Really nice 20 gauge 870 at wally world, $239...What to do?

[RemingtonFreak870]

I have always wanted a 20 gauge, with my girlfriend taking a small interest in trap shooting, and there is this really nice 20 gauge for a great price. They have it marked as a 12, but it is def. a 20, it has a checkered wingmaster style stock, hunting barrel with modular choke tubes. I have been seeing it in my sleep, what should I do? Wait a while and see if I really want it(I know I do). I guess I don't want to drop any more money on guns for a little while, I bought 2 last month. Are 20 gauge 870's common, I had never seen one before or noticed them at least. I dont know if I will get it today or not...I shouldnt...yeah, thats right, I will exercise willpower...just suppose I don'tShould I expect a nice light recoil? At least compared to a 12, and are shells for 20's more expensive? I have only had a 28 and a few 12's, I know 28 gauge ammo isn't all that cheap.

 

[SASS#23149]

dont buy it without her there

If the gun donesn't fit her,shes gonna get beat up no matter what the guage is.Most guns are 'man sized',but there are youth modles for smaller built folks.
The 20's are lighterr and 'could' kick as much as a 12,depends on a lot of factors.
Keep in mind that recoil is usually a problem when it's discussed a lot,and not a problem if ya just leave the subject alone.I see kids 10 and up shooting 12's at the trap line on tv and it's no big deal because the subject is just not harped on.
IMHO,YMMV,etc etc

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

Oh it is smaller, it is a youth model I guess. I like it so much because it is small.

 

[bubbygator]

Still!!! - Don't buy it without her there! Choosing it is part of making it "her" gun.

 

[Baba Louie]

Buy it! Put it on lawaway with an eye towards the future.
GF's might or might not turn out to be long term relationships. If she is long term (here's to hoping) gift it to her with an understanding that she will help teach future offspring (if they're in the cards as well) how to shoot trap as well as mom and dad.
If she doesn't turn out to be long term, you still might have kids someday (or neices/nephews, etc) who would love to learn how to bust clay pigeons.
Can't go wrong with a 20 ga 870. (Does Remington make them in 28? )

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

I think they do make one in 28, I saw it in a magazine once for $650. She already checked it out, it has a 3" receiver and she likes it a lot. I think I might like it for backpacking bird hunts, nothing better than a small shotgun on a long walk. Theres plenty of places where you walk through Quail and Dove country for five miles or so, then go down to the river for Ducks and Geese and camp for a few days. In these situations you may be carrying 70 lbs, and a huge gun makes it a little unpleasant. I know my dad used to take ducks down with his 20gauge 3" nitro mags way back when. I think I will hold off for a bit though, I am thinking I will need this gun my next season though.

 

[zahc]

Buy it, if she doesn't like it, keep it.

 

[Red Label]

I've had a 20ga 870 for a long time. Out of all of my guns including M12s in various guages, a Ruger Red Label, .22 rifles of all varieties and several high powered rifles, my 20ga. 870 is the gun that goes with me when I am doing almost anything that I might need a gun for. It is just my natural go to gun and I love it. Its by far not the prettiest gun in the corral, its an Express, but its strong, dependable and goes bang every time! It gets used so much that the action is smooooooth. Its light and easy to carry.

I have to admit that it also does not get cleaned regularly either just because I use it so much I'd be cleaning it all the time

Anyhow get one if its cheap and enjoy it forever!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Back when my wife was still shooting 3-gun, she experimented with a Youth Model 870 Express, thinking it would recoil less than the 12 ga. she had been using.

After a short while she went back to the 12 ga. with reduced recoil loads. Of course there were no reduced recoil 20 ga. slugs and buckshot available. The lighter 20 ga. gun with heavy loads actually kicked worse than a slightly heavier 12 ga. with light loads.

I don't know what loads she'll be shooting out of the gun, but keep that in mind...

lpl/nc