Best Shotgun Ever?

[birdbustr]

What is the best shotgun ever put into production? American made or highly imported to US. Mass production shotguns, not custom jobs or handmade ones that no one has ever heard of. What shotgun has kept your confidence over the years.

Voters that can state "it's the only shotgun I've ever owed", or " I've never used any other shotgun," are encouraged not to vote, but to watch this poll and find out if the grass is greener with something else, or if you really do have a good quality shotgun that will continue to serve you for years to come.

I could only put 16 choices, so I chose these 16 from a field and stream article to see what are the choices here from the experts. If your exact one isn't there choose the closest one to it.

 

[AL9426]

wheres the poll

 

[birdbustr]

bump

 

[evbutler462]

Where is the Franchi 48? The best upland gun ever made, anywhere, anytime, by anybody!!!

 

[ArmedBear]

This is a very difficult question to answer.

The "best" and the "greatest" can be two very different questions.

For example, the Model 12 is a truly great gun, but Remington deserves kudos for making the mass-produced 870 Wingmaster they could profitably sell for half the money, that did the job as well. Then Mossberg did it to the 870 with the 500. Now that doesn't mean I don't have any preferences, but "the best" or "the greatest" really ought to transcend mere preferences.

The Citori is a cheapened Japanese knockoff of a truly great gun, the Superposed. It's hard to love the Citori if you've gotten used to a Superposed. Like, sure, shoot, definitely, but without the refinement of the Superposed, it can just seem to be a heavy, durable gun. Well made, functional, good, but not "the greatest." Kind of like the Model 12 and Model 37 aficionados just can't love the 870, except that the Citori also says "Browning" on it. But then again, with the Citori, Browning introduced a quality O/U that is attainable, brand new, to those of us who have to budget our money. That deserves some recognition. Maybe that's even "greatness."

Ruger actually manages to make a good receiver that's cast stainless steel. That, too, deserves recognition.

The Beretta gas guns rank up there, but the Browning A5 was a true pioneer, as was the Remington 1100. Without those, the 39X probably wouldn't exist. The AL39X may be "the best" in its class, but I'm not sure about "the greatest."

Then there's Franchi's light version of the A5 that's pretty neat, though here in the West with 3-round limits for everything, it's hard for me to really think "the best". Ditto for the Benelli SBE. It's well-balanced and reliable. But it's never going to have the beauty of a Beretta O/U. It might be my choice, but "the best" is something else...

Now I really like the Beretta 68X series. I chose that. Maybe it's just the most recent one that followed me home. But by no means does that mean I don't think that a lot of the others (at least some of which I own, have owned, or have shot) are truly great in their own way.

And I'm pretty fond of the SKB O/U's, as are others who have used them. They're a bit more obscure, but they're affordable, sleek, well-balanced and durable, too.

 

[MCgunner]

Hmm, BPS would be my choice of an only gun and I don't own one....YET. I didn't vote Mossberg, though I love the tang safety on mine. I remember this fine, fine Ithaca 37 featherweight 16 gauge from my youth. LOVE that action, just prefer the BPS's tang safety on it.

 

[RLsnow]

double barrel 12g?

 

[Scratchy]

I love my Ithaca and the nice thing besides very lightweight is that I could let a lefty shoot it.

 

[auschip]

For me, it's a Winchester 101 (I own one) or a Winchester 23 (I wish I owned one). You might also add the Winchester 1897 - pretty tough to beat a shotgun that's 100 years old and still going strong.

 

[Regolith]

Toss up between the Winchester Model 12 and the Remington 870.

I'm going to vote for the Model 12, simply because it came first, and the one I shot (my father's) fit me perfectly and I could knock damn near anything out of the air with it, while my 870 still needs some fitting.

 

[MCgunner]

What is it about Winchester? They just KNOW how to fit the average shooter, at least ME, but I've heard a lot of others say it. Out of the box, the 1300 and 1400 are perfection in fit. I've not picked up or swung a 12, but I believe you.

I'd go for a fine double, but not as an only shotgun. I don't want something I'm afraid to take hunting and get scared up. Besides, Purdey tastes and Mossberg pocket book.

 

[JohnBT]

I voted Model 12, but I wanted to vote for the Win SX-1.

One of these days I'm going to buy a Model 21. One of these days. Did I say that? I meant Parker.

John

 

[ArmedBear]

MC, Ithaca finally has their web site up again, with some good photos.

I think I'd have a hard time getting a BPS if I could get a hold of one of those. Looks like fit, finish and build quality are top-shelf, and a lighter, finer piece than the perfectly acceptable Japanese BPS, which does have that tang safety... Kinda another Citori-Superposed dilemma, though I guess I don't know what the new Ithaca wants for the things yet.

"Magical" gun, or just good gun. Tough choice, sometimes...

 

[MCgunner]

God, I'm in lust. Tang safety or no, the Ithaca my uncle had was a featherweight and it balanced and swung OH so smooth while being really fast to the shoulder. The BPS is on the heavy side, but that don't really matter in the marsh except sometimes on low flying teal coming in hot and fast. I would NOT take that particular example pictured into the marsh, though, NOT ON YOUR LIFE! LOL Nope, I'd have to keep the old no love Mossberg for that.

 

[kbellis3]

What ? No love for the USAS-12 ?

870 OR 590 NO BS defense guns. I don't hunt so rest doesn't really concern me.

K 3

 

[6_gunner]

Another call for the Winchester 1897. Seems like it should at least be on the poll.

Personally, I haven't shot enough different types of shotguns to feel qualified to vote.

 

[ArmedBear]

BTW MC, the picture on the right is a Custom Shop engraving. The picture on the left, however, is apparently the standard 37 bird gun they sell, no upgrades.

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh, and the fact that I'd probably choose an 870 if I could only have one shotgun doesn't mean it's really the best. It just means I can get lots of barrels for it.

 

[byf43]

AB,

Your post #5 above, is really good. Very good, in my opinion.


The poll is missing one shotgun. (At least my old eyes didn't see it.)
Remington 1100.

I voted for the 870, because the 1100 wasn't there.

The Remington 870 and 1100 shotguns are truly magnificient scatterguns.
Affordable for the masses, and reliable.

If I had to choose ONE scattergun. . . I'd cheat. My old 1100 would be tucked away, while the 870 Wingmaster would be the visible one.

 

[MCgunner]

Actually, the tacticool guys haven't weighed in. I haven't seen anyone yappin' about the Saiga 12....

I sorta like my Winchester 1400, great shotgun, of course the SX3 isn't there either. But, then, it's just a gun board post, right?

 

[Oldnamvet]

Interesting that 75% of the people are voting pump guns. Wonder how skewed it is since the 1100 and various other popular semi's are not listed? And the Browning BPS is also missing.

 

[CSA 357]

MOD 12 WINCHESTER! i like the 870 but it not as well built as the mod 12 if you ever had one you will already know this, csa

 

[ArmedBear]

The Model 12 stopped production in 1964, before vent ribs, screw-in chokes, ergonomic forends and non-toxic shot. Great gun, if you have long arms, but all that puts a damper on it in the real world.

 

[f4t9r]

Browning Auto 5
I like others but that one is best

 

[birdbustr]

I cannot believe I forgot the Remington 1100. I certainly meant to put it on the poll. I regret not putting in the Browning BPS too, but I really can't believe I didn't put the 1100 in.

Does anyone know of a way to edit the poll?