Looking for first pump shotgun.

Thanks everyone for the help. I would have responded sooner but, I pulled a 12 hour shift at work today and just got home.

Try both the Mossberg and the Remington. Pick the one that feels best.
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Dave, I am still interested in both these brands as well. I have heard good things about them both. I know most shotguns seem to be chambered in 2 3\4 and 3in but, Remington has the super magnum in 3.5? Is this something I might want or need later?

We have zero information about what the OP wants to do with this shotgun!!!!! So, what do you want to do with it? Put in the closet for home defense? Shoot clays? Hunt game? How much are you willing to spend on a shotgun?
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sirsloop,
Originally I just wanted something fun to shoot at the range with as I got the bug to buy a shotgun. I suppose it could fill a home defense role as well but, I have handguns for this purpose already. I would like to maybe try shooting some skeet or hunting later on with it.. that is why I really want to get a shorter barrel for the home and a longer barrel that I could swap if I wanted to hunt or shoot skeet..which I have never done yet but, who knows what the future holds.

Budget wise I would like to stay under $400 or so if possible.

Thanks all
micro
 
Unless you will be shooting birds, you will never use 3 1/2" shells. As a practical matter, you will probably never use 3" shells either.
The Mossberg 500 is well under $400, especially at Wal-Mart.
 
I recently went with the 870 18" barrel and am happy with it, but you may want to go with the Mossberg and get the combo package that comes with both am 18" home defense barrel and a 28 vent rib barrel with a fixed modified choke. Then if you get more into shooting you can consider just keeping the Mossberg set up with the short barrel as a home defense gun or one for a guest to use at the range, and perhaps get a second shotgun.
 
If you buy an 870, get the one with the bird barrel on the gun. You'll pay basically the same price on the gun with the bird or 18" HD barrel. Here's the kicker...If you go to buy an additional barrel in the future, the 18" 870 barrel is $100-120, and the 26" choke barrel is like ~$200-240.
 
I can attest to what sirsloop said about the cost of barrels for the 870. I bought one with the 18" and am trying to find a used long barrel to rotate with the 18, but the cost of a new long barrel is incredible. I think I could buy a used 870 express with a 28" barrel for the cost of a new barrel.
 
I too am in the market for a pump shotgun (first time shotgun buyer). Ive been reading forums stating that the new remington 870's are crap. Apparently alot of jamming problems and ejecting problems. I do not know if this is true. Ive been looking at the remington 870 as well as the benelli nova and weatherby pa-08. Just was wondering about the 870 because i was thinking of purchasing that gun. Weatherby was looking tasty as well. I cannot decide!!!! :barf:
 
I have the Mossberg 500 breacher...54124...It is one bad ass looking gun. Just pulling it out scares the **** out of everyone. Not sure if that is the kid of gun your looking for but it is fun as hell. I don't think I will have to breach any doors with it but it looks like it has a holesaw on the end and I bet it will take a real cool core sample of someone's forehead....:eek:
 
Halifax, I picked up my 870 Express 28 days ago and, after putting 250 shotshells throught it without one ejection problem or one jamming problem I wouldn't say it is "crap". They supposedly have an issue with rust but I haven't had a spot of it on mine abaut I live in Sothern California. I was shooting with a guy last, who got his express at about the same time, and I saw where he had some surface rust on his receiver near the loading port. I think the difference was I keep a light coat of rem oil on mine and I think he just shoots and cleans it once and a while. (He also lives near the foothills of the Sierra Madres.)

The one disappointment I have had is I wish I had gotten the standard field model with a 28" barrel instead of the 18" barrel with the extension. I still want the 18, but it is cheaper to buy a new 18 than a 28.

Wait, I have had one issue with mine. It has a factory 2 shell magazine tube extension and it if isn't carefully installed after cleaning then it doesn't want to accept the extra 2 shells. (There is a trick to threading the extension tube on that is simple once you learn it.)
 
870 Express. My son uses mine for trap. Never had an issue or rust problem. Just keep it clean and oiled and it will last a lifetime.
 
Rifleer wrote:
Get a mossberg 500 and don't look back. It will never fail you.

+1

My choice was an 835...due to the great price on the used shelf, $169. :eek: Her furniture was rough-but she was a performer that day, and since!
 
I've owned:
- Winchester 1912
- Winchester 1200 Ranger (combo)
- Remington 870
- Remington 870 Wingmaster.

These days - I still have my 1912, and my Wingmaster.

For starters - I'd go with a 870 combo.

If you're using it for self-defense, you can remove the plastic plug from the magazine.

The RemChoke system gives you a bunch of flexibility. Plus - the barrels can be changed - allowing you to hunt fowl or deer -- your choice.
 
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