for Turkeys & Waterfowl, which would you buy?

I briefly owned a Remington 887 that I won at a shoot. It is a hideous gun. I'd rather pay for a Benelli than shoot an 887 for free.

Most guys that have a Benelli SBE think they're the greatest thing going.

I got a Remington SP-10. The 10 gauge throws a better pattern and is good for maybe 10-15 yards over the 12 gauge even with the same load. Killed two turkeys at 60ish yards DRT. Heavy thing to carry though.

seasidehiker said:

I am considering the new Remington 887 Nitro express or a Benelli Nova.

I want to shoot the 3.5" loads of course.


also - should I consider getting a second barrel {rifled} to shoot sabot slugs? If I were to get the second barrel - does that change the selection?

thanks

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3.5" loads are an advantage for shooting steel at waterfowl. I consider them unnecessary for turkey at any reasonable distance.

You don't need a sabot slug barrel for either turkey or waterfowl. If you plan on doing some big game hunting, I suggest you price a rifled barrel for both your contenders before you decide.

Neither of the above. I don't shoot 3-1/2" or steel, but I have shot a Mossberg 835 (?) and would take it over either one. I have seen issues with both guns mentioned. Haven't shot an 870 Supermag yet.

If I were to get the second barrel - does that change the selection?

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No, but it would rule out the Nova for me.

Benelli spare barrels are made from Unobtainum, and priced accordingly!!

rc

When I was a kid, my first "real" shotgun was a 2 3/4" 1953 Browning A5 Light 12, handed down from my Grandfather. I longed for a new shotgun that could fire 3" Magnums. I worked, and saved, and finally bought an A5 Magnum, which I hunted with for years. Then suddenly their were guns chambered for *gasp* 3.5" shells. I figured this had to be the Holy Grail, and bought a Browning BPS. Alas, a year after I bought my BPS, I spent a weekend goose hunting with guys all wielding 10ga shotguns. Another trip to the gun store and a Browning Gold 10 ga, and I was all set to drop birds at will...

Funny thing is that now, 20 years later, the shotgun I use for almost everything is my 1953 Browning A5 Light 12. It's 2 3/4 shells kill everything just as dead as the 3", 3.5", and 10 ga shells, as long as I do my job, and is a lot easier to carry all day. In really crappy weather, when all the fancy newer shotguns have turned to single shots, my old A5 just keeps banging away.

I have a 870 super mag have had it for 5 years and have never had a problem with it it shoots 2 3/4 3 3 1/2 shells with no problem. good luck

I have a bunch of pump shotguns. The one that always goes into the duck blind with me is my Benelli Nova. It took me several years to finally get one as I thought most of the Benelli hype was overrated. Several friends shoot the Benelli autos and are always having trouble with them when using a bunch of 3.5" ammo. The pumps on the other hand have never had trouble so I finally picked one up. I did put a Polychoke on it along with a sling and that is it. It is in the Max 4 camo. The finish is OK but have to be careful with solvents, it removes fairly easy if the solvent is too aggressive.
The 887's still need a little work to make them a quality firearm. Time will tell if Remington listens to its customers and fixes the problems or just keeps cranking out these shotguns.

Neither. If I could only have one shotgun forever that I had to rely on to hunt, it would be an 870 Wingmaster. If need be, it can handle 3' shells. And I don't consider anything over 2-3/4 a neccessity, more so the lines of an advantage. The gun is gorgeous and IMO the most reliable shotgun ever made.

I have lost far too many geese using 3" shells and that is why I like the 3.5" shells. In the day we could use lead where 2.75" shells worked great but today with the non toxic requirements they just don't deliver enough to consistently make good clean kills. Several of my hunting buddies that have not been duck and geese hunting felt that 3" was too much until they started going on a regular basis. Now they all shoot 3" minimum. I try to explain to them early on that shooting steel is like using an fmj bullet as opposed to lead which is like a hollow point.
Don't get me wrong I love my old 870. It has performed flawlessly for me for many years but like so many of my other shotguns does not see much action anymore due to the non toxic requirements.

seasidehiker said:

Thanks for the comments - maybe I should consider a Mossberg as well.

I would consider a rifled slug barrel just because it seems like a lot of fun to shoot some of those new sabot slugs. Just an extra benefit if I am gonna buy another shotgun anyway. the gun I have 2 3/4" jut isn't a good waterfowl gun.

thanks for the comments

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If you check the prices for sabot slugs, I don't think you'll be shooting too many for fun.

I had the same dilema a year ago. I really wanted a rem 887 for shooting steel shot at geese. I went to Gander and spent an hour shouldering every 12ga pump in the store. The rem felt "dead" wouldnt shoulder right (and I put on a store hunting jacket to get the right feel). The benelli felt better but was expensive. I found a Mossberg 835 on gunsamerica that was Mossy oak, waterfowl and turkey barrels for $150 LESS than either. It has served me well. If you were shooting over salt marshes the 887 would be a good choice, but for all else the Mossberg is fine.

For the conditions you've covered, I'm going to have to break with my tradition of being a Remington supporter and suggest you look at the Benelli, they just handle so wonderfully...darn price tag is a roadblock though.

i had a bennelli nova. i couldn't shoot it for S**t! however i shoot on tidal mud and it would regularly get muddy. I would be able to wash it off in the sink! it was great for wildfowling as we term it. I liked it