which gun

[bowhunter851]

mossberg 500

remington 870

or maybe a nova if i can find a used one for cheep


i can only spent about 200 bucks but id like to go for less got bills and such

[CP]

Nova – stay well away from the 870 unless it’s a Wingmaster.

[bowhunter851]

is it possible to find a nova for under 200

[PNW_Hunter]

Another vote for the Nova. The wingmasters are nice but you probably wont find one for 200$

[PNW_Hunter]

is it possible to find a nova for under 200

you might be able to find a pretty used one... search all the classifieds on a couple sites

[D-Rock425]

Not a new one.

[bowhunter851]

ok thanks guys maybe ill just keep saving

[dmv9]

Weatherby PA-08, awesome gun

[KB88]

870 is a fine gun, your talking the honda civic of shotguns. I believe cleaning and lubricating are keys to a functioning pump. Obviously they are not built like they used to be but my 870 express has been flawless 6 years now under serious abuse.

[Patarero]

I bought a 870 (synthetic stocks) ~1998, so this might fall under "not like they used to". Still hunt with it after 10+ years of solid duty in the saltmarsh.  Still my favorite, even though a wingmaster and nova are in the rotation.  Just have to maintain it properly.

[scout/sniper]

I had an 870 Magnum for years, fantastic gun.
GunBroker.com has them for around $200 all the time.

[NW-GSP]

I probably have 10,000 rounds through my nova am it still works great.

[TheHunt]

Long time ago I put at least 30,000 rounds through my wingmaster.  Loved that gun...  Sold it as it was really loose action. 

If I had to choose today I would pick the Nova.

Jim

[magnanimous_j]

Any of the models you named should provide a lifetime of service to your grandchildren. It’s a shotgun. It’s a steel tube with an ejector and it operates at pressures far lower than other firearms. Buy one from a reputable maker and don’t worry about it.

In addition to my 870 express, I inherited an old Sears JC Higgins model 20 from the 50’s that I drag out every once in a while and it’s never malfunctioned on me.

[KFhunter]

Any of the models you named should provide a lifetime of service to your grandchildren. It’s a shotgun. It’s a steel tube with an ejector and it operates at pressures far lower than other firearms. Buy one from a reputable maker and don’t worry about it.

In addition to my 870 express, I inherited an old Sears JC Higgins model 20 from the 50’s that I drag out every once in a while and it’s never malfunctioned on me.

tell that to the two dead mossbergs I got - both lemons, built 20 years apart from each other.   Some things never change I guess.

[Drake29]

I got a 870 super mag that I have put through the ringer the last 7 season and have had no issues

[frazihunt]

definitely save up for a Nova, I've had one since i was a kid and its the most reliable shotgun you could ask for. It's super easy to clean and spits out a great pattern you cant go wrong with one.

[BiggLuke]

There's a reason the 870 has sold more copies than any other shotgun in history.
Simply... it's an amazing platform.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/guns/shotguns/shotgun-reviews/benelli-nova-or-remington-870-expess-why

[BiggLuke]

There's a reason the 870 has sold more copies than any other shotgun in history.
Simply... it's an amazing platform.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/guns/shotguns/shotgun-reviews/benelli-nova-or-remington-870-expess-why

But I guess it's all down to prefernce.
You should try shooting them both before you decide.
I'm a big guy, and don't really handle the Nova well. But then again I can still shoot it just fine.
I just prefer the 870 becasue I love to modify the guns I own, and the 870 is the lego building kit of guns. You can add anything you want to it.
In my opinion... if you only could own a single gun, becasue of budget, the 870 has a lot more things going for it.

[jennyfell55]

I chose the Mossberg 500 and it's served me well Even when I found a deep spot in the pond and had to use it as a paddle  I prefer the tang mounted safety, feels more natural to me. It's all about how it fits you though. What's perfect for me may be the worst choice for you and vice-versa

[RadSav]

If you drop your gun in the mud a lot I would go with the Mossberg.  There was a reason we carried them as loaner guide guns   They were always reliable even filled with crud.  To support what Biggluke said, I too find the Remington to be a much better fit for larger framed guys than the Nova.  Though all my experience with the Nova has been 20 ga and comparing it to the 870 in 20.

BTW - Is it possible to make an uglier gun than the Nova?  I mean Daaaaamn that piece of plastic is ugly   I'd choose the 870 just so no one would see me with such an ugly gun

[quackattack90]

Just FYI.  The extractors on the newer 870's absolute crap.

[RadSav]

Just FYI.  The extractors on the newer 870's absolute crap.

How so?  Material change or configuration change?  I have not seen a one made in the past three years.

[AWS]

I have to go with the 870 I bought my Express close to 20 yrs ago and the stock has been refinished three times and there is little color left on the action, it still keeps on going.

Last night I shot trap with a fellow using a new 870 Express and it was every bit as nice as mine and even operated smoother than mine with thousands of rounds of steel through it.

My BinL bought a Nova and it was one of the most uncomfortable guns I've hunted with, halfway through our week long duck hunt he put it in the case and shot my 870 for the rest of the hunt, needless to say the Nove went down the road as soon as he got back home.

Mossberg is a nice gun but feels cheap to me compared to the 870.  When I had my gun shop back in MN I used to trade new Mossberg 500's for work I need done, welding, truck repair and I never got one back for repairs.

[12Gauge]

I have owned the 870wingmaster,  870 express, and the Mossberg 500.

Of the three, the wing master is the best, had it 12 years until I upgraded to a Browning SxS.   
Missing my wingmaster, so I purchased a 870express.  What a POS, IMHO.  Now I own a Mossy  500, a BPS, & A5

You can do further research at:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php

[lokidog]

I have a 1963 Wingmaster, still going strong (full choke and 25 years of steel shot), I have a Nova, and we have a Mossberg 500.

I like the safety on the 870 because you click it and slide finger forward, easy with gloves on, the safety on the Nova is in front of the trigger, I have had issues with the tip of my glove catching when trying to slide it back onto the trigger, the tang safety is nice on the Mossberg.  I have not shot the mossberg with the smooth barrel, only the rifled one for deer.

I would use the 870 exclusively except it cannot shoot 3" shells, the Nova will shoot to 3 1/2", but man that slide is looong.   Mine is also a very rattly gun though have never had it not function.  The camo finish seems to be pretty good on the Nova.

Just some thoughts, hope it helps.

[MacAttack]

I have an 870 super mag bought it almost 10 years ago. Never had a single problem, brother and friend bought the nova and no complaints there either. I started out with an old wingmaster though, loved that gun but I couldn't shoot steel out of it so I traded it in.

[MADMAX]

870
great gun reliable
darn near indestructible
 

[hntrspud]

870
great gun reliable
darn near indestructible
 

  I have an 870 supermag, and I have used it for a push stick, paddle, dropped it, hunted with it frozen. Doesnt matter, shoots everytime. Had it for years. That being said, a nova is in my future. I like them both.

[fowl smacker]

I bought a nova the first year they came out.  I've put probably 20k rounds through it until I bought an extrema 2, 5 years ago.  I sold it to a buddy who still uses it occasionally.  Great reliable guns.  I also loved the feature being able to eject the chambered shell only and pop in a different shell when a goose was coming, or vise versa.

[300rum]

Every (good) American should have at least one 870.

[JJD]

Know someone who owns a Nova. The guy hunts it a handful of times a year, for nearly 10 years. 
I don't know that he has ever done anything but run a patch down the barrel at the end of the season and evey now and again, shoots a blast of Rem-Lube into the action.
It has never jammed, failed to eject or feed.  Thats gotta be the toughest gun out there.

Hunted for years with a guy who had/has a wingmaster.  We kept a nail in the blind to push out the pin to drop the trigger assem down to unjam it.  Happened a least once a season. Kinda got the impression that the ejector never was quite right.  Don't really know what his maintenence habits were either. 
My old Moosberg 500 would only hang up when the ejecting hull would catch some brush on the blind keeping it from leaving the action properly.  Bought it in 1966, mail order from Herters w/$$ I made on my paper route.

[JJB11B]

Remington all the way. Best all around gun on the market IMHO

[Moose4545]

I have an 870 as well and it is a solid gun. Never any problems.

[JJB11B]

I have owned 2 novas. One of the old Model in Max-4HD and then a black Super Nova. I have had a remington 870 since i was about 12. I prefer an 870 any day.

[Bullkllr]

Every (good) American should have at least one 870.

I have a wingmaster that I bought for I think 88$ from the JC Penny at the Tacoma Mall. Yeah, its been awhile...

I really can't imagine a gun performing better under any and all circumstances imaginable than that gun has. I bought my son an Express. Not the same quality, but still decent. My other son has a Mossberg 500 -meh- feels like a cheaper made version of the 870.

The big advantage I would give the 870 over the Nova is the heft/feel/balance is way better in the Remington. And for my money, nothing is really more important in a shotgun than the feel when you're bringing it to your cheek/shoulder.

[Brad Harshman]

I've been abusing my 870 super magnum for the last 5yrs.  Great low budget entry level scatter gun.  You're question is fun to debate about but the reality is just get one and get out and hunt.  You probably wont fall in love with it and you'll always be wishing you could upgrade.  Which is fine, but at least you'll be hunting.   

[CP]

Every (good) American should have at least one 870.

I have a wingmaster that I bought for I think 88$ from the JC Penny at the Tacoma Mall. Yeah, its been awhile...

I really can't imagine a gun performing better under any and all circumstances imaginable than that gun has. I bought my son an Express. Not the same quality, but still decent. My other son has a Mossberg 500 -meh- feels like a cheaper made version of the 870.

The big advantage I would give the 870 over the Nova is the heft/feel/balance is way better in the Remington. And for my money, nothing is really more important in a shotgun than the feel when you're bringing it to your cheek/shoulder.

Nothing is more important except maybe actually working e.g. cycling ammo from the mag to the chamber and extracting spent cases, etc. ----  Reliably

I bought a new 870 express a few years ago and it could be counted on jam up every few rounds.  The spent shell would stick in the chamber and I’d need to find a stick to poke it out with.  Remington’s advice was not to use ammo X, or Y or Z in it.  Funny X, Y & Z works fine in all my other shotguns.

Maybe a got a lemon but when I’m shooting trap and someone in the squad gets a stuck case, almost every time that person is shooting an 870.  The trappers keep a stick handy and they tell me “it’s always an 870 that needs the stick”.

So I was once a “(good) American” but no more and never again.  At least not until Remington corrects their quality issues, polishes their chambers, deburs the edges of their stamped steel parts and puts some pride back in their products.

[CHUCK S]

NOVA!!!  I've got an 870 SuperMag that'll I'll trade for a nova if anyone wants one.  Heck I'll even throw in an extra $100 if it's in good shape??

[h2ofowlr]

I have the nova, super nova, 870 and 870 super mag.  I don't shoot any of them.  I did take some advise that everyone needs to have one.  I just don't shoot them.  I use the SBEII.   

[CP]

NOVA!!!  I've got an 870 SuperMag that'll I'll trade for a nova if anyone wants one.  Heck I'll even throw in an extra $100 if it's in good shape??

Jam much?

[Ben2Cold]

I have a 870 express that I have had for about 20 years the only problems have been about 5 failure to eject and the magazine cap( holds the slide forarm in place) comes loose after about 8-9 shots and in wet weather the stock has swelled so much that it was difficult to work the safety. Got a 870 wing master I can feel the quality difference its a huge difference.  The only thing I don't like about the nova is its a plastic stock, you cant cut it down and the sling attachments are molded in (I have seen two nova's with broken sling attachments). I have been using my SBEII(plastic stock and molded attachments) for 4 years now no issues but I don't abuse it and clean it after every trip.

[hillbilli]

I know there have been a couple people talk bad about the Mossbergs- but Its what i use. I've had 870's, and with the exception of an older 20guage they worked. I have a mossberg now, and its been my main shotgun for 10 years or more. I bought the camo version-and with all the things you expose a duck gun to I'm glad I did. When I was in Iraq in 09 all of our shotguns were mossbergs- both 590's and plain 500 Navy models, when i got there I dont think the guys we relieved knew how to clean them, some of them were pretty filthy, had been through dust storms- and still worked. The mossberg has an aluminum receiver, and is about a pound lighter to carry than an 870. People will talk about this as though it were a bad feature- but like an AR the bolt locks up into the steel barrel extension, not the aluminum reciever. 

[Bmcox86]

Nova!

[oneshotkill]

I got a Benelli Nova when I first started duck hunting 6 years ago and absolutely love it.  I have dropped it in the water, gotten it stuck in the mud, used it as a paddle, etc and have never had an issue with it. 

Last year a friend gave me a Remington 870 Super Mag as payment for work that I did for him.  I haven't had a chance to hunt with it yet but shooting it at the range I haven't had any issues with it yet.  I like how it shoots but because I am so used to my Nova it is still my go to duck gun.  My 2 best friends that I duck hunt with the most both shoot 870s and I have never seen them have any issues and their guns definitely take abuse!

My dad shoots a Mossberg 500 that I picked up for cheap when he decided he wanted to start hunting with me.  He has had it for about 5 years and absolutely loves it.  I have once again never seen it jam on him in all the time I have spent in the field with him.  He has shot both my Nova and 870 and doesn't like how they feel because he is so used to his 500. 

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them but I prefer my Nova primarily just because it is what I am used to. 

[jeepster]

Nova all the way. 2nd choice is the 870.... I personally don't like mossberg. I shoot a nova with a tube full of shot vs the plug, a carlsons improved mod. choke, and put a sling on mine, there isn't anything that gun can't do... I replaced my plug with a piece of PVC pipe full of no8 shot, and while it makes the gun heavy as sin, the extra weight really makes a difference when hammering away at snows or larger high altitude birds, as the extra weight sucks up alot of recoil.... Does the 870 or 500 shoot 3.5 inch shells? I honestly don't know.

The reason why I bought my nova was the fact it has an all composite stock/receiver, and the only exposed metal is the barrel..... A huge plus when hunting salt marsh.... And the rotating bolt makes it one of the smoothest pumps out there.... Ive hunted mine hard for 5 years and not a single hiccup......

That's my  , but it's your dollar

[Skagit_Hunter]

The old 870 is what you need to find. Got one this summer. fired 20 times then it sat for years. The super nova is now my 3rd back up. To 2 real 870's. As I don't need 3.5 shred shot.