Pardner Pump Protector Questions

[Noah]

I am looking at a Pardner Pump on sale at Dick's for $180, really cheap. I want a gun for home defense, backyard (in hickville, not suburbia) bird and varmint hunting, (currently I use a break barrel pellet rifle and single shot H&R, and a W290 .22LR Semi) and maybe slug use. If I for whatever reason choose not to get this gun, I am looking at a Mossberg 500 Persuader 8 shot, especially since I shoot left handed. I am very happy with the family Mossberg 500 field gun, but I can't take that with me when I leave the house soon enough, even though I offered to pay for it. For the price, I figured I'd check this gun out. Some questions:

-I know it's heavy, so don't mention that, I like that, but has anyone had any quality/action/anything technical problems with this gun? Anything at all, missfires, pump problems, short stroking? ANYTHING I should know before I spend hard earned temp job and lawn mowing money on it, and why won't anybody even ask me for an interview when I apply? I'm not that ugly, and the people at my temp job like me, they just only have work a few times a month... Don't answer that haha. I know it's imported, but for the price... and it's unfair to just assume it stinks compared to the name brand guns. Also is the Maverick 88 a significant improvement, similar, or worse, etc? And do you think, being a left handed shooter, that a M500 is worth the extra, as previously stated, hard earned cash? I have not had too much trouble with crossbolt safeties on all my dozen plus BB guns and rimfires, so I suppose it's not that important.

-Can the 18.5" barrel use screw in chokes? All my guns have fixed chokes, so I am pretty ignorant on this topic. Is the 18.5" cylinder bore good for slugs and buckshot? I already know from the family M500 that the pattern with a cylinder bore stinks with birdshot, but I would think it would be Ok for slugs, and the birdshot pattern is good enough for my crow and rotten veggie blasting. Also, I will probably spend time Coyote and maybe Deer hunting at my Uncle's farm, would this gun work? Would my .22s or a single shot 26" Mod be better? Slugs or Buck for Coyote? I occasionally have them in my yard too... All my guns are 12 gauge but one of four singles, a 20. I want a 12 gauge pump.

Will have more time and think of more questions later. Thanks in advance, I love this forum, very useful!

 

[NoobCannon]

I just have a regular Pardner Pump with an 18.5" barrel, and mine allows the use of screw-in Remington Chokes.

Never had a problem with it. It gets neglected, abused, dragged up and down creekbeds, throughout the woods, and it. will. go. bang.

everytime.

Alot of accessories for the Remington 870 will work on it, except for the barrels. I know I had fun messing with mine.

Really, it's easily one of the best of the 'inexpensive' shotguns. Not cheap, inexpensive.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I have a protector, and it doesn't use chokes.
This is a versatile shotty though, I've even shot clay pigeons with mine.
If you run out of ammo, you can use it as a club, and if you find yourself up the creek without one, you can use it as a paddle.
Lots of people will tell you to go buy a used Remington, but I wouldn't be afraid of one of these. Mine has been used and abused and it's still a good shooter.

 

[fatcat4620]

I love mine, never had a single problem. Mine wears a wood stock, side saddle, and vang comp 1 round mag extension all meant for the 870. You can save a lot of weight with a wood stock. Im not sure how they made the synthetic stock so heavy but with stock and forend its probably a pound heavier than wood.

 

[hank327]

I've had a Pardner Pump Protector for little over a year. I think it's a great gun, especially for the money. It's very well built from very good material and has functioned perfectly for me. I had an Remington 870 Wingmaster back in my youth and except for the finish, I think the Pardner compares very favorably.

I've only shot buckshot and slugs out of mine so far. It throws buckshot to point of aim at 20 yards (the longest range I've shot buck at). It shoots slugs very close to where I put the bead at 50 yards (again the farthest I've shot slugs). If you haven't tried them, get some of the Federal Flitecontrol buckshot as it shoots amazingly tight patterns compared to regular buck.

Oh, my shotgun's 18.5" barrel is cylinder only and cannot take choke tubes which doesn't bother me as I only use it for defense. IMO, this shotgun is one of the best values in guns right now bar none. The main objection people have to this gun, is that it's made in China. If that doesn't bother you, then I highly recommend it.

 

[Noah]

Thanks for the replies! I just handled the gun at Dick's and stocked up on ammo. Judging by what's been said here/elsewhere and what I held, it's just a matter of waiting for paychecks and grass to grow. I might be shooting a friend's Pardner Pump within a week, so that'll make the decision for sure.