Shotguns

[Guest]

ATM, Were you going to put shells in that 9200 or use it as a paddle? After selling them for 2 years I highly recommend waiting for more cash and purchasing a finer weapon. Unless your planning to use it as a paddle. then it would work fine although a bit heavy.

[Michael8129]

I had hunted with a rem 1100 since I was 14 then when that had to go to the shop 3 days before our annual trip to Presho SD I wasn't going to be without the services of my auto so I broke down and bought a 3" Berretta 390 silver mallard... lightweight and have yet to have it jam with any load. the best thing I like is I can carry it all day it is so light weight..... getting one for my 14 year old this fall although he is so fast with his win 1300 youth it is scary ...

Michael

[CANOPY SAM]

Ithaca 16 ga. featherlight!!! Before they switched too steel never a feather did escape my range. Still use it for upland, and an occasional duck hunt if I can find steel shells for it. For my money the Ithaca 16 ga. featherlight was the best shotgun ever made. It shoulders like an extension of your arm. It get all warm inside just thinkin' about it!

[Johnsonator]

Anyone have any opinions of the Benelli Nova pump? I am considering one for a duck gun this year.

[Guest]

I had two Novas, and both were traded in for Win. SX2 semi-autos.Some folks really like the Nova, but they were killer for me with the recoil, and that was with the recoil reducer installed.The Nova kicks like a mule!The Nova fit me really well, and most folks have said this is the norm.If you do turkey hunting, be aware that the forearm on these guns rattles bigtime! Very annoying, and not good for stealth when hunting gobblers. It's an ok gun for waterfowl,but I would look at a Win. 1300 as well.Bennelli has had some customer service issues in the recent past, so check things out first-be an informed buyer before you plunk down the cash.

[Johnsonator]

I checked out the nova, and really didn't care for the rattling forarm. I picked up the Winchester 1300 black shadow and thought that it felt sweet and seems to be tight. Any info on the winchester 1300, problems or anything I should know about them, is the winchoke a good choke system. thanks

[Guest]

I used a 1300 on phesants in iowa i really liked it. As for duck hunting and an all around gun the 870 is the ultamate i dont care what everyone else says. Out of my dads and mine 5 870's (all a little differnt) none have missed a hunting outing. I love them for every thing i go after, however do not like the finish of the express but i'm sure it works fine. I'v put mine (Wingmaster 12 LC) though a lot of slus and weather and it has never miss fired or wore out.

[Guest]

I got ya wooped my mossberg 500 is 10 yrs old NEVER one problem and I've used it for a paddle a few times!~

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take a kid hunting

[Long Gray Line]

Remington is blowing a little smoke with their HSOforum and "exacting standards" statement about the 870 Wingmaster and Express. I have an 870 I bought in 1974 (for $105 NEW!!) and I bought my son an 870 Express a couple of years ago. The Wingmaster is one of the sweetest most dependable shotguns ever designed. The Express was actually difficult to tear down and put back together. The pump action is very stiff, even after 2 years of shooting. It works, but I guess I got spoiled with my Wingmaster. I'll also endorse the Benelli autos. I've run everything from 3" magnums to ultralight 2 3/4 trap loads through mine with NO malfunctions, EVER! Easy to maintain and very comfortable to shoot. Just another 2cents.

[Guest]

Has anyone ever had a problem with the Benelli rotating bolt? I believe it is the system they use on all their autos. I have a left handed monafeltro and have had it go click on me a few times. Some of the time it has been after the first shot and the bolt doesn't fully rotate shut and the gun dry fires. Or sometimes the gun will get bumped just right and the action will open and hang up and it won't rotate that last little bit. The same thing happens. the firing pin doesn't hit the primer and it dry fires. I was just wondering if it is a design problem or if it's just my gun. I generally use the BPS for waterfowl but I had this brand new shotgun that was shooting great on the range. So I brought it with opening morning last year. I shot went to shoot again and all I heard was click. I shot a few other times that day without a problem and didn't have another problem until a few weeks later. Any ideas?

[bassman222]

I have a Beretta 390 and have had no problems with it, shoots as fast as you can pull the trigger. I use a Winchester 1300, this is one smooth pumping shotgun.

Bassman

[Guest]

Another note for the Beretta Silver Mallard. Best gun i ever owned.

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651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
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[Fisher Dave]

The factory claims there is no difference between the wingmaster and the express besides the wood and the finish ... and this is true on the most modern models even though they dont feel the same. The express slide is considerably rougher than the wingmaster due to the rough (finish). The wingmasters are still a very smooth gun. I have been hunting behind the same wingmaster for 23 years and it has never jammed or had any type of malfunction ... and the pattern is still holding true, and right on target.

I put my wingmaster through hell and back ... and its on its way back for this season.

If you want a gun that will last forever .. buy a wingmaster. If you want a dependable, easy cleaning auto(shell burning sky buster) .. buy a Benelli Black Eagle.... And take your sky-busting to a lake others arent hunting.

[Borch]

Johnsonator,

I have two win 1300 12 ga. that my kids use primarily. I usually use one of them for a turkey hunting gun. They are nice and light and still don't hurt you too bad when you pull the trigger. I haven't have any major trouble with them yet. At fist the Stock wantd to shift a bit with the heavier loads but with a little adjustment it hasn't been a problem.

[The Chemist]

I used to use a Barretta (x-mas present from my parents ~ 18yrs ago) After college I decided to hunt more so I used the Barretta for duck and deer. Broke the end plastic piece of one winter and decided that it was too nice of a gun for me to be out w/ it. So I traded my father for an 870 express ~10yrs ago. I liked so much that I shigled a garage for him and got another express as partial payment. Now I have one w/ a plug and the other w/out. I don't have a slug barrel/ never really saw the point.

One question though: What choke is best for this gun? I have the factory installed one in there. Most of the birds I shoot at are w/in 20yds or so longest shot is maybe 50 yds?

[Guest]

i have had remington 1100 browning citori both were great guns now i have a benelli super black eagel and it is the best fitting and easiest to take down and clean it shoots dirty and in cold weather never a problem all others are just imatations

[Fisher Dave]

Chemist ...

What choke you shoot with depends on the range of your shots, the size of your shot, and type of shot (lead or steel). The choke standards are based upon lead shot. For waterfowl hunting I like to use an Improved Cylinder choke, this gives me about the same pattern as a modified choke with lead. If i'm hunting geese I will go with the modified, which is about the same as a Full choke. I will go to a modified choke for ducks later in the season when I switch to a larger shot ( B or BB ) because the gaps in the pattern get larger with less pellets, and it can be near impossible to drop late season ducks with #4 shot because of the excess down on the birds.

I havn't run across any info nor want to sacrifice the money on heavy shot or bizmuth shells to see how they pattern in comparisons to lead and steel.

[Benny]

Anyone have some comments or experiance with the semi auto 3-1/2 inch guns?Looking at getting one of the following,
Browning,Bretta,Remington,Winchester,Franchi,Charles Daily, or an American arms corperation.
Please leave good or bad experiances,I will make a decision based on the over all comments.
Thanks, Benny

[smallies24]

In response to the Benelli question. If you for example knock the but of gun down on something hard enough you can run into the problem of the action not closing all of the way. I think this because of the very soft springs Benelli uses. As for it misfiring, I've never heard of that exact problem. I'd check with a gun smith.

[Labby]

I have a Benneli super black eagle and the only misfires I have had are on teh low base loads that we use for clays. the better AAA Win loads fire fine. AS for the Sky busting comment. That can be done with any gun.

[Guest]

Have been huntin em for 44 years and have used em all. I am now shouldering the Benelli super 90. Best yet. Hope to use some more before I go to the great duck marsh in the sky!

[RuKiddingMe]

I use a Rem. 870 Wingmaster, my folks bought it for me as a highschool graduation gift 10 years ago, the last 5 years i haven't missed a single weekend duck hunting unless of course the water was froze over, this gun has never failed me, Very reliable. My little brother bought a browning bps because he's a lefty and the bps is a bottom loading gun he has had his share of jams and miss loads and worst of all the missed shots. For field hunting the best and most comfortable i ever used has my fathers LC Smith double barrel 16 ga from the 60's (collectors item we retired it), this gun is so light and fits so perfect, it makes quick draw pheasent and grouse hunting a breeze. Just my 2 cents.

[RiverRunner]

Best gun would have to be the 870 Express or Wingmaster. I shoot a wingmaster. In 10 gauge though by far the best is the Browning BPS. Can't beat a 10 gauge for geese.

[Fisher Dave]

Broncos ...

Remington 870 Express and wingmaster are pump action.

Only difference between the 2 is the finish and quality of stock .. not to mention price tag. They are both great guns.

Im noy going to go into detail of reliability of these guns ... just look at all the post of people recommending them .. that speaks for itself. If I ever give mine up it will be to my son .. then I'll have to buy a new one .. or keep mine and get him a new one... thats a thought after hunting with it for 2 decades.

[WaveWacker]

I guess I should have looked a little more and jumped in on this post instead of starting a new one...Anyway, I too shoot a 870 wingmaster and agree that it has been a very reliable gun. I feel that my ejector("finger" that flipps shell out) is getting worn down because at time it doesn't throw the shell out like it use to. I will never get rid of it, too many memories. Anyone else have this problem??? Also back to my original idea, I am thinking of purchasing a Franchii 912 Variomax (3 1/2"). Anyone have any information one way or the other on this gun?