Upland gun - under 700$

[westside103147]

New to the fourm.

Im looking for a new 12ga upland gun

Looking for some suggestions?

im running a A5 12ga and a sXs 20ga now.

Thanks,

T

[wadu1]

I'll give you a good deal on a Stoger Condor O/U, I've not put it in the classifieds yet.

[westside103147]

sounds interesting, but after doing some thinking i think imin the market for another semi or pump.

[Tman]

I recently purchased a Weatherby PA-08.  Good gun for the money..

[RadSav]

Franchi 20 gauge is super light, fast and very well balanced.  Bought one for the squaw and liked it so much I traded in my Citori and bought one for myself.  Been 4 or five years ago but I don't think I paid more than six bills for them.  I fell and broke a feeding tube the first year and that has been the only problem.  Got two for replacements just in case and they are still sitting in the safe unused.

A little hard to find around these parts, but best bang for the buck in my opinion.  The squaw and I figure we are down to about $0.65 per bird on ours.

[Eli346]

 A friend of mine just told me he's selling a Benelli 12ga semi-auto for $800. It's appraised at $1200 but he just needs to get rid of it -divorce!

[rasbo]

the ol 870 remington no need for anything more...

[dontgetcrabs]

X2 for the 870.   

[CP]

im running a A5 12ga

T

You won’t find a better gun at any price.

[JColony]

x3 for the 870.  Can't be beat!

[MikeWalking]

I've got an old Mossberg88 Maverick.  It's the $200  "Security" model with an 18in bbl.   New barrels are only about $170

Well under $700

[demontang]

I use my trusted 870. If your look for a semi stoger makes a nice one in the price rang

[marlin]

semi auto shotguns piss me off when theyre unreliable. I love my Winchester 1300, you can find them if you look. 870 Wingmaster would be nice. As another guy said, that Weatherby PA-08 looks nice, pretty wood almost like wingmaster for less money. BPS, with the wierd bottom eject, ive seen them at gunshows for 300, Idk what they are new, I know Browning is proud of their guns.

[BurleyDog]

20 gauge Rem 870 x 100

This might sound funny but shoulder a youth model too. Sometimes they fit just right when wearing heavy winter clothes.

Seriously consider weight in your purchase. The lighter the gun the easier it is to SAFELY lug around all day.

Good luck!

[high country]

what is wrong with the 20 sxs? I have slayed a bunch of birds with such guns. I use it late season too.

[MtnMuley]

the ol 870 remington no need for anything more...

[RadSav]

A friend of mine just told me he's selling a Benelli 12ga semi-auto for $800. It's appraised at $1200 but he just needs to get rid of it -divorce!

That's a good deal.  But, does it come with it's own Mexican to pack it up and down the chuckar hills?  I'd die if I had to carry that thing all day after upland game. 

No that's not being a sissy...It's called maturity!  You'll understand when you become a middle aged cripple like me.

[gallion_t]

Im with everyone else saying the 870. ive only had mine for about 5 years, but love the thing. If you get the super mag version its very veritile too. will shoot anything from the light trap loads up the the 3.5 turkey and goose loads.

[Curly]

A friend of mine just told me he's selling a Benelli 12ga semi-auto for $800. It's appraised at $1200 but he just needs to get rid of it -divorce!

That's a good deal.  But, does it come with it's own Mexican to pack it up and down the chuckar hills?  I'd die if I had to carry that thing all day after upland game. 

No that's not being a sissy...It's called maturity!  You'll understand when you become a middle aged cripple like me.

It depends on which Benelli model it is......they have a couple that are light:  Benelli Ultra Light at 6lbs or Vinci at just under 7 lbs.  (But I'll admit that 7lbs is getting a little on the heavy side for packing around for upland but that is still a little lighter than a 12 ga 870)

I prefer my 20 ga Rem 1100 youth that I got for Christmas over 30 years ago; that or my 870.  I do have a Franchi that is too pretty to take out of the safe and shoot though......

[halflife65]

I have a Benelli M1 Field that's not too bad for packing around.  It's about 10+ years old and I bought it right before they started making them with the 3 1/2 mag. Mine still only holds 3" shells.  But it's not that heavy.  I had a S&W Model 1000 and a Beretta that were both heavier before the Benelli.

My first gun was an old 2 3/4" only 870 Wingmaster, probably from the early '80s, with a fixed-modified choke barrel (it originally had a smooth barrel and I traded it for a ribbed barrel) and I REALLY regret selling that thing.  I was only about 18, though, and couldn't afford to buy another gun without selling one.  Oh well.

I wrecked a '67 Mustang about that time, too.  God I was dumb...

[westside103147]

wow thanks for all the info.

for those saying the 870 express or wingmaster?

[gallion_t]

wow thanks for all the info.

for those saying the 870 express or wingmaster?

mechanically they are the same gun. all the same parts. the difference is the wingmasters have all the blemishes and machine burs removed along with walnut stocks comparred to the laminated birch or synthetic stock of the express. They will both work great for years and year its just depends on if you want to fork out the extra money for the looks of the wingmaster.

[westside103147]

thanks gallion, im gonna look into it more but the express sounds like a damn good deal.

gonna go to cabelas and take a look at one soon.

[halflife65]

If I was just using it as a utilitarian gun (ie. hunt with it, take it in the field, fall down on it, scratch it crossing a barbed wire fence, sit in a muddy blind with a dog) I think I'd be getting the Express.  It's a bit less expensive, works great and won't make you cry the first time you ding it up.

[CP]

I owned an 870 express for a few months, total POS - jammed about 1 in every 5 shots.  I couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

[marlin]

yeah I used to have a 870 express.. Sold it. Everytime I would camp with it overnight it would be all rusty in the morning because of the crappy matte finish. High Brass shells would often get stuck in the chamber too.  The wingmaster is a way nicer 870, but yeah if youre not wanting the hassle of keeping a pretty gun pretty the express is ok. Id rather have a mossberg 500 field than the express.

[MtnMuley]

I owned an 870 express for a few months, total POS - jammed about 1 in every 5 shots.  I couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

Ive owned 2 expresses and 4 wingmasters, and maybe had 3 jams over 10,000 shots. You must have got a cull.

[westside103147]

have any of you guys owned or shot a nova?

[RadSav]

Been around an awful lot of 870 shooters both Express and Wingmasters.  I can't recall ever seeing a failure that wasn't the result of someone not slamming the action back hard enough.  Sounds like you guys are just lucky or unlucky as the case might be.  Mossberg is a darned good gun if you tend to get your gun muddy or shoot in the freezing rain.  But, I'm not sure I would carry one for chasing chuckar.

Curly - I have a beat up field grade Franchi 720 I'll trade you straight across for the pretty one in your safe!  That way you won't feel guilty about scratchin or getting it dirty.  Damn shame to have one of those guns and not knock down a few feathers each year.  Best dang semi I have ever shot.  And you can carry with little discomfort all day chasing chuckar.

[westside103147]

My only concern with the 870 is the finish.

[RadSav]

My only concern with the 870 is the finish.

I believe the new 2011 stock is a laminated stock.  This usually means the wood is impregnated quite well under pressure so I would feel pretty confident with the wood finish.  A coat of Behr poly finish is an easy do-it-yourself project if it concerns you.

As far as the matte finish of the steel I kind of like it.  Looks good and cuts down on glare if shooting toward the sun.  As with any gun with a blued steel barrel you need to be diligent in cleaning to keep a nice finish.  Talk with a respected gunsmith about recommended products and procedures and you should be good to hand this gun down to your kids or grand kids. 870's aren't the easiest to break down and clean, but once you do it a few times you won't know why you were worried.

As an upland gun you won't be dealing too much with salt water.  Your biggest obstacles in keeping your gun in good working condition is going to be blood, dust, corn stalks, climbing rocks if chuckar hunting and crossing barbed wire fencing.  Those things will beat up even the best blued barrels and custom finishes. 

My once beautiful Silver Pigeon is now scratched from choke to receiver, the butt plate is filled with blackberry thorns and the stock has more holes poked into the finish from barbed wired than my truck has rock chips.  I have a scratch in the barrel I refuse to re-blue because I got it the last hunting trip with my "Upland Dancer" dog.  I don't replace the butt pad because I tore it on the last hunt I had with my precious "Sauk" dog.  My eyes tear up every time I rub it down like I'm using fresh cut onions as gun oil.  It's a gun full of memories and to me more beautiful than the day I bought it.

[satchel3006]

870. I have 2 express's both bought in the last 2-3 years one is a synthetic and one is laminated. I haven't had a jam problem that wasn't my fault. My synthetic gun did rust a little bit once but it was wet and I put it in the gun case like an idiot and it rusted a little bit. Otherwise no problems I've hunted with this gun a few times where I've had to break the ice of the gun no rust. The Wingmaster is a little bit lighter as it has the LC barrel.

[westside103147]

Ive decided to go with the express just gonna make sure to put clp on it before i take ot out and before i store it. Looked at the wingmaster today dont think its worth the extra money!

[MtnMuley]

have any of you guys owned or shot a nova?

Yes.  For one year and sold it.  Bulky, clanky, and not as smooth as the 870's.  The Super Black Eagle on the other hand is a different story.

My only concern with the 870 is the finish.

They will rust overnight if left damp.  With the brushed, matte style finish on them.  Keeping the barrel oiled with Rem Oil is mandatory.

[Shoffy]

Try the Stoeger M2000. It's under $500 and a nice gun for the money. It's basically a Benelli M90, but built in Turkey for 1/3 of the price. I read blogs of people that didn't like them, but I couldn't resist. It has not failed once. The first time I took it in the field I pulled up on a wild rooster and nailed him on the first shot. I think they are a great gun for the working class man

[marlin]

the stoeger 2000 I had was crap.. It constantly jammed, it would double feed, have light firing pin strikes, and just about everything else that could go wrong did. It got traded. I decided that if I want another gun with the "inertia operating system" it will be a real benelli not a knock off. It kicked like a mule too. Montefeltro 20ga would be nice but there is a list of shotguns I would want before that.

[87Ford]

Personally, I'd stay away from Stoeger.  Go with the Remington 870 or save some more money and go Benelli m2 or Ultra Light.  I love my Benelli Ultra Light for pheasants, quail, grouse..

[Shoffy]

the stoeger 2000 I had was crap.. It constantly jammed, it would double feed, have light firing pin strikes, and just about everything else that could go wrong did. It got traded. I decided that if I want another gun with the "inertia operating system" it will be a real benelli not a knock off. It kicked like a mule too. Montefeltro 20ga would be nice but there is a list of shotguns I would want before that.

Yeah, I don't know man....I read tons of reviews that people like your self had nothing but problems with them. Mine has been nothing but good to me. I've put about 500+ rounds through it and everything from 7/8 trap loads to heavy 1-1/4 game loads and it hasn't jammed or misfired yet. It does kick like a mule, so I put a limbsaver recoil pad on it. That helped some. I personally think if you get a good one they are more reliable than any other gas auto for the price. I had a Remington 1100 that was the most un-reliable gun ever built. Mine must have been built on a friday. There is no question the Benelli is a better gun, but the Stoeger has it's place on the market.

I also won't argue that the 870 is a great gun. My first gun was a youth 20ga 870 and I practically wore that thing out. Great firearm

[Mookie]

The Express has jamming issues that can be fixed with a screwgun, 0000 steel wool and gun oil. Polish the crap out of the chamber, but use lots of oil. Then strip it down for a thorough cleaning and take a fine file to all the burrs and polish the inside. I did this to mine, it would jam, and it fixed it all and was super smooth.

Don't forget the Mossberg 930 for a nice semi and the 500 for the pump. Both have stellar reputations. Just as reliable as any 870 I have owned but I don't think they are as nicely finished as the 870.