I hunted as a kid with my father and am looking at getting back into it as an adult so that I can pass that on to my children. With my current budget I’m looking at the Benelli Nova, Winchester sxp waterfowl, and recently saw the Remington 870 express. I’m just looking at something for now to get started and can invest into something later on. Any input would help thank you! I hope this is in the right thread as well!
Help with new bird gun suggestion.
- Thread starter Viny_88
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Armored farmer
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Welcome.
You say bird gun, do you mean waterfowl, doves, upland birds.? All three..?
I have four 870s. I like them. They are durable, and relatively cheap.
One of them would surely satisfy.
If you buy a 3" 12ga 870 wingmaster, you and your kids would be set for life, but who wants that..?
You say bird gun, do you mean waterfowl, doves, upland birds.? All three..?
I have four 870s. I like them. They are durable, and relatively cheap.
One of them would surely satisfy.
If you buy a 3" 12ga 870 wingmaster, you and your kids would be set for life, but who wants that..?
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If I touched a Remington I would skip the newer express and go into a Wingmaster if they still make them? Benelli Nova's are an acquired taste. I cannot warm up to them no matter how much I tried.
IMO a stoeger 3000, Mossberg 500, 870 wingmaster, the newer Winchester shotguns seem pretty good too.
I went on my first dove hunt last year with a buddy and he uses a $1200 Benneli autoloader and knocked em down 5 ways from Sunday. I couldn't hit jack squat with my Mossberg 500. Find something that fits you very, very well and run with it. I grabbed the Mossberg because that's what I grew up with and I'm cheap! The gun doesn't fit me very well anymore, so once I get back into shotgun hunting ill be getting something else.
IMO a stoeger 3000, Mossberg 500, 870 wingmaster, the newer Winchester shotguns seem pretty good too.
I went on my first dove hunt last year with a buddy and he uses a $1200 Benneli autoloader and knocked em down 5 ways from Sunday. I couldn't hit jack squat with my Mossberg 500. Find something that fits you very, very well and run with it. I grabbed the Mossberg because that's what I grew up with and I'm cheap! The gun doesn't fit me very well anymore, so once I get back into shotgun hunting ill be getting something else.
Armored farmer
Member
I keep forgetting about those TriStars. They're worth a look.
10-4 I was just thinking which is the best bang for the buck until I can save for a higher quality one later on.
jmorris
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I have a few 870’s I actually won over different years at my wife’s work Christmas party’s. They are the base models but function just fine. I have a couple mossberg pumps that don’t feel as good to me but function 100%, the benelli would likely be a great choice. I have a buddy that bought a Charles Daly semiauto a few years ago I was really impressed with for as cheap as it was.
I would go stroke a few in a walk in store as some things are particular to the individual, like what boot would be the best for you.
Slide release and safety locations are the first thing that comes to mind. Some are great for right hand folks but not as good for lefties and some work the same for right and left handed folks. A number of “it depends” and personal preference. As long as they run, they will all do the job.
I would go stroke a few in a walk in store as some things are particular to the individual, like what boot would be the best for you.
Slide release and safety locations are the first thing that comes to mind. Some are great for right hand folks but not as good for lefties and some work the same for right and left handed folks. A number of “it depends” and personal preference. As long as they run, they will all do the job.
Birdhunter1
Member
I'm thinking with all the rage for tactical, black, synthetic and cerakoted finishes that finding a used 870 Wingmaster at an auction or gunshop would be much more affordable than the $800 MSRP for a new one.
I've shot the Nova, I've shot the Super X2 WInchesters and in my opinion the first one will never be as smooth as an 870 and the other would be a fantastic boat anchor.
I've shot the Nova, I've shot the Super X2 WInchesters and in my opinion the first one will never be as smooth as an 870 and the other would be a fantastic boat anchor.
FL-NC
Member
The 870 is probably your best bet. I have one with 3 barrels: 28" for anything that flies, 21" for turkey, 20" rifle sights for deer/HD. All smoothbore, all with screw in chokes. The only downside is that with 3" magnum shells (duck/turkey loads) that thing is a beast in terms of recoil.
Patocazador
Member
I have two of the newer "Express" 870s. Made in China and both wouldn't eject factory ammo until I polished the chamber extensively. They worked fine after the polishing.
I don't like the Nova and my limited experiences with Winchester shotguns has made me leery of them.
Birdhunter's post above would be my choice .... a used Wingmaster. I have one but it's not for sale.
I don't like the Nova and my limited experiences with Winchester shotguns has made me leery of them.
Birdhunter's post above would be my choice .... a used Wingmaster. I have one but it's not for sale.
Choctaw
Member
The law enforcement agencies I have worked for all had Mossbergs. They functioned flawlessly with a variety of loads. My personal Mossberg 500s have also been good guns, as have my 870s. Also, if on a budget the Mossberg Maverick 88 will accept Mossberg stocks and barrels. Academy currently has the 88s for $179.
Bull Nutria
Member
A used wingmaster 870 in 3in 12 ga with screw in choke tubes is a great choice. avoid 2 3/4inch chambered guns and guns with fixed chokes. Mossberg 500 3in chamber with screw in chokes is also a serviceable pump.
Good luck,
Bull
Good luck,
Bull
+1
I'm not a very good shotgunner, but even I can tell the difference between a shotgun that fits right and points where I'm looking, and one that doesn't and I have to work at aiming.
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troy fairweather
Member
yup fit is key, like loonwulf i'm no expert on shotguns but they got to fit you. most of the shotguns made are good.
My brother, buddy and I have owned Mossberg 835 and 500's for along time and while they are built like a brick crap house because the receivers are all steel I believe so they are heavy but I have never had a reliability issue with mine. I am a larger man so it doesn't fit me quite well and doesn't rack as smoothly as some other pumps but I will say this you could drop that gun and use it as a boat anchor and it would still work.
I'd buy it if it's in good shape, those were (dunno if they still make them) some damn fine pumpguns.
Iike Browning's and id like to have a pair of their pumperz, a 12ga BPS, and a 7mm BPR.
Yeah it’s in good shape I went ahead and grabbed it
Your kids don't want to shoot a 12 ga pump gun. Get a 20 ga semi-auto. A Remington 1100 would be ideal, but brand-new is more than you want to spend. See if you can find a used gun. The semi-autos absorb (slow) some of the recoil in the action. You can always load it with a single shot. 20 ga. is less weight and less recoil and still gives good patterns. 28 ga and .410 are too hard to hit anything with at a distance. They might be fine for clays, but will miss or wound birds unless the shooter is a real good shot.
I meant just carry on the tradition of hunting to my kids
Patocazador
Member
I switched to a 20 ga. about 10 years ago and it downs the ducks as good as my 12 ga. shotguns did with less weight and less recoil.
That's about the time I read an article in Outdoor Life?? that taught me to shoot a shotgun. It said, just concentrate on the flying target and when it gets to the closest point, raise your gun and fire in one motion. Don't aim. Your brain will compute the proper time to shoot. This requires a gun that fits you really well.
That's about the time I read an article in Outdoor Life?? that taught me to shoot a shotgun. It said, just concentrate on the flying target and when it gets to the closest point, raise your gun and fire in one motion. Don't aim. Your brain will compute the proper time to shoot. This requires a gun that fits you really well.
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