Best Shot Gun on Budget

Used model 870 Remington wingmaster.
I am speaking from real experience. It will last two lifetimes with very little maintenance. Points quick. Looks good. Well respected.
Forego the mag extension.
If you can't get it done with five....eight won't help.

Flip a coin , 870 or 500 . For less than $500 dollars you could get another barrel for hunting . I would skip the pistol grip . Remington was running a $50 dollar rebate it's over now . I bought 2 and after the rebate , sale and 10% discount , got mine for $226 each out the door .

I would suggest an 870 express. it edges out the mossberg in my opinion but it's just a personal preference.

On the other hand, if I just needed an HD on the cheap there really no reason to look any further than the Maverick and not worry so much about accessories. some times less is more.

My vote is for the 870 express if you want something brand new on budget. But I like to add, I'm sure if you look around you can find an old wingmaster. They usually go for about 450 for one in 90% condition. I found an old beater for 200 bucks and refinished it completely. It looked like crap but functioned like it was brand new, it is a hard gun to wear out.

Anytime someone asks what the "best" of anything is, a lot of it will be opinion. The good thing is that many different opinions are good options.

Personally I am a fan of the Remington 870, as it seems many here are. The grip just fits my hand better.

You can probably find a package deal with 2 barrels. If not, you could buy an 18.5 inch model for HD and get a longer barrel for hunting separately and still come in around the $500 mark.

The 500 or an 870 is a decent gun for the money, I shoot a pistol gripped Benelli in 3 gun, and honestly wouldn't want it on a combo gun for hunting. Stick with a regular grip, 5 in the tube is just fine or home use, and you can plug it for hunting. Both my Mossberg Rhythm and Benelli M2 have extended tubes, 9 in the Benelli and 11 in the Rhythm, as already mentioned they are really front heavy for hunting, even unloaded they add a lot of weight way out on the end. I also second getting two barrels, an 18-22" for home use (doesn't need choke tubes just get a fixed IC or modified barrel), and a 26-28" multi-choke for hunting.

as for what to buy, you have it already figured out, 870 or 500. some things to mull over...870 express is a fine hunting shotgun, get home from the field, pop the 26 inch barrel off, slap your mag extension and 18 inch barrel on, bang, now its an HD shotgun. 500 is also a fine gun, and the barrels are just as easy to swap out for being mission adaptable but the magazine tube isn't as it is plugged on the end, so if that is of conern, 870 is what you want.

As for plugging the mag for hunting, that only applies to waterfowl and migratory birds (as far as my state goes) so if you are hunting upland only, then that may not be a bother to you as well.

Other things to note; The ejector on a 870 is riveted in place and not difficult to break, its tough to do, but not impossible. The ejector on a 500 is held in with a screw and are very easy to replace. Not too much of an issue but worth mentioning. Accesories for both are plentiful and at most sporting good locations. 870 recievers are steel and 500 recievers are aluminum. I notice the difference in weight with the ones I own, your experience may differ.

Now, where to buy. Around here, pawnshops are the way to go. Seemingly eldless selections at very good prices. Most only need a little cleaing and 870's/500's can be had for $200ish in multiple locations. I just bought a mostly pristine 590 with speedfeed stock two weeks ago for $200 plus tax and got a box of 7.5 shot tossed in for testing from a local pawn shop.

Good luck!

Before spending your money, it might be nice to handle both the Mossberg and a couple of different Remington 870s to see what fits you better. If you have friends that have both or know of a range that will rent both, then pony up a couple of bucks and shoot both. Personally, I don't shoot the 870 very well (dunno why - I've REALLY tried to like them - they just don't point for me) but tons of guys love them.

Other options might include a used Winchester Model 12 (these shoot great for me), Benelli Nova / SuperNova, etc., but if it were me and my money, I'd pick the one that fit me best AND that had a barrel that accepted choke tubes (that one can readily find).

Try your local Gun Show ..........if you have one..

So many options. Take a look at slickgums under shotguns.
https://www.slickguns.com/product/stevens-320-security pistol grip, ghost ring sights $180
https://www.slickguns.com/product/m...rib-185-cylinder-bore-barrels-6-rd-wood-stock 2 barrel $335
https://www.slickguns.com/product/rock-island-armscor-m5-12-ga-pump-shotgun-23999 I hear real good stuff about this one. A copy of the high standard flight king. $205


But the best on a budget (read as cheapest that is not crap) is the 870 clone. The hawk 981. Set you back a cool 150. https://www.slickguns.com/product/hawk-981-pump-12-gauge-28-inch-17999

The Turkish autoloaders are good buys as well.

If I were you lucidity. .
I would check gun shops and pawn shops. After the craziness of the gun sales over the last decade....there have been so many old classic shotguns traded in on black rifles and handguns that it's a buyers market.
Model 12 winchester is a classic and it is easily taken down into a small package.
I hate to see anyone take a perfectly good stock and fore end off and replace it with plastic or pistol grip. You won't shoulder it for a normal accurate shot if you have a pistol grip.
It works great in the movies though.

Recommendations, in order:
1. Rem. 870
2. Mossberg 500
3. Ithaca 37
4. Win. Model 12
5. Win. Model 97

kbbailey said:

You won't shoulder it for a normal accurate shot if you have a pistol grip.

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I will disagee with that. Works great for me, and not in the movies, I shoot Trap with a pistol-gripped SpeedFeed3 stocked 870, I've shot deer with it, squirrel, rabbit, coyote....etc.
Now if you mean a pistol grip only, they can be shot accurately, but it's much harder to do, and must be practiced. Stock material, whether plastic or wood,performance wise is irrelevant. Wood does look better, though.

I like old Remington 870's over new or old Mossberg 500's, but I prefer new Mossberg's 500's over new Remington 870's.

In my opinion and in order:
1) Used 870 Wingmaster from 1990s or earlier
2) Benelli Nova... all day long....Glock of the shotgun world
3) Mossburg 500
Yada
Yada
Yada
Yada
57) Handful of rocks
58) Current Remington

I slightly favor the Mossberg over the rest of the pump guns: Dual extractors, an ejector anyone can replace in minutes, shell lifter keeps out of your way when you are loading, safety on the tang where it is easy to see. The downside is that it is not particularly smooth in its workings--but it does work very reliably.

A conventional stock works better than a stock with a pistol grip, with the Mossberg's tang safety--the pistol grip puts your hand in an awkward position to work the safety.

A novice should avoid older used gun period. Parts are often hard to find and the knowledge to know what you are getting, the condition it is in and seeing potential problems may not be in your bag of tricks, The Remington 81197 fits the need and want your described. It has an 18.5" Bead sight barrel, Remington LE 2 shot extension and hard wood stocks. You can find them for around $350 to $360.

Don't fall for the statement to get an old Wingmaster. An old Wingmaster is simply and old 870 and if it was not maintained it will have issues. Many of the older ones are not fit for a fighting gun as they do not have the flex tab conversion that all new 870 have so that $250 used Wingmaster needs $140 of parts right off the bat. Also, an old gun is yours if it breaks and a new Remington shotgun has a life time warranty.

The answer to your conundrum lies in safety location and type. Everything else is pretty much even. Mossberg 500 has a top mounted push/pull safety that is convenient but is easy to manipulate accidentally, can also be broken if the gun is dropped on it. Maverick 88 has a crossbolt safety behind the trigger which is pretty handy if that's what you got used to on say a Marlin model 60 as a kid (me). The Remington safety is in the same location and is similar to the maverick 88. With this you rule out the 500 as a defensive gun. You want to hunt with your gun, and that's very doable. Compare weight of Remington vs maverick 88 and you find Remington heavier. Do you want to carry extra weight in an 870 or so you want to take a slightly more intense jolt of recoil from the maverick? To me it's all in whether I'm walking the woods or riding a vehicle. Take your pick, neither is a bad choice.

One additional point though, older police Remington's had steel trigger group housings, new ones are plastic. If you aren't in a hurry and want an 870 go that route.

AI&P Tactical said:

A novice should avoid older used gun period. Parts are often hard to find and the knowledge to know what you are getting, the condition it is in and seeing potential problems may not be in your bag of tricks, The Remington 81197 fits the need and want your described. It has an 18.5" Bead sight barrel, Remington LE 2 shot extension and hard wood stocks. You can find them for around $350 to $360.

Don't fall for the statement to get an old Wingmaster. An old Wingmaster is simply and old 870 and if it was not maintained it will have issues. Many of the older ones are not fit for a fighting gun as they do not have the flex tab conversion that all new 870 have so that $250 used Wingmaster needs $140 of parts right off the bat. Also, an old gun is yours if it breaks and a new Remington shotgun has a life time warranty.

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From your signature, it appears that you have a business based on the tactical stuff, so I'll defer to your expertise. However, I've had two express models made between 2010 and 2015 and I would not trust either for light routine use. The flimsy plastic rattle crap making up important parts left a very bad taste.

To the OP, I personally find a pump gun easier to use with a traditional stock. I like the pistol grip on a self-defense autoloader, but find working a slide cumbersome with one. I used to short stroke mine routinely. I'm sure practice would have overcome that.

I picked up a brand new mossy 500 12ga with a 23 or 24 inch rifled barrel(for hunting) and a 26 inch smooth bore for clay shooting for $375 and I think the short HD barrel is around 100 bucks. You will get all you want for under your price!

What is plastic on the Express. The only part that I think you may be referring to is the Polymer trigger plate assembly. That assembly is superior to the cast Metal one of the Police because it is more durable and by the design. You have two plungers moving in the trigger plate assembly. Both are metal and in the Police and Wingmaster trigger plate assemblies they are moving in metal channels, so metal on metal. In the Polymer trigger plate assembly they are moving in slick polymer channels. Also since everyone part is the same in the Express as in the Wingmaster, exact same parts, except the extractor, any claim to superiority is false. It is finish and furniture and that is what you pay for on the Wingmaster.

I will add that if you have a problem with Polymer you have seriously limited your selection of handguns including Glocks, M&P, XD's and may other fighting guns.

AI&P Tactical said:

I will add that if you have a problem with Polymer you have seriously limited your selection of handguns including Glocks, M&P, XD's and may other fighting guns.

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yup that's why i use 1911's, j,k,&n frames