Best pump shotgun out there.

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Best.... is just somebodies educated opinion.

My BEST. :)

(1) Winchester 21

(2) 870 Wingmaster

(3) Ithaca M37 Feather weight
 
What is the best pump shotgun out there today, the new Remington 870s are pretty cheap
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There we go, trying to compare apples and oranges

My BEST.

(1) Winchester 21

(2) 870 Wingmaster

(3) Ithaca M37 Feather weight
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maybe you meant the Model 12, as the 21 was a hand-built SxS that sold for what a car costs at the time
 
I'm not sure why people keep promoting the 870. Everyone I know that has owned one has had to beat it against the ground to dislodge a fired shell at some point. No thanks.
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i love this quote.

thats exactly what i had to do with mine, and not just once lmao



benelli nova > 870
 
As far as a service life of 200,000 rounds goes, bunk. I have close to 400,000 on my 1972 870 TB Wingmaster trap gun. The older 870s are nicer and the newer WMs are fine but the Expresses are rough.
I'd second the vote for Model 21 first (try to find a decent one for under $3 grand), the 870 second, and Model 12 third (only behind the 870 because of the need to hand fit virtually any replacement part).
 
I like the old Remington 870 Police Magnum for rugged and eats anything under the sun duty. Lots of good steel, steel trigger guard, nice chunky walnut furniture. 18" barrel that loads 4+1 with a perfect balance for social work. If you twisted my arm to pick an end of the world gun, it would be way up there.

That said, as a lefty I have always had a soft spot for the Ithaca Model 37. The clean lines, the bottom feed/ejection, the classic design, the short action. I've always wanted one. As luck would have it, a friend of mine is selling me one on a payment plan. A neat old DSPS 8 shot. I can't wait to get my hands on it:evil: It only feeds 2 3/4 shells, but in 12 years of shooting 12 gauge shot guns I don't think I've ever felt the need to buy (or have run across in large numbers) any of the 3" variety.
 
The newer Remingtons have rough chambers like my 1100, a shell has to be pulled out of the chamber with mine but my 870 that I sold to get the 1100, shells just dropped out of the barrel. There are ways to smooth the chamber but I haven't really felt the need to do so with my 1100. My advice is seek out a older 870 and you'll be happy as I was, I just wanted a semi auto so thats why I sold it.
 
I have fired Mossberg 590s, several variants of the Remington 870, Winchester 1200 and 1300s but the best one I have fired would be my Grandpa's old hunting and shooting match gun. That is an old J.C. Higgins Model 20. It was heavy enough to handle stout loads, light enough to carry, has a very smooth action, and a modified Cutts Compensator (someone removed the expansion chamber). I know it isn't made any more but it has brought home its share of game and prize money. In fact I got my first rabbit with it.
 
How did that Mossberg 500 break if you don't mind me asking.
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The gun belonged to my best friends' friend, I didnt really know the guy.
It started with repeated FTF, which he insisted was bad ammo, but the ammo he tossed out fired from my gun. Before the middle of the camping trip it stopped cycling entirely. He didnt let anyone check the gun, not that I know Mossys all that well, I dont know if I would have been able to help. I dont know how well this guy cared for his guns, I dont know how old it was, it did not look abused. This gun may have been neglected, it may have been the one bad apple.
But a shotgun that wont shoot is 'broke' in my book! :)
 
Interesting, it was probably neglected and he didn't bother to figure out what was wrong. Mine has been flawless and it's about 2009 production I believe.
 
The Wingmaster is as good as it gets in terms of durability, reliability, and shootability in my opinion. But, all 870s are not Wingmasters.
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Amen, brother. I grew up shooting Wingmasters and one of the first firearms I purchased was a well-used Wingmaster built in the late 80's. When I started hunting turkey I traded a pistol for a brand new 870 Super Mag. Not the same in any way, shape or form, except that they are both 12 gauge, pump-action shotguns. My Wingmaster is silky smooth, the Super Mag is, well, not. I have seen new Wingmasters and they seem to be just as well made as mine so I don't think that's the only reason for the difference.
 
My 870P is not a body part yet. Only have 3 or so thousand rounds through it. No problems so far. I will know more when I get it broke in.
 
An older Ithica 37,featherlight, easy to feed and very slick. I have an older wingmaster as a backup. Earlier some one posted a question about the 37's durability. I'm trying to find the New York Police shotgun evaluation. A 870, 37, and Winnie were tested with buck shot loads. Guns were shot until failure from breakage, they never got the 37 to stop.
 
First choice is the shotgun I own a Benelli Supper Nova Tactical, apart from the ghost ring sights which make slug throwing a blast, I really like the fact that it takes 3 and half inch loads not necessary but I like it. The other thing I like is that it has a rotating bolt which makes it a little stronger and more durable.
Second choice would be a model 12 because I like the fact that it does not have a trigger disconnect, and it is a classic from the World War II era/
My third choice would be an 870 because I have heard a lot of good things about them.
 
Second choice would be a model 12 because I like the fact that it does not have a trigger disconnect, and it is a classic from the World War II era/
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Then you may want to add the Ithaca model 37 to your list. They don't have a trigger disconnect.
 
I think of shotguns as a working firearm, so the Ithaca M37 was my choice for door entry hands down over the 870. Transitioning to left hand rapid fire I've short stroked the 870, but not the Ithaca. I also found the Ithaca easier to reload and I appreciated its bottom ejection.

As far as durability for a fighting firearm, they had a reputation for being tough, also used by SEAL teams stationed in the Mekong Delta, RVN.

Bob
 
Benelli is really coming on strong, their designs are new instead of the same old thing all the time. The quality is very good. There is a reason remington had to come out with the new polymer coated 887, they are chasing benelli. I would probably buy a mossberg ahead of a remington after reading about so many problems with the 870's. And thats a shame as they are almost legendary.
 

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Make mine a Mossberg 500. Instinctive slide release that doesn't require me to move my right hand from the pistol grip/trigger, and an instinctive safety that I can see at all times. I tried the 870 after hearing people rave about it, and couldn't bring myself to like it at all.
 
IMHO and in practice I have and use a ithaca 37 and Rem 870.

In the 60's my fathers buddy bought an 870 30" and I have used it for rabbits--it was great. The 870 is still going today.

On our second Christmas '72 my wife gave me an Ithaca 37 with 28" mod. ribbed barrel.
This gun fit me the best of amy pump I've ever shouldered. It was my duck gun, this is of course before lead was banned for waterfowl.

I still use the Ithaca, as my southern tier deer shotgun with a 21" rifled sight barrel wearing a Leupold 1 1/2 X 4 1/2.

When my son turned 12 I purchased the short barreled 870 turkey gun in '93 and this is still working fine.
 
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