Pump vs. Semi

[TRAPnSKEET]

I was wondering what type of shotguns people prefer to shoot, pump or semi-automatic?

I do not own a gun but am looking to buy in the near future. I have shot both semi-automatics and O/U with a buddy of mine, and i prefer the semi over the O/U. I have not shot a pump but have heard that they are better for hunting. My main purpose would be for trap and skeet shooting, but i plan to get into hunting probably this year or next.

So i was wondering what people prefer for both skeet and trap as well as hunting?

Thanks.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome aboard,TrapnSkeet. I moved this from General Discussion to the Shotgun board because that's where it belongs.

I prefer 870s for hunting,trap, skeet and all other things Shotgun. There's other good ones, and you should try some out before putting up the cash.

Mine the Archives here, it's an unequalled resource on shotguns and shotgunning.

 

[landon74]

I used my granddad's old 870 for trap, sporting clays and hunting untill I bought my own gun. I bought semi auto and used it a bunch for shooting clays and hunting, and eventually bought and O/U for clays..... all varieties of 12 gauge can get the job done.... what do I prefer? My semi auto, since I don't have that old 870....

 

[sm]

Welcome to THR !

Now-days I shoot mostly pumps.

I competed with Semi's, Pumps, and O/U's .

My personal philosophy is to learn CORRECT basic fundamentals with a gun that FITS you.

Once learned , practiced ....you are supposed to collect the whole set.

Pumps, Semi's, SXS's, O/U's....12, 20, 28 and .410.

...oh I still have this thing for Single Shot Shotguns. I still like to shoot clay targets, hunt doves, small game, and sling slugs with single shots. I gotta get another .410 single shot...

 

[kudu]

Welcome to the High Road,

As a fun gun, I like using a pump gun, and my trap gun is an old M12 Winchester that all but shucks itself. I can break almost as many skeet targets with a pump as with a semi or O/U, but pumps are fun to work with.

I competed with O/U's and semi-autos in skeet competition. If I could only have a pump or semi for targets, it would be an semi. But it would be a O/U otherwise for consistancy. To like an O/U it must fit you, otherwise it just bumps you around and is kind of uncomfortable. Don't base o/u's on just 1 or 2 that you tried and didn't like. It's the same with other guns as well but semi-autos are way more forgiving than an O/U or a pump when it comes to comfort.

Also, keep in mind that if you plan to reload that you have to pick up emptys that are thrown all over by a pump or semi gun, an O/U you just pull them out of the chambers nad drop them in your shooting pouch.

Oh, and always try out a 28ga before you buy a shotgun.

 

[Bear Gulch]

My field gun gun is a ruger red label. Home defense is a Winchester 1300 as it can be loaded through the floorplate while the chambered round is being fired. This is rarely needed, I'll grant you, but try it with your autoloader!

Far more important is propper fit and learning the basics. A few skeet lessons will vastly improve you performance and comfort.

 

[Mauserguy]

Pump all the way. On recoil they almost pump themselves, and they are not as prone to the problems of a semi auto.
Mauserguy

 

[PJR]

If I could only have one gun for targets and birds I'd want a semi auto.

That said I like to shoot skeet with my pump gun. I don't shoot it as well as the o/u but like to stay in tune with a pump action. For serious clay shooting I prefer an o/u but would happily live with a semi auto.

Paul

 

[birddog]

I like O/U's for skeet & clays, SxS's for pheasant and rabbit hunting, Pumps for goose and duck (because no matter how much mud/sand/snow/ice you get in the action, you WILL be able to pump in the next round) and the occasional semi for upland birds and rabbits, but still prefer the SxS.

 

[Brian Dale]

Welcome to The High Road, TrapnSkeet. I've shot mostly autos, with a few O/Us; pumps only rarely.
They're all good.

You wrote,

I have not shot a pump but have heard that they are better for hunting.

The one you can hit with is best. The one that you like and practice with a lot will be the one you can hit with.

For my estimate of "what you'll end up liking," I'll echo the words of my betters: the way the gun fits you is more important than action type. I have one auto that fits me almost perfectly (well, two, if we widen the concept of "almost" -- it's plenty good). I have another that smacks me in the cheekbone a bit; I'll fiddle with it soon to improve the fit. If you can, try several before you buy, then pick one and go out and burn up a whole lot of ammo with it. You're asking a question for which there are a lot of good answers.

Besides, as they've said: there will be more.

 

[Gordon]

I use: Browning Citori Lightnings in 12,20 and .410 for clay bird stuff.
Browning BSS 12ga SxS for far rangeing pheasant, and Pigeons
Darne 16ga sxs for Chukars and farm hunt pheasant and Quail
Browning Auto-5 20 guage and Browning Superposed lightnings 12ga for
bird bashes in SA. and fancy travel to hunts.
Remington Model 31s (12&20) with a poly choke for any thing or as a
loaner and rough travel to hunts.
Browning BPS 10ga pump for Wildfowl (used to use a Rem 1100 mag for same) and Turkey
For home defense and gunfighting practice: a Robar Rem 870 12ga and a 1100 set up for 3 gun comp. (doubles on each of these!)
For play: some double coach guns, a couple .410s single shot and bolt gun for garden chores. Just got my wife an ultra light Model 37 Ithaca deerslayer for general ranch duty for her. The rest of the shotties just collect dust!

 

[TrapperReady]

I prefer different guns for different types of shooting.

For clay games, I use an O/U. For most of my upland hunting, I use pumps. For waterfowl, I use a gas-operated semi-automatic. You can do it all with any of the types I've listed. In fact, I have shot clays with all of them and killed birds with all of them... however, no single configuration is best for every situation.

If I were in the position of having to use one gun for everything, then it would probably be an autoloader... most likely a Beretta 391.

 

[Lone Star]

Learning to operate a pump gun skillfully takes time. Cleaning an auto takes more time than cleaning a pump gun, which has no gas or recoil mechanism to become dirty. How do you want to spend your time?

Gas-operated autos kick less. Is that a factor? In target shooting, where many shots are fired in one day, it is, with most people.

For hunting, given game limits in the US, a pump gun is fine. In Argentina, with SCADS of doves to be shot, a gas auto is favored. Cumulative recoil is otherwise unpleasant.

Lone Star

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Cleaning an auto takes more time than cleaning a pump gun, which has no gas or recoil mechanism to become dirty.

Generally, I'd agree with you on that statement.

However, there are some semis out there whose cleaning is kept to a minimum and I'm not talking about safe-dames. It is in my experience that the inertia operated (that is, if "recoil mechanism" was meant to describe inertia guns) guns are just as clean to run as the pumps.

If you didn't mean inertia guns, then I'll shut my pie-hole.

If you meant "recoil mechanism" as in the recoil tube & spring & plunger and all of that fancy doo-dads that are usually hidden by the buttstock, then I agree with you.

-Jim

 

[TRAPnSKEET]

Thanks for all the replies and keep them coming.

I want some opinions on a gun though. The gun is a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Combo with two barrels- 24" and 28" vent-rib ported barrels. It's a pump. Would this be a good gun to go with for hunting and skeet/trap shooting?

 

[MoeMentum]

Pump, less problems.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The 835 is a good choice. I THINK the 24" barrel mentioned is fully rifled, thus only for slugs, but a 28" smoothbore barrel is close to optimum for clays and most hunting.

Note, the 835 is 3 1/2" shell capable. This means it can function with the big Maggie Numbs but being a pump, it also works with the shorter shells, including the ubiquitous 2 3/4" target/field loads. Save the barnburner loads for later, if ever.

 

[Smoke]

Let's see.....

I don't hunt waterfowl so can't comment there.

Dove: I prefer SXS doubles. Large sight plane is advantageous to me. ALso prevents me from wastng that third shell in auto's and pumps.

Quail: I usually use smaller doubles and pumps. Mainly becuase I don't have any small bore auto loaders. Model 42 is a great quail gun. As is my 20ga Citori. I have on occasion used my 870 defense gun on Quail with great success. 6 Rounds never hurt.

Clay games: O/U and SXS are my choice becuase I at least want to look good while missing targets.

As others have said any gun that fits you and works will serve you well in any shooting disipline.

Dave,

I've been meaning to clarify something: When I BA/UU/R, am I actually supposed to be hitting anything?

Smoke

 

[ruger357]

I prefer the 870 Wingmaster. Welcome.

 

[115grfmj]

the pump gun is....

an American Icon. It is as essential to the classic idea of America, as apple pie, or pickup trucks, or a Norman Rockwell painting. For me they bring
back memories of crisp autumn mornings, and hot coffee. Mine is as at home
in the duck blind, as it is in the tree stand.....not to mention the fact that
they just work! Very few complicated parts to break, very simple function design. To each his (or her) own, but for me, make mine a pump. 870 please.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Smoke, yes. Not everything, but we should strive to hit as much as possible.

COme on up to MD and I'll show you some new ways to ruin a straight....