Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: bod on November 30, 2017, 06:05:38 PM
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Which pump are you using for waterfowl hunting and is it reliable.
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870 is pretty damn reliable.
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Benelli Nova
Since 2008
Can't say enough good about it.
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870 is pretty damn reliable.
870 Wingmaster is hard to beat!
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:tup: On the Benelli NOVA. mines never failed at least 12 seasons in the NW.
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Nova is always a good bet
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870s' all the way around.
If you buy the right one you can shoot 3 1/2 mags, so with one shotgun you're good from doves to big geese.
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Benelli Nova over here as well :tup:
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I used to shoot an 870 Express. It was pretty reliable most of the time provided you didn't need a second shot.
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If you can get an original 870 wingmaster or one of its variants- go for it. Probably the single best, least problematic shotguns ever made. I would stay away from any recent (mid 1990's-current) versions, 870 super mag or the like. They are just not the same gun anymore.
Benelli Nova's are pretty indestructible guns. Well worth what they cost.
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I used to shoot an 870 Express. It was pretty reliable most of the time provided you didn't need a second shot.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
They did have a QC issue that caused jams, but if you fixed it once (easy fix) you are good to go.
My 3 sons all have the 870 magnum, and they are great....... once you smooth out the machining marks in the breech. I know you shouldn't need to work on a new gun, but it's an easy fix.
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I hunted my Benelli Nova hard in the salt for 3 years. Never an issue. Great gun.
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Another Nova shooter here :)
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I used to shoot an 870 Express. It was pretty reliable most of the time provided you didn't need a second shot.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
They did have a QC issue that caused jams, but if you fixed it once (easy fix) you are good to go.
My 3 sons all have the 870 magnum, and they are great....... once you smooth out the machining marks in the breech. I know you shouldn't need to work on a new gun, but it's an easy fix.
I did all the fixes I could find online or think of, new extractor, lube, clean, adjust, replace this and that, file this burr, sand this spot, polish here. When I shot a few clay targets in the woods on occasion, it was flawless. Once I started hunting ducks, it lasted about one season and then bad news. Failure to load, failure to eject, stove pipe, completely jam up after the shot so I have to slam it on the ground just to get it to cycle, I think I have seen every malfunction a shotgun is capable of throwing. I disassemble it all the way down, clean, lube, reassemble and it's good for about 3 shots until it starts up again.
I bought it new in about 1999 and it was treated like a princess. The one I have just wasn't made to be a PNW hunting gun, it's like it just wore out after a season.
My son refers to it as the Jamington 870 and laughs every time I pull it out.
That said, with my shooting accuracy it did save quite a bit on ammo.
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Growing up all I shot was the Browning BPS. It was a great gun, no issues, no powder in your eyes. Finally wore it out, replaced in with a Benelli Nova in 1998 when they came out. It was a great pump gun and points very well and is on target. Replaced that in 2005 with the Benelli SBEII. Been using autos ever since.
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I used to shoot an 870 Express. It was pretty reliable most of the time provided you didn't need a second shot.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
They did have a QC issue that caused jams, but if you fixed it once (easy fix) you are good to go.
My 3 sons all have the 870 magnum, and they are great....... once you smooth out the machining marks in the breech. I know you shouldn't need to work on a new gun, but it's an easy fix.
I did all the fixes I could find online or think of, new extractor, lube, clean, adjust, replace this and that, file this burr, sand this spot, polish here. When I shot a few clay targets in the woods on occasion, it was flawless. Once I started hunting ducks, it lasted about one season and then bad news. Failure to load, failure to eject, stove pipe, completely jam up after the shot so I have to slam it on the ground just to get it to cycle, I think I have seen every malfunction a shotgun is capable of throwing. I disassemble it all the way down, clean, lube, reassemble and it's good for about 3 shots until it starts up again.
I bought it new in about 1999 and it was treated like a princess. The one I have just wasn't made to be a PNW hunting gun, it's like it just wore out after a season.
My son refers to it as the Jamington 870 and laughs every time I pull it out.
That said, with my shooting accuracy it did save quite a bit on ammo.
Wow. Yep, that would suck.
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I love my old Wingmaster, but only shooting 3/4 inch shells and having a fixed full choke barrel can be challenging. I'd also prefer not to take it out in the salt.
I also shoot a Nova, but had problems with the trigger jamming on recoil. I had to sand the back corner of a plastic piece in there to get it to quit doing that. The only other complaint I have with it is it rattles when on a sling turkey hunting, which is very annoying, to me, not the turkeys apparently.
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Retired the nova at the end of last season after waterfowl and turkey hunting every year for 14 years straight. Hard to beat in my opinion!
Wildfire
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MOSSBERG 500 for all kindsa shotgun hunts !!!
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Super nova
Shoots strait, never fails, feels great shouldered, it's one of the best guns I have ever owned. My personal favorite gun to shoot. :tup:
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I have a maverick 88 (Mossberg 500) in 12 gauge and a Mossberg 500 20 gauge. Never had a jam. I shoot 3 in magnum steel, the ducks I've shot at seem to suck it up like it's nothing. I'm planning to switch to hevi-x and see if that helps.
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wingmaster with 3 barrels, each a different choke, no screw in chokes.
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870 Express, never had a need for anything else.
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Mossberg 835great gun for. South paw. I want an auto loader but there bernelli My for 1300 has kept me with a oh friendly pump.
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Remington 887 and I would not recommend it LOL
Go with an SXP or Nova.
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:lol4:
Remington 887 and I would not recommend it LOL
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Browning BPS for 30+ years and counting. Never jammed. Seriously, never. Just a great gun.
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Ithaca 37
JB Wood called it the finest pump shotgun ever designed
I have them in 20, 12, 3" 12, Ultra-Featherweight (aluminum frame), and Deerslayer & Deerslayer II models
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Browning BPS, love it...
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Super nova.
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used to shoot an 870 exclusively, a wingmaster that i bought new in 2009(i had to order it, since my foolish younger self wanted a *new* one and nobody stocks wingmasters any more). it would do weird things with hunting loads, like the action not unlocking after firing. stovepipe jams with 3" shells were fairly common. i also came to find that it would pattern low and to the right, which explained why i could hit things just fine with my dad's gun, but always seemed to miss with mine.
ended up trading it in on an 1100 magnum and not looking back. if i were to get another new pump, it wouldn't be a remington. probably a mossberg 835 for a waterfowl beater(i like the 10 gauge bore on those). the older 870s were great, it's unfortunate that remington's quality has declined so much.
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Nova
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870 new in 1970 just retired it last year.
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Winchester sxp 3.5". Cool gun with lots of features for a great price.
But benelli nova seams to be the most popular great shooting pump out there. Buddy has one and loves it.
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Weatherby PA-08, can be found on sale for $300, some of the prettiest wood you have ever seen. Also comes in synthetic or camo. Very smooth action, nice weighting and dead nut reliable.
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Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag waterfowl edition. Bought new in 93', killed my first deer with it.
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Nova for the last ten years, been thru hell and back and keeps going, although I had it hydro dipped because of the abuse from saltwater
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I enjoy shooting sxs hammer guns. They pump out the memories as fast as I can cock the hammers... :chuckle:
(https://i.imgur.com/GeHwOmG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IOZrJ3p.jpg)
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I enjoy shooting sxs hammer guns. They pump out the memories as fast as I can cock the hammers... :chuckle:
(https://i.imgur.com/GeHwOmG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IOZrJ3p.jpg)
That is too nice of a gun to hunt hard in the salt water with!
I like my doubles but won't take them any where near the salt!
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I enjoy shooting sxs hammer guns. They pump out the memories as fast as I can cock the hammers... :chuckle:
(https://i.imgur.com/GeHwOmG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IOZrJ3p.jpg)
That is too nice of a gun to hunt hard in the salt water with!
I like my doubles but won't take them any where near the salt!
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That's actually very true. I'm considering getting a beater hammer gun that I won't have to worry about. The photo at bottom was from a Willapa trip, and even with rust blocker on the barrels, a light rust formed. Still had a great time though! :tup:
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8 years of hard use on my nova with no issues. It has been abused and keeps going strong. I want a 20 gauge nova now.
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870 with duct tape holding the pins it.. just getting it broke in. 1000's of rounds gone through it. Got 95 doves this year with it should have went out one more time to break the 100 mark. it looks like a piece of crap but never has it failed me and it has killed a ton of birds and one buck and a few random coyotes. I might even have it put in my casket - who knows i might be able to use it in the afterlife. Better throw in a roll of duct tape to keep it working.
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Winchester 120 Ranger, has never failed. Going into the 38th year now.
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Ithaca 37
JB Wood called it the finest pump shotgun ever designed
I have them in 20, 12, 3" 12, Ultra-Featherweight (aluminum frame), and Deerslayer & Deerslayer II models
You need to add a couple of 16's to that collection, M37 fan here, have at least one from 12ga to 28ga.....slick as butter.
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Back to a pump while my ancient (20 year old?) Benelli SBE semi-auto is being repaired at the gunsmith. I just did a disassembly and oiling of the old Winchester 1200, which was a budget version of the model 12 made in the 70s-80s. It's been a good gun in the past. I also have an 870 Express that sits in the closet.
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I hunted for years an Ithaca M37 featherlight. Very solid and reliable gun but it kicked like a mule. I’ve tried other pumps but never found one that I was happy with.
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Ithaca 37
JB Wood called it the finest pump shotgun ever designed
I have them in 20, 12, 3" 12, Ultra-Featherweight (aluminum frame), and Deerslayer & Deerslayer II models
You need to add a couple of 16's to that collection, M37 fan here, have at least one from 12ga to 28ga.....slick as butter.
I had a beautiful 16 that was stolen, maybe someday I will get around to replacing it. Still have a couple cases of Federal Premium 16 Gauge 2-3/4" 1-1/8 oz Buffered #6 Copper stashed away for that day.
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I picked up a used Savage pump for a ridiculously low price- don't know the model because you can't make it out. The guy I bought it from hunted Grays Harbor with it for years. It might be the ugliest gun I have ever seen. The style is rough to begin with, the blueing was gone, outside metal was pitted in multiple places, wood is just bad and cracked/repaired in a couple places. Add in a horribly rough recoil pad job on a too-short stock. I played with refinishing the wood, but it didn't really help. I covered it with tape from butt to muzzle, which actually made it somewhat worse as it rusted more underneath the tape.
Weird thing- the very first time I shot it I quickly realized the darn thing shot really well. Probably could say my best shooting shotgun ever.
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Benelli Super Nova that I won at a Ducks Unlimited banquet for the heavy cost of $20 raffle . Its killed ducks, geese, turkey, coyotes and pheasants. Never a single jam or misfire.
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I used a JC Higgins 12 ga growing up. Killed plenty of ducks,grouse and a few turkeys with it. Retired now because I won a Stoeger P320 at an NWTF banquet last year. Put a turkey on the ground with it this fall. Also have a Winchester 1300.
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Benelli Nova
Since 2008
Can't say enough good about it.
Best pump shotgun i've ever owned!
since 2010
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I enjoy shooting sxs hammer guns. They pump out the memories as fast as I can cock the hammers... :chuckle:
(https://i.imgur.com/GeHwOmG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IOZrJ3p.jpg)
I'm sorry but that shotgun is just beautiful.
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Browning BPS, one in 20 ga and one in 12 ga, 25 and 30 years now. I like the BPS as it is ambidextrous. The safety is on top and it ejects out the bottom. I shoot right handed and my wife shoots left handed and both of us can use either.
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I'll be in the market for a BPS in the spring for one of my daughters who's a lefty, but right eyed
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KF, the BPS would be perfect for her. She could then try shooting both ways. I bought a youth model in 20 ga for my wife to shoot clay pigeons mostly and she was extremely comfortable with it. If it helps, she is 5' 4".
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Mines a stout 5'9 maybe a tad more now and might not be done growing. I think she's plenty strong enough to swing a full size.
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I use a Benelli Nova.
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If you can get an original 870 wingmaster or one of its variants- go for it. Probably the single best, least problematic shotguns ever made. I would stay away from any recent (mid 1990's-current) versions, 870 super mag or the like. They are just not the same gun anymore.
Benelli Nova's are pretty indestructible guns. Well worth what they cost.
Still using my 1974 870 wingmaster, never a failure. Still works like fresh out of the box.
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I don't use it for ducks, anymore but I've ben shooting an 870 express for this or that since the mid 1990s. I've never had any problem with it, ever.
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:yeah: end of story...except I've been using mine since the mid 80's...if we could only have one shotgun when it really mattered...870 :tup:
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870 super mag
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JC Higgins all the way! :tup:
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I don't know what the brand or gauge is, I only know the sound it makes as I kill something :chuckle:
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Have never had an issue with my 870 express. And I will never get rid of it as long as it doesn't completely fall apart. That being said I'm looking into a Nova or a semi auto from benelli. I would like something that can handle 3.5" shells.
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Check Franchi for semi pretty much a Benelli
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JC Higgins all the way! :tup:
My first shotgun! Does yours have the click-to-adjust choke?
I love my 870 express, but here is where I'm about to get flamed. I cerekoted it. I never had a single issue in the field, but I live a mile away from Puget Sound and it would get surface rust in a couple weeks at home just sitting there, which irritated me to no end. Nothing else metal I owned would do that, or any of my other guns. Apparently the 870 Express is notorious for that. I paid a couple hundred bucks to put a nice flat grey on it. And I know that for the combined cost I could have just bought a nicer shotgun, but now it's indestructible.
The only thing I would do differently is maybe tart her up a little more. Black on grey, matte tiger stripe?
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Thanks dude I will
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Winchester 120 Ranger, has never failed. Going into the 38th year now.
I've only had mine for 32 years. My 870 Wingmaster is on permanent loan to my dad until he passes, and my Nova is a safe queen because I just can't hit as well with any other shottie. Best $199 I ever spent, came with 3 invector chokes and rifle sights slug barrel I've never used.
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Had an 870 express for years but sold it. Surface rust was always an issue with the matte finish on the metal. Also magnum loads and slugs would jam, a known extractor isssue on the express. My dads wingmaster never had either problem. The blueing, metal, and walnut stock is the $300 difference. He also has a Winchester 1300 that has never had an issue. His newest pump is 15 years old now, Browning BPS 12. Best gun of the bunch on all levels. Almost bought one for my slug gun until I found a barrel for my SX2. If I bought a wood pump It would be a BPS. Handled SXPs, Nova’s and Stoger synthetics. I would by the SXP for the money if I wanted a synthetic.
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I enjoy shooting sxs hammer guns. They pump out the memories as fast as I can cock the hammers... :chuckle:
(https://i.imgur.com/GeHwOmG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IOZrJ3p.jpg)
@fethrduster Can we get more info on that top shotgun. She's beautiful.
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Winchester model 12, 12 guage 32 inch solid rib gun. Dad used it for 50 years, i'm using it now, and i'm sure my son will be in 20 years, still works flawlessly.
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870 express, but I get that surface rust too. I did shoot my buddy's over under, not sure what brand it is. I couldn't miss a clay with it, so I might get me one of them. Tried to buy it from him but he gave me the middle finger on that !!
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Remington 887 and I would not recommend it LOL
Go with an SXP or Nova.
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I disagree. I’ve used my 887 for the past 9 seasons with no issues until this year. So I cleaned it for the first time and haven’t had an issue since
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Old 870 Special Purpose pump. Came with sling mounts built in and works smooth as glass. (3" chamber)
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I shoot an auto now (Beretta extrema 2), but I shot a Nova for a long, long time. It is a GREAT pump gun. I put over 8,000 rounds through that gun and never had a single problem. Sold it to a friend and it's still being used.
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I am an 870 shooter. My original one is 38 yrs old and works flawlessly. I have a 870 super mag as well which also works flawlessly. I have no need to own another shotgun.
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Anyone on here try the Stoeger P3000? I’ve read good things, would like to hear more
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A Nova is the only gun I have ever parted with. Indestructible, but I would always short stroke. I need longer arms or more practice with it, so I gave it to an employee that had just survived a couple back to back 80 hour weeks with me. Pretty sure I could have paddled a boat, or hammered tent stakes into the ground and it would keep working.
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Remington 870's, Winchester 12's and a Winchester 42 depending on my mood.
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Oh...I own a few:
New model Ithaca M37 12 Ga.; my present favorite.
Two BPS'; one 16 Ga. and one 12 Ga. Upland Special.
Remington 870 (1950's era) 16 Ga.
Remington M31L 16 Ga. S-M-O-O-T-H action.
Browning M12 20Ga.
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I'm with T-bone. Ithaca model 37 12 gauge. I have 4 of them. Fast and sweet.
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I have a Rem 870 and a Winchester 1200 that I've used as back-up guns to my Benelli semi-auto.
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MOSSBERG 500 for all kindsa shotgun hunts !!!
Tiger knows where it’s at. I’ve used my Mossberg 500 for waterfowl, turkey, deer, and small game. I would really like to buy a “nicer” shotgun but there’s nothing wrong with this one.
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Winchester Model 12 3" Magnum. The Gold Standard of pump shotguns.
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1963 Wingmaster 870 and a Benelli Nova.
I've had issues with the Nova failing to fire after the first shot, I think do to recoil causing something in the trigger assembly to jam. I've sanded a little bit of plastic in there down and not had a problem since.
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My first and will probably be in the mud and the blind with me for a long time. An older Mossberg 500. Picked up for $75 when I was 20. Was at the end of a rack in a pawn shop. Rusted so bad it was seized up. Took it home. WD40 and steel wool to all the rusted parts, oiled it up and it runs and shoots perfect. Looks like holy horse pucky and has only like 25% blueing left but hey, I figure I will never have it in as bad a shape as when I bought it. Thought about spray painting but something keeps stopping me.
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Winchester Model 12 3" Magnum. The Gold Standard of pump shotguns.
I 2nd that. Bought mine in 1959 and it's served me faithfully. Like me it's getting a little loose goosey these days, but everytime I pick it up brings back a lot of memories.
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Remington 870s and Winchester Model 12s...have several of both marques in multiple gauges from .410/ 2.5" to 12 GA/3.5". Current blind gun is a beater 870 Express that i bought when they first came out. Upland gun for lead shot/soft non-toxic shot only is a vintage Model 12...still my favorite.
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I love my benelli nova 12ga
Absolutley bulletproof no pun intended
Its true they are indestructible and tough as nails, dont have to worry about hurting it, and yes you can paddle a boat with it
If I could only have one shotgun it would be my nova, and for 10 years it was my only shotgun
Doesn't shoot as well as my Baikal side by side 20 gauge tho, since I got that gun, i leave the benelli at home more often
Although if I could do it over, I woulda spent some extra $ on a semi auto 3" 12gauge and get a 10 gauge instead of shooting 3 1/2 inch shells.....thats a whole nother can of worms tho... Different conversation for a different day
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I have a Winchester SXP . It survived 2 seasons in Kodiak, has been submerged in the rivers a few time and has taken some seawater. No issues yet, excited to get a new longer barrel for it, which has been challenging to track down.