First time shotgun

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Italian_Marksman94

New member
Hey, im saving up money for some type of fire arms, wether it be a handgun, rifle, or shotgun I do not know yet but ive asked around about pistols and rifles but now its time for me to ask you about some nice begineer shotguns, I was thinking a nice Mossberg 500 but then I saw Ithaca, they were pretty cheap and looked cool, kinda have a old school look to them, anyways out of the two which would be best for deer and home defense? Thanks in advance, Italian Marksman.
 
neither, your best choice would be a remington 870. That is just my opinon but the 870 is smoother and really accurate. The 870 also has screw in chokes. correct me iof i am wrong but the mossberg doesnt have that. in my experience, the remingtons shoot better than mossbergs but they are both good guns.
 
Wow, flamewar started in one post.

In real life though, each of those three has saved lots of lives, and you'll be perfectly equipped with any of them, so get whichever fits you best. That's a lot more important than whose name is on the side.
 
yep, get which ever one fits.

I have a mossberg 500 and absolutely love it. its a great shotgun and it super reliable. 870 is a respectable shotgun, but the safety and bolt release are in awkward positions. on the mossberg you can operate both without taking your hand off the grip. i would rather have my mossberg, but obviously its just a matter of preference.

you cant really go wrong with a 500, 870, or a ithaca 37. again, all three work very well, it really is just a matter of which one you want.


edit- yes, the mossberg has screw in chokes available, you just have to have the right barrel. there are many combination available, some have chokes, some don't. mine does.
 
I don't know you state's game laws, will you be after deer with buck shot or slugs and in what kind of environment? It makes a difference in the shotgun you select.
 
Kind of like buying socks for a stranger, we don't know what you want to do with it or how each gun will work for you. Best is to try each and find out what you like. Try and find somebody who knows how to shoot and can tell you what you need to make a shot gun fit you for whatever you want it for.

My first was a 20 gauge pump and I put a low power scope on it for a turkey gun. It was pure dumb luck that it was a good gun and fit me like a glove and now I have 9 shotguns but that one or my Winchester slug gun with the rifle sights are my go to guns.

Depending on what I want I am covered from .410 to 10 gauge. I honestly can't call any of them bad or any of them best. The 20 gauge just happened to be what was on sale at the time and it turned out to be a good gun to learn shotgun shooting with before I went to 12 gauge. You really want to try a few out before you plunks down your money. What may be acceptable to me may not suit you at all.
 
If you find a nice Ithaca 37 buy it! They are better than an 870 in my opinion. They were used by the military in viet nam. They are hardy all steel guns that are better than any 870 express. They are not the most modern design, but neither is the 870 desined in the late 40s or early 50s. The Mossberg 500 are also good guns as are brownign BPS shotguns. In some ways a mossberg is a better design than the 870 but not always made of better materials. Even so, not a bad choice. The best choice for a first gun however is not a shotgun. I would suggest a good 22 repeater be it a pump, bolt or semi auto. Really, 3 or 4 guns would serve pretty much all your needs for the rest of your life. A .22 rifle, a 12 guage shotgun, a .357 or 44 mag revolver and a centerfire rifle only if you hunt big game. rc
 
My usual advice is to talk to family, friends and co-workers who shoot, and see if you can arrange to get some range time with them. Let them show you their shotguns and get some trigger time (you buy the ammo). Failing that, try to find a gun club or range with rental guns, and shoot them if you can. I think it's better to make up your mind based on your own experience rather than advice from a bunch of strangers.

fwiw,

lpl
 
I was at a Wal Mart in Mt. Vernon Ohio last night, and saw the Rem 870's for $287!! Either black synthetic or the synthetic wood was available and both were the same price.
26" barrells. I damn near just bought one, I thought that was a great price.
 
I've heard only good things about an Ithaca, never had one tho.
Sounds as if a combo would suit you best, an 18 1/2 inch for HD and a 28 inch for hunting.
 
I had a Mossberg 590 (traded it in yesterday for a 590A1), and it was great for home defense, but the 590A1's even better :cool: If you plan on doing more hunting than HD (hope so :rolleyes:) get either a mossberg 500 or a remington 870. Both guns are great, it's like ford vs. chevy (err, maybe honda vs. toyota will be a better comparison...)

I think wither the 870 or a 500 will suit you just fine, but the number 1 rule is go out and find the one YOU like. I just so happen to love the 590A1 - and if it's good enough for the "big red one", it's good enough for me.
 
I was at a Wal Mart in Mt. Vernon Ohio last night, and saw the Rem 870's for $287!!
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I wish a Wally World near me carried guns of any type.I miss the old days of Kmart having them way back when i was younger.

I just picked up my 500SPX and haven't shot it yet,but i only expect perfect results.Comes with amazing sights for a shotgun thats for sure.
Also 500's can swap barrels in 30 seconds by turning the screw on the end of the tube,so you can hunt with a long rifled barrel and put on a short 18" for home defense.

Of course i know much less about the 870,but i know its a great gun.
A Mossberg Mossberg 930SPX would be close to a dream gun for me.

Koolness factor goes to the Stoeger coach guns,so short and sweet.

BTW target ammo for shotguns is about as cheap as buying 9mm,i picked up 50 rounds of 6 shot target ammo for $10 at Dicks.But Walmart is about that cheap also.I never figured it would be this way but my shotgun may get the most range time right behind my .22 once i pick it up after selling my old one and putting a new M&P 15-22 in layaway.
 
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OK

You really can't go wrong with any of the options that you have mentioned.
Me....I would (and did when I had a similar choice years ago) opt for the Ithaca 37. In fact, if I had the option of a used Ithaca and a new 870 or Mossberg for the same money, I'd opt for the Ithaca. It's not that I dislike the 870 or the Mossberg; it's that I like the Ithaca that much more.
Pete
 
I think Im getting a Ithaca 37 in 26" then get a HD barrel later on, I really like there looks and Ive heard of the smoothness they all have, plus not to start a flame war but I find Remington and Mossberg alittle cliche, everyone has one practicaly so I figured why not get something a bit different too.
 
Complete with poll. Read replies to see the specific models some suggest
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390178

I suggest the Mossberg 500, although fit is important. If you have no shotgun experience you will almost certainly prefer the controls of a mossberg over remington.
DOn't underestimate how nice it is to have the same shotgun as everyone else. Parts in every gun store, used stocks abound, etc.
Ithaca's are nice though.
You can buy a different stock and adjust LOP down the line.
 
If you find a nice Ithaca 37 buy it! They are better than an 870 in my opinion.
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In fact, if I had the option of a used Ithaca and a new 870 or Mossberg for the same money, I'd opt for the Ithaca.
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I think Im getting a Ithaca 37 in 26" then get a HD barrel later on, I really like there looks and Ive heard of the smoothness they all have, plus not to start a flame war but I find Remington and Mossberg alittle cliche, everyone has one practicaly so I figured why not get something a bit different too.
Click to expand...

+1's to all!! LOL..

Needless to say, I'm a big Ithaca fan. I have a 37 20ga featherlite (first shotgun), 2 37 12ga's, and a Parked 87 DS Police (8shot/3").
Nice simple design, they always function smoothly, they feel right to me, they have bottom ejectors, they are a little more unique, etc.
I put so many thousands of rounds through the 1948 20ga, I couldn't even guess at a round count. Only problem I ever had was a broken carrier and I KNOW it was my fault. I beat the gun senseless, (strapped it to the handlebars of my dirtbike, dropped it in the mud, never cleaned it.... :eek:)
Ithaca sent me a new carrier for like $5 shipped and I was back in business in 5mins.
Don't get me wrong, I like Mossbergs and Remingtons. I have a Moss 500, used to have an 870 and have shot many....BUT, my personal preference is with Ithacas. Purely personal. :)
 
I own a Mossberg 500 and love it. You have to understand WHAT you are getting though when you purchase a Mossberg. It's a relatively inexpensive gun...............for a reason. It's a loose shotgun. Meaning the parts fit loose. That, for some people, will discourage them from that purchase, but you also have less risk of it jamming. All in all, it's a great gun for the money and it has a large capacity for home defense. It would be a good choice.
 
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