Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
My best guess is that 60-70% of the threads here are concerned with just a handful of shotgun brands and models. The Big Four pumps, the usual semis, and a few newcomers like the Benellis make up the bulk of the shotguns we own. Old family guns and off brands comprise the rest.
The off brands include US made stuff like the gone but not lamented Noble and Springfield pumps, old Stevens autos and pumps, and models from US makers that didn't work out. Imports from the Third World make up the rest.
The Winchester 1400 was a semi auto that had to compete against the 1100 and A-5. Some designing flaws left it with an unearned rep for being trash. It also was an attempt to replace the X-1,which was a superb shotgun but expensive as heck to make. Held up against the X-1, the 1400 didn't look good.
The Ithaca 51 was another Bambi competing against the Godzilla 1100. While not a great auto, it was a decent handling field model that held up OK.
Mossberg's 9200, according to report, was a good design and well made, but it didn't make the cut for military contracts and civilians weren't buying them in droves.
None of these were Legends.All had something amiss,whether it was reliability, looks or that undefinable combination of ergonomics,balance and biases we term "Feel". None of these were total dogs.
Added to those were the House Brands, those Higgins, Ted Williams, etc guns made for the big chain stores.
Shotguns like these are as oft inherited as bought, and serve well as loaners, backups or for toting through the swamps we're scared to take our best guns into.
Some of the Third World imports are decent guns, but a search will have us kissing more ugly frogs than enchanted princes. Old Daleys made in Japan and the even older Prussian guns are quite good, but the track record of newer Turks and so on hasn't been long enough to tell how they hold up. Some other off brands are junk, pure and simple.
Recently, I tried an acquaintance's new Daley auto for a shot. I powdered the clay, the trigger was workable, and it felt like a shotgun ought to. He hunts with it and plans to shoot a bit of clays with it also. IOW, light duty. The fact is, for what he paid he could have looked for a decent used 1100 and paid about the same.He's happy with his, and that counts.
For a first shotgun,one should stick to the name brands and get a repeater. After that, get what you want. Toys and tools have different missions and specs.
If the price was right on an offbrand,say one of the Baikals or a Stoeger, I'd seriously consider it for a CAS gun or just because.I'd be more likely to fork over the shekels on a Savage 311,though.Same money, proven record.
For a new shooter,just getting into this fascinating world,I'd still recommend a Big Four pump or one of the GOOD semis from major makers.
One note. Oft the price difference between a new off brand guns is about the same as a used specimen of a name brand similar model. And often the used gun have as much or more life left in it than the new one.
The off brands include US made stuff like the gone but not lamented Noble and Springfield pumps, old Stevens autos and pumps, and models from US makers that didn't work out. Imports from the Third World make up the rest.
The Winchester 1400 was a semi auto that had to compete against the 1100 and A-5. Some designing flaws left it with an unearned rep for being trash. It also was an attempt to replace the X-1,which was a superb shotgun but expensive as heck to make. Held up against the X-1, the 1400 didn't look good.
The Ithaca 51 was another Bambi competing against the Godzilla 1100. While not a great auto, it was a decent handling field model that held up OK.
Mossberg's 9200, according to report, was a good design and well made, but it didn't make the cut for military contracts and civilians weren't buying them in droves.
None of these were Legends.All had something amiss,whether it was reliability, looks or that undefinable combination of ergonomics,balance and biases we term "Feel". None of these were total dogs.
Added to those were the House Brands, those Higgins, Ted Williams, etc guns made for the big chain stores.
Shotguns like these are as oft inherited as bought, and serve well as loaners, backups or for toting through the swamps we're scared to take our best guns into.
Some of the Third World imports are decent guns, but a search will have us kissing more ugly frogs than enchanted princes. Old Daleys made in Japan and the even older Prussian guns are quite good, but the track record of newer Turks and so on hasn't been long enough to tell how they hold up. Some other off brands are junk, pure and simple.
Recently, I tried an acquaintance's new Daley auto for a shot. I powdered the clay, the trigger was workable, and it felt like a shotgun ought to. He hunts with it and plans to shoot a bit of clays with it also. IOW, light duty. The fact is, for what he paid he could have looked for a decent used 1100 and paid about the same.He's happy with his, and that counts.
For a first shotgun,one should stick to the name brands and get a repeater. After that, get what you want. Toys and tools have different missions and specs.
If the price was right on an offbrand,say one of the Baikals or a Stoeger, I'd seriously consider it for a CAS gun or just because.I'd be more likely to fork over the shekels on a Savage 311,though.Same money, proven record.
For a new shooter,just getting into this fascinating world,I'd still recommend a Big Four pump or one of the GOOD semis from major makers.
One note. Oft the price difference between a new off brand guns is about the same as a used specimen of a name brand similar model. And often the used gun have as much or more life left in it than the new one.
