Want a pump 12, but which one?

A

alaskabushman

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I have shot my fair share of shotguns and own a couple single shot and a double. My wife's shotgun is a Rem 870 in 20 Ga. My Grandpa, who was a cop for 36 years recommends the 870. I have personally narrowed it down to three guns, all in 12 Ga. A Remington 870, simply because I know they work and I already have one. A Mossberg 500 because as a lefty I like the tang safety. Or a Winchester SXP, since they claim to be the fastest pump on the market. I am really looking for a defense gun with waterfowl capabilities. I can read the specs and make a decision, but what I am looking for are personal experiences with the different guns. Not OPINIONS! EXPERIENCE! I am curious about the SXP but have never handled one before. Has anyone used the Mossberg FLEX system? Should I add a Benelli to the list of possibilities?
 
I own a 500 and 870. I love both but the 870 fits me much better. You can't go wrong with either one. Also, I like the idea of the FLEX system just because the possibilities are endless
 
If you want a fast pump, get a Browning BPS. I've tried all of the above and the only one in the same class is the Benelli Nova, do add it to your list.
In practice it's a bigger difference than just the action however. The barrel of the BPS is set just a little higher above your shoulder than the others, in short the drop at the comb is different.
This means the gun hits you just a hair harder in recoil (noticeable but no big deal) but the muzzle rise is sharply reduced. The gun helps you stay on target instead of fighting you. There is absolutely no way I want anything else in my hands if there is a BG in front of me.
 
Winchester SXP would be my choice The 1300 was great . the sxp should be as good or better .
 
id go with the 870 super magnum, if you want waterfowl capabuilities, 3.5 is the way to go, ive owned both, and honestly the 870 is just built better. not even sure if mossberg makes a super magnum. besides, aluminum recievers just dont beat good old steel
 
I have several shotguns 3 of which are 870's and love them. There good and reliable but I would say add the Benelli to your options the nova or super nova are awesome guns (the only major deference is the comfort tech stock and shims in the super nova. witch I would say is worth the extra money) I really like all the thing that Benelli puts in to the gun like shell stop button (The button on the underside of the forend activates a shell stop, allowing a chambered shell to be removed without releasing rounds from the magazine.) plus I like that they give you 3 extra chokes.
 
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My experience is mostly with the Mossberg 500. It's middle of the road in terms of weight, has a large amount of after-market parts available, comes drilled and tapped in case you ever want to mount optics of any kind, and extra barrels are much cheaper than I've seen for any other gun Ultimately, it can be very versatile without breaking the bank. Mine wears a recoil-reducing Knoxx Compstock, which could be beneficial for both waterfowl hunting and defensive shooting.

My Mossberg has been trouble-free over the course of 15 years and it resists rust well.
 
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Take a serious look at the NEF Pardner pump. I have Remington 870, Mossy 500 and the Pardner Pump. The NEF has been more reliable then the Remington, better finish and you can find the for under $200.
 
870 Wingmaster or Browning BPS...

The Winchester SXP is made in Turkey and after handling them, I say no thanks...

I have a Mossberg 500 and it works... Its the gun I loan out and don't care if it comes back with more scratches or dings.. Its feels like a piece of crap when compared to my 870s and older Winchester pumps... But the darn thing always goes bang..
 
Go with the Remington 870, a lefthand safety can be installed for those that need it.
If you start looking at safety's the tang mounted ones require a change of grip, moving the thumb, to operate. A trigger guard safety, like the Remington and others, requires only moving the trigger finger from the safety to the trigger. Thats why the police like them.

Both guns are well made, BUT there is no comparison to a 870 Wingmaster.
 
870.

The older Winchesters were decent guns, but the current made somewhere overseas version is unproven. The Mossberg is "good enough", but not an 870.

The Browning and Benelli are actually good choices and an option to consider. As a lefty the Browning has a true tang safety. The Mossberg is mounted on top of the receiver where it is in the way of both right and left handed shooters. The safety on the 870 is no problem for lefty's, but the Benelli might be more of an issue.
 
I have a Mossberg 500 and like the tang-mounted saftey position and the position of the slide release over the Remington 870 controls. That, ultimately, was the deciding factor between the two for me.

Although the Mossberg's saftey would be great for a lefty, I'm trying to envision how well the slide release would work for a lefty (left-side of the reciever and to the rear of the trigger). I find the slide release, for me, to be very intuitive, as I just extend my middle finger and I'm able to engage it. But being a lefty...would you just bump it, upward, with the top of your trigger finger?? Guess you would have to check it out for yourself.

Anyway, My Mossberg goes bang when I pull the trigger and I havent ran into any trouble.

I have no experience with Browning or Benelli, other than reading that people like them.

As far as Winchester goes.... I never handled the SXP version, but I read it was based off of, or set-up the same as, the 1300. I have handled the 1300 and I just didnt like how the action cycles itself rearward after shooting a shell. My co-worker, who owns the 1300, absolutly loves this function. I just could'nt get used to it (granted, I didn't have much time with it).
 
Browning BPS is my pump gun of choice --- smooth action, safety is on the top of the tang making it easy to reach and operate even with gloves on, I like the bottom ejection, and they are cast neutral for both lefties and right handed shooters.

BPS Hunter is my personal choice...I've got one in 12ga and a 20ga...both good solid guns with easily 100,000 shells thru them ( I bought them in the late 1970's ) and they've been thru 2 boys, and a number of grandkids...
 
The SXP is an overseas outsource version of the 1300 and earlier 1200 Winchesters. In my experience the major weak points of this model series are the riveted shell stops and short action length. The 1200 series with 2.75" chambers will not function with 2.75" full length roll crimp factory rounds - such as several European buckshot rounds. Nor will the 1300 (3" chamber) series function reliably with full length (but SAMMI spec) roll crimp factory ammunition. I am on the third set of shell stop assemblies on my 1970 vintage 1200 (it was the only shotgun on the market at that time with interchangable choke tubes). The short action may not mean a lot to many, but high performance shotshell handloaders will and others may consider the ability to fire any SAAMI spec. shotshell a plus - within specified chamber length of course.

My Remington 870's and a Mossberg 500 and 590 series have remained trouble free.
 
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+1 remington 870 wingmaster.....have multiples of both the remington and mossberg, both solid platform, i much prefer my remingtons.... with the wingmaster your paying a little more than the express, but the fit/ finish is way worth it, you get the nice wood furniture aswell...
 
i recently bought a mossberg 835 and love it. i use it goose and duck hunting and the 3 and a half inch chamber is sure nice to have. they're reasonably priced also. i picked mine up used for 150.
 
Go with the one that suits you best as far as fit and feel are concerned. I own all three of those you mention and others, of those (and all the other pumpguns I own) I still prefer the 870 best for its durability, reliability and the fact that after some four decades of off and on use, my hands know an 870 like my tongue knows my teeth.

But that's ME. We're talking about YOU....
 
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