Bargain guns?

What it usually comes down to is gun-snobbery.
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Or reverse snobbery from folks who brag about how cheap they went. Whatever.....

A well-built gun that handles properly, and doesn't break doesn't have to cost the same as a 20,000 or even a 200,000 Holland and Holland, but doubles, especially SxS's cost to make well - but they still can be had in used condition for what a new cheap gun can cost

Aldo Gucci: "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory."
 
You can buy excellent quality for less than $300 if you buy used. Lots of old shotguns have spent considerably more time in gun cabinets than they have in the field. I recently bought a Remington Model 11 made in 1938 for $200. It was used but clearly never abused. This is a John Browing designed semi-automatic five-shot gun, manufactured by Remington using quality materials back in the day when guns were largely hand fitted during manufacturing.

This particular gun is roll-marked with a duck hunting scene on one side of the receiver and a pheasant hunting scene on the other. The stock and forearm are the original, beautiful, uncracked, checkered walnut.

Remington stopped making these guns in 1948 for one reason only - it had become too costly to manufacture them for what their middle-America market was able to pay in price. You can see the quality of this gun when you put it beside any moderately priced modern gun. It makes just about any of them look cheap.

At the present time, you can still find Model 11's like mine, or Remington Sportsman models, or Ithaca Model 37 pump guns for $300 or less. I doubt if this will always be the case though.

I have to admit that these older guns are generally not the most versatile guns on the market - unless you find one fitted with a poly choke, or fit one that way (but a polychoke on a classy old gun is an abomination to me). My 26" I/C barrel is ideal for upland game birds; not so great for geese and such but hey! It'll just have to do.
 
My 26" I/C barrel is ideal for upland game birds; not so great for geese and such but hey! It'll just have to do
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Now, you'll have to find another one for that!...."Honest honey, it's the LAST gun I'm gonna need, I swear!".....:D
 
I paid $178 at WallyWorld for my Moss 500. I have it loaded with 000 for home/zombie defense.
If i want to see "pretty" I pull out my Weatherby O/U.

Different tools for different jobs.
Nothing says "Get off my lawn" like the sound of a 12ga pump
 
Bargain Shotguns

I just bought a side-by-side 12 ga., 20 inch barrel. I've wanted a home-protection double barrel for a long time but could not afford a Fox. It is Chinese made, in the box with documents, fired 4 times. The wood is beautiful, checkered, and all milled parts (apparently). $200. Was it a bargain?
 
Price is an interesting debate ....

But you have to first break the conversation down by action style: Pumps, Semi-Autos, Over Unders and Side by Sides .....then it might mean something.

Pump guns: $ 150 - $ 800 new today. Are the less expensive guns dangerous - No. Will they break or have warranty issues - probably. Will some of the more expensive pump guns have issues - maybe. For me, the best pump gun on the market is Browning BPS hunter model retailing for around $ 500. But picking a gun is also about Fit - not just price. But when you go up in price - you will probably get more durable internal parts, better steel, better quality of machining, better quality chokes.... I have no need or use for a Tactical shotgun / but if I did want one - I'd go to Wilson Combat and order something or a Benelli M-4 (which is a semi-auto).

Semi-autos $ 300 - $ 2,000. Same issues. for me Benelli Super Sport is a good solid gun - retails new for about $ 1,875.

O/U's: $ 500 - $ 1,000 - guns with a lot of problems / $ 1,000 - $3,000 some good long term guns / $ 3k - $5K some upper end quality "Target" grade shotguns / $ 5K - $ 30 K some of the better guns made ( Kolar, Krieghoff, etc ). Personally, Browning XS Skeet with an adjustable comb / parallel comb is a very good overall gun, lots of adjustabilty to fit many shooters - listing for around
$ 3K today ( and its the gun I use for hunting birds, sporting clays and Skeet ).

SXS's same issues

Buy what Fits you first ( so it hits where you look ), buy the action type you like, buy what you can afford, buy what you think is a gun you will enjoy for many years - and you can't really go wrong.

I will also tell you my first shotgun was a 16ga bolt action / when I was about 8 yrs old .... My first "grown up" gun was a Browning BPS 12ga pump - and I used that gun for hunting and for Trap for many years - until I made the choice that I wanted a "long term - Target grade gun" and went to the Browning O/U's ......... so sometimes it takes a few years for things to settle out in your life ( high quality guns are expensive ..).
 
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But you have to first break the conversation down by action style
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Of course a glance at my OP will indicate that I specified "generally." The $300 to "Thousands" were as general as you can get. I did think this was a shotgun sub-forum, so all the other categories are beside the point.

I'll start over with the points in my OP.

1. Generally speaking...
2. Cheap shotguns...
3. House guns...
4. Safety...

Now I'll add this. I don't think a long shotgun fits my original reference to house gun, because they are unwieldy. Now my last point.

5. Are these cheap short shotguns that they make to look like they belong with a SWAT team (assumedly they are supposed to scare a BG to death) worth having?:confused:
 
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Are they worth having? Don't now as I've never been in a situation where a gun of that type would be needed.

With all the verbage we've had on shotguns you would think someone out there has first hand knowledge in using a home defense shotgun.

All the posts I've read are about the guns, black plastic stocks black non reflective finishes, laser sights, mounted lighting, extended magazines, and even a bayonet mounted.

Not one time where someone said he/she fought off the barbaric herds of evel doers with their trusty Red Ryder Carbine (you'll shoot your eye out!!).
 
Now I'll add this. I don't think a long shotgun fits my original reference to house gun, because they are unwieldy. Now my last point.

5. Are these cheap short shotguns that they make to look like they belong with a SWAT team (assumedly they are supposed to scare a BG to death) worth having?
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Long answer short - yes

From your original post, what "house guns" are you seeing for thousands of dollars? Typically, shotguns for home defense use tend to gravitate mostly to pump action guns. (When I first read your post, I was thinking house guns as in Sears, etc. branded guns from a major maker, not home defense per se)

Some folks also use semi's and coach guns for this purpose, but on this forum, the 870 and 500 seem to rule supreme.
 
Ok, so by " House Guns " --- you meant guns to use in " the house " ... the term most of us would use is Tactical ......so at least now we know what you are talking about.:(

But my point is still the same - you get what you pay for. The Rem 870 is a good tactical shotgun / so is the Benelli M-4 .....

http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/benelli_m4.php

If you really think you need a Tactical Shotgun - the M-4 would be my choice, retailing for around $ 1,500 .....
 
the term most of us would use is Tactical ......so at least now we know what you are talking about
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I am trying my best to get folks away from the term "tactical" as that is a verb IMHO... I prefer to class the shorter shot guns simply as "home defense shotguns"...:) Tactical sounds so ICKY:D
Brent
 
OK, just skimming the posts since my last one:

Nobody uses a shotgun to fight off hoards of BG's, so they are probably not worth having.

Home defense shotguns tend to be pump guns and they are worth having.

You should refer to home defense shotguns as Tactical, which puts you in the $1500 range.

Tactical isn't really the right word for facing BG's in your living room.

In my opinion some of the above have merit.

Thanks guys :D
 
You should refer to home defense shotguns as Tactical, which puts you in the $1500 range.
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More like the $500 range ;)

As to using a shotgun to fight off hordes of zombies? I don't live in that type of neighborhood, so - no, I don't personally. Maybe someone else can address zombies better.....:D

You SHOULD refer to guns used for HD, no matter the type as HD guns, then everyone IS clear.......:cool:
 
Come back again, glad we could help ........:D
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Don't laugh. One thing was made perfectly clear in this thread. As on every forum I've ever visited, there is no such thing as a consensus.:eek:
 
As one of the very few fans of pistol grip shotguns on here, I have to say my Pg mossberg was inexpensive and very handy. With a bit of practice, I'm happy to have a compact, powerful HD gun. My 2cents
 
Don't laugh. One thing was made perfectly clear in this thread. As on every forum I've ever visited, there is no such thing as a consensus
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If there was, they'd be no need for the forum! A little dissent now and then is a healthy thing.......:D
 
i just bought a brand new 870 exspress with 28in barrel and laminate stock for $300 otd

and the 870 is a work horse its a shotgun that i know i can pass down to my kids
 
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