Help choosing a shotgun

[Bookworm007]

I have decided it is time to get a 12 gauge, but I am having a hard time choosing a model. I know I want a pump, and have looked at a new Weatherby PA-08 which seemed like a nice gun for the money, but for a pump would I be better getting something used? I plan on using the gun for the occasional trap shooting, hunting grouse and maybe turkey. I also like old Winchesters so I have looked around for a model 12, or 1200 but it seems rare for the model 12's to have changeable chokes which is a slight turn off when looking for a versatile shotgun. Thanks for the help in advance!!! 

[scottcrb]

For the price I love the benelli supernova. I use mine for the range turkey ducks geese dove upland and it is very durable and shoots well. Mine is in max 4 camo and.think I paid right around $500 for it.

[Sportfury]

Time to go to the gun shop and handle a lot of guns. Fit, feel, and price are what will get you. You will know the gun when you feel it. I tried out a new Winchester pump the other day and absolutely hated it. Didn't like the feel of where the swell of my palm/thumb fit on the stock of the gun. It would absolutely drive me nuts and I would think about it every time I picked the gun up. I have a Browning BPS that I like, but the thing kicks like a mule. My son has a Remington 870 that worked great for him. In all reality most of the pumps out there will function great for what you want. Now you get out there and spend some time at a lot of different guns shops and try out everything you can get your hands on.

[coachcw]

the stoegers are a good gun for the money

[Lingcod]

For the price I love the benelli supernova. I use mine for the range turkey ducks geese dove upland and it is very durable and shoots well. Mine is in max 4 camo and.think I paid right around $500 for it.

  use mine for everything and not worried about beating it up. The wetlands camo finish has held up really well and I haven't had any mechanical issues with it. Plus easy to get different choke tubes for it. I snagged a jelly head turkey choke in Cabelas bargain cave for $15. I got mine used for $300. 

[Bookworm007]

I am planning on going to the Portland gun show on Saturday to try and get a feel for some of the guns. I have handled Win model 12's, and 120's. I liked the 120 especially with vented rib. I am also a sucker for wood stocks which the supernova doesn't come in, but I have heard they are work horses.

[AWS]

If you find a model 12 you like you can get Choke Tubes installed for around $50 + the cost of the tubes you want.  Very fast turnaround and very good work, I have him adjust the chokes on my sxs's.

PM me if you want specifics

[whitey]

I have decided it is time to get a 12 gauge, but I am having a hard time choosing a model. I know I want a pump, and have looked at a new Weatherby PA-08 which seemed like a nice gun for the money, but for a pump would I be better getting something used? I plan on using the gun for the occasional trap shooting, hunting grouse and maybe turkey. I also like old Winchesters so I have looked around for a model 12, or 1200 but it seems rare for the model 12's to have changeable chokes which is a slight turn off when looking for a versatile shotgun. Thanks for the help in advance!!! 

why a pump?
The model 12s are great. The Remington 870 is awesome. The Stoegers are very good and pretty affordable. (I have the auto love it)

[netcoyote]

For durability, reliability, multi-function use, reasonable cost and ease of modification it's hard to beat a Rem 870. If you plan to be carrying it around a lot in the field you may want to look at something lighter weight.

[Bofire]

  870 steel receiver puts the weight between the hands, aluminum receivers(winchesters) are barrel heavy for me.
Carl

[Bookworm007]

The other reason I kinda want a winchester is we have a model 1897, and a model 120 in the family collection. So it would be cool to complete the set. Autos are great guns but I had a bad experience with one, whereas I have never been failed by a pump. Okay 870 maybe a wingmaster? Got to have that wood  Any others? BPS, Ithaca 37 any thoughts on those models? I like having unique things which is my only real turn off to the 870 because everyone has one. Probably silly but if you are going to have something for the rest of your life might as well love it right?

[bobcat]

870's are nice because they're so easy to take completely apart to clean. That is needed more often if you hunt ducks with it. If not, it's not really a big issue.

The Browning BPS pretty much requires a gunsmith for a complete cleaning.

I like the Ithaca 37's, nice and light, good chukar/pheasant gun.

[demontang]

Love the 870 myself. I wouldnt fork out the extra for a 3 1/2" for any shotgun, you really arnt gaining anything but the extra cost of ammo.  A 3" patterns better the the 3 1/2" shell its cheaper and less recoil    ive killed way more birds with 2 3/4" loads then anything and im not only talking upland.

[BigGoonTuna]

i'm very fond of older 870 wingmasters, especially the ones made in the late 70s-early '80s.  they can be had very cheaply, the only drawback is that most have fixed barrels.  however, they are steel shot safe, something that you can't say about a model 12.  if you look around you can find screw in choke barrels, since most have been that way since the late '80s.

[Bookworm007]

Are there any other big names in the pump game other than the 870, Moss 500, and the winchester line? Looks like I will have a nice little shopping list for the gun show this weekend! And of course I will be sure to post pictures