Shotgun choice...

[SwampFox320]

Hey guys, I don't know much about shotguns but I do think having one would be a good idea. Can you guys give me some links and tips on what kinds you like the best and why?

Thanks!
Jason

[Bidah]

For inexpensive, working shotguns go with a Remington 870 or a Mossy 500. There are variations of these, but either one of these will do you well. Sometimes at CDNN you can find police tradeins.

-Bidah

[Dr. X]

Being a notorious cheap-ass, I hate to spend goms of money fer a shotgun. I've had every brand of pumpgun under the sun, and they all worked and none broke. The only difference in them were ergonomics. How much you wanna spend is the bottom line here...;)

as ever,
Dr. X :cool:

[tedbo]

I once knew a guy who loaded his own shotgun rounds and was never content to do factory loads.I once watched him make 2and3/4 inch loads into 3 inch magnum loads.:eek: :eek: He put on a frag vest and said said"watch this!"and no,he wasn't drinkin' at the time!I got behind a BIG tree before he pulled the trigger!He was doing this with a Rem 870.I KNOW they will hold up after watching this guy pull the trigger on 6 to 700 rounds of stuff way overloaded.He was making his own Turkey loads.
The bottom line is that the Remmy never missed a beat!The guy would load,fire,load,fire,load,fire until the barrel was getting very warm!I say the REmmy has my vote hands down after that escapade!

[SwampFox320]

Thanks guys, I'm looking at Remmies right now, thanks guys!

[Mac's]

Unless it has to be brand new, check out some used shotguns on Gunbroker. Also, be aware that some off-brands are really top brands under a different name. My Wife wanted a pump shotgun for at night. I picked up a Sear's Slugster (which is really a Mossberg 500) for really cheap, added some things and refinished it. She loves her "Sear's 500".
http://www.shootiniron.com/SEARS%20TACTICAL.jpg
Sorry, I can't figure out how to add a pic here but the above link will take you to a photo. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The name Says It All
Mac's Shootin' Irons
http://www.shootiniron.com

[witchdoctor]

I liked my Winchester 1300. It was black, smooth, and never required any repair. I sold it to a friend when I moved.

[NineseveN]

Stick with Remington 870, Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590 or Winchester 1300 and you're good to go. They all have their good and bad points.

www.shotgunworld.com is a good place for oodles of shotgun knowledge (go to the "Basement" area where they discuss tactical shotguns). I suggest checking each out in a store if you can. Some people prefer the controls of the Mossberg because they're more where they should be than the Remington; the action release on the 870 is in front of the trigger guard which can make it a pain to get to and you need to alter your firing grip to get it. The safety is on the trigger guard at the back (behind the trigger), some folks like it, some don't but it can be inadvertently depressed, whereas the Mossberg safety is less prone to that (it's up on the receiver in the "tang" area so to speak) and the action release is behind the trigger guard near the grip.

The action of the Remington is generally much smoother and there are more aftermarket parts for it. If you're going to get the Mossberg, consider the 590A1 model. It's military specc'd, parkerized, has an 8 shot tube and ghost ring sights as standard.

I personally have two Remington 870's (an Express Magnum and a Police Magnum) but the Mossberg is a fine gun (I just got better deals on the 870's and I gave a friend my old 500 Mossberg). I still want a 590A1 some day.

I don't have any real experience with the Winchester shotguns, so you'll have to find your info on that elsewhere.

Good luck, go check them out and see which feels the best. Fit is the most important thing in a shotgun IMHO; a proper fit makes aiming easier and faster and recoil more manageable.

[GUN SNOB]

I like the 870 for all the reasons that NineseveN doesn't. I have a pistol griped stock on mine so I couldn't reach the safety on a M'burg. That and there what I grew up around.

Its really a Chevy-Ford thing between the two.

QUOTE
"Good luck, go check them out and see which feels the best. Fit is the most important thing in a shotgun IMHO; a proper fit makes aiming easier and faster and recoil more manageable."

And thats about all you need to know about that! If you are choosing between the Rem., Win or Mos. its all about what you like/ feels best.

The 870 Express dose have a plastic trigger housing. (any of them with the safety lock I think.) I don't know of any problems with them but I found a older one with the metal TG.(Wingmaster Mag. Did not need to or plan to shoot 3 in. shells but it did not cost more so WTF.) I have a thing about guns that need a key to start.

I have seen some ruff looking 870s that cleaned up into relay nice guns. It takes a lot to Ware one out(if you can) so a used gun is a good choice. A lot of the retired 'Cop' guns are still shooting fine after how many years of service and qualifying?

[GS Rider]

I see a lot of pump guns out there but what about semi autos? I have a Beretta 1201 that is cool and an old model 11. What kind of semi autos do you use and is there a down side?

[NineseveN]

I see a lot of pump guns out there but what about semi autos? I have a Beretta 1201 that is cool and an old model 11. What kind of semi autos do you use and is there a down side?

I like the 1201FP a lot, but I don't have one. Wish I did though, nice, reliable shotgun as I understand it. The modern semi's are pretty reliable in my experience, but no gun is 100% immune to failures.

[GUN SNOB]

I have an old A-5 with a 18 and 28 (?) in. barrels. No draw backs I have found except price of parts and no high speed low drag add ons. Id realy like a mag extencion for it. Guess il have to make one if I ever get time.

I had a 11-87 for a while but it felt to much like my 870 and I couldent break the habit of trying to rack the forearm after each shot. never had that problem with the A-5 and can only figure it has to do with feel. But thats the shooter not the gun so no draw backs.

[Ryder]

I like the 1201FP a lot, but I don't have one. Wish I did though, nice, reliable shotgun as I understand it. The modern semi's are pretty reliable in my experience, but no gun is 100% immune to failures.

I sold mine in favor of the trusted Rem 870. I found the 1201 a bit finicky and have had it fail me several times at 3 gun matches:mad:

[bnutriaz]

truth is its all taste, Rem 870, Mos 500, or Benelli M1 super 90, all are great guns, all are dependable. I wouldnt have a problem being handed any of these and going to do some house to house if you know what i mean. In Iraq i used a Mos 500. actually got you more street cred with the locals carring the shotty than my m4 w/ a 203. i carried guns in Bagdad like old farts carry golf clubs.

Coop

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Benelli M1 is a modern classic as far as semi's go. THe military uses 'em so they can't be too bad.

I like my 870 though

7.62

[mrrk1562]

its really hard to beat an ithaca m37 its a john browning design ..they cost a lot for a reason ..workmen ship ..they will last a life time and then some ..they have the shortest action ..and when broking in they can be faster then a semi auto ..plus the fit is perfect for me real good natural point of aim ..light and robust ..bottom feed and bottom ejection ..holds its value ..i just love them but thats own feeling

[mrrk1562]

thats just my own feeling ..sorry i think faster then i type

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Had a M37 lightweight. That thing kicked my ass every time I pulled the trigger. One of the few firearms that I was happy to see go. Just my .02

7.62

[tedbo]

Ithaca deerslayer.'Nuff said.pull the trigger back and rack as fast as you can,whooee!Gramps had one and it was fun!

[NineseveN]

Ithaca deerslayer.'Nuff said.pull the trigger back and rack as fast as you can,whooee!Gramps had one and it was fun!

I believe they've removed that "feature" on all current designs citing safety reasons. An older used one might be cool, but I think the actual benefits of such a feature is marginal at best.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

AMMO, AMMO, get me some G. D. AMMO!

7.62

[Arizona Highlander]

Well, I finally figured it was time for me to offer my two-cents on the topic. :D

In order of personal preference . . .

1. Ithaca M37. Had one for years (the parkerized “LAPD Special” version) until relentless begging from my dad caused me to cave in and give it to him. Very lightweight (especially considering it has a steel receiver) and extremely smooth-functioning. Downward ejection is wonderful for southpaws, and no handicap for righties. Slide release is on the front-righthand side of trigger guard, safety at the rear - my preferred locations. Lack of a disconnector (at least, on the older versions) is a neat novelty, but I’m not sure if there’s really much practical value in it.

Disadvantages: No longer in production, and the remaining examples are expensive. Accessories (extended mag tubes, etc.) are scarce. The LAPD did report some problems with the downward ejection: when firing over the hoods of their patrol cars, the empty shell casing sometimes worked its way back into the action and tied things up. It’s a problem worth noting, if you’re ever going to be using the car’s engine block for cover.

Damn, wish I had mine back - but I’d have to forcibly take it from my old man’s arms, and let me tell you, he’s a tough old goat. :D

2. Remington 870. Have two of them, one an ex-sheriff’s department trade-in that’s right now in the middle of getting an amateur overhaul by yours truly. Usually smooth operating, and they’re well-regarded for reliability by the cops. Accessories abound for these pieces. Slide release is at the front-lefthand side of trigger guard (not as convenient for me as the Ithaca’s, but still perfectly workable).

Disadvantages: The 870 “Express” model (usually found at places like Wal-mart, at a discounted price) has been known to suffer from quality issues. They also function roughly at first, thanks to minimal hand-fitting. However, if you get an “Express” model and it seems to work fine, then just break it in well and it’ll be a fine shooter. The 870 “Wingmaster” is the higher-grade version, and they usually work perfectly out of the box.

I like the Remingtons nearly as well as I like the Ithacas.

3. Winchester 1200/1300. I got a 1300 some years back, and although it was perfectly reliable, I never quite got used to the piece. The slide release lever (actually, almost a button) is at the left-rear of the trigger guard - for me, a really tough spot to reach. The safety button is up front. It almost seemed like Winchester just *had* to do it differently, to distinguish themselves from Remington, but sometimes being different is NOT a good thing. There seem to be almost as many accessories available for the Winchester as there are for the Remington.

Disadvantages: Not as “battle-proven” as the Remington or Ithaca, both of which have seen extensive service in law enforcement and the Vietnam War

My dad ran off with my Winchester a while back, too, and last I heard it was riding in the back-end of his Corvette, just in case things should get hairy some day when he was on the road. It was my least-favorite of the three shotguns listed above, but if the SHTF and all I had was that Winchester, I’d hardly feel helpless either. As I mentioned, mine was perfectly functional; I just didn’t like the way it handled

I have zero personal experience with the Mossberg 500/590 series, so I can’t comment on them here. I do like the position of the safety (atop the buttstock, where it’s easily reached by the thumb). As I hear it, the 590a1 is the premiere model, and sees regular use in the military. The cheaper 500/590 models have some cost-cutting shortcuts (like a plastic safety lever that has a reputation for breakage) but it would probably work fine in normal use.

I’d certainly consider a Mossy, but I still always seem to migrate to Remingtons.

One last alternative is a double. I’ve got a Rossi coach gun (20” barrels, exposed hammers). It’s light and handy (kicks like a beast with buckshot loads, though) and it’s stone reliable. Only TWO shots, though - so you better make ‘em count.

These babies are wildly popular with the cowboy-action shooting crowd, but I found that I don’t care for the handling qualities of a short-barreled double as much as I thought I would. They’re too butt-heavy for my liking, and they don’t swing well (I’d always wished that I could find a clean, exposed hammer shotgun with 28" or 30” barrels, but whenever I do, the price scares me away). But, the late gun guru Jeff Cooper had very positive feelings for exposed-hammer doubles, and who am I to dispute the opinion of such an illustrious individual? If you dig a short-barreled double, go for it!

[MdlMkr 7.62]

I had a Winchester 1500 auto. Jam city POS. THe pump guns should be better but after my expirence with the auto I wouldn't buy another Winchester shotgun. Make mine an 870 with the park finish, mag extension and a speedfeed stock.

7.62 & 00 buck

[FREE RIFLEMAN]

For seven years I had a pair of the Mossberg 590's and loved them. There was one problem... my wife refused to shoot them because they were heavy, long, and covered with cool-guy shit. It was like picking up an M1 Garand to her, so she had no interest. I fired a Benelli M3 that belonged to a friend and was hooked instantly. Once I did the research on the M1 action being an inertia operated that actually is lighter and more manageable, I had to have one. I fell on hard times and sold the two M590's and one day, I saw an M1 Tactical on consignment for $480 in a local shop. Immediately, I had to ask what was wrong with it and surprisingly, one of the workers said it belonged to him and he wanted to sell it quick to get into a high-end skeet gun. He told me it barely saw 100 rounds and spent most of it's life in an older sister's closet. It was my Christmas and Birthday present that day, because we didn't have the money, but my wife knew what a steal it was. She just let a few bills lapse or something.

Since that day, I have run over 1000 rounds of various loads, some hot, and a few of my little brother's crappy learning loads, without a single cleaning. I had one failure to feed with a poorly crimped overstuffed low brass and that was it.
I doubt I would take another shotgun into a house-fight. In fact, last week I mounted two (1 Surefire and 1 LED) lights on it while we explored a Titan II Missile Silo Complex for sale here in S. Arizona... I just had to know the feeling of an agent's face that shows up to serve a warrant at a nuclear missile silo...
They want 300K, but we had to see it. With all the drug and human trafficking along I-10, I wasn't going to bring just a pistol to a long-gun fight. The trip went as planned with no altercations, but it was there, three-point low-ready, the LED gave an ambiance saving my Sure Fire for sudden necessity.

All in all, the MBR rules the Carbine, but the shotgun rules the house (and tunnel). My Benelli will eventually get a modified Scattergun Technologies Tritium Ghost Ring, and a Larger Bolt Handle, but it is mission-ready with very few modifications. I'm a bit jealous, because my wife puts it in bed with her whenever I leave town...
She never did that with the 590's. :mad: