3 pumps for the price of an Autoloader

[dak0ta]

I've been thinking of upgrading to a 'B' brand autoloader, but for the price I can't justify selling off my 3 pumps.

I own the venerable 870 Wingmaster in smoothbore slug gun configuration for deer, a Mossberg 500 for upland/clays/waterfowl backup and a Benelli Nova for waterfowl.

I buy my guns all used, so I'd say <$1k invested in them, which wouldn't even be close to a Benelli, Beretta, or Browning autoloader.

What I love about having 3 pumps, is that each one fits its niche perfectly, they're all reliable, and they have a purpose in my collection.

Am I alone in my thinking, and would be better served with a state of the art semi-automatic? So far during hunting, I haven't felt undergunned for deer or birds yet in terms of firepower and follow up shots.

Should I dream bigger and get an O/U?

 

[HisStigness]

I can't really think of a situation where a pump shotgun wouldn't get the job done. Not all semi-automatics are as expensive as you think though. The Stoeger/Benelli M3000 and M3500 or Beretta A300 are reasonably priced and get good reviews.

 

[rbernie]

I buy my guns all used, so I'd say <$1k invested in them, which wouldn't even be close to a Benelli, Beretta, or Browning autoloader.

Not really - my Beretta 3901 with 24" and 28" barrels cost me well less than a grand.

 

[juk]

I can see trying to hold on to multiple pump guns, but only if they are similar. For me, I sold a Benelli Nova because I was so used to my Mossberg 500 that I couldn't connect with my targets. The 500 and Nova just have completely different ergonomics and the safety is different too. For me it meant that I missed more ducks with the Benelli. I am lusting after a SX3 right now, and would gladly liquidate 3 shotguns to fund one if I had that many that I were willing to let go of. However, most of my shotgunning is geared toward duck hunting. I'm not afraid to take a duck gun to a clay/skeet range either. I'll take all the practice with my actual hunting gun that I can get.

 

[627PCFan]

Out of the 4 of them, all are damn near perfect reliable these days so its a personal preference. Id keep one pump and one semi. Thats my hunting config. The pump comes with me as a backup or low volume shooting. Sounds like you have a good problem

 

[oneounceload]

Personally, I prefer my gas guns and my O/us over any pump I have ever owned - more reliable, better balanced, easier to shoot well, less recoil.............but what do I know?.........pumps are a compromise in that they do a lot of things, but they tend to not be the best for most applications. If a compromise works for you in your scenarios, then good for you and save the money - it doesn't for me

 

[jmr40]

I kept one 870 with 3 barrels. Sold all of my other shotguns and bought a Benelli M-1 used for around $600. The pump never gets used any more and I ended up putting money in the bank.

 

[Virginian]

Heck, why not sell what you have and buy several single shots or bolt actions with that logic? Other than for self defense, a gun is not a need these days in my opinion. It's a want. And I want and have several different types, and enjoy and use them all. I do not believe a pump is the best for all applications, such as clay targets. I do enjoy hunting with my Remington lots of times when I don't feel like taking the semi or two barreled guns however.
You should do whatever you want to and can afford.

 

[Schwing]

I lean towards pump action myself. In no scenario, do I consider a semi-auto in any flavor more reliable than a pump. Having said that, the reduced recoil is pretty significant on the few that I have shot..

As ridiculous as it is, I find myself going back to my old Maverick 88 most of the time. The thing is so old I can't even remember when I bought it but it is old reliable to me and is the on I reach for if I want to shoot well that day.

 

[oneounceload]

but it is old reliable to me

And that is what counts

For me, my Browning Gti is in the same vein - hundreds of thousands of rounds that have gone bang every time

 

[dak0ta]

My uncle has hinted that his Browning Auto 5 could be mine, so I guess this discussion is mute now hehe. Got to love hand me downs!

I think the reason for why I like pumps, is the manual cycling of the action and hearing the noise it makes. And I guess seeing the wear marks and gun get slicker are points of progress, things that Dave McC used to point out.

 

[clang]

The 2 most important things about a shotgun are that it is reliable and that you can hot what you're aiming at. After that, everything is gravy.

I do admit I like a double for upland hunting - it makes unloading when crossing roads and such easier.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I can't really think of a situation where a pump shotgun wouldn't get the job done.

There's a huge difference between getting the job done and doing it well.

I suppose it all depends on what you really want to do.

 

[oneounceload]

I can't really think of a situation where a pump shotgun wouldn't get the job done.

Never saw a pump win an Olympic medal
Never saw a pump win a box pigeon shoot
Never saw a pump win a Sporting Clays tournament, let alone a National Championship
Never saw a pump win a Skeet Championship
Never saw a pump on a driven bird shoot
Never saw a pump have any semblance of balance
And on and on we go..............

 

[dak0ta]

Never saw an O/U or Semi-Auto clear a Japanese bunker on Iwo Jima either...

I kidding..

M1897 + Sword bayonet <3

 

[oneounceload]

Maybe, but a flame thrower did a better job....

 

[dak0ta]

You got me there.

Or a pineapple frag

 

[Kayaker 1960]

I have a couple pumps and a Remington 1100 Semi Auto. The 1100 is heavier but with the recoil absorbing semi auto action it's more comfortable to shoot and not a small amount faster. Much nicer for speedy birds.

 

[loose noose]

Love my Browning Gold Hunter, it points perfectly for me, is very attractive, don't remember how much it cost, but it is a beauty. Further I like my Remington model 1100 that I've got 3 barrels for, 22", 28", and a 30" all with Rem chokes.

I could go on and on about all the shotguns I've got, pumps, O/Us, single shots, SXSs etc. but if the truth were told, I just happen to like firearms. However be aware of the fellow with only one gun, he usually is very efficient with it, and it don't matter what the cost or the action is!

 

[morcey2]

Never saw a pump win an Olympic medal
Never saw a pump win a box pigeon shoot
Never saw a pump win a Sporting Clays tournament, let alone a National Championship
Never saw a pump win a Skeet Championship
Never saw a pump on a driven bird shoot
Never saw a pump have any semblance of balance
And on and on we go..............

Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 win the Daytona 500.
Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 win a world speed record on the Bonneville salt flats.
Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 break the 300 MPH mark on a 1/4 mile.
Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 win the 24 hrs of Le Mans.
Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 featured at the Detroit Auto Show (at least, not since 1984).
Never saw a 1985 Chev 4x4 taser a 7-year-old once elected POTUS. (bonus if you know the reference. )
And on and on we go.........

But it seems to get the job done.....

I agree with your previous posts about pumps not being optimal for any specific situation, but they are sufficient for most of them. If someone is just getting into shooting or has a need to have several guns on hand for family shoots, pumps win hands-down. They'll cover about 80% or more of the necessary situations. The pump you can afford is infinitely better than the semi-auto or O/U that you can sit and only dream about.

I added a pound of lead to the butt of my 1300 and it now balances quite well. Not as well as my O/U, but it definitely helped.

Matt

 

[oneounceload]

Loose Noose - very true - I shoot with a gent who is 86 and has been hunting and shooting for 80 years now. He shoots a Kreighoff K-80 for competition sporting clays and does very well with it. It is a beauty with a stock worth about 5k alone that was custom built to him. That said, he is in the NSCA Hall of Fame, has been a member of Team USA and shot all over the world. That gun is now worth about $12K more than what he paid for it over 15 years ago but he can shoot lights out with it and is amazing to watch as he shoots from a low-gun mount. 80 years of experience shows.....

 

[Jason_W]

Pumps are excellent utility guns.

Most shooters can do the same things with a $500 pump action as they could with a high dollar O/U or semi auto.

Obviously, if the goal is to become competitive at the regional or better level in one of the clays games, more thought needs to go into gear. For bombing around a cedar swamp or blackberry tangle, however, I just need something that will go off when I pull the trigger.

 

[RubenZ]

I've been using a Browning BPS 20ga and 12ga since the 80's for dove hunting. This past year I switched to Browning Silver Hunter in 20gauge and will never look back!!! I love this gun!!!

 

[MagnunJoe]

I paid $650 OTD for a brand new Beretta A300 Outlander

 

[MCgunner]

You say you buy used, right? I passed on an 11/87 for 350 bucks a while back that was in great shape. Of course, that'd buy a new pump, but hey, it's a gas gun! Gas guns are sweet on the shoulder. I don't have the latest and greatest, an old Winchester 1400 I picked up 25 years ago from Walmart for $255. It fits me out of the box without shims and shoots where I look. It only handles 2 3/4", but that's okay for anything I'll hunt short of geese, but I have guns for geese.