I want a shotgun...

B

BombthePeasants

New member
But I'm poor. I watched my friend walk into a local pawn shop and buy a Mossberg 88 Maverick for $118 out the door in cash. I think I should have gotten it first...

I own several fine long guns and handguns, but I'm shotgun ignorant. I know I want one that I can change barrels from birding to home defence, and can change the tubes that hold the shells out.

I guess this is more of a rant/declaration than a question. Any shopping advice would be greatly appreciated though. I love you guys!

I just had shoulder surgery, and the pain pills and muscle relaxant compel me to tell everyone that...
 
If you could be satisfied with 6 rounds (5+1) than I suggest looking at the Mossberg 500. If you prefer the crossbolt safety, the Maverick 88 is for you. Both of these are lower price than the cheapest priced remingtons.
Brent
 
The Maverick and the 500 use the same barrels, so either is easy to find extra barrels for.

On occasion, Cabelas has a combo pack on sale for the Rem 870 with a HD and a long barrel. This is probably cheaper than buying a gun and extra barrel for about any cheaply priced (good) shotgun. Other places might have this combo, and it may be available for other guns also.
 
Watch the classifieds and go to gun shows. Used shotguns aren't that expensive, or hard to come by. While I have to admit that I've never so much as held either of the models that hogdogs mentioned, I'd rather spend just a little more and get a Remington 870.
 
dawico, the mossberg and maverick combos are far less than the remington combo...;) I hadn't even seen remington combos until a few years ago. I bought my first Mossberg combo in 1988 or so and it was less than an 870 with one barrel. Both had nice wood.

Brent
 
Mossberg makes a fine beater shotgun. No fancy inlays or checkering to get scuffed up by actual use. Wipe the barrel down with oil every once in a while so it doesn't rust from being stored. Dependable as any gun out there. There's a reason the military and law enforcement use it. Don't listen to people who call them crap.
 
I own both the Mossberg 500 (about 1988/1989) and the Remington 870 Express Mag (1997/1998). I like them both. The Mossberg is a great beater gun. I got the 807 cause I wanted something in synthetic and I like Remington. The Mossy was a gift.

Both of them are 4+1. Not sure I have ever seen a 5+1 out of the box unless you get one with the extended tube. For hunting small game / waterfowl you need to keep it plugged to 2+1 and for deer you can take the plug out for 4+1. That is what it is in PA and VA.
 
H&R Pardner Pump - around $200.00 or less new and is a good shotgun in every respect. It is a "Clone" of the Remington 870 (All parts interchange except barrel) and is imported by Remington/Marlin/H&R. Read actual owner reviews and do not listen to some of the ignorance you might read. Again, read actual owner reviews not ignorant opinions based on ignorance.
 
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OOL, if you had been with me on some outings, I am sure you would cringe...
My mossberg is often used to knock vines out of my way. I have crossed numerous swollen creeks by shimmying across downed trees with my mossberg in front of my scooting across.

Stay out all day in a down pour and think... Man I sure am glad this is just cheap walnut colored birch wood...:D If I can take it, my gun better not mind either... And since I am far from "easy on the eyes", I don't mind a plain jane gun. But aside from a few spilled soda and beer rust spots, action scars and wear, the bluing on my 500 is still smooth and pretty shiny.
Brent
 
deerhunter, I haven't seen a 4+1 mossberg. Maybe pre-1980 but since then, all are 5+1. You may be using a slightly longer shell or counting the 3 inch shells...

There is no way to extend the tube length on a 500. You can buy a 7+1 tube if you also get a 7+1 barrel.

Brent
 
HogDogs...I use 2 3/4 inch shells and I can only fit 4 in the tube on my 500. It was bought in the late 80's. Probably, like I said about 1988 or 1989.

What I meant about the longer tube is buying a HD model with an already extended tube. Not even sure if Mossberg even makes one though.
 
fine shotgun in every respect
Click to expand...
Come on now!!! Surely you jest! "FINE"? Not hardly... Decent maybe but fine arms do not come from china or turkey in a price point clone configuration...

That is the same as saying that a Harbor Freight clicker torque wrench is a "fine instrument"... I bet anyone with a little intentional scrutiny could find 20-50 points in or on a clone that knock it far away from the "fine arms" list...

But I also do not consider the 500 a "fine arm".

First off... "Fine arms" will have a perfect fit and finish... Fine arms will have a finish that is deep and rich in appearence and that requires over $200.00 in labor just polishing the metal as well as the finish on the wood... Not even counting the polishing pads and compounds...
Brent
 
If you try stuffing the tube with Winchester 2 3/4 inch shells, it will fit 5... Some shells are longer than others...

Brent
 
I don't make it a habit of beating my shotguns, but if during a hunt I smack it into a tree accidentally and scuff it I don't lose sleep over it. And I also use it as a vine mover if the situation calls for it. Sometimes it holds down a fence wire with the butt. And it's not even a mossberg, it's an old 11-87 I got from my grand dad. I keep it clean and oiled, but the battle scars add character to a gun I'll never sell.
 
So am I correct in stating that the 870 family of shotguns are capable of being upgraded to a maximum of 8 shells in the tube, whilst the 500 series is only upgradeable to hold 5?

EDIT: Never mind I see that the max. for both is 8 rds.
 
The 500 with 8 round tube requires a different barrel. The 8 round field barrel selection is very limited and more expensive.

The 870 and 590moss are similar design in that a mag extension tube can be added and retain the same barrel with either a 5, 6,7, 8, 9, etc capacity...
Brent
 
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