First shotgun

[Gun00b]

Hey guys, first of all:

I'm new here, and please pay attention to my username, Gun Noob. I don't know that much about guns. I've done quite a bit of reading and watching. Ayoob, specifically, with quite a bit of others like Hickok45 and Nutnfancy (He's sometimes whiney, but if I want to see closeups of a gun, knife, flashlight, etc. he's pretty darn useful.)

I've purchased my first Concealable firearm about a year ago, and hope to get my permit in a month or two. I selected the Ruger LCR in .38.

So now, I'm looking for my first long gun, and I'm pretty set that a shotgun will serve me well first, as it seems to do just about everything a little bit.

Here are my wants:

Higher capacity - I'd say that the minimum amount of rounds is 5+1.
Overall decent quality - I want it to weather the elements decently.

Really, I primarily want a shotgun that is a jack of all trades. I'd prefer a barrel length no longer than 20".

So...I've come down to a couple.

They have an 8 shot Maverick 88 for $208 on Buds, but for $321 they have an 8 shot Mossberg 500, and for $347, they have a 6+1 Remington 870.

I don't want to spend more than $400 unless someone can convince me that something like a 590A1 is the absolute only way to go.

 

[oneounceload]

Before you buy from Bud's, you might want to check your local Walmart, pawn shops, and LGS - they might have those in stock where you can actually touch them, shoulder them, see how they fit, etc., and get it without extra shipping or other fees.

A 20" barrel as a jack of all trades gun will rule out a lot of activities from upland to clay targets, but will do fine for HD/SD and turkey/deer

 

[Steve C]

I primarily want a shotgun that is a jack of all trades. I'd prefer a barrel length no longer than 20".

An 18 to 20 inch barreled "riot gun" is not really a do it all shotgun. Short barrels of this length are primarily for defense use or large game hunting with slugs and buckshot. They generally only have a fixed cylinder choke (no choke) so their range is limited with with bird shot if you where ever to use it for bird hunting. A longer 26" to 30" barrel with interchangeable chokes makes a typical bird gun.

If you really want a jack of all trades shotgun, get one of the combo's offered by Mossberg with both a hunting barrel and a short riot barrel. Then you can install the appropriate barrel for the type of use.

 

[M-Cameron]

for a "do it all" shotgun....you really cant go wrong with either of those....

the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 have TONS of accessories for you to chose from.

in not sure about the maverick 88, but if i recall, it will accept most mossberg 500 accessories.


it honestly comes down to what you like and what you can afford......i mean, shotguns are pretty simple, so they are all going to perform more or less the same.

 

[oneounceload]

.i mean, PUMPshotguns are pretty simple, so they are all going to perform more or less the same.

there ya go.....

 

[Centurian22]

I'm a big advocate of the Mav 88 but I caution you away from the 8shot model as it will NOT accept most (almost all) of the Mossberg 500 barrels. You are much better off with one of the 6 round models. As mentioned above you can then switch barrels based on the purpose. However also worth noting is barrels can easily run $100-$160 so sometimes you're better off just buying a whole new Mav 88 for the new purpose if you can afford it.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Naybor]

Well, you did mention the 500 or 870 which are two of the most popular shotguns in the world.......Most of all, parts are easy to find. Next, the two most popular guages are either 12 or 20 ga.

I would suggest a 24" barrel with interchangeable chokes.

The 20" barrel with open cylinder will be good for home defense, deer, and rabbit hunting in brush. If you get a fixed choke, modified is probably the best.

 

[coondogger]

You didn't mention whether you hunt or shoot clays. If not, there are several inexpensive 'defensive' shotguns on the market. For a shotgun that will not be fired much and is being kept for a 'god-forbid purpose' rather than a sporting purpose, any of them would be fine. But for hunting or clays you need a better quality gun that will stand up to repetitive use. And that's my opinion on the subject.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Be well advised that some private ranges open to the public will not let you use a 20 inch barreled shotgun on the trap, skeet, or 5 stand ranges.

 

[JSNAPS]

If you look hard enough you can find an older 870 magnum for around 450 or less that will outlive you. Also dont get bogged down in accessories. The best accessory is lots and lots if shells and practice. Then see what works and what doesn't.

Here is one from gunbroker as an example: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=313059383

 

[MCgunner]

Late 80s, 20" barrels were all the rage. My buddy's brother had a BPS Turkey with the 20" barrel, shot ducks with it and did pretty well with it. He swore buy it, but then, he read too many gun magazines. It CAN be done, but it takes skills enough to know when you're not following through and such. It's not as easy to shoot well on long, passing shots.

That short barrel phase passed in the gun world, stuck around mostly on turkey guns. My 10 gauge "turkey" has a 24" barrel on it. I like a coach gun on doves, especially over tanks or anywhere I'm getting close action from all directions and need something LIGHT and quick. I can connect on those long passing shots, too, but it takes concentration and I didn't start wingshooting yesterday. Out to 25 or 30 yards I/C choke is DEADLY for me on my 20 gauge coach gun. The modified is for beyond and it is quite effective, but I have to do my part. I usually take my 12 gauge Winchester auto along as an option, but my coach gun has become my default dove slayer.

Conversely, this season, I had a new gun to try, hadn't put, but 3 rounds through it and just wanted to use it one morning to test function and performance. It's a 28" 12 gauge Mossberg M535 I picked up at a pawn shop a few months back. I was pretty close to 3 Mojo decoys which, to my amazement, work like little dove magnets. I bought me one after this experience. Anyway, the birds were coming from every direction and I was really missing my little 20. I decided to back off about 35 yards from those Mojos and that made all the difference. I had long sweeping shots I could now get on instead of the quick point shots. I started knockin' 'em down out to beyond 40 yards on a couple of shots. I hit 6 in a row while there.

Anyway, with a short barrel, pays to move in on the birds if you can. It's all about tactics. For a first timer, for sure, though, I'd get a 28" tube on that gun if you plan on any sort of wing shooting. Of course, it's kinda weird to even think about shooting clays with a coach gun, but I've done it a few times now on our clubs informal country doubles. I usually don't do that well on country doubles, you have a low, close bird, then have to transition to a high, long bird. I did well enough to finish second with the coach gun, which was a considerable improvement as we have some good clays shooters in the club. Usually, I just go there to pop caps and don't expect much. LOL So, I think the light, short gun HELPS me on country doubles, but they don't exactly shoot that in the Olympics.

 

[tacxted]

So now, I'm looking for my first long gun, and I'm pretty set that a shotgun will serve me well first, as it seems to do just about everything a little bit.

Here are my wants:

Higher capacity - I'd say that the minimum amount of rounds is 5+1.
Overall decent quality - I want it to weather the elements decently.

Really, I primarily want a shotgun that is a jack of all trades. I'd prefer a barrel length no longer than 20".

I had the same expectations for my first shotgun. I decided on the Remington 870. I got the model with an 18" barrel with removable chokes and a mag extention. Cost was $500 out the door.

The 18" barrel is light and fast. A quick pointer for tactical shooting, and lots of fun too. With choke tubes I can extend my effective ranges for shot. I screwed in a IC choke and went skeet shooting. I had lots of fun and was able to reach out and break clays. I can shoot slugs with great accuracy thanks to the ghost ring sights on it. It can do it all.

 

[MCgunner]

I own a Kawasaki KLR650. It CAN do it all, but it's not as comfortable as a GoldWing on a long ride and it's an overweight PIG on a cow trail.

Compromise. I do understand the concept, but I'd get a short barrel and a vent rib 28" barrel for a better "do all" shotgun. It's a pump. You don't have to be stuck with ONE barrel for everything. Not that tough to find....

http://www.mossberg.com/products/shotguns/mossberg-500/500-combo-standard-trigger

And here's what I'd get...

http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-500-combo/54169-0

 

[Gun00b]

What a response!

Thanks for the help guys!

I'd like a gun for repeated use, but it's primarily for defensive purposes, and some deer hunting (I haven't hunted in my life, it's a new desire. Just didn't grow up in a hunting family.)

But I'm thinking if I can find an 870 used, I'm going to go for it. Now I just gotta look up some local pawn shops!

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Stop by Gander Mountain (if you have one) to find a Rem 870 Tactical with door choke, +2 extended mag tube, and ghost ring sights. If I remember right I paid less than $350 for mine with all taxes, in NY of all places.

If not I would recommend the Mossberg 500. Accessory choice is almost or just as good as the 870. The safety is easier for most people if you aren't used to cross bolt safeties. And several of the parts are held in with screws instead of rivets making them easier to replace if you ever needed to do that.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Used 870s are a great deal, especially older Wingmasters.

This was $300:


It was made in 1956 and it works absolutely perfectly. 28" barrel with a fixed full choke (lots of the old ones have full chokes) and I got an 18" barrel for around $100. So basically, for $400, it's possible to get an incredible shotgun and two barrels for different uses. The only downsides are that the old 28" barrel would have to be threaded for choke tubes if you want to change chokes, and it isn't rated for modern steel shot.

You'd be surprised what turns up if you look around hard enough.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, full choke is pretty worthless unless you're a turkey hunter.

 

[loose noose]

Mcgunner, or a trap shooter.

 

[oneounceload]

Or a Bunker shooter, pigeon shooter, helice shooter, doubles trap shooter, FITASC shooter, and on and on...........

 

[Deltaboy1984]

My Wingmaster is 30 years old and will be shucking hulls for other 30 years. Ducks, deer and all sorts of woodland critters, summer time cans and some clays. Buy one shoot it and clean everyonce in a while when it gets wet or muddy and it will keep coming back for more.

 

[MCgunner]

helice shooter

What the HECK is THAT? Does it taste good BBQed?

 

[DaleCooper51]

It's a clay on propeller that was set up to replace pigeon shooting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL_buN1igP0

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Maverick 88 field model
and
Maverick 88 security model

You should be able to get one of each for about $450 total and have the best of both worlds without changing out a barrel. The fit and finish may not be quite as nice as a 500 or an 870 but they get the job done and are reliable.