Looking for 1 shotgun

Q

Quadagon

Inactive
Hi Everyone
I'm looking to buy just 1 shotgun (for a while anyway) to serve my needs. I really only plan to hunt duck and upland birds, there aren't too many rabbits around here. Oh and also use it for pest control (coyotes, skunks, foxes etc.)
From what I understand Rem 870 are good guns, but only the older ones. Would it not be worth it to buy a new one?
I want a shotgun that will last a life time, but also affordable enough.
Also, does anyone know anything about the maverick 88? Its a cheaper looking gun, but I'm on a tight budget. This will be my first shotgun too, so i'm not looking to spend $1000s.
 
870 is just fine, stay away from the super mag 3 1/2" shell receiver, those are known to be the reason people have hissy fits because they cannot cycle the action hard enough.

I have a 870 and 500, would have to say I like the 500 better but its ONLY personal preference, its smoother and built better imo. Cant go wrong with either.
 
Mossberg 500- $350-400
They come in all shapes, sizes, and modifications. Black or wood, with different length barrels and chokes.
MS50420_1.jpg


Mossberg 590- $450-500
Mariner (stainless) or Black, it's your standard hi-capacity shotgun.
moss_46273.jpg



Benelli Nova- ~$400
Entry level Benelli shotgun. Nothing wrong with her. More tacti-cool look.
BENELLI_NOVA_PUMP_0707-1_1.jpg



Winchester 1300 Defender- ~$400-500
Solid Shotgun. Good accuracy. Will work for food. Just like before, all shapes and flavors.
winchester_1300_coastal_marine.jpg

winchester_1300_camp_defender.jpg


~LT
 
For fowl and small game it's hard to beat an 870. Some say that Quality Control has slipped over the years, but the examples I've seen an used are good, dependable shotguns.

The Mossberg series of pumps also have a good reputation. The last Winchester pump I bought was purchased sometimes in the early '80s and is still doing yeoman service as a game-getter. At one time Winchester pumps were considered the smoothest of the pump shotguns. I don't have any complaints about mine at all.

For game-getting I'd get a ribbed barrel with screw-in chokes. For waterfowl, you'll be limited to three shots only, so an extended mag tube won't offer any benefit. I've shot plugged shotguns in the game fields my whole life. It's not a burden once you learn to count to three.

In the end, it boils down to personal preference. Go to a good shop and ask to handle all three. Pick the one that suits you best.

edit: Opps, I just realized that the OP lives in Canada. I'm not sure if the three shot rule applies there for waterfowl.
 
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As previously stated both the 500 and 870 are great shotguns. Also, you mentioned the 88. Those shotguns are almost exactly the same as a 500, except I believe the action slide has one bar instead of two.
 
After handling over 20 newer 870 Expresses over the last couple years, I regard most of the stuff about lack of QC as blather and complaints by some rather inept folks.

Some chambers need a bit of polishing, all Expresses need the preservatives removed as per the manual and a few examples need to find owners who can run a pump.

One out of a thousand may need to go back to Remington for warranty work.

I wish my vehicles ran as well.

The Maverick and its parent 500 are good shotguns as well. I doubt they will hold up under heavy use as long as the 870, but unless you have a 1K round per month trap Jones the difference will be observed only by your grandkids a few decades from now.

HTH....
 
mossberg sells a pump shotgun pkg with 2 barrels. a longer one for bird hunting and a shorter one for defense, deer hunting etc. it's like getting 2 shotguns for the cost of one. it is well made, affordable and versatile and should last a lifetime. i've had mine for 30 years, my kids each bought one for themseleves as well as a first shotgun.
 
Its hard to argue that a good pump shotgun is a poor investment ...

I was in a local used gun - retail store yesterday .... and there are lots of very good pump shotguns on the used market out there. The Rem 870's are certainly priced competitively as new guns ...but don't overlook the used market out there / educate yourself ..on what to look for. The search for a new gun / is sometimes more fun than actually having it ...:D

The store I was in ...probably had 100 used shotguns / and at least 25 of them were pump guns...and that's probably typical to a well run used gun shop.

I respect Dave's opinion on the 870's ....but my personal pump gun of choice is the Browning BPS Hunter model / still relatively inexpensive at under $ 500 ...for a good long term option as a solid gun.
 
Greetings Quadagon, an welcome aboard.

I don't want to get into a debate over which gun to select. Based on your requirements, and budget, you may be better served considering a gun with two barrels: one for the duck blind and a shorter one for upland game. You can get a very nice pump with an extra barrel for well under $1,000.

As my friend, BigJim, mentioned, there is no reason not to consider a used gun in good condition. In previous threads, I've opined that I'd prefer a nice used R-870 Wingmaster to a new R-870 Express.
 
Zippy and I are of the same mind here ....

and in terms of overall quality of the guns ...the Rem 870 Wingmaster and the Browning BPS are in the same neighborhood of quality ( in my opinion ...).

I like the 870 Wingmaster as well ....it just doesn't fit me as well as the BPS...

But you need to buy the gun that "Fits" you the best ...not what fits Zippy or me for that matter...( and what fits your budget ).
 
I own both the Remington 870 Express mag and the Mossberg 500. I prefer the 870 over the 500. Now I will say that both of mine are older and from what people say the newer ones aren't as good. I went looking with a friend when he bought his first shotgun. I still think the 870s are built better and look nicer. He got the Express Super Mag (3.5 in chamber). I am guessing he will only shoot a couple 3.5 inch shells out of it before he decides it isn't worth the beating. The Express Mag is only chambered for 3 inch shells. I shot 3.5s out of my Browning Maxus and being a gas gun it takes a lot of the recoil out and the 3.5s still kick pretty good.


Get out to several shops and hold everything you can. See what feels/fits you the best.

Good luck
 
My Benelli semi's are the guns I actually use the most, but if I could only have one gun, it would be an 870. For the most part the older guns were better finished, but the new ones function just fine.
 
Thanks for the replies.
I'll definitely try out the 870s next time i'm in the store.
1 more thing though, I'm not too farmiliar with shotguns (don't own one yet) but can a regular shotgun (like the 870) shoot slugs out of the smooth bore or do I need a different barrel for that too?
Reason i'm asking is because there is a lot of bush around here that I could be hunting deer/coyotes/whatever in.

So would you recommend looking for a lightly used 870 or a new one?
 
Yes, you can shoot slugs (or buck shot) from a conventional (smooth bore) shotgun barrel. Should you get seriously into shooting slugs, there are barrels designed for slugs with rifle-type open sights or scope mounts. Better performance can be obtained using a rifled slug barrel and the more expensive sabot-type slugs. (But, I don't know if these are allowed under Canadian gun laws.)
 
Zippys right on, If you want a gun to do it all, check out a Mossberg 500 combo gun. 500 bucks gets you a smoothbore barrel and a rifled slug barrel. I have great accuracy from mine to 150 yards and it switchs out in 30 seconds and usually stays pretty well shot in through the changes.
 
Go for the 500. You can get a lightly used Mossberg 500 for around $200 (at least in my area) and even a NiB wouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. A buddy of mine actually picked one up a couple of days ago after shooting mine. The 870 is by no means a slacker, but with recent complaints about the newer models I would stick with the old trusty stand-by 500. You can't argue with one of the top selling shot guns. And with all the after market parts and accessories out there, you can put money into when you can and eventually have a customized beauty that is all your own. Just my opinion.
 
My first vote is Wingmaster.

If that costs too much - try an 870 combo package.

If that's too much - get a 28" 870 with a winchoke set.

Don't buy a new one - they're cheap, these days.

Older is better.
 
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