New Shotgun

woolybuggerboy · 09-22-2007, 09:30 AM

I've been out bird hunting a few times recently and have decided I need to get a shotgun. I'm a poor college student so I'm not looking to spend much more than $300. Weatherproofness is very important to me. Whats the most reliable shotgun I can get for the money? This will be used for upland and waterfowl. Any advice on what to get?

jokester · 09-22-2007, 10:00 AM

If you don't mind a pump, i've got two words...Benelli Nova!! I bought one a couple years ago and I hunt mostly waterfowl with it. However, I do take it out and shoot skeet & trap and also upland hunt a little with it. Very durable, and have NEVER had any problems with it that weren't my fault (short stroke, wet shells, etc.). I don't all out abuse mine, but I don't baby it either!

$300 will get you the gun (28" or 26" barrel) and all 3 factory chokes (IC, Mod, Full). The Nova also has 2 3/4 - 3.5" capability.

Can't beat it for the $$'s.

-jokester

Crooked Hook · 09-22-2007, 10:03 AM

You can't go wrong with a Remington 870 with a composite stock. The cheap wood ones will swell when wet. They will last you a lifetime if you do basic maintenance on them, like cleaning and throwing some oil and solvent on them once in awhile. I picked one up a couple years ago for my son at Bi-Mart for $229.00 on sale.

Dr Strangelove · 09-22-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokester

If you don't mind a pump, i've got two words...Benelli Nova!! I bought one a couple years ago and I hunt mostly waterfowl with it. However, I do take it out and shoot skeet & trap and also upland hunt a little with it. Very durable, and have NEVER had any problems with it that weren't my fault (short stroke, wet shells, etc.). I don't all out abuse mine, but I don't baby it either!

$300 will get you the gun (28" or 26" barrel) and all 3 factory chokes (IC, Mod, Full). The Nova also has 2 3/4 - 3.5" capability.

Can't beat it for the $$'s.

-jokester

The Nova 20ga makes a fine duck and pheasant gun that is easy to carry at 6.5lbs...the 12ga is near 8lbs.

lor · 09-22-2007, 10:16 AM

I second the remington 870, get the supermag express it chambers 3.5" loads. Not that you will shoot them, but if you need a bigger shell for geese, you won't need a second gun.

Its a good gun for waterfowl hunting where your go will definitely get wet, muddy, etc. Its affordable and reliable, shop around you can generally find them new for less than $275.00, look at the sunday ads for Gi joes, Big 5 sporting Goods, and Bimart.

Got One! · 09-22-2007, 10:21 AM

there was a Mossberg 500c 20ga Pump in the ifish classifies for $125, you can pisk up mossberg 12 fairly cheap too.
a Remington Model 87, 12 ga 3", full choke for $250 obo also,.....and a few more if ya look around :-D

AS far as Mossberg's go a lot of guys on here don't seem to like them, seem to discount them as poor because of the cost, or maybe they have had a piece of poo from them and I've just been lucky!! I have shot thousands of rounds through mossbergs and never had a mechanical failure in 40 years of shooting them (A few bad shells over the years but the weapons never failed me) I was wearing out a firing pin on one once, it still fired everytime but the "dent" was getting smaller so I changed it)

I have other brands which I wont go into, and found extra $$$ doesnt mean better reliability. I do think however many other $$$ brands you do get the advantage of light weight! This as of yet hasn't mattered to me as I can easily swing ten lbs around to get a bead on my bird still without much effort. As a young college guy you shouldn't need a feather weight gun either.

All that said, buy based on what is comfortable to you, not brand, you'll hit a lot more when the gun feels right. Beware of pumps with one pump rail, make sure there is one on each side, single rails have made me crazy with lockups.,<--(junk) Double barrels cant go wrong either....once again its the weight thing unless you got a lot of $$$.

BrotherWolf · 09-22-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokester

If you don't mind a pump, i've got two words...Benelli Nova!! I bought one a couple years ago and I hunt mostly waterfowl with it. However, I do take it out and shoot skeet & trap and also upland hunt a little with it. Very durable, and have NEVER had any problems with it that weren't my fault (short stroke, wet shells, etc.). I don't all out abuse mine, but I don't baby it either!

$300 will get you the gun (28" or 26" barrel) and all 3 factory chokes (IC, Mod, Full). The Nova also has 2 3/4 - 3.5" capability.

Can't beat it for the $$'s.

-jokester

Ditto ...the best bang for your buck!

Cliff D. · 09-22-2007, 10:57 AM

Have all 3 of the pumps mentioned. All 3 are good guns per your requirements. Get the one that is most comfortable to you.

DuckDaveDuck · 09-22-2007, 04:59 PM

I have a used 870 super mag that I will sell you for $200, that will leave you a $100 for shells. I still have the box it came in and have not used it in 2 years. I remember those college years and doing anything for money to buy shells and gas.
Dave

duckboy · 09-22-2007, 07:08 PM

870 or the nova..

Or a set of matched H&R 12 ga single shots

I'd shy away from the Mossberg.

llama77 · 09-23-2007, 10:17 AM

Benelli super nova.
It has the adjustable shim system so you can get the gun to shoot where you look instead of just "feeling" good.

woolybuggerboy · 09-23-2007, 11:53 AM

Looks like its pretty much unanamous... Its either the nova pump or the 870. I'm gonna go down to the gun shop next weekend and try them both out, see which one fits me better. Thanks for all the help.

llama77 · 09-23-2007, 06:28 PM

Woolybugger,

you wont be able to tell too much about fit at the shop unless you have someone there that knows what hes doing. even then you wont be able to tell until you shoot it at a pattern board.

You may be one of the 40% that can shoot a gun off the shelf . But you might be in the 60 % bracket also.

You might borrow a fairly new 870 and test it first if your set on it.

Swift Fly Guy · 09-23-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokester

If you don't mind a pump, i've got two words...Benelli Nova!! I bought one a couple years ago and I hunt mostly waterfowl with it. However, I do take it out and shoot skeet & trap and also upland hunt a little with it. Very durable, and have NEVER had any problems with it that weren't my fault (short stroke, wet shells, etc.). I don't all out abuse mine, but I don't baby it either!

$300 will get you the gun (28" or 26" barrel) and all 3 factory chokes (IC, Mod, Full). The Nova also has 2 3/4 - 3.5" capability.

Can't beat it for the $$'s.

-jokester

+1

I loved the one I had, sold it stepped up to the SBEII

OSUhuntnfish · 09-24-2007, 08:06 AM

I'm going to have to go with the Benelli Nova on this one. My brother owns a Remington 870 and it seems fairly vulnerable to rust, and I've heard the same thing about other 870's that are newer in age. I believe that the Benelli Nova shotguns are probably one of the most weatherproof and durable guns available on the market, especially when you take into consideration the type of conditions you will be in when you're out ducking and goose hunting. Hopefully this helps you some.
-Nick

Hunt'nFish · 09-24-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woolybuggerboy

Whats the most reliable shotgun I can get for the money? This will be used for upland and waterfowl. Any advice on what to get?

Most reliable pumps: Rem 870 & Benelli Nova
Of course there is nothing wrong with an Ithica Mod37 either.

Most reliable auto's: 3" Stoger 2000, 3.5" Rem SPR453 (Spartan)

Any of these would make fine choices.
I suggest you search the archives here as this has been beat to death over & over every year here.
Hunt'nFish

PS: I have a Spartan, 2yrs with one jam. Down side to the Spartan is mine won't shoot lite trap loads, even with gas sys adj'd. But I hear other Spartans shoot'em fine. Not sure why.

BTW, I still want an SBE.

motoxaaron03 · 09-24-2007, 12:02 PM

870 Supermag! I've had one for years. I use it for upland, waterfoul, turkey, trap, and I've even taken a river buck with it a few years back. Tough as nails, extremely reliable, and cheap! You can pick one up new any time at Bi-Mart for under $300. Trust me, you won't be disapointed.

Linejerk · 09-24-2007, 03:56 PM

870 is the way to go

usmyrmss · 09-24-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linejerk

870 is the way to go

Had one for over 30 years. GREAT waterfowl gun.

BTW L J - Cool Avatar!!

woolybuggerboy · 10-02-2007, 08:12 PM

I finally shopped around and picked out my gun. I bought a Benelli Nova 12ga with a 28" barrel. Its a very sweet gun. I took it out shooting skeet today and went 19 for 25. It fits me great. I can't wait till the weekend when i can go try it out on some grouse