12 Volt Man
Member
I needed an inexpensive shotgun for upland birdhunting and training my bird dog. For the last few years I have used my brother's 870 Express Maganum. Great Gun. He remembered that I had it and recently got back into shooting so he repossesed it from me. Got a bonus at work so I decided to get re-shotgunned.
At first I thought I would just go grab another 870, it is kind of the "old standby". A great gun, last forever, plus has been made for many years to there is an abundance of parts etc.... etc....... Then, I found out about the new CZ 712 and auto shotgun for just over $300.00 plus it is a CZ! Actually made in turkey by Huglu for CZ. Anyway I still may look into those in the future.
I went to a local gun store (Impact Guns), I have an "on again, off again" relationship with that store. Sometimes they piss me off with customer service issues and I vow to never go back. But then they have all the cool toys so I have to go back. Anyway, their website said they had the new CZ 712 so I headed out to get one. I got there and they did not have them, only available for order. Sold out of 870s too.
I checked out a gun while there that I had never really read too much about. The Benelli Nova. I first saw one of the all camo versions. Then I went home without a shotgun. The High Road was down for maintenance to I researched the Nova on a shotgun forum elsewhere. Some people really like it, others saying no track record yet. I decided I would try it out. So Sunday I went to a big sporting good store (Galyans) I found out to my relief that they made an all black one. Plus the black one was cheaper. They priced the black one at $279.00 plus they had a 10% off all long gun sale. Only problem, they were out of the blackones. The camo ones were priced at $349.00 and I almost got one of those due to the 10% off sale.
I decided to go check out another large sporting goods store (Sportsman's Warehouse). They had a black one priced at $299.00. I asked them to match the other store's price and they agreed to give me 10% off but not match the $279.00. I was good with that.
So for $329.00 out the door (taxes, fees, and a really cool Benelli Soft Case) I got a black 12 guage with a 26 inch barrel. I am sure it will serve me well for what I need it for. It came with 3 chokes and I took it apart very easily, seems well constructed.
I will probably still own an 870 in the future. I'll keep and eye out for a good used one at a great price. Probably set an 870 up as an HD shotty.
Hope to bust some clay pigeons soon so that I can return with a range report.
At first I thought I would just go grab another 870, it is kind of the "old standby". A great gun, last forever, plus has been made for many years to there is an abundance of parts etc.... etc....... Then, I found out about the new CZ 712 and auto shotgun for just over $300.00 plus it is a CZ! Actually made in turkey by Huglu for CZ. Anyway I still may look into those in the future.
I went to a local gun store (Impact Guns), I have an "on again, off again" relationship with that store. Sometimes they piss me off with customer service issues and I vow to never go back. But then they have all the cool toys so I have to go back. Anyway, their website said they had the new CZ 712 so I headed out to get one. I got there and they did not have them, only available for order. Sold out of 870s too.
I checked out a gun while there that I had never really read too much about. The Benelli Nova. I first saw one of the all camo versions. Then I went home without a shotgun. The High Road was down for maintenance to I researched the Nova on a shotgun forum elsewhere. Some people really like it, others saying no track record yet. I decided I would try it out. So Sunday I went to a big sporting good store (Galyans) I found out to my relief that they made an all black one. Plus the black one was cheaper. They priced the black one at $279.00 plus they had a 10% off all long gun sale. Only problem, they were out of the blackones. The camo ones were priced at $349.00 and I almost got one of those due to the 10% off sale.
I decided to go check out another large sporting goods store (Sportsman's Warehouse). They had a black one priced at $299.00. I asked them to match the other store's price and they agreed to give me 10% off but not match the $279.00. I was good with that.
So for $329.00 out the door (taxes, fees, and a really cool Benelli Soft Case) I got a black 12 guage with a 26 inch barrel. I am sure it will serve me well for what I need it for. It came with 3 chokes and I took it apart very easily, seems well constructed.
I will probably still own an 870 in the future. I'll keep and eye out for a good used one at a great price. Probably set an 870 up as an HD shotty.
Hope to bust some clay pigeons soon so that I can return with a range report.
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