How's it goin guys, I know this is a typical boring first-post newb question, but I'd appreciate any opinions or help you guys have. Since this is my first post I'll describe myself a bit. I'm 16 years old and average sized for my age. I first shot a gun when I was maybe 12, but I've been getting a lot more interested and focused in the past year or 6 months. I've shot clays on about 5-6 different occassions, but rarely more than 50 rounds at a time and mostly with different guns. That being said, I'm looking for an all-around reliable and fun shotgun for clay shooting (mostly trap, some skeet and sporting clays). It's possible that one day the gun will be used for some pheasant hunting or something, but I'm not considering that at this point, I doubt I would use it for that. I did some research and decided on a pump action because of their affordability, reliability, and of course the really cool [cha-ching] sound they make (just kidding). I decided against semi's because of their price.
I would much rather have a synthetic stock, mainly just for looks. I'm looking to spend no more than $330 before tax and registration fees. I looked around at different companies for a good combo between reliability and price and the Model 870 Express caught my attention. I really like the 870 because of how widespread it is; I don't mind being a follower when it comes to stuff like this. I went down to an overpriced indoor range down the street just to see what they had and sure enough there it was: Remington Model 870 Express 3" Synthetic 28" barrel. I pretty much decided on this, but then last night I was picking up a scope for my rifle at another store and the guy tried to sell me a Benelli Nova Pump. At first I didn't like the looks of it, but it has since grown in to me and I now prefer it as far as looks over the Remington. You probably know, it handles 3 1/2", though I'll never need to shoot magnums and it's got that cool chamber release feature and everything. The Remington is $315 and the Benelli is $330 and it comes with three choke tubes, whereas the Rem just has one pre-installled.
Now onto gauge. Every shotgun I've shot has been a 12-ga (maybe one shot out of a 20-ga or something). Oh plus some .410 bolt that my friend and I messed around with (no clays). I've always been able to take the kick of a 12, but I've never shot that much at once. One time I shot these old, old single shot break-action 12-gauges with terrible recoil pads for about 50-60 rounds over the course of two days and I was on the brink of callapse after that. The other time I shot more than 50 rounds was with a buncha expensive semi's so I hardly noticed the kick on those. I'm probably about 130 lbs, maybe 5' 11" or so, average build. I'm afraid that if I get a 20-gauge that I'll have to make up for the smaller gauge with ammunition/choke combination or whatever and I'll be stuck with it. I think I'd rather get tough with a 12 than be angry about having a 20-ga later on when I'm full grown. Also, I'll only shoot like 75 rounds at a time max and spend the rest of the day shooting my .22 to give my shoulder a rest. If you think a 12-ga is too much let me know, otherwise I'm not gonna look at anything else.
With those choices in mind, what do you guys think as far as those and any other choices (I'd like the peace of mind of having seriously considered more than two)? If there is a nice O-U in that price range that would be practical for this use, let me know, I wouldn't really mind an O-U. I've heard a lot about how you really have to get a gun that fits you personally. I've shouldered both guns in the store but not within the same 4 days or so, so it's hard to really compare. Also, I don't know anybody with one so I can't test-fire them. Both seemed like they would fit just fine, I'm pretty sure I can adjust to different firearms fairly easily. Anyways, thanks for reading through all that crap this far down... let me know what you think and feel free to tell me that the guns I like will suck for trap and over me totally different options or something; I need opinions to see if I'm looking in the right area. Thanks a lot, I can't wait to hear back!
-enfiliade
I would much rather have a synthetic stock, mainly just for looks. I'm looking to spend no more than $330 before tax and registration fees. I looked around at different companies for a good combo between reliability and price and the Model 870 Express caught my attention. I really like the 870 because of how widespread it is; I don't mind being a follower when it comes to stuff like this. I went down to an overpriced indoor range down the street just to see what they had and sure enough there it was: Remington Model 870 Express 3" Synthetic 28" barrel. I pretty much decided on this, but then last night I was picking up a scope for my rifle at another store and the guy tried to sell me a Benelli Nova Pump. At first I didn't like the looks of it, but it has since grown in to me and I now prefer it as far as looks over the Remington. You probably know, it handles 3 1/2", though I'll never need to shoot magnums and it's got that cool chamber release feature and everything. The Remington is $315 and the Benelli is $330 and it comes with three choke tubes, whereas the Rem just has one pre-installled.
Now onto gauge. Every shotgun I've shot has been a 12-ga (maybe one shot out of a 20-ga or something). Oh plus some .410 bolt that my friend and I messed around with (no clays). I've always been able to take the kick of a 12, but I've never shot that much at once. One time I shot these old, old single shot break-action 12-gauges with terrible recoil pads for about 50-60 rounds over the course of two days and I was on the brink of callapse after that. The other time I shot more than 50 rounds was with a buncha expensive semi's so I hardly noticed the kick on those. I'm probably about 130 lbs, maybe 5' 11" or so, average build. I'm afraid that if I get a 20-gauge that I'll have to make up for the smaller gauge with ammunition/choke combination or whatever and I'll be stuck with it. I think I'd rather get tough with a 12 than be angry about having a 20-ga later on when I'm full grown. Also, I'll only shoot like 75 rounds at a time max and spend the rest of the day shooting my .22 to give my shoulder a rest. If you think a 12-ga is too much let me know, otherwise I'm not gonna look at anything else.
With those choices in mind, what do you guys think as far as those and any other choices (I'd like the peace of mind of having seriously considered more than two)? If there is a nice O-U in that price range that would be practical for this use, let me know, I wouldn't really mind an O-U. I've heard a lot about how you really have to get a gun that fits you personally. I've shouldered both guns in the store but not within the same 4 days or so, so it's hard to really compare. Also, I don't know anybody with one so I can't test-fire them. Both seemed like they would fit just fine, I'm pretty sure I can adjust to different firearms fairly easily. Anyways, thanks for reading through all that crap this far down... let me know what you think and feel free to tell me that the guns I like will suck for trap and over me totally different options or something; I need opinions to see if I'm looking in the right area. Thanks a lot, I can't wait to hear back!
-enfiliade
Anyway i saw a ad for an academy for 499 for the american model (mine was made in Italy) anyway it is a fabulous workhorse ~4000~ rounds 1 malfunction spit the shell out too far got stuck on the elevator. I cant get over how well it shoots it fits me practacly perfectly. But keep in mind im big for my age 6'2 185 tall and lanky. I would seriously look at one i love mine reliable soft kicking easy to clean. I have actually had more malfunctions with less shells out of my 870's 