Starting out...

[Fishman777]

I'm still fairly new to shooting sports, and really have developed an apprecitation for shooting revolvers. I'd like to take the next step and get into shotguns for my next gun purchase.

I'm interested in getting a shotgun, but I am a little overwhelmed by all of the options out there. I've reviewed the product offerings from Remington, Beretta, Benelli, Winchester, Mossberg, and Browning. There are a lot of really nice guns out there, but I don't have any experience with shotguns and don't know what I *really* want. I'm afraid that I will get something that I like right now, but I might not like in a few years from now.

My goal, for now, is to get one shotgun that could cover as many different applications as possible. I'd like to get one shotgun that could be used for Home and wilderness defense, for clays, and possibly even hunting.

Would a 28" barrel be too long for HD? Would a 18.5" barrel with a fixed choke be totally useless for clays or hunting? Right now, I'm kind of thinking of getting either a Remington 870 Marine Magnum XCS or a Super Magnum XCS. If you could only get one shotgun, and you were willing to spend a little more for the trinyte finish, which of these two guns would you get? I'm kind of leaning towards the Super Magnum XCS, but wanted to get a few opinions from the experts. I know that the XCS finish is probably overkill, but I really value the piece of mind of knowing that the finish is the best that money can buy. Should I also be considering the 11-87 XCS? I was leaning towards a pump shotgun, but would also consider an autoloader, provided that the gun in question is very reliable.

The last two guns that I am considering are the Browning BPS Upland Special and the BPS micro. Both of these guns have 22" barrels with three different chokes. These guns would give me adjustible chokes with a shorter barrel. I figured that this might be a good option, even though I'm not a fan of "blued" finishes.

Are there any other guns that I should be considering? Should I wait to get a shotgun until after I take a class? Is it really important to find the right fit?

 

[oneounceload]

After you get a bazillion suggestions here, find some friends who have different types of shotguns and try them. While any can be used for practically any situation, there are reasons HD's have short barrels and clay guns have long barrels. There are also budget considerations, new vs. used, wood vs. plastic, pump,semi,O/U, and SXS to consider. The fun is in the quest.

If you're trying to find one gun to "do it all", you will probably be best served for the moment with a pump which you can get a short HD barrel and a longer hunting/clays barrel.

You might also want to check out shotgun world forums.

 

[Hawk]

No advice, but I've got a free bump for you - I'm interested to see what the folks here come up with when getting a good budget to work with.

Of course, the downside to a healthy budget is that your options increase exponentially.

You no doubt already came across this on Browning's site:

Question:
Can one shotgun be used for hunting, sporting clays, trap and skeet?

Answer:
Yes. However, there are certain features on the different types of shotguns that benefit each of these sports. Please see our current catalog for explanations of all these special features.

It is more practical to use a "field or hunting" gun for target shooting than it is to use a specific "target gun" for hunting purposes

At least your criteria will steer us clear of target guns for the time being.

 

[machinisttx]

If you're looking at only having one shotgun to do it all, I suggest a pump and several spare barrels. When it's going to do home defense duty, put an 18-20" barrel on it. If it's going to the skeet/trap/sporting clays range or hunting, put a 26-30 inch long interchangeable choke tube barrel on it.

The BPS is a fine shotgun for hunting, but I would absolutely NOT depend on one for self defense uses. Clearing a jam on one is....not easy. A double feed is nearly impossible to clear. It's even more fun trying to do it in the dark. Trust me, you do not want to deal with this if your life depends on it.

An 870 with two or three barrels will do anything you need to do. A mossberg would work too.

 

[Virginian]

I would recommend a used Remington 870 in good condition if your tastes run to pumps, or a used Remington 1100 or 11-87 if semi-autos are your meat. Because you listed the HD requirement, my recommendation leans to a pump. If you take care of it, even if you do change your mind, you shouldn't lose a dime.
An 870 with 26" or 28" barrel will serve entirely adequately as an HD gun, and great as a hunting gun. There are other good pumps, but they ain't #1.

 

[RP88]

Mossberg 500 persuader 8-shot models will cover everything. They do for me, at least. Tactical, skeet, HD, anti-varmint, anti-predatory beast, fun...all for only 300 bucks and some change. If your locale has regulation on capacity for shotguns, you can get a drowel that you stick down the mag tube to limit the capacity to make it hunting/sporting legal. My mossie came with one out of the box.

If you want to step up on price and buy a top-of-line pump, Mossberg 590 and Remington 870 are about another 100-200 bucks more. any Mossberg 5XX and Remington will have a score of aftermarket parts ranging from sights, tactical/optical things, spare barrels, etc. which is something you need to consider more than anything.

 

[Hawk]

Clearly, I'm the only one here that would feel compelled to burn the entire budget - no doubt a character flaw on my part.

The XCS Supermag has a PVD finish and nickel plated guts. An 870 express attracts rust due to the "texture" and a standard 870 is steel with a mainstream finish. The Mossberg has (I think) an aluminum receiver but no nickel innards.

Despite the Speedfeed stock on the supermag, it looks servicable for trap and sporting clays. It could presumably handle HD and skeet with an extra barrel. The Marine Magnum would work for HD and skeet but the magazine might create an issue with SC and trap balance - and every game warden in a 40 mile radius will be interested to see the plug.

I'd go with the supermag plus a barrel. (I wonder how much those PVD barrels go for?)

I seldom read the entire OP and generally miss key points but the finish seems to be big deal to this guy and I don't know of anything else with a PVD / nickel finish.

I was surprised to see the MSRPs having matched and in some cases sailed past the new Ithaca pricing - perhaps 1,000.00 pumps aren't as out of touch as I once thought. I'm feeling old.

Personally, I'd agree that the PVD is overkill unless working on shipboard but if it's important to peach of mind, what the hey. With that budget I'd be looking at AL391 Teknys, use the revolver for HD and take my chances with the finish. My wild conjecture also sees difficulties in resale of the XCS product due to too narrow of a focus. If one doesn't like the Teknys, it might move easier. The Teknys is pretty far off the OP but that's the nature of the internet.

Nice position to be in, whatever way it goes.

 

[Fishman777]

Thanks...

Based on all of this feedback, I think that I'll either go with the 870 Super Magnum XCS or I will look into getting a Beretta. Now, the next step is to convince the wife that I need a shotgun and get some lessons.

 

[oneounceload]

You convince her by taking her with you and letting her shoot a gun that fits her and doesn't beat her to death - once she sees how much fun it can be, she'll want to do it again

 

[Fishman777]

I forgot about the Beretta Xtrema 2. I was looking at that gun a few years ago and thought that it might be a good choice. With the special finish and coated internal components, I think that it will be the gun. With lighter loads, I'm sure that the wife will be able to shoot it just fine. Her dad used to take shooting rifles and shot guns when she was younger, so I'm sure that she'd like it.

If I don't go with the Xtrema 2, I'll get the 870 Super Magnum XCS and eventually pick up the Marine Magnum XCS. If I buy the Xtrema 2, I still might get a Marine Magnum XCS, some day.

 

[Hawk]

I would personally be very skeptical of a nearly 8 pound 3-1/2" chamber gas gun as a choice for multi-purpose.

Some 3-1/2" gas guns have problems cycling light 2-3/4" loads of the type you would most likely be using for clays. Some have more problems than others and I really don't know if the Extrema 2 is better or worse than average.

It weighs just the teensiest bit more than my SP3 O/U which would not be my first choice to haul through the weeds for much distance.

You haven't gotten much input here - it seems a thread will go 3 pages if it's "Mossberg vs Express" but "Extrema 2 vs XCR" and I seize right up.

Perhaps a little good natured controversy would stir it up?

I'll go first by suggesting that you avoid the 3-1/2" chamber like the plague and forget the special finish.

Shotguns don't rust with even a modicum of care and a requirement for such a finish reduces the scope of alternatives. Don't worry about the occasional "My Express rusted" thread - the express has a texture that encourages rust in much the same manner as marshlands encourage mosquitoes. In the ballpark you're playing in it isn't an issue. Unless you're on a yacht. A 3.5" chambered shotgun with whizbang finish would be great if it was solely for use as long range arty during waterfowl season in a salt marsh - as a good "all around", maybe not so much.

Let's see if that increases the traffic...

How 'bout a Teknys Gold Field - the one with the spiffy green (rather than blue) inlay?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Maybe not wait to take a class (unless it's like the NRA's basic Shotgun class), but definitely wait and get more familiarity/hands-on before you buy. And YES, fit is VERY important.

I'd suggest talking to friends and family members who are shooters, and asking them for some 'trigger time' with their shotguns before you spend your hard-earned money. Failing that, any number of gun clubs have rental guns you can use to get a feel for various makes/models. I think you'll make much better choices having spent some time on the line and sent some rounds downrange than just reading.

I'd also be chary of 3.5" 12 gauges (unless you plan on a LOT of waterfowling or turkey hunting) and super-expensive finishes (unless you live on a boat in a salt-water anchorage). Anything you reasonably need to do with a 12 bore you can get done with a 2.75" or 3" about 99% of the time, IMHO the 3.5" is like most fishing lures- made to catch fishermen not fish.

Most worthwhile choices these days as far as repeaters are concerned will offer spare barrels as an option, and that will fix the 'multiple roles/one gun' issue handily. A 26-28" VR barrel with screw-in chokes will handle the claybird/wingshooting/small game chores, while an 18-20" smoothbore will do nicely for HD or even some big game hunting.

IMHO it's better to worry more about building your skillset and less about hardware. There is no "ideal" shotgun, and no need to spend time and $$$ searching for one. "Good enough" is good enough.

Stay Safe,

lpl/nc

 

[240SX]

Go with the Remington 870. I have 2 of them that I use for bird and duck hunting. They are awesome. One time I dropped my shotgun in the mud, so I sloshed it around in the water in the blind and shook as much water out as possible, then I wipped it off...loaded it up and shot like I hadn't even dropped it. BTW: Me & my friend were shooting faster and killing more ducks than these other guys with their fancy semi-automatic Benellis'. So there's one point for Remington. Not to mention I've had on of the guns for over 7 years and it has seen ALOT of lead/cooper/steel!

 

[Pete409]

Fishman777,

Unless you are a dedicated waterfowl hunter and expect to spend MANY days in the fields and marshes hunting waterfowl, I would suggest you forget about getting a 3.5" super magnum gun. A 3.5" super magnum simply isn't needed in 99.5% of the cases and is actually a detriment in a large majority of the cases. A 3" magnum will work just fine. In fact, if you are like the overwhelming majority of hunters/shooters, a gun that shoots 2.75" shells is more than adequate most of the time.

As for the finish, blue works just fine. Yeah, I've got some stainless revolvers and like them just fine, but stainless (or marine coat) is simply not needed most of the time with shotguns.

Get a blue 870 (or something similar) with a 28" barrel and a 20" to 22" barrel and you'll be set. BTW, don't worry about getting a gun that will satisfy all your needs for the rest of your life because you'll be buying another soon anyway regardless what you buy for the first one. Besides, with the way these gun hold their value, you can't lose anything more than pocket change on one anyway. Investing in shotguns sure beats the stock market of late.