Shotgun buying questions

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pdowg881

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I went to one of my local gun stores to pick up a rifle case. The previous weekend I had my first exposure to shotguns. I did some hunting, and skeet, and it was really fun. While I was at the gunstore I asked what he had for shotguns. I told him it would be for skeet and hunting, and I wanted a 12ga. He only had 2 on the rack and he pointed me to some old bolt action shotgun in 16ga. What I really want is just an 870. I had shot an 18" and another with a much longer barrel. I also liked one of my frineds 20ga. So here's my questions:
Should I be offended or turned off that the guy tried to sell me a shotgun that didn't meet any of my requirements?
How much would a half decent used 870 go for?
What are the practical differences between 20 and 12 gauge?
And what about ammo prices for 12ga. bird and buckshot, and slugs?

I also have yet to check out the other gunshop in my town, and I'm also in NH and thinking of taking a ride to kittery trading post in Maine.
Sorry for all the questions I'm new to shotguns and very obsessed with them. Any advice or beginner's info is appreciated.
 
I'm also seeing that a new 870 express goes for 345$ on Remington.com, and it says that I can get 30$ back. Is that a good deal?
If I chose to do this, how do you go about purchasing a gun from the internet?
 
Since you also mention slugs...
I'm gonna suggest you watch for an 870 Express combo with 2 barrels, a 21" rifled slug barrel, and a vent-rib shot barrel.
I've seen them new for under $350.
I've seen plenty of good used 870 express for $200 or less and used wingmasters less than $300 (depending on condition).
I own and adore several various 20g shotguns but if I only had one, it would be in 12g.
Don't be too hard on the gun shop guy. He doesn't have much selection but he'd like to send some of it out the door with you. keep looking.
 
Gun dealers don't want to sell you what you want. They want to sell you what they have. Frankly, it's outrageous for anyone to suggest that you look at a 16 gauge bolt action for skeet.

The Express Combo is a good gun. It will do everything you need a shotgun to do from clays, upland hunting, waterfowling, slug hunting and home defence.

Used prices on 870s cover a wide range depending on condition and features. My most recent acquisition was a 20 gauge 870 Wingmaster with a 28" vent ribbed barrel with choke tubes. It wasn't cheap at $430 but it was unfired and NIB with all the accessories. I consider that the high water mark for a pre-owned 870 Wingmaster.
 
Kingcreek, when you say I should get a rifled slug barrel, and a ribbed barrel, can't i use one barrel for both slugs and shot?
 
A smoothbore barrel can be used for shot or slugs, the rifled slug barrel is for sabot slugs only, but they have much better accuracy than the standard forster type lead slugs that are for smoothbores. If you plan to hunt deer, the rifled slug barrel is the way to go, if you just want to mess around shooting slome slugs and extreme accuracy isn't needed, the smoothbore barrel is the way to go.
 
Go to the Kittery Trading Post and check out your options (I used to be stationed in Portsmouth - good store that) An 870 Express is one of the most commonly available shotguns around - you should almost certaily be able to pick one up for around $200 used. They go for that much here in high priced CA. You might alsoooo consider a Mossberg 500 if your intent is more hunting than clays. Slugs thru a smoothbore are accurate enough up to a point - say about 75 yards - rifled barrels are certainly more accurate overall for all distances but consider the type of brush and woods you'll be hunting in - a smoothbore may still fit your needs.

Definitely visit the Post tho before making a purchase - wish we had a store like that out here
 
There's a lot of anti Dick's Sporting Goods people, but I recently picked up the Rem 870 Express there for $249 minus $30 factory rebate. Rebate good til end of year.
 
I live 7 miles from KTP and walk the gun racks weekly. They have good prices to a point. Look at Dick's in Portsmouth for the tax free price. Compare and you might save you a few $$.
 
which NH shop?

I'm familiar with most of the shops over there. +1 on checking out KTP. Depending on the price of the shotty, they have a transfer shop across the bridge so you can avoid the sales tax.

Good luck,

CZ52'
 
So it sounds like hunting with slugs from a smoothbore is a waste of time?
Click to expand...

By no means is it a waste of time, deer have been taken, and are still taken this way for 90% of people that have to hunt with shotguns for deer. A rifled slug barrel will give you another 50 yards of range+ or-. Be aware, Standard slugs cost about $3 a box of 5, Sabot slugs for a rifled barrel cost about $10-$14 a box of 5.
 
Smooth bore guns and a rifled slug are commonplace in a number of States in the flatlands.

I recently looked at a Dick's 870. The clerk told me to wait till the first of December for the two bbl combos to go on sale.

The local Bass Pro Shop has bottom end 870's on sale about twice a year for $199. plus tax. (after a $30 rebate.)

The problem is that there are too many guns on my list to choose from.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
Slugs and smoothbores have given me good results on the last 30-40 deer. Will advise if that changes...
 
just my 2 cents but id look for a wingmaster instead of an express. the wingmaster is just a better looking and smoother action gun than an express. slug barrels are available for it. i have shot plenty a deer here in illinois with a smoothbore slug gun
fog
 
FYI, around here Dunham's Sporting Goods had Remington 870s on sale for $199 after MFG rebate the day after Thanksgiving. Not sure what the price is now, but probably not too much more. Not a bad time to buy....

The only thing is that not all Dunham's stores carry firearms (mine doesn't :banghead: ).
 
where in NH are you???

run down to Dick's in the Newington plaza (Crossing @ Fox Run...not to be confused with the Fox Run Mall next door) ....they were running a special on Remington 870 Express w/28" vent rib barrel for $219 (after rebate).

or...

cross the bridge to Kittery, ME and check out the Kittery Trading Post. They have at least half a dozen used Wingmasters on the racks.....expect to pay ~$225. They can run the gun down to their pick up center in Portsmouth, NH.....so you can ditch the Maine sales tax and process the FFL as a NH transaction (i.e. for hand gun transactions).

a trip to KTP is ALWAYS worth the drive......lot's and lot's to drool over.

OBTW....the Rte 1 bypass bridge is shut down.....you'll want to take the Interstate 95 bridge.

good luck.
 
I bought my 870 Express Combo at Dicks for $319 less a $30 rebate, $289 is very good.
Bought on 11/24/2006.
 
Another one of my buddies suggested Dick's too. I'm gonna take the bus from school and check it out. Since where I will be hunting is pretty thick woods, I think I'm just gonna go wit a smoothbore for now. And my dad said next saeson hes gonna pick us up a couple deer rifles. Thanks for all the help.
 
IF YOU REALLY INTEND ON SHOOTING SKEET OR MAYBE SPORTING CLAYS.
YOU REALLY SHOULD GET AN OVER UNDER OR A SEMI AUTO. DICKS SELLS
STOEGER OVER UNDERS FOR 299. GREAT STARTER GUN. BUT NOT REALLY USABLE FOR DEER. SKEET AND SPORTING CLAYS HAS DOUBLE TARGETS. YOU WILL BE AT A GREAT DISADVANTAGE WITH A PUMP . A USED REMINGTON 1100 .SEMI AUTO WILL SET YOU BACK AROUND 350. GREAT FOR ANY CLAY SPORT OR DEER HUNTING. YOU CAN USE THE VENT.RIB BARREL AND BOLT ON A SCOPE WITH AN ADAPTER.
THEN GET A RIFLED CHOKE TUBE AND YOU WILL BE DEAD NUTS ACCURATE WITH SABOT SLUGS FOR DEER. IF YOU REALLY WANT A PUMP YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING....GET A SCOPE ADAPTER , A CHEAP RED DOT SCOPE AND A RIFLED CHOKE TUBE INSTEAD OF THE EXTRA BARREL .
 
Heres what happened: Dick's at foxrun could only offer me the 12gauge with a 28" barrel. The only way I could get a 26" was 12gauge. I opted to just get a smoothbore barrel for now. I went to Kittery, and although there was a transfer fee, I got the 870 express in 12ga with the 26" barrel. I'm extremely satisfied with it so far.
 
I went on fri night. The best thing about Kittery is you dont have to ask to see the guns. Once I got there i had to hold myself back from throwing my money at them. So many guns. My new favorite place. The last time i had been there I was ten years old.
 
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