What is the best shotgun you ever had?

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bernie

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Mine was a used 870. When I was newly married I got into duck hunting but my only shotgun was a 2 3/4" auto. I needed something to shoot the mighty 3" magnum, but was on an extremely tight, newlywed budget. At a gunshow I found a used 870 that was on a dealers used rack, but still had styrofoam from the box in the barrel, even though there was no box with the shotgun. Mechanically, if it had been fired, it had been fired very little. The bolt face was new. However, someone had put a turkey choke in it and tried to spray paint it a camo pattern, but it turned out to be a dark pink color, which is a little odd on a shotgun to say the least. It sat on the rack all day and no one even picked it up to look at it, after all, what self respecting man would want a pink shotgun.

I do! I offered the dealer $135 for it and he took it without blinking. I have killed truckloads of game with it since that day. Ducks, rabbit, squirrel, dove, and many other species have fallen to this shotgun. It was my only shotgun for many years. This shotgun just fits me.

A few years ago I took it to my dads so that he could have a shotgun for critters and such (he lives way back in the country, where I grew up, it is truly a great place). I also use it when I occasionally get off from work just early enough to slip out for a few minutes of squirrel hunting just before dark.

My buddies laughed at me for years because of my pink shotgun, but I was death on toast with that shotgun! I finally wore off the pink paint and redid the camo job so that it looks a little more normal, but it is not quite the same anymore.

I was at dad's saturday and did one of my last minute hunts with it and noticed the stock was a little loose. I brought it home to clean and tighten up. I fixed it tonight, and I thought about all the fun that I have had with it over the years. A used shotgun has served myself, my father, and my kids will use it in the future.

What is your similar shotgun?
 
A .410 H&R single shot with the forearm held on with a twist of baling wire and a wrap of black cloth tape. That's the gun I graduated from coffee-thermos carrier to gun toter with. Still, I had to carry it open for a while. I might have got a pellet or two on a bird with it, I don't remember. But I sure remember my first big 'ol jack rabbit I ever took. He must've stretched out to 4' and had a beautiful pelt that the neighbor's dog eventually chewed up.

H&R Topper. Yep, the best gun I ever had.
 
Real hard to say!The Ithaca 37 20ga I recieved new as a boy rates real high. The Browning Superposed Lightning of my deceased Uncle that I coveted in my boyhood and inherited in the 70s is probably IT.
The problem with the great 870 is (was) it's greatest asset: You can replace it easily. I have 4 Wingmasters and a dozen have gone thru my hands.
 
Tie between the SKB 900 auto and the Franchi 48. Both have had a ton of lead depart their barrels. Won a bunch of turkey shoots with them both. I had Polychokes put on them 35-40 years ago. They are my personal favorites. I have now retired them except for turkey shoots, where they excel. Bought a new Stoeger M2000 and it is now my go to gun. It has a Polychoke II but I haven't taken tried it a turkey shoots yet.
 
Best Shotgun?

"What is the best shotgun you ever had? "


That depends on how you define "best". Best value? Best upland game shotgun? Best waterfowl shotgun? Best sentimental value? Best clay target shotgun? Best home defense shotgun?

I've got lots of "best" shotguns. It all depends on what I want to use it for that day. Thank goodness we aren't limited to just one shotgun.
 
My favorite was the first repeater shotgun I owned...A Rem 20-Ga "Sportsman" model.

Don't remember exactly what happened to it, but I think the first Mrs. Foggy 'loaned' it to one of her 'friends' . . . .
 
Two actually:

First is a second year production 12 ga 870 Wingmaster lent to me by my uncle for my first real hunting trip at age 13 (He later gave it to me). This gun led to my lifelong affinity for 870s.

Second was the 20 ga Winchester 37A I received the following Christmas. This gun was responsible for my lifelong affinity for single shot, working shotguns.

Both hold cherished places in the gunsafe and are still used on a regular basis

Thanks for this topic bernie, as it has dredged up a whole lot of good memories this afternoon! ;) Think I'll break out some Babcock, Ford, Hill, and Rourk tonight to cap off a fine day.
 
Higgins Model 20...recently had to replace the barrel...sweet action, but place of honor is because it was my Father-in-Law's...best man I ever knew, or ever will know...
 
Winchester Model 1897 Trench Shotgun w/M1917 bayonet inherited from my grandfather in 1958. It had a ton of shells through it starting when he caried it in WWI, and hunting after the war to feed his family during the Depression. I got it when he passed away in 1958, and have also put quite a few shells threw it. It now sits in a place of honor over the fireplace in the family room, a reminder of the freedom it stood for.

Blubacon 50
 
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My Dad's 1954 A-5 12 gauge. The stock was too short, the drop at the comb is like from here to Cuba and there is this big old brass bead on the top of the Polychoke but, it's still the best!

I shoot it at pheasants.
 
My field grade Citiori. I bought it about 25 years ago. It's the first shot gun I reach for when I want to go for birds. #2 is my Winchester 1500.
 
as long as it is ok that it is my only shotgun, my 870 got it used nice wood, 28" barrel and a 10+1 using 2 3/4. it has mainly shot pigons (but just orange clay ones so far)
 
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