Shotgun for under $500????

Posted by: big moby

Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 12:18 PM

My shotgun basically went tits up during 3rd period goose season this last year. I will be in the market for another over the summer. any advise or "stay away" froms would be great. Pump or autoloader.....
Posted by: Dub

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 01:22 PM

Sure like my 870's.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 02:23 PM

might end up going that route.
Posted by: j 7

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 02:24 PM

+1 on the Remington 870. Affordable and durable.
Posted by: Dub

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 02:33 PM

Then again look it over close, finish wise, before purchase. Seems like they are rough lately. Shoot good and reliable though.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 02:43 PM

870 Wingmaster... got 3 and wouldnt sell them for the world... should be able to find used ones for 250-350...

as to how reliable they are, i have my dads, that hes had since he was 12 years old, when he died 6 years ago he was 52.. shot many 24 of 25 rounds of clays with it wink
Posted by: JTD

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 02:46 PM



I saw an 11-87 on Seattleguns.net for $400. 28" with black synthetic stocks.

Super reliable and probably only autoloader in the price range worth considering IMOP
Posted by: Direct-Drive

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 03:44 PM

Both those Remmys are proven.
The 1100 as well.

If you're used to an auto, sometimes a pump will screw you up in the heat of action.
I've seen guys jerking on the trigger trying for that second shot and forgetting to pump.
Posted by: landcruiserwilly

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 03:45 PM

there have been quite a few going through seattleguns.net lately. keep your eye on it and something will come up. in fact the 11-87 is still there. ad says $450

http://seattleguns.net/showthread.php?153003-WTS-Remington-11-87




willy
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 04:09 PM

DD,

I'm just the opposite. never hunted with an auto. Hardly ever shot one. I'm a bit rough on guns and hunt quite a bit during the waterfowl season.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 04:20 PM

I have a friend looking to part with a 1969 870 wingmaster in mint condition.

really cool gun but as far as day to day hunting?
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 04:34 PM

my dads 12 gauge is a 66, and has been USED, not beat on, but used, and there is zero issues with it, and none have ever occured... mine is from the 80s i think, zero issues, and the other one is my dads 20 gauge, likely from the 70s, zero issues with it...

the 870 IMO is the best pump shotgun ever made... and when i can find deals on Wingmasters, i buy them... all of mine have come for 400 and under...

id pick it up, you will love it... i threw a high viz rail sight on mine, and it actually helps a bit as well...
Posted by: Direct-Drive

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 04:56 PM

Benelli has quite the fan club these days. Never handled one.

I've put many thousands of rounds downrange through an Ithaca Model 37
Been around quite a few 870's

The venerable Model 12 is a fan favorite.

Always thought of Mossberg as cheap gun, but they are making inroads.

BPS always seemed like a clunky Model 37 knock off.

Winchester 1300 is unremarkable and cheap feeling, IMO.

All the pumps in this list have earned good reps. Some have better genetics.
http://hunting.about.com/od/shotgun/tp/top_pump_shotguns.htm

The only one to avoid, that is mentioned in passing, is the Model 97 because of it's propensity for accidental discharge.
It's a wall hanger.
Model 12 cured the 97's shortcomings.

Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 05:07 PM

the Mossberg 500 is a good shotgun, but like you said DD, they are cheap.... for the money tho, you cant beat them for certian things..

never owned a Benelli, but they are fine guns... just really expensive...

i really follow and enjoy watching Tom Knapp, he was the shooter for Benelli for quite a while, till he got sick, and they basically fired him.... now he shoots for CZ... check them out, deffinately will be the next autoloader i buy, and in the link is a video of them Dove hunting in South America, and put through EXTREME abuse, yet they still keep clicking....

oh, and both the 712, and 912 are under 500 bucks wink

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-712-semi-auto/
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 05:47 PM

I have a model 37 featherweight. cool gun, was my gramps. want to keep it clean. does yours jam up upon ejection, mine does badly, seems some shells are better than others....
Posted by: Direct-Drive

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 06:02 PM

Originally Posted By: big moby
I have a model 37 featherweight. cool gun, was my gramps. want to keep it clean. does yours jam up upon ejection, mine does badly, seems some shells are better than others....

AA reloads.
Winchester brass starts out with a bigger rim diameter.
Then the firing/reloading/firing process makes them bigger yet, even with resizing.
Solution was Federal or Remington/Peters.
Posted by: MikeH

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 09:38 PM

Another one here for the 870......I have owned one for quite awhile and never had an issue with it. I have since upgraded and pass it over to the woman for goose hunting. Very stout gun at a great price. Word of advise go with the 870 super magnum. 3 1/2" shells are the sh!t for big geese. I used to hunt birds a ton more when I live in wyoming and my family owns land on the north platt river in nebraska.
Posted by: The Moderator

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 10:22 PM

If I could only have one shotgun <SHUDDER> I'd take my trusty 870 Wingmaster Magnum over anything else in my safe!

I think I bough that old girl new back in 1986 or so. My very first gun that I bought with my own monies. I still love that gun.

As MikeH pointed out, seeing how there's a Super Magnum version, that's even better!

Remington 870 Super Magnum

+win

Game over. Next?
Posted by: Dub

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 10:53 PM

I bought my first gun (870 express mag) with money I earned my freshman year in 88 from Jafco in North Everett. Still have it. It's finish is non existent from hunting salt marshes and not taking proper care of it but it SHOOTS!
Posted by: SundayMoney

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/22/12 11:31 PM

I've had two 3.5" chambered shotguns. A Mossberg 835 and a Benelli Super Nova. My brother has a 3.5" 870.

Sold both of mine and went back to a 3" 870. My brother still owns his POS.

With the hundreds of non-toxic loads on the market nowdays,a 3" chamber will do everything you need to do with a 12ga.

If you think you need a 3.5" 12ga,you'd be better off with a 10ga IMO.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 10:26 AM

Thanks for the replies fellas. probably going to go with an 870 of some sort. I like the idea of the 3 1/2 shells but the way we have been landing geese I don't feel it is necessary. plus the shells are a lot more expensive when you are hunting 2-3 times a week.....

I am staying away from mossberg, that is what went to $hit on me already. The only other one I was considering was the Benelli nova's....
Posted by: D3Smartie

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 10:33 AM

I have been beating the hell out of my Remington 887 the past couple years and it seems to be hanging in there.
great for the mud and rain of the valley.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 10:46 AM

Right on Dave. is the 887 an autoloader?
Posted by: Dub

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 11:49 AM

My 3.5 870 seems to point and shoot about the same as my 3 inch.
Posted by: D3Smartie

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 01:44 PM

887 is a pump. I hunt it too much nasty stuff to trust an auto to not foul on me.
A lot of guys dont seem to like em but they shoot just fine for me.
http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/shotgun-families/pump-action-model-887.aspx

you can probably find one for $250 if you are patient.
Posted by: MikeH

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 06:31 PM

Originally Posted By: SundayMoney


If you think you need a 3.5" 12ga,you'd be better off with a 10ga IMO.

10g guns for bird hunting is way overkill regardless of if thats what its "designed to do" . I have used both 3.5" and 3" loads a lot goose hunting and the 3.5" packs more kick with out looking like an a$$hole trying to flock geese at way too long of range.

I also used my 870 for close range coyote hunting on my family's ranch in wyoming. That 870 would drop a dog like nothing. That paired with my mini 14 is the perfect coyote setup.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 06:48 PM

you can also get the "Slugger" barrels by Remington to shoot Sabot slugs pretty damn accurately at 100+ yards... they are rifled tho, so you wont want to run rifled slugs, or any shot of any sort, it wont work too well...

i think they run around 150 ish...
Posted by: SundayMoney

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 08:04 PM

Originally Posted By: MikeH
Originally Posted By: SundayMoney


If you think you need a 3.5" 12ga,you'd be better off with a 10ga IMO.

10g guns for bird hunting is way overkill regardless of if thats what its "designed to do" . I have used both 3.5" and 3" loads a lot goose hunting and the 3.5" packs more kick with out looking like an a$$hole trying to flock geese at way too long of range.



Dude,you don't even make any sense. A 10ga shooting 1 3/4oz of shot is "way overkill" but a 3.5" 12ga shooting 1 9/16 oz isn't?

It really doesn't matter though. A 3" chambered 12ga with todays non-toxic loads will do 99.9% of what any duck or goose hunter needs to do.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 08:42 PM

Originally Posted By: big moby
Thanks for the replies fellas. probably going to go with an 870 of some sort. I like the idea of the 3 1/2 shells but the way we have been landing geese I don't feel it is necessary. plus the shells are a lot more expensive when you are hunting 2-3 times a week.....

I am staying away from mossberg, that is what went to $hit on me already. The only other one I was considering was the Benelli nova's....


like i said BM, check out the CZ 712 and 912... they were shooting over 1000 shells a day in Argentina on doves without 1 hickup, misfeed, misfire, anything... and as said in the video, if your gun is going to break, it will break there.... the vid is in that link i posted...
Posted by: Sol Duc

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/23/12 11:15 PM

I just bought this 870 Marine Stainless Remmy. thumbs

Posted by: DBAppraiser

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/24/12 12:10 AM

Originally Posted By: big moby
Thanks for the replies fellas. probably going to go with an 870 of some sort. I like the idea of the 3 1/2 shells but the way we have been landing geese I don't feel it is necessary. plus the shells are a lot more expensive when you are hunting 2-3 times a week.....

I am staying away from mossberg, that is what went to $hit on me already. The only other one I was considering was the Benelli nova's....


I use a Benelli Nova for turkey and it works great. I've pumped quite a few shells through it without any problems. Everything from turkeys to clay pigeons to an old water heater, never an issue. I bought it because Cabelas was out of 870's the day I went to buy a gun. The action seems to be a little smoother than the 870 but it weighs a little more but I like a little heavier gun.
Posted by: Direct-Drive

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/24/12 12:11 AM

Originally Posted By: Sol Duc
I just bought this 870 Marine Stainless Remmy. thumbs


With some 00 Buck that would be some good flea bag medicine.
If that sort of thing was legal of course.
Posted by: huntncoug

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/24/12 12:31 AM

+1 on the 870 i have a benneli nova and havent shot it since i got the 870
Posted by: MikeH

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/24/12 07:38 PM

Originally Posted By: SundayMoney
Originally Posted By: MikeH
Originally Posted By: SundayMoney


If you think you need a 3.5" 12ga,you'd be better off with a 10ga IMO.

10g guns for bird hunting is way overkill regardless of if thats what its "designed to do" . I have used both 3.5" and 3" loads a lot goose hunting and the 3.5" packs more kick with out looking like an a$$hole trying to flock geese at way too long of range.



Dude,you don't even make any sense. A 10ga shooting 1 3/4oz of shot is "way overkill" but a 3.5" 12ga shooting 1 9/16 oz isn't?

It really doesn't matter though. A 3" chambered 12ga with todays non-toxic loads will do 99.9% of what any duck or goose hunter needs to do.

haha good point. I agree a 3" 12g will take down anything that flies.
Posted by: Chum Man

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/26/12 08:30 PM

hard to go wrong with the 870. look for an older wingmaster magnum, they can be had for a lot less than a new express and are a much nicer gun.

the wingmaster super magnum was only produced for a year or two, i've seen pictures but never handled one. guess remington figured that producing a 3.5" chambered gun in "high grade" was kind of pointless, seeing the conditions that most 3.5" guns are used in.
Posted by: rfyall

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/30/12 01:33 AM

I've had a Benelli Nova for a year now and I have no complaints. I didn't notice this at first, but others mentioned that it "clicks" quite a bit when in the field. A little heavy compared to other guns on the market, but overall a great gun at a decent price...
Posted by: Timber

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/30/12 12:25 PM

I have 2 pumps- 1 Beneli Supernova 26" bbl 3-1/2 mag and a Remmy 870 supermag with a 28" bbl. I would recommend both for an inexpensive shotgun $350-$500
I am partial to over/unders so I also have a Wincester 101 Field Grade 28" bbl and a Browning Citori XT Trap Grade 3 with a 32" bbl.
The Winny is gonna cost ya $1100-1300 and the Browning around $2500-3000...

All are great guns its all in what you wanna do with each and the money you have to spend.
Posted by: NOFISH

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 05/30/12 01:02 PM

I picked up one of these a couple of years ago after getting frustrated with my 870......it has been a great gun for me, easy to carry, never need that 3rd shell anyway wink

Paid right around $500
Posted by: Illyrian

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/05/12 05:59 PM

Got 3 870s, no complaints. 3 inc chamber with magnum turkey loads
really lets you know it went bang.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/06/12 04:16 PM

I am purchasing the 1969 wingmaster this weekend. 3" chamber and is like new. Hope I made a good choice.......
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/06/12 04:26 PM

you did...


how much?
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/06/12 05:07 PM

$400.

actually partial trade and cash but that is the total value we agreed upon.
Posted by: wsu

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/07/12 12:52 PM

Another gun to look at (if you didn't already buy) is the stoeger 2000. I've had one for two seasons now and it has performed almost flawlessly. As long as I keep it semi-clean it shoots well (semi-cleaning meaning don't let 4 hunts worth of mud build up inside the gun). I've probably shot 3 cases of shells and it cycles perfectly.

Most have been ducking in the mud, cow $hit, etc. I bought it for just over $500, and that included camo coating, chokes, etc. Much higher quality product that the new 870 express guns.
Posted by: big moby

Re: Shotgun for under $500???? - 06/07/12 05:41 PM

If I did not have the option for this gun I probably would have gone a different direction. was leaning toward the 887 Smart was refering too.