Help.. First all-purpose shotgun purchase
- Thread starter defox
- Start date
Denny Hansen
Staff Emeritus
First choice would have to be a Remington 870 with a full-length barrel with screw-in chokes to tailor it to what you will be doing at the time.
Buy an extra barrel, 18-20 inches long for home/self-defense.
It doesn't have to be new as most 870's run like freight trains for a long time. Using the same gun for many purposes will breed familiarity and develop musclel memory if you ever (God forbid) need it to defend your life and those of your loved ones. Purchase ammo as much as your budget will allow and practice, practice, practice. And have fun!
Good shooting,
Denny
Buy an extra barrel, 18-20 inches long for home/self-defense.
It doesn't have to be new as most 870's run like freight trains for a long time. Using the same gun for many purposes will breed familiarity and develop musclel memory if you ever (God forbid) need it to defend your life and those of your loved ones. Purchase ammo as much as your budget will allow and practice, practice, practice. And have fun!
Good shooting,
Denny
For an all-purpose, it's hard to beat the 870. Barrels are commonly available, parts can be found just about anywhere.
Most of the chain stores sell the 870 Express combo deal- which comes with an 18 inch deer barrel and a 26(?) inch field barrel. I think that you can buy it for around $350.00.
Most of the chain stores sell the 870 Express combo deal- which comes with an 18 inch deer barrel and a 26(?) inch field barrel. I think that you can buy it for around $350.00.
Buy the Rem 870 combo, they are cheap enough and reliable. Don't bother with all the uber remakes from Vang and others, wasted money. Buy several boxes of shells and go shoot.
Buy more shells and keep shooting till you are familiar with the gun, than shoot some more.
Don't waste money on mag extensions, sidesaddles, tactical stocks, attached lights, porting etc.
Buy shells and shoot. OK you may want to take a lesson in Skeet or Trap or Sporting, often worth it to learn proper technique. But the best investment in shotguns is more shells and more shooting.
Forget the Mossbergs, they are problems. You won't find them at money shoots because they just don't work properly. Whenever I have taken a new shooter out on the clays course and they show up with a Mossberg I know I am in for a long afternoon, and they usually end up shooting my gun.
My bloviated opinion as usual
Buy more shells and keep shooting till you are familiar with the gun, than shoot some more.
Don't waste money on mag extensions, sidesaddles, tactical stocks, attached lights, porting etc.
Buy shells and shoot. OK you may want to take a lesson in Skeet or Trap or Sporting, often worth it to learn proper technique. But the best investment in shotguns is more shells and more shooting.
Forget the Mossbergs, they are problems. You won't find them at money shoots because they just don't work properly. Whenever I have taken a new shooter out on the clays course and they show up with a Mossberg I know I am in for a long afternoon, and they usually end up shooting my gun.
My bloviated opinion as usual
Another vote for the 12 gauge Remington 870 combo however with a caveat. If you are truly serious about shooting clay targets the pump gun can be a disadvantage for a beginner. You have enough to learn about foot position, stance, eye placement and many other issues without having to remember to pump on a quick pair. New clayshooters are better served with a semi-auto.
However, if you are going out just for fun and want to become intimately familiar with the workings of your gun a pump is a very good choice for clays. I shoot o/u for target but every so often I like to take the pump gun out just to keep myself in tune.
I'd also second Geoff's comments on the Mossberg 500. I won a 500 in a draw a few years ago and it did not compare well to my 870. It was sold very soon thereafter.
Paul
However, if you are going out just for fun and want to become intimately familiar with the workings of your gun a pump is a very good choice for clays. I shoot o/u for target but every so often I like to take the pump gun out just to keep myself in tune.
I'd also second Geoff's comments on the Mossberg 500. I won a 500 in a draw a few years ago and it did not compare well to my 870. It was sold very soon thereafter.
Paul