first shotgun

Bruce Buck, AKA The Technoid, ahs soem advice that's cogent here.

Get a name brand gas gun.

Have it fitted to you.

Shoot it for at least a year.

At that point, you'll have an idea of what works for you and proceed accordingly.

In your shoes, try an 1100 with wood furniture,easier to get fitted.

While the Berettas may last longer, do seals and springs on an 1100 and it will last long enough....
 
And in talking with Bruce - he loves his 391 Urika2 - to the point he is working on shooting it without cleaning until it fails - since he logs every shot he takes with every gun, he told me last week he has well over 10,000 through the 391 with ZERO maintenance - now to add - he has had some after market parts installed to help clean the piston area - but Dave's mentioning about shooting a gun for a year is sage - no matter the gun
 
Not really - the Stoeger of days gone by (as in decades and decades), is not the same as the named company of today. While owned by Beretta, and there are some similarities in certain models, the quality is not the same - hence the cheap price point
 
went over to Army/Navy store nearby to check out what they had used, per your suggestions. Found some I really liked.

Browning A5 26" $600. This gun actually had the best fit and feel of all that I tried. Nice looking, but the action looked a little funky. Anyone know about these guns?
Remington 1187 28" $575. I also really liked the fit and feel of this gun.
Remington 1100 28" $600. Meh, this one felt OK, but not as good as the 1187.
Winchester SX3 NEW $960. I wanted to try a couple of new guns I've never held before, and I liked this one a lot. Probably a bit more than I want to spend, but nice gun and I believe this is a pretty good deal.
Benelli SBE2 $?? Sweet, sweet gun. The used was about $1100 I think.

and...
Browning Citori O/U 20 gauge $850. I have to say I was tempted by this one.

Any thoughts on these guns? I like that this store offers 30 day complete money back on used guns and 1 year parts and labor.
 
BTW i realize the A5 is potentially an old gun. I didn't check the manufacture year, but this one was definitely at least a few decades old. So I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth buying a semi auto that old.
 
Of those I would buy the 1187. The Citori is probably a good buy also but if you are going to shoot clays as a beginner the 20 is going to be a handicap.

I shoot a Citori 12 for most clays. I have a benelli super sport in 20. A really nice gun but there is no way I can hit the long sporting clay shots with it that the Citori will get.
 
Remington semis (1187 & 1100) are good guns, if they haven't been abused or neglected. Both are probably $100 overpriced. I would look at the Citori 20 gauge again. Does it have choke tubes? Length of barrels? I have an older Citori 20 gauge with Invector tubes and 28" barrels, that is probably my favorite 20 gauge. Price sounds fair if the gun has choke tubes and hasn't been abused or neglected. Mark
 
The A5 is more of a collectable than a shooter. Not real versatile for shooting different kinds of shells. You change barrels instead of choke tubes. Could be a standard or a magnum. It's kind of like buying Model 12s or old Winchester lever actions. Don't want to get into that game if you don't know what you are doing. Mark
 
given that i'm new to shotguns, i'm not going to be able to tell how badly the guns have been abused. I can say that they looked pretty clean and the action and barrels looked pretty spotless. And the place seemed to have a decent warranty. I can buy the gun, put a few hundred shells through it and if I don't like it, can return it within a month

I think the citori was 26", but i didnt write it down. Neat gun, but yes the place I have gone I shoot sporting clays does throw some really tough 60 yard shots. Of course, I wouldn't be able to hit those with a stinger missile given how new I am., but why handicap myself with the 20 gauge.

I'm starting to think a used semi is the way to go. I'm taking a bit of a chance on it not being ideal, but if I can talk them down to $500 or so, I'm not taking a bath if it is a ****ty gun. It's less than I'd pay for a good quality new pump.

BTW the A5 was a nice looking gun, my favorite of all of them appearance-wise.
 
BTW I don't know how old the 11-87 was but given that the new ones fire 3.5" shells, can I assume an older one will as well?
 
You might want to check out your local gun shop and check out their used shotguns.

I bought a browning bps 12 ga. there for about 275 out the door and I've never had a jam in the thing. Its really reliable and can't say enough about it.
 
The 11-87 was introduced in 1987 as a semiauto that would shoot 3" shells, which the 1100 wouldn't (unless it was a magnum). The later 11-87s that would also shoot 3 1/2" shells had some issues, and I would steer clear of those. You should be able to get a clean 3" 1187 for around $500. Have them take the barrel off and look at the gas system, under the barrel. If it isn't all carboned up, you should be OK, given with their warranty. Mark
 
Well I'm probably be shot for this, But, The Stoeger M3500 I got new for $539 and is capable of cycling 7/8 oz loads in 2 3/4" all the way up to 3 1/2" SuperMags! It waighs 7 1/2 pounds and from most of the descussions I've read there has been very few issues! Its very versital, comes with 5 chokes including Extra Full Turkey Choke! If you add the included recoil reducer it adds 11oz's but at first leave it out, a scope mount (for the occasional slug)plus the reciever is already drilled for the mount! For what you are planing to use it for, it might fit your needs and is a simple 3 piece gun that breaks down easy for cleaning! Check on Y-Tube and search the differant guns your concidering and read the testimonials! I know the Stoeger is not an American gun, but neither are most Fords! aka Mazda! Dodge aka Mitzubishi! (some of them) Good Luck!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top