What pump shotgun would you suggest?

[October]

I’m looking for an inexpensive 12ga pump shotgun (under $250 out-the-door) that I can use for clay shooting (trap, skeet, and sporting) as well as introducing others to shotgunning. However, I have no experience with a pump, other than working the action on a couple of models (never loaded or fired a pump) and would like some recommendations.

My preferences are:

• I’d prefer used (even a bit banged up) over new since I’ll be letting people new to the sport use it and don’t want to be concerned with whether they accidentally ding it.
• Wood or synthetic doesn’t matter, although I prefer the look of wood.
• I’m left-handed, so I originally thought a bottom ejecting pump would be best. However, I’ve handled an Ithaca M37 and, while I liked the feel, it didn’t fit quite right (mounting it with my eyes closed resulted in it consistently being twisted counterclockwise) and the action release on the right forward of the trigger felt awkward. I’ve had other lefties say that shell ejection to the right doesn’t bother them, so perhaps I should be more concerned with how easy it is to load a particular shotgun and where the action release is.

I haven’t ruled out a M37, but I’d like to try shooting one, as well as any others that are recommended, before making a purchase. What do you guys suggest I consider?

 

[RNB65]

Remington or Mossberg.

 

[theCZ]

I suggest you either raise your budget or learn to live with a release forward of the trigger. I'm a lefty and, IMO a Browning BPS is the BEST currently produced shotgun for a lefty. It has a tang safety, and the bottom eject means no hulls flying past your left eye, they are all left in a neat pile below the gun. The BPS has a cast-neutral stock (meaning no twist of the stock unlike that I37 with right cast). An 870 has the release forward of the trigger, but if you can live with that you'll easily find one in your price range. A Mossberg would probably work also. I love the 870 Wingmaster and Browning BPS because they are very smooth right out of the box which for me means easier to pump on those quick skeet doubles. I think a new one of each is around $400 though, but you could probably easily find a used 870WM for under $300.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Any US made pump. Pick your flavor....

 

[NailGun]

My vote would be towards an older used Remington 870 Wingmaster.

12 gage is going to be more readily available, and cost less than a 20 gage.
12 gage shells are usually cheaper than 20 gage. (at least they are around here)

A 20 gage is just fine for trap, skeet, and teaching young shooters. Lower recoil = more fun.

The Wingmaster is a very nice, smooth, reliable shotgun. (personally, I would stay away from the Express models. I just don't like em)

Shooting left handed will not be a problem. It will not eject the shells into your face.

The Browning BPS is a quality shotgun too. It has a lot of really nice features that make it "lefty friendly". IIRC, they are heavier than the Wingmaster.

I wish I never would have sold my Wingmaster....and never purchased that Express thing.

Good Luck on what you decide. NailGun

 

[longtooth]

Agree w/ RNB65
At that budget Remington or Moss. Own a Moss & have had several Rem 870's.

 

[Fred Fuller]

LOTS of good used 870s fit your description. I've even seen an occasional mirror image true lefty on the used rack that would meet your budget.

lpl/nc

 

[waynedm]

Under $250 out the door?! I don't know if you can even get a Mossberg for that these days, the only thing coming to mind is a Stoeger pump. You could get out for less than $250 with one of those.

My opinion would be that it would be worth spending another $50 and getting a basic Remington 870 though, at least you'll still have it and it'll run correctly 50 years from now.

 

[plexreticle]

I like the older 870 Wingmasters with a chrome bolt but any US made pumper should be fine.

 

[wildfowl]

Remington 870. Hands down.

 

[Blue .45]

The Mossberg/maverick can be found well within that price range. I have the 500, however, maverick owners on this and other boards have given them pretty high praise. It's basically the same as a 500. Might be worth considering.

 

[evbutler462]

I recently bought a Nova. Some of the features I love about it compared to some of the others is: It is light, 6.5 lbs., the stock and foreend has mounts for sling swivels, very easy to clean, the whole thing disassembles in a few seconds and easy to put reasssembe without tools, and it functions reliably with anything you can stuff in it. The recoil is not as bad as I thought it would be for such a light gun. I suppose that the design of the stock is the reason. The design is rather futuristic and draws a lot of attention. I can carry this Nova all day and not be tired. If you want to extend the magazine capacity, you can go onto gunbroker and get a mag extension. The largest gun dealer in my part of the state sells bunches of the Novas and tells me he has never had one returned for repairs. I took it out to the range for patterning and the chokes are pretty much right on as marked. I love it. By the way, I am almost 70 years old and have been shotgunning since I was a teenager. Always loved automatics, have several, but will finish out my life using the Nova. It just fits me like a good pair of shoes.

 

[tdultima]

Mossberg.

Model 500 and 590 shotguns have been adopted by the U.S. Military as combat shotguns. They are the only pump guns to pass the Mil-Spec 3443 requirements. To pass these tests, guns were frozen, baked, and dropped to test safety, function and durability. Parts interchangeability is mandated. And the guns had to pass a 3000 round buckshot endurance test.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/mossberg_500_590.htm

 

[bobbytm]

I agree with WAYNEDM.You will expend a little more,but will have a very nice shotgun for long time.

 

[theP8riot]

If you shop around a little bit you can find mossberg/maverick 12ga's for under $200 new. I thik Wal-Mart and places like Sports Authority and Dick's sell the Maverick line and they can be as low as the $170's when on sale.

 

[gunfire876]

budsgunshop.com has em

mavericks @ 165.91 you would have shipping and transfer but that's cheap. I'm going down there I'll check for something used or call brandon @ 859-987-9929 and tell him Marty said to take care of you and find you a good used shotgun for cheap call me if you need anything 859-983-4876 Marty Wells

 

[camacho]

Can't go wrong with either Remington or Mossberg, even though for the money you are willing to pay you will find Mossberg more attractive.

 

[Stretchman]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=67425493

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=68044924

Left handed Remington. You can search the site for more if you want to.

 

[STiTkacik]

I picked up a 20 gauge 870 Express at Wal-Mart last week for $238. After shooting a friend's 20 just a few weeks ago, I'd have to say that it points very similarly to my 11-87.

 

[glockman19]

I have and would recommend a Remington 870.

 

[October]

Thanks for all the input. Here’s my list based upon all of the suggestions. I appreciate the left-handed models everyone pointed out, but, since I plan to encourage others to use this gun (and they will likely be right-handed), I’d rather have a right-handed model.

Benelli Nova
Browning BPS
Maverick 88
Mossberg 500
Mossberg 590
Remington 870 Express
Remington 870 Wingmaster
Stoeger – I presume this refers to the P-350, as that is the only pump Stoeger is producing currently.

Any others I should add to this list? I figure I’ll try shouldering these models when I find them at various gun stores/pawn shops and see how they fit.

 

[byf43]

The Remington 870 Express in either 12 or 20 ga. can be 'had' for less than the $250 you suggest.

Granted. . . they aren't as 'slick' as the Wingmaster, out of the box, but, they do 'slick up' quite nicely.

I am the proud owner of (ahem) more than five 870 scatterguns, in a couple of gauge(s).
I wouldn't trade any of them.

With that said. . . there is a gunshop not too far away from me, near Richmond, Va., that has a plethora of new and used 870s on the rack at any given time.
They even had the 'lefty' version on the rack.

The Mosberg is a decent shotgun, too, for the money. (I never thought that I'd say that, again). It just doesn't 'float my boat'.


Remington 870. You can't go wrong.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Duckster]

I got a used Marlin 120 Magnum for $220 at the bargain rack of the local gun shop. It has very nice wood work and did a great job shooting trap at the range.
I say don't get hung up on brands and go with what you like or see as a good deal for yourself.

 

[JR870]

I would highly recommend a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500 either one is a great choice the mossberg is a little lighter but i dont like light shotguns the remy is a little heavyier and has a more scary pump sound either one is a great choice and as ammo goes if you even ever have to fire it at someone god forbid i would chose #4 buck about 3 rounds backed by 2 shredders

 

[toivo]

Benelli Nova
Browning BPS
Maverick 88
Mossberg 500
Mossberg 590
Remington 870 Express
Remington 870 Wingmaster
Stoeger – I presume this refers to the P-350, as that is the only pump Stoeger is producing currently.

October, that looks like a great list. I don't know much about the Stoeger (not saying it's bad, just that I don't know) but you can't go wrong with any of the others. From there it's just a matter of which one feels good in your hands and what kind of a deal you can get. One thing strongly in favor of the 870 is that it's there are literally millions of them out there, so you'll never have any trouble finding parts and accessories. The Mossberg will be a close second in that regard.

Good luck!