Bad experience, help me choose a shotgun

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kungfuhippie

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I went to the local shop today, and the owner wasn't there. Intead Mr. KnowItAll was there. :banghead: I explained that I want a 12ga pump for home defense. I explain that I've got +/-$300 that I can spend.
So KnowItAll Sr. pulls a Winchester pump with black tacticool plastic down (and what seemed to be a 28" barrel :banghead: as says "this here is what you want, it will work for HD and when you want to go bird hunting... Now I've spent $$$$ in this shop, I've talked with the Owner and KnowItAll about hunting, that I hunt rabbits (mostly jacks), with a 10/22 and with a scoped mauser. That I do it for fun (and food, but fun is why I go) and I don't want to use a shotgun for hunting rabbits, I prefer stalking and long range shots over "flush and fire". It's just what I see as fun. I explained that the $500 price was too much and also that I was looking for something with a shorter barrel. Well that led KnowItAll to pull a mossberg 870 ??? with a 28" barrel and wood furniture (prefered) and quotes me a price of $350 before DROS. Well, it seems that all their short barreled shotguns are not for home defense because he didn't show me a single one, claimed they wern't very useful for what I wanted. Also he made sure to tell me that the "kachig" of the shotgun would scare away most crooks anyway :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

So basically, what can I get NEW for around $350 for home defense? Are there any semiautos worth getting in that pricerange? I say new because used guns never seam to sell cheap in California.
 
I explained that I want a 12ga pump for home defense.
Click to expand...

If you have a Big5 sporting goods store near you they always seem to have new Mossberg 500/590 and Remington 870 Express on sale every other week.

I purchased a perfectly fine Mossberg 500 20" barrel 7+1 shot Persuader model at my local Big5 for around a $220 price tag.
 
I'll second what Torpid said

Get a Mossberg 500. I own one and have shot the 870 pretty extensively and I prefer the 500 for the set up of the safety and action bar release. Either one would work well. Maverick is a price leader brand manufactured by Mossberg(someone correct me here if I am wrong) and should also work well.
 
New, Remington 870, Mossberg 500, and there may be some of the Winchesters still in stock.

The Maverick is an industrial grade 500 and oft sold for less than $200.

Used, any of the above and some of the fine Ithaca 37s are out there waiting for rescue.

ALL of the above are good, reliable shotguns. Get what feels best.
 
As Torpid said, check out your local Big 5 (if you have one nearby). In fact, they have this ad up until tomorrow.

http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal....4061&CatTreeID=591161&L2CatId=591161&L1CatID=

Now, I have a Remington 870 and I purchased this same Mossberg 500 combo that is on sale. I actually prefer the Remington, but the Mossberg is great, too.

The nice thing about the Mossberg combo is that the sale price is great (in California, it came out to $295 after DROS and sales tax) and you get two barrels, a 28 inch and an 18.5 inch. That made it attractive to me because I didn't want to buy a gun solely for home defense because it feels like a waste of money to me if that's all I'm planning to use it for. I wanted something that I could also use for the fun kind of shooting, which is busting clays.

Since the Mossberg came with two barrels, I can gather up a group of friends, toss the Remington and the Mossberg with the long barrel in the trunk and spend an afternoon at the trap range with two shotguns (it's nice to have more than one shotgun for trap when none of your friends own their own), then when I get home and clean it, I can put the short barrel back on the Mossberg and it's back in its role of HD shotgun until I go to shoot trap again.
 
Watch Big-5 sporting goods sales. This week, till tomorrow they have Mossberg 20" security model for $249. Think that's even cheaper then going to Walmart and picking up a 28" Mossberg 500.

EDIT: So many people beat me
 
I'll put in a vote for the Maverick 88 Security model, either the 20" 7+1 or the 18" 5+1. They can be had every day (around here) for ~$170. It is, as someone already said, an industrial grade Mossberg 500. No frills, but ultra reliable. There is also a wide variety of aftermarket mods available for it, should you so choose.

I have some higher-end shotguns (Mossberg 500, Winchester 1300, Remington 870 and 1100s), but for a cheap "under-the-bed" shottie that goes bang every time, the Maverick is hard to beat.
 
Thank you,
Any of you could do a better job at the local gun shop, want to apply?...I think it's a matter of see what I need, how much I have $$$, and then making worthwhile suggestions. :rolleyes: I think I'll break my rule and go get the Mossberg Combo-That is a good price. Last time I got something at Big 5 (took an hour to pick up due to a missing box :confused: :banghead: ) I vowed to never buy from them again...Well, I think I'll break my rule to save $$$ and to not deal with Mr. KnowItAll again. Of Course at the Big 5 by home I'll be dealing with Mr. Don'tKnowAtAll who says things like "those m44s shoot .308, that what all the allied countries used in WWII":uhoh:

Well-Off to Big 5 I go!!!
 
Your best bet is probably to buy a used 870 Wingmaster. I dont see alot of short barreled shotguns for sale used, mostly field guns. But if you can pick up a nice wingmaster for ~$250-300 you can find a decent barrel for about $75-$100.
 
Let us know how it works out. I had a friend that used to come trap shoot with us, with his 18.5" Mossber Defender. From 1-10 yards that thing was deadly, after that the open choke made it pretty iffy. He is the only guy I know who could hit two clay pigeons (1 hand thrown) with one shot!
 
Your best bet is probably to buy a used 870 Wingmaster
Click to expand...

basically, what can I get NEW for around $350 for home defense?...I say new because used guns never seam to sell cheap in California.
Click to expand...

:confused:

Not my "best bet". Used around here means I save $50 bucks. I know that in the free world used is a lot cheaper. But all the used I've seen around here In several stores are in the $200 to $500 range, for $250 I can get a NIB mossberg with a 18.5" and a 28" barrel-maybe even with the so-un-tacticool wood furniture...one can hope:D

So basically why not spend an extra $50 for a gun that has a warranty...and an extra barrel...:)
 
The Deer Hunter said:
Your best bet is probably to buy a used 870 Wingmaster. I dont see alot of short barreled shotguns for sale used, mostly field guns. But if you can pick up a nice wingmaster for ~$250-300 you can find a decent barrel for about $75-$100.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm doing for my latest build, a three-gun shottie.

I bought a used Remington 1100 for $275 and I'm going to mod it and get a different barrel. It's not always cheaper than buying new, but at least the final gun will be EXACTLY what you want and/or need.
 
It's true that most of the regular employees at Big 5 don't know squat about firearms, but the two FFLHs at the one I go to are very knowledgable. They're also shooters, so we have things to chat about while I'm there.

I usually go in knowing exactly what I want, anyway, so it doesn't matter if the guy behind the counter doesn't know anything about guns.

I think you'll like that Mossberg 500 combo. It's nice to have the 28 inch barrel for trap. I know dm1333 had a friend that shot trap with a short barrel, but I've never seen anyone do it successfully. I've seen people try to shoot trap with a short barrel. They might as well have not pulled the trigger. They would have hit the same number of targets, and at least they would have saved ammo that way.

So, let us know how it goes.
 
When I get someone like Mr. Knowitall, I politely nod, and thank them for their advice, and then tell them what I want. If they continue with what -they- want then I will often say "look, I don't want to be rude but I'm looking for something specific now would you like to sell a gun to me today?"

Generally this results in them doing as I ask, or me declining to do business with them any more.

Anyway.

+1 for the Mossberg Maverick 88 (home security models). They are that "plain white fleet vehicle" version of the Mossberg 500 and they damn sure will get the job done!

Mine is a field model with a longer barrel (See here for the "tactikool" 88 field), but that's because I found it LNIB at the local pawn shop for a good price. (By the way, I know that people out there are supposedly finding them for $160 or so new... man not around here!)
 
I like the Remington Express Synthetic 7 round. Holds 7 rounds of 2 3/4, or 3" shells.

smsil_870expsyn7.jpg
 
I live in the greater Chicago land area and guns tend to be a little higher here than in most parts of the country. I ordered a Mossberg 500 from Davidson's Gallery of Guns http://www.galleryofguns.com/GunLocator/locatorstart.asp
I got the Field/Security combo which comes with an 18" cyl. bore and a 28" multi-choke barrel. The final cost was $343, about $40 cheaper than my local shop. Just use the gun locator to select the model you want, enter your zip code and you will be presented with a list of shops in your area they will ship to, along with the price. The prices vary according to where you have the gun shipped. For example, the gun I bought would've been $35 cheaper if I had it shipped to my brother's zip in southern Indiana. It only took a couple of days for it to arrive at my local shop. Vary positive experience.
 
I paid and DROS'ed for the mossberg 500 combo at Big 5 (I can't wait til the 22nd)...I agree I don't need knowledgible people there, it's just funny sometimes what they say. I try to not deal with the paid help at my local shop, the owner is friendly and knowledgible-KnowItAll is a pain and I try to avoid him. Telling him that I want something else never works. It's too bad, the local shop I try to give my money to (better him than the chain places) lost a gunsale today.
 
I think you'll be pretty happy with the Mossberg, I know I am. The local Dunhams has much better prices and selection than the Big5 I used to go to in California but I think there is a secret requirement that stores like this have to hire a certain number of "gun experts". As for shooting trap with an 18.5" bbl, I wouldn't advise it! I was laughing when Scott took out his shotgun but he really seemed to have the knack of knocking pigeons down with that thing, as long as they were less than 10 yards away. If they got further than that they were home free!
 
You also need to let Mr. Knowitall's boss know that you went and made your purchase else and why.

Nothing cheeses me off more then doing my research, going to a shop, telling the clerk that I want see "X" only to have some counter-comando tell me that I'm wrong, refusing to let me see what I asked for and then telling me that "Y" and "Z" are better choices. If I ask to see "X" it's pretty much because I've already made up my mind and are looking to confirm my decision.

Now a smart salesperson will show me "X" and then ask about my wants/needs and say something to effect of "Hey, if you really like 'X', then you might be interested in 'Q', it has/does/(or is an add-on/upgrade for 'X') and everything 'X' does plus it walks the dogs, waters the plants and does the dishes for only a couple bucks more. Wanna see it ???"

That's how my daughter ended up with a Mossberg 500 Bantam 20ga Combo rather then just the 500 Bantam 20ga I was looking at. Salesguy said "You know for another $30 bucks she can also have a 24" rifled slug barrel to go with that 22" field barrel."

The only drawback is explaining to Mrs. Scout how her agreeing to getting 'X' for this price ended up as buying 'Q' or 'X' and 'Q' for more then what was originally stated/agreed to. It normally starts with "But honey, it was a special deal." After some discussion and promse to "never, ever, ever do it again" (tm). She'll concede/let me off the hook, knowing full well that I will do it again (and probably on the very next purchase.)

But back to your original question:
So basically, what can I get NEW for around $350 for home defense?
Click to expand...
From low price to high end of your range:
Maverick 88
Mossberg 500
Remington 870 Express

For a little more work (both in finding and probably cleaning one up)
You might be able to find used versions of all of the above cheaper plus maybe an old 870 Wingmaster, Ithaca 37.

I'd recommend any of the above (if you can find some to try out, see which one you prefer). Both the Maverick/Mossberg and 870 have a ton of add-on's, accessories and feature readily changable (under a minute, and without needing any tools) barrels.

Ammo and practice are more important then the platform as any of the above will serve you well and with only some basic maintenance (check your owners manual), care and cleaning will outlast you and your heirs and assigns.
 
I bought a used Charles Daly stainless steel pump for a little over $300 dollars. I carry it in my truck's gun rack. I just don't feel like carrying around my pistol on my hip all the time.
 
I learned 20 years ago that a "gun shop" is to BUY a gun/transfer.
I don't want to hear the BS they have to offer. I go shopping for
the gun I WANT,not what they "try to sell".
That said,find a good used/new Rem. 870 with a 20" and you will
be good to go!!!
 
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