First shotgun?

Read ENTIRE first post, then, which Shotgun would you choose?

  • Pump - 12ga

    Votes: 85 62.0%

  • Pump -20 ga

    Votes: 15 10.9%

  • Pump - other ga

    Votes: 1 0.7%

  • semi - 12 ga

    Votes: 22 16.1%

  • Semi - 20 ga

    Votes: 2 1.5%

  • Semi - other ga

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Single - 12 ga

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Single - 20 ga

    Votes: 2 1.5%

  • Single - Other ga

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Double - 12 ga

    Votes: 10 7.3%

  • Double - 20 ga

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Double - Other ga

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    137
I have only one shotgun (well, a pair of only one shotgun), two Winchester 1897s, solid frame, full choke. Nobody knows just how many thousands of ducks those guns have taken from the 1920s to today. I mean it...thousands. The limits way back in the day in North Dakota were crazy high.

Definitely not my recommendation, though. I'm just saying what I've got. I can't disagree with anything that's been said above.
 
Double

12 GA. for versatility.
2 barrels, instant choice of chokes.
O/U or SXS whichever floats your boat.
Esp. for that first gun it's hard to beat a double, maybe not so much if you are not a hunter. The versatility and safety of a good double gun is hard to beat in the field.
And make sure it fits!! Just having a smith correct the LOP makes all the difference in the world 50 bucks or so very well spent.
 
first shotgun

My first was a h&r toper single shot in .410. Kicks like a mule and is a poor choice for a first shotgun imo. The 16 guage guns I own kick harder than the 12 guages in like models. My favorite is the Ithica 37 12 guage. Verry well built shotgun and bottom eject works well for right or left handed shooters.:cool:
 
Hello
My first purchase was a 1975 Boito SxS 12 ga. Had that shotgun for over 30 years. Used it for hunting small game some skeet and some turkey shoots. It performed well. I sold it a few years ago picked up a Stoger uplander combo 12/20 ga. I like it as well.
Dave
 
Remember, with 7/8 oz loads a 12ga is balistically the same as a 20ga.

With 1 oz loads a 12 ga is the same as a 16ga ....

and you can even load a 12ga down to 3/4 oz / and with loads down to 1150 fps - and the extra weight of a 12ga gun usually - the 12ga is a very soft recoil option. That's why the 12ga is the most versatile option.
 
For someone who has a very little experience with guns or no experience at all, i would advice him to get a Simple Saiga. Its cheap and reliable, and can take much "misusing" and hard treating.

Specially for kids or young shooters, i believe that a Saiga is the better choice.

Maybe the 12ga seems too strong, but i believe its better to learn using the strong caliber in the beginning.
 
Looks count in shotguns

Many shotguns exhibit beauty and grace, much more so than many other guns.

A Saiga? Not so much:barf:
 
Started with a Beretta Silver Pigeon III 20ga and within three months sold it (What a bruiser!) to buy shells. Went to a Beretta 391 semi-auto with a recoil system. Still feel that the 391 is a great gun for a beginner with VERY LITTLE recoil. Also great for folding up some pheasants.

Good shooting to you-
Christian Parker
www.claysportsonline.com
 
I bought my 870 wingmaster, 30" barrel, full choke in 1974 at Kmart for $289. Just picked it up after 25 years of it waiting for me. Started shooting 16 yard and doubles. Can't figure out why I let the years slip away without shooting. I sure am loving it now though! I'm trying to over come operator error while having fun.

Any info/experiences with the 870 you folks could offer would sure help my learning curve!

What loads do you like, what favorite load receipes, what changes have you made to accomadate you shooting style/body/build?
 
first i would recommend a pump shotgun because it takes a conscious effort to use. with a single shot or double barrel the shell is in the chamber, you can keep a pump loaded with an empty chamber. semi autos are fine also but with a pump it takes a conscious effort to chamber another round.

i would also recomend a 12 ga mossberg pump. you can get buy a combo package with includes a short deer/defense barrel and a longer hunting barrel. some other makers may also have these accessory barrels. a combination like that will allow you to do many things for many years.
 
My wife just went through this. She/we have settled on a 20ga pump (870, in her case) as the least intimidating, easiest to learn on, and most fun to shoot.
 
I started with a H&R 20 ga. break open which was great for rabbit and squirrels. It was stolen from me years ago. My next was, and still is, a Mossberg 590. I love my 590, very simple disassembly for cleaning and never a problem of any sort after THOUSANDS of rounds, but,,, if you get one you'd better love the barrel that it comes with because that is what you've got.

For a new shooter I would recommend a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500. Both are available with a field / defense barrel combo and have many, many aftermarket barrel and accessory optons making them both not perfect for but suitable for any purpose. The only advantage the 500 has is that is has passed the 3443 MIL-SPEC standards for reliability and functionality but this isn't as important to some as to others.

I feel that 12 ga. is the most versatile but some shooters of smaller stature are better served by a 20 ga.. The felt recoil is lower vs. the power you get, I think it is 75% of the power of a 12 ga. and 66% of the recoil when comparing full power rounds, but I could be wrong. The length of pull is shorter as well as the distance to the forend, which helps correctly fit the weapon to these shooters and prevents over balancing resulting from compenstating for bad shooting stance.
 
My first shotgun was a Benelli Nova. I have owned other pump shotguns including Mossberg, Remington, and a Browning, but I still grab my Benelli when I want to go bird hunting. It has never given me an ounce of trouble. The Browning was a close second, I just like the sights better on my benelli.
 
I see 16 ga.. mentioned here for a beginer and thought it would not be my choice. Trying to find shells would be a real pain. A 12 ga. out in the swamp or field and a $20 bill you can find someone with some extra shells. my choices would be. 12 gauge because of variety and price of shells.
1. 870
2. 11-87
3. O/U
Just my choices.
 
If 12 gauge was not the standard I think i personally would prefer to shoot 16 gauge or even 20, but the reality for me is 12 ga is the standards. More loads available, and as others have mentioned, out in the field you reach in to your pocket and don't find any shells you can look to the guy down the line and know there is a 90%+ chance he has 12 ga on him.
 
Started with a semi 12 because it was given to me. If starting myself, would go 12 ga pump. You get lots of gun for your money in something like that.
 
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