Shotgun advice desperately needed

[littlebuf]

go check out the rest of the web site if you havent already, theres some good stuff on there, i check it daily

[mhadix]

  Also in the running Win. model 12.  Obviously used, but a better gun (my opinion) and a bit of class. 

probably the best choice,just my 

i love mine and it shoots great. some are a bit spendy but well worth it.

[h2ofowlr]

I would get the 12 gauge.  Shells are cheaper and more available.  You can get an 870 at Wally world a lot cheaper than Big 5.

[BigGoonTuna]

i'd probably buy a mossberg 500 before an 870 express, but that said...

i stepped up and bought an 870 wingmaster.  with the recoil pads out there these days, the 12s don't kick bad at all, especially with target loads(i shot 4 boxes of shells yesterday and don't have the slightest pain in my shoulder today).  i've even fired some heavy 00 buck shells and it's perfectly manageable.

when i was in the market for a shotgun(which thankfully i did 3 months ago before i lost my job) it came down to the ithaca 37, browning BPS and remington 870.  i wanted to buy new so that kind of ruled out the ithaca(i know they're making them again, but i didn't know if the new ones fit differently than the old ones, and i would have had to order one sight-unseen directly from ithaca because the nearest dealer is in eastern OR).  the BPS is a nice gun but i was concerned about being able to take it apart and put it back together(heard it's a bitch...the manual says to take it to a gunsmith for anything beyond cleaning the barrel), and when i shouldered one, it just didn't fit me like the ithaca and the remington.  too bad, i like that bottom eject.  that narrowed it down to the 870.  the express is a cheap, ugly shotgun, i want something i'll be able to pass down to my kids someday.  that's why i got the wingmaster.

now, i'd love to get me an ithaca 37 ultralight 20 someday to...

[Pat/Rick]

870 12 Ga. I actually own a few shotties. But yeah, 870 is a working mans gun. Apartment? those same 1 oz. loads in 6's or so will be a good defense load as well. If I was left handed or sharing the shotgun with a leftie I would probably opt for a mossberg because of the tang safety.

[Dakota Dogman]

the BPS is a nice gun but i was concerned about being able to take it apart and put it back together

You are right about the BPS / Ithaca 37 (same action)being a real pain to put back together. I've done both, and will not willingly do it again.

Original A-5's were almost as bad, with specific screws keyed to left & right sid... (learned that the hard way too...  )

God Bless,

[Pathfinder101]

Just wondering Maggie, did you buy your shotgun yet?  What did you get?

[coachcw]

20's shoot great , but ammo sucks . never have what i want , 12's every where. that moss 500 is foul proof and the saftey is in a good spot. try a few out if you can ,make sure it feels good and lines up quick . I like mod chokes and 4 shot for grouse and phesant exp if your not real quick gives you good range and you dont have to rush a shot . good luck with those mountain chickens mag.Coach.

[jetjockey]

I have  an older 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge.  I got it when I was 12 and I have killed a ton of pheasants with it.  You simply can't go wrong with a 870 Wingmaster.  Mine is a 28 inch mod barrel.  The 12 gauge is the most versatile of all scatter guns, especially with choke tubes.  Ive thought about sending it to Briley to have their flush mounted choke tubes installed in mine to make it more versatile, but instead my wife bought me a nice Beretta 686 20 gauge.  I told her it was easier then putting choke tubes in my old gun!    WHATEVER YOU DO, don't put a over/under or SXS in your hands!  Trust me, you will never want anything else.  I love my 870, but there is just something about an O/U 20 gauge that sings to me.  I really don't like the way SxS's feel, but there are a lot of guys who love them.  My father in law has a nice RBL 20 and a good friend has a RBL and and Aya in 20.  I just can't hit crap with a SxS.   But I don't usually miss with my 686.  I actually got my first double with it last fall flushing a covey of bob whites.  Get the 12 gauge 870 and kill a ton of birds.  You can find wingmasters for pretty good prices these days.

[BigGoonTuna]

that's true if you can find them.  at cabelas' the other day they had an absolutely cherry 12 gauge wingmaster on the used gun rack, most likely '70s vintage(it had the old pressed checkering on it).  it looked like it might have had a box of shells through it(it had the telltale scratch on the carrier from loading the magazine) but other than that, it was flawless.  i think they wanted around $400 for it.

there was another one there that had had some use but looked well taken care of for the same price.  however, this one had an amazing looking piece of wood for the stock.  it was gone the last time i went in there.

[Pathfinder101]

where did Maggie go?

[littlebuf]

where did Maggie go?

the politics forum is gone and i think it took magie with it 

[Pathfinder101]

where did Maggie go?

the politics forum is gone and i think it took magie with it 

Well, that was my theory too, but I was wondering...

[rasbo]

where did Maggie go?

the politics forum is gone and i think it took magie with it 

went to work for acorn

[Pathfinder101]

where did Maggie go?

the politics forum is gone and i think it took magie with it 

went to work for acorn