A little personal background ----- I have been using THR for awhile as I slowly get back into firearm ownership (Texan father taught me to hunt as a kid, but I spent my 18 - 33 years owning only my original "Sear's special" 20 gauge single shot - ha!). As I got back into this I have purchased the required handguns for HD (in my opinion): a shooter S&W m19-3 and a Springfield 1911 ww2 model (in honor of my grandfather; and I wanted a 1911 at an entry level price). Both using THR forums and both turned out to be great transactions!
Now it's time for a shotgun upgrade (way past time). When shooting, clays and birds (mostly quail and some pheasant), from age 7 – 18, I was always a good shot. I reached my current height and weight (6' 160) at 15, and every 12 gauge I have ever picked up, from my Dad’s Winchester pump to a friend’s semi-auto (it was smaller, can’t remember who made it) has always felt right. I have spent the past week using my free time to look at what is out there, read some of the informative posts here and in the Firing Line's archives, and now I want to ask anyone willing to share their opinion.
List your favorite shotguns and what price range I can expect (from “don’t hesitate” – “what you would pay for a 95% gun at a store”). Figure pricing as if in AZ or TX (which tend to be about the same IMHO). I want this first purchase to be mostly HD oriented, but I may also take it out and shoot some clays, but not often, and that’s not a priority in this purchase. I have been leaning towards the m590a (obviously hunting is not a priority) since anything military tested must be good in some respects. Read lots of 870 lovers, and that counts for something too, but the mechanical specs favor the m590a from what I have read, Interested in hearing about ALL your thoughts on the subject. Read about the Benelli’s and Beretta’s, and hell, being half Italian myself I would love one, but I think I should limit this first purchase to $500 or less since it is HD, will be sitting out when I am at work (don’t have a gun safe yet), and most break-ins in my area occur during the day; I would hate to lose over $1k in one weapon.
But as I said, all opinions are appreciated. Thanks to all!
Now it's time for a shotgun upgrade (way past time). When shooting, clays and birds (mostly quail and some pheasant), from age 7 – 18, I was always a good shot. I reached my current height and weight (6' 160) at 15, and every 12 gauge I have ever picked up, from my Dad’s Winchester pump to a friend’s semi-auto (it was smaller, can’t remember who made it) has always felt right. I have spent the past week using my free time to look at what is out there, read some of the informative posts here and in the Firing Line's archives, and now I want to ask anyone willing to share their opinion.
List your favorite shotguns and what price range I can expect (from “don’t hesitate” – “what you would pay for a 95% gun at a store”). Figure pricing as if in AZ or TX (which tend to be about the same IMHO). I want this first purchase to be mostly HD oriented, but I may also take it out and shoot some clays, but not often, and that’s not a priority in this purchase. I have been leaning towards the m590a (obviously hunting is not a priority) since anything military tested must be good in some respects. Read lots of 870 lovers, and that counts for something too, but the mechanical specs favor the m590a from what I have read, Interested in hearing about ALL your thoughts on the subject. Read about the Benelli’s and Beretta’s, and hell, being half Italian myself I would love one, but I think I should limit this first purchase to $500 or less since it is HD, will be sitting out when I am at work (don’t have a gun safe yet), and most break-ins in my area occur during the day; I would hate to lose over $1k in one weapon.
But as I said, all opinions are appreciated. Thanks to all!
