Pump vs semi...birds/clay

[sanjose]

Hi All, New to the forum.

Planning to buy the first shotgun and debating between a pump vs a semi automatic.

Read the other posts on pump vs semi for home defense and reliability.

Would like your opinion on whether a pump would make sense for bird hunting (quail, pheasants, dove).

Talked to a couple of people.

1. An argument in favor of semi was the ease of getting a second shot out, if you miss the first one.

2. But the argument against was that a pump would force the shooter to take a moment to pump and get the gun aligned before making the second shot.

3. Also if you missed the first, then will the chances of getting the second be even less, as the bird is farther out?

4. Another argument against pump was that it does not have a solid feel to it as the forend comes loose as you shoot.

In pumps, I was considering the Browning BPS hunter, Weatherby PA-8 and Remington 870 express in that order.

Would appreciate any advise.

Thanks!

p.s another general question..for the shotgun discussion forum and the hunting forum, I am only able to see 12 threads vs all. What am I doing wrong?

[bjl333]

Hi All, New to the forum.

Planning to buy the first shotgun and debating between a pump vs a semi automatic.

Read the other posts on pump vs semi for home defense and reliability.

Would like your opinion on whether a pump would make sense for bird hunting (quail, pheasants, dove).

Talked to a couple of people.

1. An argument in favor of semi was the ease of getting a second shot out, if you miss the first one.

2. But the argument against was that a pump would force the shooter to take a moment to pump and get the gun aligned before making the second shot.

3. Also if you missed the first, then will the chances of getting the second be even less, as the bird is farther out?

4. Another argument against pump was that it does not have a solid feel to it as the forend comes loose as you shoot.

In pumps, I was considering the Browning BPS hunter, Weatherby PA-8 and Remington 870 express in that order.

Would appreciate any advise.

Thanks!

p.s another general question..for the shotgun discussion forum and the hunting forum, I am only able to see 12 threads vs all. What am I doing wrong?

1,2,3) If you miss the first shot in skeet doubles, chances are you are out of rymthm anyway for the second shot. So you'll have to focus harder for the second shot.

4) Yes the forend is loose on a pump, but HEY its a pump. You gotta pump.

I've seen people shooting pumps that gets a second shot out faster then an auto. As long as you are used to the gun and how it handles you should be fine.

Know one thing, the first 4 X 4 shot in skeet was done with 4 pumps. A 4 X 4 means shooting 100 out of 100 in each of the gauges ... 12, 20, 28, 410. That was done in 1967. The autos have been around for more than half a decade by then. Please don't say an auto will get a second shot off faster or the auto is better for doubles.

If you want a pump, go get a pump. The second shot is all in your head, as long as you practice your PUMP !!!!

The 3 guns you listed are all good, pickup the one that feels best balanced in your hands ... and practice practice practice !!!

[sargenv]

Personally, I've shot 25 straights with three of the four types of guns.. pumps, semi, and an O/U. All things equal I prefer the semi-auto for one simple reason.. you feel less recoil since the action soaks up some of it. Pumps and doubles give you a direct line of recoil comparitively. Yes you can load the other two down so recoil isn't an issue, but you can load certain semi's down to where recoil is even less. The BPS isa nice gun, I have one of it and the 870. I prefer the 870 since it is easier to load since it can go into the side or into the tube and loaded by sliding the pump. With the BPS you are pretty much stuck loading only from the magazine.. and there is no real positive way to make sure that chamber is empty as quickly as a side eject model. One thing the BPS is good for is dropping shells directly at your feet.

They are all nice guns though.. try them if you can, see what they feel like and how they point and then make your decision based on that..

[bucktooth7]

I bought the Remington express 870 a few months ago as my first shotgun. It's not much to look at but the price was right. $295. I use it for trap and skeet and it works well for both of those. Bit of a problem extracting for the first couple of hundred shells, fixed that though with a bit of buffing on the cylinder. I think an entry level pump gun is a good way to see if you really like clay games and may help you decide if you want to spend a bunch of $ on better equipment. I may at some point but what I have now is working for me. What I have found about buying guns is that the purchase price is quite small compared to the price of ammo.

[bjl333]

What I have found about buying guns is that the purchase price is quite small compared to the price of ammo.

Yeap !!! Reloading is an option if you really get hooked into it. It ain't a cheap game anyway you look at it.

[halon101]

if you go pump get the 870, i pimp rem every chance i get.
i love my 870 it feels more solid than other pumps. my pump is fast and automatic. and i can hit doubles. that being said, if i shot shotgun more i would own a semi.
a pump is great for hunting.

[eric2063]

Everyone is different and as bjl333 said pick the gun that feels the best when you throw it up to your shoulder and fits you the best. Go to a range that rents guns and try out the different types.

To answer your question about viewing the threads, go to the bottom of the which ever sub-forum your in and set the display options to show more than just the last couple of days worth of threads. Or you can set the default viewing dates in the user CP to view threads from different dates (week, two weeks, a month ect)

[sanjose]

Thank you all very much!

Very insightful comments and advise!

I will try out a few of these in the next couple weeks. Will post my findings.

Thanks again!

[resident-shooter]

I personally would take semi auto since I dont feel like pumping every time I shoot. I just don't see anything fun about it, but if you like it..... Semi auto does not have that lose azz forend as well. Its forent is much closer and in comfortable position. As for bird hunting, u can only have 3 shells in cali. So assuming u got a small group of duckies flying by. You have a higher chance of shooting a few of them before they disperse with a semi auto. Granted u can pump as fast as self loader cycles, BUT it takes practice and energy.

[randy]

All the shotgun hunting I've done has been either a bolt action 410 (first shotgun) or a 20 or 12 gauge pump shotgun. They all worked great and brought home dinner.

I still have the 410 and used it for the dove opener no problems 40 years later.

Clay games I've shot with a pump or an O/U. The O/U is a way better choice.

[Saym14]

my first clay / bird SG was a O/U.

[Sideline Shooter]

If you buy a pump and don't reload you are going to get very tired of shooting clay sports quickly. Recoil will sneak up on you and beat you down. I used a pump when I started clay shooting. I wanted better. I began to reload, I got a little better. I saved and saved and bought a Beretta semi-auto. I reloaded. Then I got really good!! Because I could shoot more often and more comfortably than I did before. My scores went up and wild game dinners were alot more often on the dinner table! Do yourself the favor and rent a few shotguns and use game loads and then target loads. It will be really clear to you on what you will choose.

stiffblade

[Rob454]

if I miss my first shot i miss the second shot 50% of the time. By your third shot the bird is too far away to even bother