All around shotgun needed

[Jeremy]

After hiking in the woods the last two weeks looking for deer i decided that my odds would be better if i were hunting grouse since thats all i could run into. Basically what would be a good all around gun to use for mostly grouse/upland that i could also use for ducks/geese and any other birds. I am looking for something low priced since this will be my first shotgun. Also any opinions on action pump/auto/break??? Thanks for the info.

[id. painter]

I shoot an auto loader . You have to keep them very clean to run dependably.
Get a Remington 870 wing master. Get a 26" tube with replaceable chokes . You will be set for life.. id. painter

[reeldick]

I'll go along with id.painter. I've hunted ducks and upland birds all my life. The 870 is a solid all around shotgun. As you get more into it, you will find yourself trying auto's and over and unders. Everyone has their favorites.

I saw an 870 advertised either here or in the Oregonian within the last few days for $ 160.00.
The price is right.

[Crayfin]

870 ALL THE WAY. CHEAP, RELIABLE THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WOULD SECOND THE 26" BARRELL TOO..A 28" SWINGS PRETTY HEAVY.

REELDICK IS ALSO CORRECT, I OWN 5 SHOTGUNS AND I USE MY 870 THE MOST!

CRAYFIN

[Rauly]

I will also recomend the Remington 870, but since you asked for inexpensive get the 870 Express. I have shot an 870 Wingmaster since 1972 (geez I didn't think I was that old). My preferance is the 28" barrel I feel it gives me a smoother swing and follow through. Three yaers ago I bought a 870 Express, because I didn't like having to worry about the nice wood on my Wingmaster. Probably one of the best buys I have ever made.

Rauly

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

I have an 870 & an 1187. The semi-auto 1187 is a nice option but not necessary.

The 870 is definately the most econimic thing going and I am sure the most popular shotgun statistically Remmington has sold.

Good Luck.

[FishOrDie]

I hate to sound like a broken record but the 870 is the way to go. I have a 28" barrel and a composite stock on mine. I have used it enough that I am used to the added barrel weight and the comp. stock makes the whole package a bit lighter. Also I don't worry about hurting the stock if I fall or trip.
I got mine brand spanking new at Bi-mart for $150, of course that was a few years back, I know they are well under $200 on sale pretty regularly there.


my .02


FOD

[ICHTHYDEMON]

You might also look at the Mossberg 835 Ulti-mag. Its chambered for the 3 1/2" shells,and that may come in handy if you end up hunting lots of waterfowl. The 3" will handle 95% of my hunting,but when I hunt geese its nice to be able to use the 3 1/2".

[SlimPickens]

870 too. Best gun for the price. I got one shotgun for everything. Beat the crap out of it and it still shoots terrible (but that's my fault). You don't have to worry about messing it up. And after the wood stock wears out, you replace it with a synthetic stock. That's all long those 870's last.

Geese,duck,chukar,pheasant,quail,grouse,turkey. Can even carry a slug for those deer & elk...

[James in Idaho]

If you can find one, a used plain jane 870 wingmaster is the way to to. You can't wear it out, everybody has parts if you actually do break something, and you can field strip it in less than a minute. Choke tubes are ok, but a modified choke will cover 95% of your shooting, and older non tubed guns are usually cheaper. I'd go with a 12, but if you are only going to hunt upland, a 20 is fine. If the 20 has a 3" chamber, you are set for ducks and some goose hunting.

That said, I do just about all of my hunting with an old Nikko 12 gauge over/under, fixed chokes and all. Had the full choke reamed out to light modified, and it works great. I don't really believe in using 3" shells for anything, I kill all the ducks I want to eat with #3 steel in the high velocity 2 3/4" loads (Kent Faststeel), and even a few geese with the same load. For grouse, I use the 7/8 high speed winchester loads that Wally World sells for $30 a case. Grouse are not very tough! Usually use the steel loads or # 5 lead handloads for pheasants, and good old AA or Remington Handicap trap loads in 7.5 shot for chuckar. If its windy, I'll use #6 lead handloads on chuckar. I also have an assortment of 20 gauges, but that's a whole 'nother post!

[Chromaflage]

Ditto on the 870 - not sure about the Mossberg's. I've had 3 different Moss guns and they have fallen apart on me. The other option I'd recommend is the Benelli Nova - about the same $ as or a little more than the 870, but it has an awesome action.

OregonRedside

[Dr Strangelove]

Go with the Benelli Nova 26" 12g. Smoooth action, comes with a full set of choke tubes, can handle any length shell, and is light enough to hump around grouse hunting. The synthetic stock is idiot proof. For full house loads, put in the mercury recoil reducer in the stock. You can cover any waterfowl, upland game, and wild turkey with this gun, as well as get a slug barrel for deer hunting. Talk about a multi purpose gun! The gun should not cost more than $250 and $50 for the 11oz recoil reducer. Clad vinyl tape offers the best camo selection for your purposes rather than dedicated expensive factory pain schemes.

[blacktail]

Older 870 Wingmaster in 12 gauge - Modified - 26 or 28" bbl.

Mike

[Swamp Puppy]

personally, i have an 835 ultimag (geee..who would have guessed) , but i will agree that the Rem 870 is a better all around shotgun. i use my side-by-side 16ga for most of my quail/dove/grouse hunting and save the 835 for the blind. while i have taken the 835 out for a few walks in the woods...i find that it gets a bit akward to carry on those longer hikes.

-Ed

[Mello-Yello]

This is gonna sound a little off the wall...but you stated it's gonna be your first shotgun. If I were you, I'd either get a single shot, or a double barrel...12 ga. is fine, though 20 would be adequate.

About now you're wondering...is this guy crazy? Well, yes...to some point I am, but that has nothing to do with this.

IMHO, every person's first shotgun should only be capable of firing one shell...two at most. Why? You will become a good aim much sooner. Why, well, duh, you only get one try. If you start out w/a pump or auto, you'll be inclined to throw bb's all over the place. Why? cuz you can....you know you've still got more shells available.

A double barrel is good too. Typcally, left barrel is modified choke, right barrel is full choke. Try to master your aim w/lefty...if you miss, about this time the birds are flying straight away and you let righty have em. Even if you get a hit with lefty, it's always nice knowin you have full choke righty available.

I've seen first hand, countless times where the guy with the single shot or double gets the most birds at the end of the day. Once you become him...then get your autoloader. Then you will be da man....

[greenbuttskunk]

I'm with id painter,
Thats a good all around shotgun, a real standard. I own one myself

[Killertraylor]

I have all of the shotguns mentioned and would recommend an 870 - try and get one of the older Wingmasters with the blued steel - it's a smoother action than the new express version that you can pick up for about $200 on sale. A good used 870 wingmaster will run you $200-$250. The express is fine - I have one in camo and it functions very good, just not as smooth as the old Wingmasters.

My second pick is the Benelli Nova. If you plan to hunt ducks and geese, the Nova accepts 3 1/2 inch shells, has a magazine cut-off, comes with 3 choke tubes and a vent rib - very good value for about $260 at GI Joes. It also functions well with all lengths of shells - unlike the Mossberg 835 ultimag. The Mossberg works o.k., but I had to sit in front of the tv for several hours pumping the action to wear it in - all the guys in my duck club that bought them had to do the same thing. For the money, the Benelli Nova is the better 3 1/2 inch gun. The Benelli and Mossberg are both pretty heavy - not the ideal gun for grouse hunting, but not impossible either.

Have fun - and keep your eye on the paper for a gun show - you can find some real nice used 870 wingmasters at gun shows.

[wife&3kids]

Benelli Nova all the way, got one for $239 at Joes and have used it twice for geese and once for ducks.. Easy to bring to cheek and nice swinging gun for me..

[Artwo]

I have a Remington 870 Express, I dont do alot of shotgunning but this gun has never let me down. I bought mine at Bi-Mart for around $225. Mine is all back synthetic and shoots real well, here's the link.

http://www.remington.com/firearms/sh.../870expsyn.htm

[GutshotApe]

Yup...Remington 870 is the way to go. I've had mine for a long time and have three barrels for it...a 28" vent rib full choke, a 26" with choke tubes, and a rifled slug barrel with open sights. I use the 870 more than any other gun in my gunsafe...and I've probably put more meat on the table with it than all my other guns & rifles combined.
I'd look for a nice, used one instead of the 870 Express version.
And, I'd get a regular 2 3/4" chamber in 12 gauge...you don't need 3" chamber.

[ 09-17-2003, 05:04 PM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[Mad Mikey]

870 Wingmaster is a sweet gun but they do not take re-loaded shells very well.
I have used a Mossburg for 15 years and have found it to be indestructable and it takes re-loads very well.
I prefer a pump, automatics hate reloads and jam a lot.
Hercules Blue dot in a mag 2&3/4 number 5 shot is my all around grouse, pheasant load. I use #8 shot for ruffeds and chukars.
I haven't hunted ducks since I left E OR but I used to use the mag loads with #2 or #4 shot.

[k9jeff]

Another vote for the NOVA.... its light, and a great gun.

[Swamp Puppy]

Mello Yellow makes some good points. i learned to wing shoot while dove hunting with a single shot H&R .410 and after 2 seasons with that i "graduated" to the double 16 ga. (which i still have today) while i can't argue with the fact that the 870 is a great all around gun....learning the "ropes" with a single is payin' your dues.

[Mr. Carp]

Get an 870 Super Mag with the synthetic stock. A good gun that doesn't matter if it gets dinged or not.

[feisty's wife]

Mossburg 500 with short home defense barrel addition...kerchunk, they understand that real well...if ya know what I mean

[Jeremy]

If i get the Remington 870 Express that holds 4 shells will i have to do something to it to make it leagal. I noticed in the bird regs that you cant hunt with a gun that holds more than 3 shells????

[ICHTHYDEMON]

The 870 comes with a green plastic dowel in the magazine,that will limit the shells in the magazine to two.

[fishncliff]

I have a Mossberg 500, 3" with a24" barrel
swings easy and light, nocks the dog snot out of everything.