Outdoor Life's greatest shotguns ever

I really think the 870 belongs on the "All Time" list, but that's just me.

I agree Turtle, the 870 does belong. So does the Winchester Model 12.

Sorry, the Kreighoff K-80 should be replacing the BPS

The author doesn't seem to have a grasp of foreign guns and since every modern SxS and O/U owes their creation to either a Boss or Purdey, to not include them is ludicrous.

The 21 is heavy and handles like a pig on a shovel, great for the trap model, lousy for the field version

Well, the BPS for SURE is better than any 870, even a wingmaster. I can't see the 1100 Remington even rankin' in an all time, maybe in a made today list if they still make it. The 1897 is a hammer gun.... Remington versa Max? They're suckin' up to advertisers with THAT one.

I ain't going over the whole list, just commenting on the guns I know. This seems to be an "off the rack" comparo, too, as i don't see Holland and Holland listed or Purdey. Most folks can't go there, anyway, but they did say BEST, right? Of course, I've never fired either, but you'd think 60K would buy a decent gun....like the best.

7 out of 10 is too many double barrels on the list.

To not have a Model 37, Model 12, 870 or 4E Knick on the list is silly

7 out of 10 is too many double barrels on the list.

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Better shotguns regardless of design.

And, hey, the Duke, or at least Jacob McCandles' favorite was Greener.

Oh, BTW, I think the 870 should be below the Mossberg 500 on the "best bargains" list. I can't see it being the best anything else, especially the Express.

I prefer the 500 or 535 to the 835. The 835 is heavy, good waterfowl gun, though, and back bored. I can see that.

Bad list - but aren't they all? Every time one of these lists comes out people poke all sorts of holes in them with the obvious omissions and questionable additions, but they read them anyway. I'm beginning to think the authors deliberately make the list stupid in order to generate discussion and get their article talked about.

The finest shotgun ever made will have 29 Bury Street, St. James's London engraved on right side of top barrel. The weapon is equipped with pair of bar action sidelocks and modified Southgte ejectors. The maker was James Woodward & Sons, London.

No arguing 1 & 2 of all time "American" but I might switch the order.

I also agree that the 870 should be on the all-time list. "10 million and counting" should mean a lot. Also the longest production pump gun, the Ithaca model 37 should be on it. My 2 cents.

snooperman said:

"10 million and counting" should mean a lot.

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Yea, and Mcdonalds has sold over 250 billion hamburgers.

Lefever....should have made the list long before the 870...IMO

I have never thought of the 1897 as a "great" shotgun. Cool, yes, but ultimately novel. I don't know enough about quality doubles to question their placement, but i think the Ithaca 37 should be on the all time list as one of the greatest pump guns of all time..

7. Perazzi

Does Perazzi know they've fallen behind Remington? :banghead:

Let the arguing begin.

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Arguing is what the editors intended. Make a list, everyone argues, they get more attention and readership goes up if they are lucky.

The last copy of Outdoor Life I read was in a dentist's office and quickly concluded the publication is a faint glimmer of past glories. Today it is not fit to be used as paper in the foulest backwoods privy.

I know what I think the 10 best shotguns are. Some of my selections are on their list and some aren't. I don't care what OL thinks.

The 1897 was not only a high capacity repeater, it introduced the takedown design, it would stand up to heavy use with that newfangled smokeless powder and it was the most popular shotgun for a long time. Market hunters liked it, the military liked it and lots of ordinary people liked it during its 60-year run.

John

The finest shotgun ever made will have 29 Bury Street, St. James's London engraved on right side of top barrel. The weapon is equipped with pair of bar action sidelocks and modified Southgte ejectors. The maker was James Woodward & Sons, London.

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A good choice, but being from Scot descent, John Dickinson or MacNaughton come to mind.

in fact, THIS list from 2007 seems more apropos:

http://www.thefield.co.uk/features/153911/The_world039s_20_best_shotguns.html

First one must ask by what criteria are they to be judged?

Design excellence, aesthetic quality, overall form, reliability, decorative detail, integrity of materials, value for money and shooting performance might all be considered. Practically speaking, any gun listed must remain in production, too.

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Purdey side-by-side self-opening sidelock


Holland & Holland Royal side-by-side


Boss sidelock side-by-side


Round action side-by-side as made by David McKay Brown and Dickson & MacNaughton


Remanufactured Stephen Grant side lever 12-bore


Boss over-and-under (patented 1909)


Purdey Woodward over-and-under


Browning Superposed over-and-under


Beretta 68 series over-and-under


Perazzi over-and-under


Kemen


David McKay Brown round action over-and-under


Fabbri over-and-under


Holland & Holland Royal over-and-under


Bosis side-by-side


AyA No 1 Deluxe - English finish


William & Son side-by-side sidelock


Caesar Guerini side-plated over-and-under


Blaser F3 over-and-under


NOW let the debate begin!

Field and Stream also got into the act:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photo...un-reviews/2007/11/50-best-shotguns-ever-made

with the top 50:
Purdey Side-by-Side Game Gun
Remington 870
Browning Superposed
Famars
Remington Model 1100
Browning A5
Winchester Model 12
Beretta AL390
Westley Richards & Co. Droplock
Parker
Benelli Super Black Eagle
A.H. Fox
Browning Citori
Beretta 680 Series
Arrizabalaga
Merkel 200E
Winchester 97
Browning Gold
Ithaca NID
L.C. SMITH
Beretta Xtrema2
Tar-Hunt
Mossberg 500
Ithaca 37
Winchester 21
Remington 31
Remington 32
Lebeau-Courally Holland & Holland--style Sidelock
Dickson Round Action
Perazzi M Series
Winchester Model 42
Franchi 48 AL
Winchester Model 59
Parker Reproduction
Darne/Debruchet Double
Lefever
Winchester Super X1
Browning BSS Sidelock
Browning Double Automatic Twelvette
Mossberg 835
Charles Daly/Miroku
Browning A-Bolt *Shotgun
Caesar Guerini Tempio
Ithaca/SKB 100
Smith & Wesson Super 12
Winchester Model 1200
Ruger Gold Label
Boss O/U
Remington SP10
Stevens 311


With only a few I disagree with, this seems even more complete

oneounceload said:

Field and Stream also got into the act:

With only a few I disagree with, this seems even more complete

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Wow...Don't tell my hunting buddy his Browning BSS boxlock didn't make their list but my A.H. Fox did. lol

oneounceload said:

Sorry, the Kreighoff K-80 should be replacing the BPS

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It should be near the very top of the list of all time best shotguns, not just current production, perhaps second only to a Boss or Purdey.

The fragile 3200 has no business on that list at all! It's a poor attempt to market something that LOOKED like a K-32/K-80.

Stupid list from a writer who either doesn't know what he's talking about or needs to salt the list with some "budget" guns so people don't cry foul and complain that they can't afford the guns on the list.

Bad list - but aren't they all? Every time one of these lists comes out people poke all sorts of holes in them with the obvious omissions and questionable additions, but they read them anyway. I'm beginning to think the authors deliberately make the list stupid in order to generate discussion and get their article talked about.

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Any top ten list is designed to be argued about. That's why they're great for gun boards.

I don't get how the Vera Max is on the list.

It's a nice shooting gun, but belongs no where near a list of 10 best guns...

Gun snobs, and not even very snobby gun snobs. Fie on them.

Well, when you're talking top 10 best, heck, the gun snob has an opinion, too, right? I don't mind it in this case as the higher end guns tend to be "better". That doesn't mean that I'd own one or that it is worth what it costs to me or that my Mossbergs won't do me just fine. Just means they're finer, more refined, better balanced, better fit, whatever and I have no argument really. I mean, if I had the money, I'd own a Purdey.

Hell, it's all opinion and if we were all sitting around a table having a beer (okay, the Purdey owners having champagne), it'd be a good natured discussion rather than a heated net argument. Sorta reminds me of the bazillion "best deer caliber" discussions I've been in over the years, no real winner, just opinions.

"Greatest" or "Best" lists always come with a personal bias. What do you need the shotgun for? Hunting? Home Defense? Door Breaching? CQB? Clays? Personally, a lot of these "great" shotguns have absolutely no place in my safe. In fact, the two that I have aren't even on the list, and I don't regret the two that I have.