Buying a New Shotgun

[cribbageboy]

With the price of .410 shells on the rise, I'm looking at buying a new gun. Just wondering what all ideas you guys can add to the mix. Here's the criteria.

a) New or Used (preferably new)

20 Gauge

c) Pump

d) $400 or less

The current leader is a Remington 870 Express, but also looking at some Benelli Nova's too. Any ideas are appreciated.

[LandDr]

I love my 20 ga. 1100 LT. Got it when I was in 11th grade and put a lot of food on the table with it. It throws a slug way off however so I use a 20 ga. Smith & Wesson with a slug barrel for deer.

My eight year old started shooting this year however so I had to invest in my first 12 ga....got a 1187 but I still use my 1100 for dove and pheasant and my Smith & Wesson for deer. He can't hunt deer yet so that works out and for pheasant I change the barrel out on the Smith & Wesson for him to shoot at pheasants.

Both very smooth guns and never a problem. I do have a ribbed barrel on both for site.

Do some internet searches and you might be able to find some deals out there. Check with some "local" gun dealers like the one by Long Prairie and Vern Ostrum in Glenwood. There are others too of course.

[TylerS]

I actually use a 20 ga. youth Remington 870 with a stock adapter. It is a mean, light little gun perfect for those quick flushes in the grouse woods. And with the 20-some-inch barrel, I can pivot on a dime without knocking over popplers.

Besides that gun, I have a 12 ga. 870 Express Super Mag for waterfowl. Both guns have track records that speak for themselves. You'll never go wrong IMO with an 870.

[GatorBait]

My 12ga 870 has yet to let me done in the past 14yrs. She may look a bit rough, but all the war marks just add character. The barrel is straight, the pump is functional and the birds still drop just like they always did. My best overall gun and won't upgrade till it stops working, hopefully another 15yrs or so.

[cribbageboy]

Gotta love those short little guns! I got a youth model 410 that I got from my dad when I was 12. I still love the thing! It's exactly 36 inches from Butt to Muzzle and cant weigh more than a couple pounds. The only bad thing is that I'm now 6' 2" and it just doesn't feel right, and hasn't for years. That, combined with it being a single shot, and the price of .410 shells, I need to upgrade. I'm leaning more and more towards the 870 everyday! Thanks for the input!!!

[rwwong]

Don't rule out the BPS.

[cribbageboy]

I originally looked at the BPS line, but it's a little out of my price range new. I could however pick up a used one, but if I'm going to go with a used gun, that opens up dozens of other options. I recently spent roughly $700 on a new deer rifle set-up, so trying to keep the cost of a shotgun down. The BPS is a would be near the top of my list if I do decide to go used though. Thanks again.

[cribbageboy]

What are your guys thoughts on a Mossberg 500? I've looked at a couple and really like them, but mainly for the price tag.

[bobbymalone]

What are your guys thoughts on a Mossberg 500? I've looked at a couple and really like them, but mainly for the price tag.

I prefer an 870 myself, but mossy 5 hundos are the standard issue pump for the US military. Also, every squad car that doesn't have a 870 in it, has a Mossy 500. That should tell ya something

[jdog]

ive got the bps way too heavy for upland i had a mossy 500 not a bad gun but my 870 for upland birds is my second choice take a look at the tristars thats my goto gun for a decent priced gun

[JRedig]

I've got a BPS 12 gauge and it is HEAVY for upland stuff. Depending on how you hunt, that may or may not matter.

[iceranger792]

I love my 870 express. the things are practically unbreakable! but if i could go back and do it again i'd go with a semi-auto.

[Redlantern]

I have an 870 express and I've been happy with it. Only problem I've had with it is when I first got it, I kept it in my basment which was humid. The wood on the pump had swelled up so I couldn't pump a new shell into it easily. Took it apart, sanded it down a bit, threw some stain on it and I was back in business. Haven't heard of anyone else having this problem so it was probably just a fluke. Good gun for the money.

[pureinsanity]

As owner of a Rem 870 wingmaster and a Benelli Super Nova but in 12 gauge I can comment that I love the 870 the best. However, I grew up using this gun and well I do my best with it. The supernova is not bad. mainly my duck or turkey gun since its camo.

Both great guns, I am not so sure about the express. I know a few people who have them, they just seem to cheap to me, that's why I like my wingmaster.

Bottom line, find someone that has these said guns and shoot them see which you like best, Or go to the store and hold em both feel out the weight and what not and see which is most comfortable to you and which one gives you a faster draw. I think you will find the express to be lighter and faster

[Gordie]

I own three 870's an express, a wingmaster and 2 3/4 only wingmaster nothing at all bad to say about them but last year I purchased a stoger 2000 auto and I love it I hardly know I'm carrying it.

my 807 express is the work horse of all of them I have done alot of work to it and I still love shooting it when I can pry it from my kids hands he says its his now

[pureinsanity]

Gordie. my 2 3/4" wing master was my fathers and I took it from him ( I love that gun! Only time she ever jammed was in minus 10 degree weather! He upgraded to a super black eagle. So his days of pumping a gun are about over. I an almost pump out shells as fast as his auto though

[Gordie]

Mine was my Grandfathers he bought it new in 1956 and it shoots as good as if it were new

[pureinsanity]

I have tried to age mine. I can't figure it out with the serials. I am guessing mine is from the early 70s

[PurpleFloyd]

I am not sure what your budget is but last year my 9 year old had outgrown his .410 single shot so we went looking for a Benelli Nova. His cousin had one and after shooting it ha fell in love and had to have one. But then at the Gander Mt we came across this gun:

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=37

It is a Mossberg SA-20. The price was not much different than the Benelli and the fit and finish was far better than both the Nova and a Remington 11-87 youth they had on the rack. The gun is light, swings fast and has not misfired yet.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I also have an 870 wingmaster that is prolly older than I am. The thing is a work horse and they've stood the test of time.

Another option to look at is the Winchester 1300. I have one and both my son's have one. It's been a few years since I bought one but at one time they were around $250 or so brand spankin new. Mine is almost 10 years old and good feeling, good shooting gun. Worth looking into.

[gritsnham]

I just recently picked up a mossberg 500 12ga and I love it for grouse hunting. It is a fairly light gun for its size and I like the double pins for lining up shots out in the woods. I picked mine up at g mountain for $220 (they will price match the w mart...always check there!). Easy and smooth gun to use plus the gold trigger on them just looks sweet! I have been using 7.5 shot and it drops grouse nice without any overkill its also gonna double as my slug gun this year. Really like the gun alot for the price it is and gotta feel confident with the american made guns IMHO.

GL and make sure the gun feels good to you more than anything!