Soon to Purchase Assistance

M

MichaelJay

New member
I received a flyer from a local gun dealer for a rifle and shotgun sale. So I thought this would be a good time to look at a home defense shotgun. After reading the archives it looks like the following are the three top recommended in 12 gauge:

Remington 870 Express Synthetic $316 (retail)
Mossberg 500 Persuader $342 (retail)
Winchester 1300 Defender $333 (retail)

First Question: What should I expect to pay for a new-in-box, not used example of one of the above units? I am not looking to cut corners, nor save a buck and have a unit fail when I need it most.
Second Question: Is there anything I should look out for with any of the above? I.e., something that should have been included or purchased with the shotgun to make it more usable.
Last Question: Since some of the posts I read in the archive were old, are there better choices that you know of now on the market? If so, what should they go for $$$?

Thanks,
Michael.
 
Michael,

Prices are so varied by region, I won't get specific. Around here, I wouldn't pay more than 2/3 rds of the retail prices you've listed.

All three shotguns are winners. I have two of the three and the Mossy is no slouch.

Frankly, for HD and utility shooting, none of these need any add-ons. I would probably change the safety on the 870 if it's one of the new ones.

I do like a butt cuff or side saddle for additional shells.

Once you get your SG, get a case of cheap shells and practice. In a nutshell, figure out your max possible engagement distance, add a yard for GP, get a bunch of paper bags from the grocery store and shoot them. I find paper bags stapled to wooden stakes to be cheap and easy. The shape is about the right size. Practice singles and doubles until you run out of amm and repeat.

Giz
 
CDNN has the Mossberg persuader for $199.99 and i believe shipping is $10.00.Now find a local dealer who will do the transfer for $15-20.00 and your 'e all set.
1-800-588-9500
I'd ask for Tommy:)
 
Mossberg Pricing from CDNN

Ok, Where is the Internet site for CDNN guns? I keep getting sent to the one for accessories. Or is this a mailing list or catalog that you found the great prices in?

Thanks for the help at $199 that would be about $80-85 less than local dealer.

Michael.
 
Those prices sound high, and...

Any of those 3 will make an excellent HD/WIHTF shotgun.The 870 may hold up to abuse longer, but if not abused any of these will outlast us all, even with consumption of heavy loads.

But, there's lots of these used running around with messed up cosmetics, but perfectly functional and near new inside. Of course,I'm talking about police turnins.

Unless you're unlucky and get one that was the Dept trainer,these will be nicely broken in but not shot a lot and work perfectly.Most will be 870s, with a smattering of Mossies and Ithaca 37s, another excellent choice. Exteriors range from dinged to ghastly, but we're not going for esthetics here, are we?

And all will have the necessary configuration, short bbl and stock,recoil pad and bead or open sights.

Prices around here run $150-200, last I looked.
 
Update

I took the knowledge gained here and proceeded to inquire about a purchase. The flyer I received in the mail said “best of the year prices.” Well that was about $30 off their regular prices. So Mossberg 500 was about $313 on sale. So I guess I’ll look at CDNN a little more closely.

BTW: The salesman showed me an H&K shotgun that was $499 on sale. All kinds of stuff you could do with it, but twice what I wanted to pay.

One other thing of note: Slightly off-topic for this thread. Outdoor World (Bass Pro Shops) moved in awhile back with some of the best prices you have ever seen on everything. The local sporting goods store that I had been purchasing Guns and Ammo from had such a bad Christmas season that they decided to close. Well I stopped into OW to see if they had any of the SGs I was looking for. I was informed that they only carry “hunting” guns. No HD guns. I looked over the prices – higher than the other place I was just at! Guess when the competition is gone – so are the great deals!

Back on topic: Is there anything I should be aware of in dealing with an out of state long gun purchase?

Thanks,
Michael.
 
No problems buying long guns out of state. at least around here.

In my experience OW has outrageous prices on all of their guns.

If you have them in your area I would check with Academy sports they have had the best prices I have ever seen.
 
Take a look at auctionarms.com and/or GunBroker.com. There are quite a few 870s and other brands listed for good prices. Of course, you have to add shipping and whatever your dealer would charge to accept delivery. It may not be worthwhile, but you can get an idea as to what they actually sell for.
 
CDNN doesn't show their guns on their website.If you have a local dealer who will let you,CDNN will let you order and pay for the gun,and then you just pay your dealer for the transfer.
 
Mission Accomplished

Took a few days, but I found a local dealer that tried to match the price – couldn’t – so is willing to order from CDNN. So for $230 plus Ohio tax I am good to go from this dealer. (Mossberg 500 $199, shipping $10 transfer fee $20)

It was amazing the number of dealers that didn’t want to transfer from out of state even though they have posted in their Yellow pages ad or in the store that they’ll do it. Most were willing to sell me one from their stock (not configured the way I wanted) or nothing. I almost thought about getting an FFL of my own. There have to be other people around the area that are getting the same run around that I got trying to find someone to transfer a long gun. Well, now I have some place to refer them too.

So what are the suggestions for practice ammo? The last “quality time” I spent with a shotgun was late 1970s pheasant hunting.

Thanks for all the help,
Michael.
 
Local Shop

It may be a little uncomfortable going to your local dealer and using him to buy a mail order shotgun that he is selling. If they can't make a few bucks then they are out of business and you have nobody to go to when you need them.

Can you go to Big 5 or WalMart and ask them to order something that you've seen in SGN?
 
Michael - best thing is to get some cheap birdshot and get used to loading, unloadin and shooting your new SG. There is a plethoria of information here (use the search key, upper right hand corner) as to the choices in HD ammo.

For your distance - measure your dwelling and determine your max engagement rannge - add one yard for GP. That's really the maximum distance youll need to worry about pattern spread.

Shoot bunches..

Giz
 
Brooks

Brooks,

I understand that a local dealer wants to make a profit. I actually want them too as well, so I have some place to go when I need advice, service, and purchases. However, that being said, if they have it at $20 under MSRP, I really don’t feel the need to pad their pockets. The one dealer got within $50 dollars of CDNN and was then willing to order it. He couldn’t match the price from his distributor, but now knows about CDNN so could order from them for stock, and with a reasonable markup make a profit for future sales – the American Capitalist System in action.

In the process he sold me a new Springfield Armory 1911-A1 Loaded in Stainless, so I think he made profit in the end, by his willingness to help me out with the shotgun. I will put him at the top of the list for future needs.

My point was about those dealers that said, “Sure come on in.” Once there, they tried to sell me “similar” products: a Mossberg 590 hunting shotgun, when I expressly asked for a Mossberg 500 persuader for home defense. This I view as a waste of my time and theirs, further this type of action places them at the bottom of the list for future needs.

I appreciated those that flatly said, “You can come in and look around, but we won’t order or transfer something that we already sell at reasonable markup.” Our ideas of what is reasonable may differ, but there was no deceit on either side. I clearly stated up front what I wanted, where I found it and asked if they could match the price or would they order it for me.

So I hope this clears up any misunderstandings from my earlier post. Sometime the intent of the post, seems clear to me, but obviously can be taken differently by others without the thoughts that are rattling around in my head when I choose brevity over detail in my posts.

My apologies if you took it otherwise and thanks for your time in reading and responding to my questions.

Michael.
 
MichaelJ, my recommendations on how to get acquainted with your new purchase...

Cheap ammo:

Most Wal-Marts carry "4-packs" (100 rounds) of Federal ammo (sometimes other brands) for about $15-16.

Estate brand can often be found on sale at sporting goods stores. Have sometimes seen it as low as $2.99/box (25 rounds). Usually $3.99. I like it better than the Federal.

PATTERN THE SHOTGUN

Shoot it at paper. If you can't find a suitable target, get butcher paper or poster board and draw 30-inch circles (nothing magic about that number) with a big dot in the center. Or use NRA B-38 target (25-yard rapid fire pistol target). Get a bunch of targets. Shoot the targets at varying distance to see how your patterns spread over distance. If you have replaceable choke tubes, try different chokes and note the difference. My 870 patterns 00 buckshot tighter with a modified choke than with a full choke. Try different kinds of ammo, too. The reason I like Estate better than Federal is it patterns more evenly in my 870. Each gun has its preferences.

SHOOT CLAYS

Buy a box of clay pigeons and a $5 red plastic thrower. Or something better if you prefer. Have someone throw clays for you. You can even do it yourself. That's a great exercise for rapid shouldering, safety removal, acquisition of target, etc.

For serious fun, after you feel comfortable with your new shotgun, shoot some skeet, trap or sporting clays. I just started shooting sporting clays. The course I have access to is $15 for 50 rounds. Definitely more fun than two movies.

SLUGS?

Use the search function if you want to learn more about shooting rifled slugs. I don't know that much about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top