A new buyer needs advice...

[cppilot89]

Hello All-

I have been shooting shotguns for a very long time and I will be turning 18 in May of this year and will be buying one for myself. However, since I've never been in the market, I don't really know what to look for. All of my shooting is sport (trap, skeet, etc.) and I know I want a synthetic stock. I'm looking to spend around $500 (that means anywhere between $300 and $700). So, here's a deluge of questions...

Autoloader or pump-action?
Benelli?
Remington?
Beretta?
Browning?
2 3/4", 3", 3 1/2" shells?
Models?
Sizes?
Styles?

Any and all information will be hugely appreciated!

Thanks,
Adam

[damon1272]

With $500 you are kind of limited as to new. You can pick up a Remington or Mossberg Pump with two barrels from big 5 all day long for under $500. As for the auto loaders you are talking more money. I would look for a used 1100 or 11-87. Bennelis are expensive ( but good). If you shop around you could find an 11000 for a little more new. I would stay away from companies like legacy as the guns imported from them are Turkish and they may not carry them in the future when you need parts. Millions of 1100 have been made and they are as good as they were when they first came out. I would say go with the auto loader but the pumps aren't bad either.

[damon1272]

to add to my post It does depend on what you are going to use it for. If for trap or upland bird then go with 2 3/4. Most of those shotguns you named come in 2 3/4/ 3" chambers. Unless you plan on duck hunting the 3 1/2 are just punishment. All of those brands you named are good brands the Berretta, Benneli, and the Browning tend to be pretty expensive. Look to Remington for a less expensive shotgun but any of those choices would be good. For most of your hunting and trap stuff a 28" barrel is good. If you are smaller and do more hunting then you may want to look towards the 26" if you are a very big guy like myself then think 28" min. or probably 30 or 32". Iff for protection then think 18 1/2 - 22" barrels.

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

Remington 870 with trap barrel.
Or 1100 trap or skeet barrel.
These will be in your price range and plenty of parts or up grades.

[mcubed4130]

Mossberg 500 - 12g pump-action black synthetic stock, 18.5" smooth bore (home defense) and 26" improved choke (birdy shot makes clay pigeons go BOOM!). On sale at Big5 Sporting Goods for $205 - Oct 06. (This was about 5 days AFTER the start of some hunting season - which is why they were cheaper than normal).

Since I live in the land of all things Gun are under Gun Control (aka California), a pump-action means I can mod the heck out of the gun as well... which I have... ;-)

Have fun!

-M3