My first shotgun, what to buy?

[Mr-Heier]

Hello guys! I'm new to this forum and guns so this is my new post.

I'm going to start hunting here in Norway and i am buying my first shotgun.
Now i need some advice, what kind of shotgun would you buy? A pump shotgun, double barreld or semiautomatic. I am spending aprx 1.000 on one.

I'm going to use it for hunting small animals and birds. In Norway it can get -30 celsius so i need one that can manage some cold temperatures.

I have heard that pump and semiautomatic shotguns have a tendence to fail, jam once in a while. How often can this happend? And if it happends do you have to take it apart or can you fix it during the hunting.

I really would like a shotgun with capable of holding more than 2 catridges but i need durabillity.

Any advice people?

 

[RTFM]

Wow, let me be the first to welcome you to THR!!!!

I too am learning about Shotguns, but from what I gather so far is that a pump gun is very reliable and also easy to clear should it ever jam.

Gas guns (semi-auto) are more temperamental. In that they like specific loads to cycle their actions, and have heard, but not been able to prove that the colder it is outside the less gas pressure might be available to cycle the action.

Although that is unverified.

I know little of DBL BBL hammer type guns.

The pros will be along shortly, so I'll say hello and welcome again.

RTFM

 

[Mr-Heier]

I have looked at the Remington Marine Magnum but it has a to short barrel to be legal in Norway. It must be 22" inch minimu,

What kind of shotguns is this? Its a very low quality pic but its the only one i got.

It was used by a Norwegian guy that walked across Canada, it took 3 years. So i guess its pretty durable.

Read more about it in english here, http://www.larsmonsen.com

 

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome aboard.

I think the weapon in your pic is a bolt action rifle.

There's lot of choices here. If you can, try out some shotgun before you buy.

Failing that, get an 870 with enough barrel length to be legal and shoot the heck out of it....

 

[dxkj21]

If you want reliability its hard to beat a double barrel they dont really jam up,and are fairly quick to reload...

Depends on what limit you are on plugs as well.. 3-5 shots gives you more chances to hit your target than 1-2

 

[BozemanMT]

Ok, having gotten more than a couple people hooked in the last year. I think a Over/Under or a SideXside is by FAR the easiest way to teach people. you can tell at a glance if it's unloaded, it's simple, it's straightforward, it's elegant (you won't instantly outgrow it) and they shoot really well.
The Pump (esp the 870) is an amazing animal, but the learning curve is higher, the 2nd shot takes thought. on a double barrel (either a SxS or a O/U), there is no thought. just bang.
JMHO

 

[Mr-Heier]

Hey guys!
I bought the Remington Super Magnum 870 today.

Were can i get some accesories for this gun? Is it legal to ship barrels, pistolgrip shafts etc out of US?

You can get this things over here.

 

[halvey]

I'd get the 870. I'm from Minnesota and it's a lot like Norway. Mine has never jammed and they can be had for around $229 US$.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Oh yeah, the firearm in that picture looks like a Ruger M77 in stainless and synthetic. Looks like the older style stock, which is why I'm thinking Ruger.

By the way, great choice with the 870! Have two, think they're great.

 

[GigaBuist]

Hey guys!
I bought the Remington Super Magnum 870 today.

Not likely you'll find somebody saying that was a bad idea here.. definately not me! Good choice!
[quote[
Were can i get some accesories for this gun? Is it legal to ship barrels, pistolgrip shafts etc out of US?[/quote]
Just buy ammo and practice with it.. make decisions afterwards.

American gun makers spent years figuring out how to shape them stocks to fit most people and I gather they got it right. If you want to get fancy put something "old fashioned" on it made by a custom stock maker. That's the only thing that'd make it shoot better for you, IMHO.

Don't bother with the pistol grips and such... it's nonsense.

 

[scout26]

Originally posted by halvey
I'm from Minnesota and it's a lot like Norway.

They are both very cold and full of Norwegians ????


Mr. Heier, The 870 is a great choice. If you were able to buy the gun, you should be able to get "parts" from the same source. I'm not familiar with Norwegian import regs, but yes it is possible to export barrels, etc. from the US. Either your gun dealer or your Trade Ministry should be able to help you out.

Congrats on your purchase and welcome.

 

[halvey]

They are both very cold and full of Norwegians ????

It's not a chicken and egg thing! It's cold and the terrian is the same, so the Norwegians flocked here.

There aren't a lot of "real" Norwegians anyway. If you don't eat lutefisk, you aren't a "real" Norwegian.

 

[goosegunner]

There aren't a lot of "real" Norwegians anyway. If you don't eat lutefisk, you aren't a "real" Norwegian

If that is the criteria, there is not a lot of "real" Norwegians here either.

I'm going to use it for hunting small animals and birds. In Norway it can get -30 celsius so i need one that can manage some cold emperatures.

You probably already know it, but all guns will fail in extreme environments; its only some guns that fail more often than others. Your 870 is probably on the fail almost never list. But if you use it regularily in -30 celsius, you will sometimes have ammo that do not fire, or ammo that have extremely low power and a gun that not always do what you want it to, whatever gun you have. I don't know how you are going to hunt, but waterfowl hunting is generally the must demanding shotgun hunting in Norway (for the gun, at least). And on cold days I have seen both a 870 and a Benelli Nova fail due to cold and ice, but not as often as warious other guns. Anyway, broken firingpins is the most normal failure, that is not directly user induced, in cold weaher. But, as have been said before: you can't do anything wrong by buying a 870.

 

[IDriveB5]

Hey guys!
I bought the Remington Super Magnum 870 today.

excellent choice, this too, was my first shotgun and i love it. the only accessories ive bought for it are a shell bag and a slip on recoil pad for another inch LOP. other than that, ive just spent about every dollar on ammo and range time. no need to hang a bunch of junk off it. have fun with it.