First Shotgun advice

[NapalmCheese]

Pump or semi?

Well, if you get a semi in 3.5 inch you can send 4.5 ounces of steel shot at every duck that flies within 80 yards!

[Boarhuntor]

Pump or semi?

Well, if you get a semi in 3.5 inch you can send 4.5 ounces of steel shot at every duck that flies within 80 yards!

How many times?

[jet757f]

I was thinking more for home defense.

[edgerly779]

If you get an hd shotgun with short barrel trap/skeet and sporting clay ranges will not let you shoot it. Minimum barrel length requirements. That has been in effect for a long time. You might find one that will but ask first.

[The War Wagon]

(First line of defense is being bear aware and having spray).

IF, by "spray," you mean ".375 H&H," good call.

Motor on.

[Mickey D]

Where is the OP?

[Tarmy]

Where is the OP?

We either scared him, started directing him too much, made him feel inferior with our collective spectacular universe of knowledge...

Or we got trolled...

[NapalmCheese]

How many times?

That depends on 1) if you're hunting on a refuge and can only carry 25 rounds at a time and 2) how much weight you want to carry in ammo!

I'm just being a little tongue-in-cheek as I've seen a few people get semi-auto duck guns and proceed to just shoot 3 rounds at every duck that comes by simply because they can.

[MJB]

SBE 3

GRIZ needs more than a shoty

[Boarhuntor]

That depends on 1) if you're hunting on a refuge and can only carry 25 rounds at a time and 2) how much weight you want to carry in ammo!

I'm just being a little tongue-in-cheek as I've seen a few people get semi-auto duck guns and proceed to just shoot 3 rounds at every duck that comes by simply because they can.

Sorry, I was not clear... How many of full load 3.5 shells can a noob withstand, do you think?
And my tongue also was in cheek

[ysr_racer]

Go big or go home

[sonofeugene]

Your first shotgun should be a pump. The two most popular are Mossberg 500 and 590 series, and Remington 870 series. There are differences between the two, the most significant is safety placement and on the Mossberg, the shell lifter is in the up position so loading is much easier.

I have the Mossberg.

[jet757f]

Your first shotgun should be a pump. The two most popular are Mossberg 500 and 590 series, and Remington 870 series. There are differences between the two, the most significant is safety placement and on the Mossberg, the shell lifter is in the up position so loading is much easier.

I have the Mossberg.

That answers my question. Thanks

[LynnJr]

For the OP get an 870 and don't look back.

[Epaphroditus]

My first shotgun I still have 45 years later. Savage Model 30 Series E 12 gauge pump and I have several barrels. Rifled and regular rifle for slugs, 20" just because (turns out to be very handy on close in the bush quail hunting), 26" and 30" ribbed.

Very versatile platform.

Recently I got a Benelli Super Nova which takes 3 1/2" shells, has a handy mechanism to pull a round from the chamber without taking another from the magazine and has a very handy recoil reduction widget.

As much as I like the Benelli I always grasp the Savage first.

12 gauge pump - one can never go wrong.