Never owned or shot a shotgun...........yet

[peterk1234]

Hi all. I have been thumbing through these threads with interest. I shoot pistols often, hunt mostly with a bow, but recently got into muzzleloading after a lot of urging from an old hunting friend. Well, I know the shotgun will be next for turkey season. Getting them buggers with a bow is bitch.

I have been reading quite a bit about shotguns, and like any other guns, there are some strong opinions out there. One thing is certain model 870 express or Mossberg 500 is a no brainer as a dependable all around gun. However, I all too often start something going with the introductory level purchase, only to find myself going after better quality not too long after.

I would like to have a shotgun for turkey hunting, but would like to be able to shoot skeet or trap. My club has a very active group and it just looks like a lot of fun; hard, but fun. Plus, the oldest continuously operated skeet club in the world is about a mile from my house. It just seems wrong not to belong there I would like a gun that would allow me to hunt birds, should the opportunity ever present itself. Not sure where I can do it here in Massachusetts, but it would be nice to try.

I would be perfectly happy with a used gun. The Remington Wingmaster appears to be a gun that would last what is left of my life, but I cannot find them used. A new one is certainly a consideration. What other guns would you all recommend, and what are the features I need to look for?

I am reading up on chokes now. That is a subject that appears to be overwhelming.

Thanks in advance. Pete

 

[entropy]

A Wingmaster, new or used, will do all you ask. get a 26" barrel, and keep reading up on chokes. For Skeet, you will want Skeet choke, (there is a specific choke named Skeet) or IC, Improved Cylinder. Either will serve well for HD, should you want to use your shotgun for that. For Turkey, I'm sure you've found there are dedicated turkey chokes, and they also serve well for handicap Trap. (I use one at 16 yards) A Modified choke (or possibly Improved Modified) will round out the 3 essential chokes I'd recommend for you, it will be best for 16 yard Trap, and pheasant, which I recommend giving a try.

 

[z7]

I started with a Remington 870, it has killed deer, turkeys, pigs, quail, ducks, geese, doves, and clay pigeons, I did purchase a turkey choke and I spray painted the gun to help it stand out less in the woods.

You can rack it very quickly with practice but I find sprinting clays a challenge with any true pairs and often cannot rack the gun quickly enough to get off two shots with some clays.

I don’t Think you could find a better general purpose shotgun, the Mossberg 500 is probably the same, they just work, every time.

Whatever you get ensure you can change the chokes, that will ensure it is the most versatile

 

[kudu]

Not that it can't be used and used well, but a pump gun is not optimum for skeet shooting, O/U's and autos reign supreme on the skeet range. That second quick shot from a pump can be sometime hard to do unless you are well practiced. 870 Wingmasters are great guns, Express versions can be smoothed out if you find yourself getting one that is a bit too rough around the edges.

Chokes I use for skeet are either cylinder bore, (straight open), or skeet, just a couple thousands restriction, I find improved cylinder a bit tight for skeet but it is generally fine. Skeet is a very close range quick game, optimum range is about 25 yards. Trap need a modified or full choke for longer 40+ yard targets. Most people that shoot trap will have a dedicated trap gun that is designed to shoot a higher pattern to intercept the rising trap targets. Standard guns are very capable of breaking trap birds if you push the barrel up through the bird.

 

[Virginian]

For everything you have on your wants list a good quality used gas operated semi auto would be a good choice. The gas action will reduce the recoil which is good for targets. A Remington 1100, 11-87 Premier, or a Beretta 3xx would be a good start. If you take decent care of it you will not lose a dime if you decide you want something different after you get into it for a while. I have stuck with the gas autos for almost 60 years now as I do NOT like over and unders.
If your budget permits a new gun, the choices are almost too numerous to mention.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I'd suggest basing your choice of shotguns on what is best for trap or skeet.
Any shotgun with choke tubes will work for turkey. Put in a full or extra full tube, camo it how ever you want and go hunting.
For shooting trap or skeet a semi auto or over/under would be my choice. A semi auto would be more economical, DO NOT buy a cheap over/under.
I like my pump guns a lot but I would compare them to a car with a manual transmission. The older I get the more I like automatics.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would buy a 1100 if I wanted one shotgun to try and do it all with.

 

[peterk1234]

Oh god....now I have to research semis

Suggestions?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Remington 1100

 

[cdb1]

I say go semi-auto too. For turkey and skeet I wouldn’t go Remington 1100. You will be shooting light loads for skeet and heavy loads for turkey. 1100’s don’t do that well. You might even have to buy two barrels.

I’d also want the shotgun receiver to be drilled and tapped so an optic could be mounted for turkey hunting. Not necessary but I find it much more enjoyable to hunt turkey using a red dot or scope.

I also wouldn’t want the shotgun to be light because turkey loads have significant recoil and shooting a several rounds of skeet can be tough on the shoulder with a light shotgun.

Off the top of my head the only semi that is drilled and tapped and comes standard with a field barrel is the Mossberg 930. I know their are others. Turkey hunting and clay sports are vastly different disciplines so a shotgun to do both will be optimum for neither.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Oh god....now I have to research semis

Suggestions?

Browning Auto 5- there is no substitute for the original (and 1st!) Semi auto shotgun!

 

[Virginian]

A Remington 1100, or 11-87, or a Beretta 3xx will do everything you want to do. There are a zillion of them on the used market, and parts are also plentiful.

 

[leo96150]

The relatively new Beretta A300 Outlander is a great choice. I bought one a couple of months ago and have shot trap, skeet, and sporting clays with it and am very impressed. I got the black synthetic 28" version for less than $600 on sale new. I normally shoot one of my Browning Citoris for clay targets, but wanted a fairly inexpensive gun to take when I travel for 3-4 months at a time. I would not hesitate to also use it for hunting anything that flies. By the way, as nice as a Browning or Beretta O/U is for shooting clays, you don't want to be toting one all day in the field. They're just too heavy.

 

[22250Rem]

Or you could own several different shotguns each dedicated to several different purposes. That's what I did and it gave me an excuse to get more. But there's a lot of good suggestions here and it probably depends on your planned usage. You mentioned introductory level purchase only to go after better quality later. Perhaps a used Remington or Mossberg turkey gun with screw in chokes and then later after saving up some money and talking with some of those skeet and trap shooters near you they could guide you towards something to break clay birds with. It's nice to have dedicated guns that can specialize in one or two areas of the shotgun sports instead of trying to make do on many different things with just one gun.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I second the idea of going semi auto if you are going the sporting route. Hunting I still prefer a 500 mossberg. But I run a pump faster than most. You can find a used 500 for about a bill maybe a bill twenty five. I wish I could agree with all the folks who seem to love the 1100 but I tend to jam them some way.

 

[FL-NC]

While I have used the 870 for everything one could use a shotgun for, I don't care to fire 3" mag turkey loads through one any more, and I don't think you will either. I know you never fired a shotgun before, so trust me on this. My "go-to" for turkey (and anything else with feathers, if you want the truth) is a Mossberg 930 auto I bought used with a 28" barrel. I added camo from one of those realtree shrink-wrap kits to the barrel, stock, and handguard. and I ordered a shorter turkey barrel that came ported and already camo direct from Mossberg, and included a turkey choke. Both barrels use screw in choke tubes. I REALLY like this shotgun, and I've used most of the pumps and autos out there for various things. The only downside is that you must remember to pull the piston and switch it into the new barreI when you change barrels. You can either buy a second piston and keep one in each barrel like I did, or just place an idiot tag on the barrel not in use to remind you to do this. I also do 3 gun with a JM PRO 930, which is what turned me on to the design in the first place.

 

[Panzerschwein]

They thump, but not bad.

 

[Steve C]

What you need is some guidance as to what shotgun sports and hunting that is available to you that you may enjoy. There are several shotgun target sports the main ones are Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. Each of these games are different, use different shotguns setup for the specific sport. You wouldn't shoot trap with a skeet gun or skeet with a trap gun because you would be severely handicapped in your ability to score. You can read about the different games and equipment suggested for them by searching on line. There are Trap Clubs, Trap and Skeet Clubs that offer both and Clubs that have all 3.

Gun clubs will often have shotguns you can rent to shoot at their ranges and may even offer classes or have individuals that will teach new shooters the rules and etiquette of the games for free or nominal cost. This is a good way to learn how to shoot a shotgun and get practice. If you have relatives or friends that hunt or shoot trap or skeet ask them to help you learn how to shoot a shotgun. Renting a gun at the range will help you make a better decision of the type of gun(s) you should buy and selecting what activities appeal to you the most.

You will find that shooters at the clubs are friendly. Ask if the club has any Annie Oakley shoots that you could participate in. These are fun-n-games shooting generally for a nominal amount of prize money and is friendly competition that's not a registered shooting activity. Its a good way to get to know the club members and make friends. Usually it will take a while to get skilled enough to hold your own with experienced shooters but but you will learn a lot while having fun and eventually may win enough to sometimes pay for your shooting.

 

[kudu]

A Remington 1100, or 11-87, or a Beretta 3xx will do everything you want to do. There are a zillion of them on the used market, and parts are also plentiful.

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All of these are gas operated guns and recoil is very manageable. As you have said you have never shot a shotgun, you need to use both eyes and focus on the target not the rib or beads, it is not like rifle or pistol where you aim, you point a shotgun with the exceptions of slugs and trying to aim at a turkey. They are meant to be an extension of your will and intercept flying objects. I would still suggest as has been mentioned that you go to a shotgun club watch and ask questions and try some guns.

 

[z7]

I did recently purchase a Mossberg 930 jm pro for 3 gun and so far I really like it, it has functioned well with birdshot, slugs and buckshot and I imagine it would do good things on turkeys. The recoil is light and follow up shots are quick, it is a newer design Compared To others, but could be worth a look

 

[peterk1234]

Thank you, all very useful comments. I know someone at the skeet club and have an open invite. Unfortunately, it is hovering around 5 degrees lately around here, so I will wait a bit before I take him up on the offer. At my club, I believe there is an open invite to shoot because they are always looking for more people to get involved. I will begin reading up on the gas operated options, and it sounds like two guns may eventually be the way to go. Pete

 

[Sniper66]

Thank you, all very useful comments. I know someone at the skeet club and have an open invite. Unfortunately, it is hovering around 5 degrees lately around here, so I will wait a bit before I take him up on the offer. At my club, I believe there is an open invite to shoot because they are always looking for more people to get involved. I will begin reading up on the gas operated options, and it sounds like two guns may eventually be the way to go. Pete

Pete, OK. Two guns. Now you're making progress. Lost count of how many shotguns I've owned in my lifetime. I won't try to list them, but will mention the better ones and the ones I had trouble with. Currently have 2 Benelliis, a 12 and 20, both superb guns, a Browning Superposed 12 completely reconditioned and looks brand new...flawless gun, an older reconditioned Remington model 17 20ga...great gun for doves, an old Winchester model 20 410...good squirrel gun and finally an excellent condition 870 wingmaster...my turkey gun. I've had a bunch of others, but have settled on these as the best of the lot. Here's the one's I would not buy again....Remington 1100LW 20 ga...it would shoot great for 40-50 rounds then not cycle until I cleaned it. Plus, the 12 gauge 1100 is extremely heavy...definitely not a skeet gun. Ruger Red Label....well made and will last a lifetime, but too heavy for me. Any Stoeger O/U...clunky beasts with poor balance. I grew up shooting my dad's 870 with 30 inch full choke barrel. I still have a preference for longer barrels. Tried different guns for turkeys and have settled on the 870 30" full as the best of the lot. I use either 4s or 5s and the toms drop on the spot and I love that gun. In my neck of the woods, used 870 Wingmasters are plentiful. Bought mine at the Tulsa Gun Show and was able to choose between several. Mine looks new. Welcome to the world of shotguns. Last comment.....was at Cabela's in KC,KS yesterday and found a beautiful Browning Superposed Broadway with gorgeous wood and smooth as silk for $1399. Almost bought it because it was such a find. Would be a great skeet gun. Let us know what you buy. Tom

 

[peterk1234]

Thank you Tom. I will keep you posted. Pete

 

[subierex]

I'll second the Mossberg 930. I have the field model (28", wood) that I use exclusively for clay sports. Price was right, looks and shoots like a dream, a real creampuff like any other gas SA shotgun.

Wife has a Weatherby SA-08, which I believe is a Turkish-built gun. It's also been 100% reliable, but I'm not crazy about the finish. She loves it.

You could spend a lot more than I've listed above. However, at my club, I see guys with $5k trap guns that don't shoot as well as me, and I'm nothing to write home about. Gotta practice.

 

[Intox]

Browning Auto 5- there is no substitute for the original (and 1st!) Semi auto shotgun!

This.

You can buy Belgium made Browning A5 Light Twelve shotguns in the $500 price range easy...the internet is full of them. I have an A5 set (Light Twelve, Sweet Sixteen, and Light Twenty) of Belgium made Brownings, and they were all made in the early 60s. They're heavier shotguns due to the materials they are made of, but that's also why you'll see hundreds of thousands of them still actively used by bird hunters. Browning designed them using a recoil based system instead of a gas operated system. It makes for a reliable and LONGGGGGG lasting shotgun.

They did make some in Japan, and I also think they have started making them again. But if memory serves, while the parts are made in Belgium they are assembled in Portugal. Basically, if you do look into one you might as well go ahead and make sure you're getting one of the older A5s fully made in Belgium. I feel more than confident in telling you that if you bought a 60 year old Browning today that the odds are really good your grandchildren could easily be using that same shotgun to teach their children how to shoot and hunt.