Which shotgun?

[Wallabing]

Mossberg 500 combo package, or Maverick 88 with no accesories or upgrades.

[BRANCHER]

A Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590 are both good... It is a Ford / Chevy thing... I am a Remmy guy myself... I have quite a few 870's I have some as far back as the 1930's and I can swap parts with a new one now... over 10 million made.

Also you can add a surefire forend and you have light. I strongly believe in knowing your target especially since I have wife and kids in my home. Simple, clean and effective. and not too tacticool.

I trust either pump noted above. As for semi, especially a cheap one, would you trust your life on it?

I personally like the Remington 870P with the tritium ghost ring sights... Or spend some serious $$ and buy a Wilson Combat (870).
See http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870pmax.htm (I prefer standard stock no pistol grip).

[Vertigofirearms]

I have quite a few 870's I have some as far back as the 1930's and I can swap parts with a new one now... over 10 million made.

NVM i stand corrected

[50 Shooter]

Benelli Super 90 M3, semi auto and pump in the same shotgun. Look for a good used one on gun broker if you can't find one locally. You'll probably pay more but its superior to the 500/590/870...

[sirsaechao]

I've shot a 500 for years for hunting. Also hunted with a 11-87. I think I should just get a plain jane. Something reliable and upgradable if I want too. Just deciding on a 870 or 500 now. Maybe buy something American made that doesn't have much upgrade so I don't have to spend so much money on upgrades. Like perhaps just a Maverick 88 although they said its a 500 knock off.

[bsg]

I am a Remmy guy myself... I have quite a few 870's I have some as far back as the 1930's and I can swap parts with a new one now... over 10 million made.

i was under the impression that Remington first began production of the 870 in 1950 with the Wingmaster.

[Jimmybacon43]

OP what exactly do you want to mod out later on with the shotgun?

from your initial post it sounds like you're just looking for the most value for the money, and I'll have to agree with everyone else that the 870 or 500 are both solid choices. Only real differences you'll notice between those two are the location of the safety, the slide release, and the style of shell lifter. You should handle both at a LGS, find the one you prefer for a good price and get it.

Honestly would not recommend the really cheap off-brand shotguns like Stevens unless money is very tight. I have a Maverick 88, which is probably the best of the "budget" shotguns, but I still would prefer to have bought a 500 or 870.

[kcjr1125]

I have the 500 spx and spent way more than I should have looking back on it now. I made the mistake of thinking "tacticool" and paid the price. It looks cool yes but a 12g is still a 12g at the end if the day.

[sirsaechao]

Think I'm gonna hold off and just find a used one for cheaper.

[Vertigofirearms]

i was under the impression that Remington first began production of the 870 in 1950 with the Wingmaster.

That is what i thought too, but i checked again and multiple sources have "state" serial numbers go back to 1930

[dunndeal]

I bought a Police model from this guy http://aiptactical.com/ he is a regular contributor to calguns.

[ronrichards64]

I found a used 870 receiver from the 60s and built a home defense hunting combo , Bought a 26 inch barrel from ebay and a 18 from LGS . Bolt from Gun Broker. other parts from ebay . cost me 600.00 $ . This one will not be sold . I sold 3 870s in the past , This was well worth the price . Just get a good one and enjoy it.

[bsg]

That is what i thought too, but i checked again and multiple sources have "state" serial numbers go back to 1930

we'd better correct the Remington Society… amongst others.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

http://www.remington.com/pages/our-company/company-history.aspx

In January, 1950 Remington announced its new Model 870 "Wingmaster" shotgun, which has become the largest selling pump action shotgun in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_870

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/870/

The beginning of the second half of the 20th Century was a milestone product year for the Remington Arms Company. It was in 1950 that "America's Oldest Gunmaker" introduced what many believe is the finest pump shotgun ever produced, the Model 870. Produced every year since, the Model 870 has become the most successful single model gun in Remington's 189-year history, and the best selling pump-action shotgun in firearms history

http://remingtonwingmaster.com/Wingmaster/Home.html

Oh, look what I found. This may have caused some confusion among the neophytes among us. The article is titled "Remington 870 Serial Number Lookup" and it lays the code for date of manufacture of Remnigton rifle (or shotgun) barrels. These codes are for All Remington barrels, not just 870 barrels. The earlier poster may have found this and concluded that it was evidence that Remington manufactured 870s back to 1931. Ooops!

Remington Year of Manufacture Codes maybe found on the barrel of your Remington rifle [or shotgun] on the left side, just forward of the receiver; the first letter of the Code is the month of manufacture, followed by one or two letters which are the year of manufacture. For shotguns with removeable barrels, the code will be valid for the manufacture of the barrel; maybe for the receiver, as barrels do get switched around.

http://www.rem870.com/2012/01/19/remington-870-serial-number-lookup/

Also, YouTube consideration and discussion of the Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870 rivalry. You could spend weeks on this. Pick one and go with it. But Mossberg is a better design.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=870%20vs%20500&sm=12

[Darto]

If you want the best consider an Ithaca 37. The best pump ever made, no stamped parts, all machined, also a John Browning design. Expensive, but will only increase in value. It is the oldest design still in production. Will be made forever, God willing. EDIT: except of course the Remington 31with ball bearings.

I bought one used on Gunbroker for under $350. The riot model is so much better made than anything found at your LGS.

new ones:

http://www.ithacagun.com/defense37s.html