For the $$$, the best model shotgun...

[janobles14]

dont forget about those NEF pardner pumps! they have better metallurgy than the 870 express upon whose design it was "borrowed."

 

[JQP]

I don't know what THE best would be, but the Pardner Defender has got to be near the top in terms of bang for buck value.

The thing is built like a brick sheet house, and is pretty much a Remington 870 down to the millimeter.

I don't know how one can get more value in a scatter than with a Pardner Defender or a Maverick.

YMMV

 

[oneounceload]

One, other than trap what's better?

Any will work for HD, but the majority seem to feel most comfortable with one of the basic pumps from the likes of Mossberg, Remington, etc.; although a semi, O/U or SxS can be used successfully as well

I do not use a shotgun for deer - I'll let someone else chime in on that.

For waterfowl, again any of the action types will suffice; however many lead towards the semi to help take some of the sting out of those monster shells

For upland birds, I prefer a SxS game gun - that means a light, perfectly balanced gun with a similar O/U in close second. Whle pumps and semis can be used, The folks I hunt with prefer the break actions from a safety standpoint - it is easy to see who is ready to fire and who is not.

Clay games with two shots - the O/U rules the roost - whether it is the Olympics, your local monthly registered sporting clay shoot or similar, O/U's from the likes of Browning and Beretta and upwards have a 75% market share on the course, with the rest being semi's. Some of the better semi's - Beretta mostly - have been gaining here and there. The one main downside is the necessity to use only one choke. For 85% of the typical stations I have shot, it is very doable - but to climb higher in the standings, you either need to be really in tune with yourself and your gun, or you'll want that second choke for those stations where you get a close/far pair.

ANY gun, if it FITS - no matter the action type and cost - is better than a gun that doesn't fir, regardless of how much it costs

 

[throdgrain]

ANY gun, if it FITS - no matter the action type and cost - is better than a gun that doesn't fit, regardless of how much it costs

Absolutely right

You could also add, PRACTICE! The more you shoot, the better it you get.

 

[winchester '97]

Whatever is the best value on your local gun store's used rack, you can find some real bargains. My default advise is the maverick 88, hell of a shotgun for the money, especially when you find a used one for under 200 dollars.

 

[oneounceload]

Whatever is the best value on your local gun store's used rack, you can find some real bargains. My default advise is the maverick 88, hell of a shotgun for the money, especially when you find a used one for under 200 dollars

Unless it doesn't fit well, then just good of a deal is it?

 

[jae011]

maverick model 88

 

[au01st]

Whatever is the best value on your local gun store's used rack, you can find some real bargains. My default advise is the maverick 88, hell of a shotgun for the money, especially when you find a used one for under 200 dollars.

I'll sell you a truck full of new ones for $220 each (and make a load of money while I'm at it, lol). You can get them for $160 (26" ribbed barrel) and $180 (18.5" barrel) at Academy here!

 

[clang]

If the OP is really looking for the best shotgun for $$$ spent, the recommendation to look used is probably your best bet, unless you are going to be happy with one of the $160 Maverick 88s mentioned or the Beretta 390/3901 at Walleyworld (this is really an excellent semi-auto for the money).

If you know what you are looking for there are some real bargains on the used market. I recently picked up a 12 ga Beretta Onyx O/U for $700 OTD. It had some pitting on one side of the receiver (proably put away wet), but that does not bother me. Used Browning Citotoris can also be found arounf he same price if you look hard enough.

For SxSs, a used Savage 311 or maybe a Lefever Nitro Express can usually be found for a few hundred dollars.

Used semi autos are a little tougher for me, mostly because some of the older ones are sensitive to the type of load shot, but a used Beretta 390 or Browning Gold usually work well with most loads. There are also a bunch of Rem 1100 fans out there.

For pumps, you can sometimes find good deals on one of the classics like an Ithaca 37 or Winchester model 12. There are actually less versatile than newer guns (no screw in chokes), but they can feel very lively in your hands compared to some of the newer pump guns. You will have to figure out which you shoot better.