selection out there in Security Sixes, Police Six in older models and the Gp Models. I like revolvers because if it doesn't fire you can keep pulling the trigger till it does. I don't like having to cock a slide or even worse drop a mag to clear a jam. Murphy is not our friend.

Best wishes, Bill

[Ruddyduck]

I don't know how the firearm market is in the Socialist State of Kalifornia is. Anyplace else I wuld suggest looking around for a used Remington 1100 or Browning Silver or Gold. An 1100 with a bit of effort can be had in like new condition in the $400 and under range. I found one that had maybe a box of shells thru it for $365. Browning will being in the $500 -550 range.
Pumps are common and a good value if you put in the effort to become accustomed to them. Remington 870 Wingmaster (not the Express) and Browning BPS ,Ithica M 37 are all good choices.
Maybe not the best for clay shooting (skeet & sporting) but they get the job done (Ohio St. Sptg was won 2 years running by a person shooting a Model 12 years ago) and are stellar performers in the field.

[Lilred]

I second ...er thrid...the 870 Wingmaster. In my experience they are the best bang fer yer buck and they do right good w/ bukshot too if the need arises.

[Dan Morris]

Gonna go with the 870, good quality economical and ...for me..
shoot good.
Dan

[Gil Martin]

I would recommend shopping the used gun racks for various shotguns. The Remington 870 Wingmaster or 1100 are are fine guns and well under your budget parameters. I just bought a mint used Browning Citori 12 gauge for $550.00 and clocked a lot of birds this season. So it depnds what you prefer, handles well and can afford. All the best...
Gil

[fabsroman]

First, you need to let us know what type of gun you are looking for. Are you looking for an auto, pump, or o/u. That is how I usually start my search. For about a decade, all I shot for hunting was a Browning BPS pump. Didn't shoot many clays back then and most of my hunting was on doves and pheasants. The gun worked just fine. Then I started waterfowling and couldn't hit anything on the second and third shots unless I had a ton of time inbetween shots. Didn't know why this was such a problem because I had no problem with doubles on the skeet field while shooting my o/u. Then, I took the o/u waterfowling and had no trouble with doubles. Last test was to take the pump to shoot skeet. I was always trying to catch up on the second bird on doubles. Conclusion, the pump just wasn't for me after spending a lot of time shooting an o/u at clays. Then the light bulb went off. What about an auto? I had stayed away from autos for quite some time because I hated my dad's Browning Auto-5, but then I shot a friend's Benelli SBE and thought it was a pretty nice gun. Did some research on the different 3.5" 12 gauges out there and finally decided to cough up the dough for a Benelli SBE. I've been using that gun for almost all my hunting over the last 10 years, and that includes using it as a slug gun.

If you want a pump, I would recommend the Remington 870.

If you want an auto, I think Stoeger and Franchi might make something in the $500 range that you can pick up brand new. Both Stoeger and Franchi, as well as Benelli, are owned by Beretta now.

If you want an o/u for around $500, I would recommend a Stoeger. Not the best o/u in the world, but something that will work for several years if you take care of it.

In the end, each type of gun has its advantages and drawbacks. O/U's never jam, but they only have two shells and they are tough to load in a pit blind or where space is cramped.

Autos sometimes jam and they are longer than o/u's, but they have 3 shells and they are easier to load in tight spots.

Pumps rarely ever jam, they have 3 shells, and they are easy to load in tight spots. I just cannot shoot one for the life of me unless it is only for a single shot, or the follow ups give me plenty of time.

[skeet]

If a pump get an 870..express for 275 tops. find a good used 1100 for that much or even better an 11-87 with screw chokes etc. If you could spend a bit more a good used 390 or 391 Beretta. I do not recommend an O/U in the field....except for very experienced(read older) hunters who do not worry about shooting every bird. I can use most any but I recommend an auto for most people..especially women. My uncle used a really nice O/U hunting and he was always worried about scratching it up...and he was always frustrated when he only had 2 shots on the large tolls of snow geese I used to get him into. Have a toll of a thousand birds and he could only shoot 2 times. I always wanted my 10 shot extension on my 1100 or 11-87

[fabsroman]

I agree about the o/u. They might be okay for upland, but I definitely wouldn't want to use one in the waterfowl blind. I used my 682 for a couple days of hunting, and it just wasn't worth the worry of not scratching it. Same goes for both my Teknys's, which are autos, but I still worried about scratching them. So, the Benelli SBE with the synthetic stock is what I normally use for all my hunting. I don't care one bit if that thing gets knocked around, dropped in the mud, or even stepped on. All of that has happened and it still shoots and looks fine.

[BILLY D.]

Hey skeet

You ought to see my Grandpas Win Model 12. It's hunted every year since 1939. It's almost in the white but it's still sound. I have replaced a few parts in it, just because they were worn. Nothing has ever broken in it. The only thing I don't like about it is it has the Weaver Screw on Chokes. Man them suckers are loud, almost like a Cutts.

I take a few Pheasants every year and bring it home and clean it up and back in the cabinet it goes. Then I use my Citori Steel, or my Falconet or my Remmy or my MAS SXS or my Marlin 120.

Now if you want a gun "broken" in properly let afore mentioned Son take it hunting.

Ya know I sent him out in the backyard to take down a tree that was sick. Didn't hear any noise so I went out to see what was happening. Well the tree was down and I asked Son how he did it with out any noise from the chainsaw. I askied how he started the motor. He looked up and said "motor"? This kid is a horse. He has all the finesse and grace of a Nuclear bomb.

One day I was in the blind with my Lab Beau, and left my gun against the wall and he peed on it. my twq partners were just howling laughter after that. I guess it was payback for missing a couple of shots earlier.


Best wishes, Bill

[GoodOlBoy]

Mossberg field model 500. Runs around $220 at wally world. Something to consider.

I love mine.

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

If'n my dog peed on my M-12 he woulda got to trot home back of the truck on a short leash. An I don't care how many shots I missed.. Heck, even a no account dawg should know better than to pee on a Winchester...well a pre 64 Winchester anyway!!

[gun_nut2]

In that price range go with the Remington 870. Own 3 of em very dependable, but if can afford more go with a used Winchester model 12 or a Remington model 31. They are the best of the best.

[Catfish]

If your wanting new production my 1st. choice would be an 870 Express, and 2 nd. a model 500 Mossburg. The 500 weights less, but I think the 870 is far better build, not that the 500 would not last your life time of hunting. The 870 Wing Masters are alot sweeter, but cost alot more and do the same thing. At 1 time I had a 500 20 ga. and it was a great little rabbit gun. I now have 3 870`s, 2 -12 ga`s. and a 20 ga. My personal favorite is the old Win. mod. 12. I have a dozen of them, but I`m an old guy and the kids have been gone for several years.

[Rapier]

Catfish,
Hey buddy, let me send you my address so you can add me to your will. I would like a nice 20 ga Skeet gun with a vent rib, please.

Would it be asking too much for feather crotch wood?
Ed