wanna buy a pump 12ga

T

tristar viper

New member
I'm in the market for a pump shotgun. I'm looking in the 300 to $500 price range. No more than this cause all I do is shoot clays 3 or 4 times a year, I never hunt.
My username will suggest what shotgun I currently have. Yes, I have a Tristar Viper 12ga auto loader. Been a great gun and I really like it. I just now want a pump gun to go with it. No other reason than that.
I want suggestions on pump guns in my price range. Which ones work, which ones are reliable, which ones are not, etc. Not really partial to any one brand of shotgun so I'm willing to consider all recommendations.
 
As my sig line suggests... I am a proponent of the Mossberg line of pumps...

Are you okay with 5+1 capacity? If so, I say go for the 500... If you want more rounds, go with a 590 and add a mag extension...

Lots of combos in 500 will be in your price range and come with 2 barrels... But if 18-24 inch is your choice, you can get the 500 and enuff ammo to get used to it in your range...


Brent
 
You'll get a lot of opinions on this...and I'm sure they're just as valid as mine. Having owned multiple 870s, a Benelli Supernova and a Winchester 1300, I prefer the Winchester 1300 hands down. It typically has a smoother action than the others and no pump is faster cycling. I have always found it to balance better as well. I prefer auto loading shotguns (Benelli) myself, but I will never sell that Winchester 1300. It was also my first shotgun...little did I know my first pump shotgun would be the best.
 
The Mossy 500 is on my list. I was on sale at Dunhams with two barrels and a scope for like $289 or $299 last week....don't know if it's still on sale like that or not. I know a few guys with that 500, and they all like it.
No I have no prob with 5+1 capacity....fine with me.
And I shot a Winchester 1300 pump just Saturday. I really liked it. But I was under the impression that it was old and probably something you can't buy new anymore. Is that the case or not? I mean this gun was BEAT, but shot truly great.
 
You can find Winchester 1300s on Gunbroker for $400 to $500 in good condition. If you liked it, then that is what I would try to buy...with guns, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks...if you like it and can shoot it well, then it is the right gun.
 
In this Op's price range, the only 870's are the express with unpolished metal and dull. Since it is a ruff dull blue job, it is more difficult to prevent rust than a parkerized or polished blued finish...;)

The cheapest polished finish I see is over $600 at Bud's... But I don't have much of a dog in this hunt... I only owned Mossbergs... Currently it is a 1988-9 or so with a still very decent blued finish...:D
Brent
 
What about a Browning BPS? Or is that out of my price range.....? Or the Weatherby PA-08 for $299? I'd kinda like to have something uncommon....everybody has an 870 and a Mossberg 500 and I want to be different. I'm sure there are plenty of guns all equal in performance and reliability.
 
Go with a Benelli....You will have NO regrets.

Great guns, I love mine and wouldnt trade it for anything. I break clays and do some dove hunting with it.

And they look good!
 
If you can find one, I recommend the Ithaca 37.

It's lighter and smoother than the Remington 870. It loads with the carrier up, and has a crossbolt safety. The bottom eject is super cool. Also, unlike the 870, the slide release is correctly placed for a right handed user. The roll engraving on the receiver is also relatively classy.

Older models will slamfire, meaning that if you hold down the trigger and pump it, it will fire as soon as it locks into battery. It's a lot of fun for rattling off a lot of shells in a hurry.

The only two issues is that it isn't as good for playing tactical dress-up, as there's a distinct lack of black foldy bits available for it and you can't really put an extended magazine tube on it. Also, older models don't accept interchangeable barrels, and barrels are expensive and uncommon for newer ones that will. That's about it.

I don't know if you will be able to find a BPS in your price range, but it seems to be a good shotgun. I fired a friends BPS and it was pretty nice. It's at least as smooth as the Ithaca. I'm not a fan of the tang safety, but to each his own.

The Weatherby PA-08 is a Turkish pump shotgun, just like any other Turkish pump shotgun. Except with nicer wood. That's about all I know about it.
 
I shot a Benelli too. Action felt loose and sloppy and rattly, and it wasn't even an old gun.
No, no Benelli for me. I wasn't impressed with it.
I've read a number of not so desirable things about the Rem 870 too....the NEWER ones mostly, not the older models.
 
I have had some trouble with my 870, but I know that they are good pump shotguns. If you like the 870, I wouldn't hesitate to get one...but if you like the Winchester 1300 better, that is the one you should get. I agree that the Benelli Supernova/Nova is a bit sloppy...but excellent guns nonetheless. I love the 1300 though...smooth as butter.
 
Being a poor boy, what about a Maverick Model 88. Same same as a Mossburg 500. Can usually pick up one at WalMart for less than $ 200.00 plus tax and whatever other taxes the feds and state can ding you for.Wished the safety was of a different design, but have to figure that smarter people than me designed it. Not going to win any beauty contest but will get the job done.

I had freinds that I hunted with as a kid that had the high dollar guns, me I had either an old Mossburg 16 ga. bolt action or an old Eclipse hammered SXS. I came home with as much or more game than they did and usually more live ammo.

The cost of a gun has nothing to due with what you hit or kill with it, but has to do with whose hands it is in.
 
What about a Winchester model 1200? How much different is that from the 1300? I see a few 1200 models for sale around my area. I found one 1300 for $300, but looked kinda beat on.
 
I have a 1200 and its a very reliable gun...I use mine to break clays sometimes....


But overall when picking you need a gun that fits you.
 
Browning BPS is a very solid gun ....I still have my BPS's in 12ga and a 20ga that I bought in the 70's. The Hunter model, with a 28" barrel - is a very versatile gun ...and its the model I prefer.

Actions are smooth / and strong. Safety is on top of the tang - easy to reach even with gloves on. The BPS is equivalent with the Rem 870 Wingmaster model, in my opinion. New the BPS Hunter is selling for around $ 525 ...
 
Whatever you buy / make sure it has changeable "screw in" chokes - to make it more versatile. A lot of the older guns / made prior to mid 70's had fixed chokes.../ and today some of the lower end HD guns have fixed chokes.
 
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