Looking for shotgun

[MtnBksRCul]

You've got two choices here. Forget everything else you read.
Focus.
Mossberg 500 or Remington 870
Boom
/thread

Mossberg 500 or 590 or Remington 870*

[bigbearbear]

My first 12 gauge was a trophy slugster with a rifled barrel, and the first rounds I shot were 3" Magnum slugs both rifled and sabot. It kicked hard, but it is not unacceptable. Compared to that, game shot loads are a dream to shoot. Just saying, some don't mind recoil as much as others.

Good for you!

Put it this way, given the current population on the planet and if given a 12 gauge with hunting loads to shoot for the 1st time, do you think there are more people who would find recoil unpleasant, or more people who would find the recoil nothing at all?

And why risk developing a flinch due to heavy recoil? Once you get it, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get rid off.

[LowThudd]

Mossberg 500 or 590 or Remington 870*

The 590 is a defensive shotgun. AFAIK there are no hunting barrels available for it. The 500 or 535 are a good choice. The 500 is a 3" chamber, while the 535 is a 3.5" chamber, so longer range for turkey or geese etc.

[LowThudd]

Good for you!

Put it this way, given the current population on the planet and if given a 12 gauge with hunting loads to shoot for the 1st time, do you think there are more people who would find recoil unpleasant, or more people who would find the recoil nothing at all?

And why risk developing a flinch due to heavy recoil? Once you get it, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get rid off.

My point is that 12 gauge game loads have been a standard for over a hundred years, and are not all that stout. Many people handle a 12 pump just fine, and don't require an autoloader. If you prefer it, great. No reason to suggest that a pump might be less manageable in comparison. They work just fine for most people.

[Bill Steele]

My opinion is if you want to go new, in your price range, with your plans, I would go on Gun Genie and buy a Mossberg 500 Field-Security Combo. I would get the one with the wood stock and the 18" barrel (comes with a cylinder choke, good for Buckshot and Slugs) and a 28" barrel (comes with removable chokes, better for hunting and clay games).

The price on Gun Genie is MSRP, you just input your zip code and you get bids from several local dealers. Pick the best price or closest and buy it. It will arrive at the dealer you selected in a few days.

Excellent first shotgun, very versatile.

[Bull Elk]

I'd buy the Remington 870 over the Mossberg 100 out of 100 times. Just a better shotgun, and one with rich history.

[estrom]

There's been a couple of 870's in the classifieds for pretty cheap. You can't go wrong with those. I've been using my 870 for 20 years for everything from plinking to clays to ducks/pheasant/quail/turkey and even pig (with a slug barrel).

[IEatZ28]

For a fellow KX125 owner i may be selling my remington 870, wood, 28" with only one season under it's belt that falls below your max price.

[Huntsprig]

The 590 is a defensive shotgun. AFAIK there are no hunting barrels available for it. The 500 or 535 are a good choice. The 500 is a 3" chamber, while the 535 is a 3.5" chamber, so longer range for turkey or geese etc.

3.5" will not give you longer range than 3".
For example #4 shot in a 3.5" shell at 1300 FPS will not be any more powerful at 40 yards than a 3" or a 2 3/4 shell at the same speed and distance.
With the same choke you will have more pattern density, but the shot will not have more power.

[HighWildFree]

Remington 870 Sportsman, basically a 870 with better wood and better sights.

[LowThudd]

3.5" will not give you longer range than 3".
For example #4 shot in a 3.5" shell at 1300 FPS will not be any more powerful at 40 yards than a 3" or a 2 3/4 shell at the same speed and distance.
With the same choke you will have more pattern density, but the shot will not have more power.

Doesn't better shot density equate to longer range? If you have the same shot density at 50 yards with a 3.5" as you do with a 3" at 40 yards, that makes it have a longer effective range.

[Ducky's Dad]

A used 870 3" Mag Wingmaster in good condition with those would be nice.

I think there is a 3" WingMaster for sale right now on ShotgunWorld, in your price range. I would much rather have a used WingMaster than a new Express, and I'd rather have a used Express than any new Mossberg. The old 870 Sportsman as mentioned would be a great budget choice if you can find one.

Forget the WM on SGW. It's only $350, but it also has a 21" RemChoke barrel. Pretty much useless for anything other than grouse or HD.

[xXRifleManXx]

I hunt water fowl with an old all blue steel and wood 870 wingmaster and boy is it nice. And it's all the recoil reduction you will ever need, game load or otherwise(my 120lb lady shoots skeet with it and is always smiling). If you can find a used 870 it will serve you well. Hell even beat up you can fix it easily and will work great. I use a 590a1 for HD use and love it too. For upland game I used to use the wingmaster but now I run an old Beretta over and under I got through some horse trading. Point is each has a role and fills it well. Some can work in the others place but might not be optimal. So you find yourself trying to find that balance. What's your main focus is it putting duck and quail on the table? I would say 870. Is it range and desert shooting? It's hard to not love the 590a1 with 8+1 and ghost rings slapping steel with slugs out to 100 yards(very doable by the way) but the 870 will serve this well too. Its it HD? Well that's your call.

I will say these few things to you and take it for what it's worth. Pump is the way to go. It will cycle all kinds of rounds and take the abuse a semi will not(I have a 870 express used for brackish water it's still going my brothers simi is not). The 870 will handle recoil better the the 500/88/590 but about the same as the 590a1 due to its weight. Pumps get better with use smoothing out the action. Simi shotguns have benefits like not racking a shell manually and slight recoil reduction(not a big deal). I would say get something you can change the choke on if you are going to get serious about duck and quail.

Good luck and enjoy

[steelrain82]

I got a maverick 88 (no frills mossberg 500) for $180ish out the door (Dicks) with the 28 inch vented rib barrel (5+1). For $100 more I picked up the 18.5. Inch barrel from turners (you can find them all over). So I got a combo set for cheaper than the mossberg 500 combo. It is moss berg entry level shotgun.

[bsg]

i suggest you consider an older Remington 870 Wingmaster. prices continue to rise for these old gems, but i believe you can still pick one up for close to your ceiling price.

welcome to the forum.