Shotgun longevity...what does it mean to you?

[ArmedBear]

The 20 Gauge 391 is really light, so it still has some recoil.

However, the 390 and 3901, while still in the sub-7 lb. range I want from a 20, aren't as light as the 391.

The 20 Gauge 390 I just picked up has a plastic buttplate and has essentially no felt recoil with 7/8 oz. bulk Remington Sport Loads (I ditched my 20 Gauge press a while ago because I didn't like the particular model, and never got another one when lead prices rose so high -- I will probably reload 20 again at some point).

For light recoil AND cheap commercial ammo, I think it's hard to beat that gun in 20 as a low-recoil semi for those who want one.

I've wavered but never bought a 28. Hell, I have a 16, but no 28. This gun has made me less interested in 28 -- though if I see a deal on the right break-action 28 at some point, I'll consider it.

 

[mljdeckard]

I must be a tasteless Philistine, but not only do I not have any problem with the Remington action, I don't see myself switching. I've shot Benellis, Berettas, etc, I still don't know what's so terrible about the Remington actions or why it is that they should change an action that millions of people over generations seem to enjoy just fine. One day when I'm rich, I might get a better gun like a Browning Citori, something along those lines.

 

[ArmedBear]

There's certainly no reason to switch from something that works for you, and that you already own.

Did someone say there was?

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

"Target-grade" ..., to me, means not having to chase my hulls.

Thread winner.

 

[inSight-NEO]

A different take: I park my travel trailer (aka the camper) just out of town at a retired gentleman's farm. I was talking to him last time I was out there and he says he considers shotguns to be 'throw aways' as he doesn't ever clean them. So when they 'quit working' he throws it away and buys a new one. I need to call him back and see if he really is just tossing it in the trash or if he is trading them in or what. If he goes 2-3 seasons without cleaning, heck that gun is just getting broken in. Might have to see if he'd sell it to me cheap.

It seems like this guy needs to begin differentiating between "not working" and "jamming due to lack of maintenance." He would save quite a bit of money Id bet. Regardless, it sounds like this guy is either extremely lazy, extremely wasteful, just plain dumb or any combination thereof.

On the positive side, maybe you will be able to grab some of these guns at a steal of a price.


BTW- Thanks for the responses everybody.

 

[ElToro]

i have a 1928 auto 5. it has been shot A LOT i bought it for <200 OTD. i shoot it frequently. when i bought it i bought a spring rebuild kit for it when the ones in there decide to go.

we also have in my family (since new!) a 1889 Parker double damascus that can shoot in a pinch.

any quality modern gun should last many, many 10s of thousands of rounds. if you can afford to shoot enough ammo to wear it out, you can afford a new gun.

 

[conhntr]

i have quit shooting competitively but when i did i kept pretty decent track of my guns. i shot primarirly trap but have almost 10,000 registered skeet/sporting targets as well.

#1. 870 field, ~1500 targets, another 500 plinking/hunting. 0 problems.

#2. used beretta 302 trap. had about 20k through it when i bought it, and i ran another 15k, would malfunction (2nd shot on doubles 100% on first shot) about 1/500 targets which is "ok" for comp. but not ideal will cost you targets. would only clean about every 1000 shots

#3. 1187 premier trap. 5k rounds needed cleaned every flat -250shots but was dead reliable with that cleaning regimine.

#4. beretta 682 greystone 70k targets. literally 0 gun malfunctions. every single FTF had a primer hit. only one fail-to-etract and the rim of a gun-club shell was out of whack and thinner than it should be and the ejector "jumped" it. sold the gun for 100$ less than i paid new for it 70k rounds later! that is longevity!

#5. sold the 682 b/c i "retired" and now am looking for an 1187/1100. shoot them well and its maintnance isnt as much an issue now that i dont shoot 4 flats a week.

my opinion;
autos beretta 302,303,390,391 and remington 1100, 1187 are equals.

but a good o/u or single puts an auto to shame longevity and reliability wise.

 

[oneounceload]

Longevity in hunting rifles is generally about 2000 rounds.....in target/varmint rifles...more like 3-7,000 rounds.......in target shotguns, usually about 100,000 to 500,000 rounds.............

somehow, this seems to be a no-brainer