Youngster
Member
As the title says, what is the slickest, most positive, least mental bandwidth demanding pump action out there right now? I'm thinking its either the Ithaca or the Winchester 1300/SXP but i haven't tried them all.
Slickest pump action currently produced?
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JimKirk
Member
Have not shot or handled a new Ithaca, but the Browning BPS is smooothe!
Jimmy K
Jimmy K
John Peddie
Member
Ithaca 37, if you can live with a cross-bolt safety; BPS if you like top-tang.
M 37 is a bit more pointable, to me; BPS is comparatively heavy. Both are butter-smooth.
The 37 is a lineal descendant of the Remington 17, which was designed as a light pump for upland use, and (I've read) made only in 20 gauge.
No wonder the 37 is so sprightly.
M 37 is a bit more pointable, to me; BPS is comparatively heavy. Both are butter-smooth.
The 37 is a lineal descendant of the Remington 17, which was designed as a light pump for upland use, and (I've read) made only in 20 gauge.
No wonder the 37 is so sprightly.
sheepdog
Member
...did not realize Winchester shotguns were back in production?...I love the old 1200...would like to try the newest 1300..some I've tried and one I had were not as smooth as the 1200...and the BPS is a dream!!! Fine and reasonably affordable...but not to cut down and carry in a truck!!!
reckless carolinian
Member
Ithaca 37 only available in 20? I don't think that's accurate, John. Its available in a 12, check out the Ithaca site.
Here's one for the truckhttp://www.ithacagun.com/defense37s.html
And for huntinghttp://www.ithacagun.com/featherlight.html
Here's one for the truckhttp://www.ithacagun.com/defense37s.html
And for huntinghttp://www.ithacagun.com/featherlight.html
oletymer
Member
The new Ithacas are available in 12 , 20, and 28 gauge. A 16 gauge is being released this year.
sheepdog
Member
...bad links...I'd like to see the truck gun...had an 8-shot satin nickel in the 70s that was gorgeous...
Hunterdad
Member
I havent handled a new Wingmaster, but have heard they are smooth as butter.
ImARugerFan
Member
My wingmaster is a dream. To be honest, after a shot any pump I've handled seems to magically pump itself. This year after the dust settled after shooting at a deer I had to check my mossberg to see if I had cycled the action or not because I had no recollection of doing it. I had.
The problem with both the m37 and the benelli nova is that god forsaken rattle. It drives me nuts how much they rattle with the slightest shake of the gun. Don't get me wrong, I love my Ithaca, it's just a peeve.
The problem with both the m37 and the benelli nova is that god forsaken rattle. It drives me nuts how much they rattle with the slightest shake of the gun. Don't get me wrong, I love my Ithaca, it's just a peeve.
Hunterdad
Member
I have a '72 Wingmaster and always have to check if I cycled it. It is got to be one if not the best pump gun ever made.
I have an Express, and I don't think it takes any more "mental bandwidth" than the smoothest Wingmaster ever made. It just doesn't feel as good to pump it.
I don't have a Mossberg, but I've come around to thinking that the controls are better than Remington's, across the board. That means less "mental bandwidth". It's not a fancy shotgun, though.
Sadly, the Model 12 is not being produced right now. Maybe Winchester will resurrect it, if Ithaca does well enough with the 37. Browning builds the BPS well, but it's a heavy sucker.
There's only one safety design that has ever come off for a quick shot without my consciously knowing how I did it, and that's a tang safety. To me, the greatest "mental bandwidth" requirement is operating the safety, not the slickness of the slide.
Seriously, though, if you don't want to have to worry about operating the slide, they make these shotguns now that don't require pumping. Lots of them. Even Beretta, arguably the gold standard gas action (not the only one that works, but the one to which others are compared), has gotten into the HD shotgun game. Of course, another gold standard auto maker, Benelli, been in it for a while. They just aren't as cheap as a Mossberg 500.
I don't have a Mossberg, but I've come around to thinking that the controls are better than Remington's, across the board. That means less "mental bandwidth". It's not a fancy shotgun, though.
Sadly, the Model 12 is not being produced right now. Maybe Winchester will resurrect it, if Ithaca does well enough with the 37. Browning builds the BPS well, but it's a heavy sucker.
There's only one safety design that has ever come off for a quick shot without my consciously knowing how I did it, and that's a tang safety. To me, the greatest "mental bandwidth" requirement is operating the safety, not the slickness of the slide.
Seriously, though, if you don't want to have to worry about operating the slide, they make these shotguns now that don't require pumping. Lots of them. Even Beretta, arguably the gold standard gas action (not the only one that works, but the one to which others are compared), has gotten into the HD shotgun game. Of course, another gold standard auto maker, Benelli, been in it for a while. They just aren't as cheap as a Mossberg 500.
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If it's a forend rattle you could try some cloth tape (cloth electrical tape would be best, try a BMW or Mercedes dealer if you can't find it) on the inside of the slide. I put some over the dimples in the slide on my Mossberg and it's as quiet as can be now.
ImARugerFan
Member
Interesting idea, I'll have to check it out.
MCgunner
Member
AB, the Mossberg isn't the smoothest out of the box, but after a few hunting seasons, it "fluffs and buffs" itself pretty well.
I love the Winchester 1300 and the Ithaca/BPS actions for smooth and can't argue THAT one. Never tried any of the spaghetti guns.
I love the Winchester 1300 and the Ithaca/BPS actions for smooth and can't argue THAT one. Never tried any of the spaghetti guns.
MCgunner
Member
I don't care about rattle. I don't hunt deer with shotguns. If I did, I'd use a H&R single shot. But, that's why God gave man rifles.
CrashInBlack
Member
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- Nov 23, 2009
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I have an old Ithaca 37 and I can honestly say it's the best feeling action of any shotgun I've ever tried.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
I want to get hands on one of the Armscor/RIA Mark 5s. If history is any indication, and if I can see well enough to read the photographs, that one ought to be hands down the slickest 'new' pumpgun going. Note I said ought to be and not "is." I won't know for sure till I can handle one and use it for a while.
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/rockislandm5tactical12gashotgunpartac-sgn-m5.aspx
The reason I say that is because it looks an awful lot like the old High Standard Flite King, slightly redesigned to include two action bars. And I have a real soft spot for those...
lpl
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/rockislandm5tactical12gashotgunpartac-sgn-m5.aspx
The reason I say that is because it looks an awful lot like the old High Standard Flite King, slightly redesigned to include two action bars. And I have a real soft spot for those...
lpl
Youngster
Member
I've got an 870P, hand honed action with thousands of rounds through it and I still find I can't shoot it as quickly as easily as some of the other pumps I've tried. It's smooth but not particularily positive, there's just a bit of extra effort required there that's not needed with some of the others.
I have no problem with trigger guard safeties, a tang safety would probably just confuse me at this point. I would like a semiauto but I'm trying to figure if another pump might prove satisfactory before I go and spend at least twice the money on a good semi.
If other pumps work better for YOU, then figure out what they were, and buy one of those.
It matters none what works for me, or anyone else.
Remember: the 870 was designed to be CHEAP, not great. It happens to be reliable, and it can be made relatively smooth. However, previous Remingtons like the 31, and guns like the Winchester Model 12 and the Ithaca 37 were all a lot nicer internally and feel better to operate. Postwar Americans wanted their stuff cheap, though, and Remington was smart enough to oblige with the 870, in 1950. So it should shock nobody that the 870 isn't the best pump shotgun around. It never was. What it was, was almost as good for half the price.
By the time people started appreciating guns like the Model 12 again, it was too late -- pump guns had become the cheap end of the market, and shotgun aficionados were buying other types when they had money to spend. The new Ithaca may be shifting that a bit now, after many decades, but I have no clue what volume they sell.
It matters none what works for me, or anyone else.
Remember: the 870 was designed to be CHEAP, not great. It happens to be reliable, and it can be made relatively smooth. However, previous Remingtons like the 31, and guns like the Winchester Model 12 and the Ithaca 37 were all a lot nicer internally and feel better to operate. Postwar Americans wanted their stuff cheap, though, and Remington was smart enough to oblige with the 870, in 1950. So it should shock nobody that the 870 isn't the best pump shotgun around. It never was. What it was, was almost as good for half the price.
By the time people started appreciating guns like the Model 12 again, it was too late -- pump guns had become the cheap end of the market, and shotgun aficionados were buying other types when they had money to spend. The new Ithaca may be shifting that a bit now, after many decades, but I have no clue what volume they sell.
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