Wife and I are interested in going out small game hunting, and many of the areas we are looking at only allow shotguns.

We'd like to get an inexpensive shotgun for this - type of action doesn't really matter too much to me - I just want to get into a shotgun that doesn't suck for as little money as possible.

Game will be squirrel, rabbit, and pretty much any other small game that is legal to hunt or that we stumble across here in Central/South Western Florida.

Would appreciate any advice on what to buy, why to buy that particular one, and any other pertinent advice - thanks!

Two quick suggestions:

1. NEF "pardner" - single shot break action shotgun. Probably the cheapest shotgun on the market and enjoys a decent enough reputation. What, $140?

2. Mossberg 500 - $249-ish. Fixed chokes and been around forever.

3. Remington 870 - $300-350? About the best of the "budget" shotguns.

IMO, buy used. Get a great shotgun for $200 or so. Most pump-guns can take ten's of ten's of thousands of rounds to even remotely get close to worn out.

Personally, I'd go 12ga. for your first gun. Second choice, 20ga. Can't really go wrong either way.

John,

I'm shoot a lot of shotgun shells every year at clay targets and have some very expensive ones for shooting clays. However, when I hunt, I use one...it's a Remington 870. Mine's the Wingmaster (one of the few they made with a 3.5" chamber), but if you're looking for a budget shotgun, I would go with the Express, same gun, just isn't as pretty. You won't need the 3.5" chamber, but it is nice to have in case you decide to get into turkey, goose, and maybe duck hunting in the future. A 3" chamber will suffice for that king of hunting, anyway, if that's what you can find/want. Mossbergs have been around for a long time, but I just don't like them. Nothing is as reliable in the pump gun spectrum as an 870, plain and simple. PERHAPS the only other pump gun that was AS reliable as the 870 is a Winchester Model 12, but they aren't made any more and if you find a used one, you will pay a lot more money for it than you will an 870. Stick with a pump, they aren't hard to use or learn. I would also go with a 12-gauge, if you want less recoil, all you have to do is use lighter loads. Good luck and I hope you make as many memories with your new shotgun as I have with my old one!

hello

i just wanted to comment on the NEF single shot as I own one
it a great little gun but they kick much harder than any pump with the same shells

if i counld have one shot gun back it would be my 870 wingmaster traded it for a win model 13

the 13 is a good gun but i miss my 870

John

I would recommend a Remington 870 in either 12 ga, or 20ga.

You should be able to find a good one used.

They are very reliable and rugged.

It is the best buy in a shotgun in that will last a lifetime.

If you are trying to save money do not worry about getting one with choke tubes, just get one with a "regular old" modified barrel.

my vote goes to a Baikal o/u
(not the Remington Spartan series, they are grossly overpriced).

rugged, dependable, o/u are 3 words to describe it.

Benelli NOVA.

$299 on sale at Gander Mountain.

Well the Westley Richards is a very nice shotgun.

OK so all kidding aside. The 870 Rem is about the best field gun I have every owned. A good used one will be around $200-$250 dollars. Last you and your grandkids a life time if properly cared for.
NEF is also a great deal. Around $150 NIB.
MM

Hey John, since you did say your wife will be using the gun as well you may want to consider HER needs as well as the requirements of the game to be hunted. I've taught shotgunning to women and I'll be the first to say just because you're talking about a woman doesn't mean crap about recoil sensitivity! I've seen some girls take a lot more recoil than men twice their size. HOWEVER... It'd be a good idea to make sure the gun isn't more than your wife can comfortably handle rather than have it sour her on sport! If she is a bit recoil shy I'd go 20ga. or better yet a GAS OPERATED semi-auto 20ga. Yeah we're talking a little more money unless you get lucky in the used gun store, but it beats ending up with a sore shoulder & cheek on a lady who doesn't want to shoot anymore.

To tag on to OUPA, how big your wife is, is probably going to come into play. Her reach may not be as long as yours, and she may not be able to comfortably shoot a gun that fits you better. You may want to consider a Youth/Ladies size gun in 20 ga. Have her handle different makes and sizes to see what works for her. You'll be able to easily shoot a shorter stocked gun, while she may not be able to reach the trigger on a longer length of pull.

Mike

I think that rnovi documented the single shot and pumps well. I started and in turn started my children and wife with single shot shotguns. If you go with a 20 gauge the recoil will not be bad and if desired one may go with light or heavy loads. Another bonus is that if one desires one could practice some and use slugs or buckshot for deer. Most signle shots will accept 3 inch 20 gauge shells so use for turkey is possible.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Two quick suggestions:

1. NEF "pardner" - single shot break action shotgun. Probably the cheapest shotgun on the market and enjoys a decent enough reputation. What, $140?

2. Mossberg 500 - $249-ish. Fixed chokes and been around forever.

3. Remington 870 - $300-350? About the best of the "budget" shotguns.

IMO, buy used. Get a great shotgun for $200 or so. Most pump-guns can take ten's of ten's of thousands of rounds to even remotely get close to worn out.

Personally, I'd go 12ga. for your first gun. Second choice, 20ga. Can't really go wrong either way.

Rnovi is correct, you might try finding one used.

I bought a Mossberg 500 "cruiser" with the 20" cylinder bore barrel and the 7 round mag for $125 at a pawn shop. It looked "as new" and it is hard to break one of these, besides they are cheap to fix.

For the $120 bucks I saved, I could have bought a new (or used) screw in choke barrel.
At 40 to 50 yards it patterns great with the cylinder bore barrel and Rem Sport loads (upland bird loads).
As good or better than my buddies Beretta O/U!

If you want to be able to buy accesories/change your configuration later,
stick with a Mossberg or a Remington 870. There are TONS of aftermarket access available for both.


---Mike

I found myself not too happy with some of the shots presented on a small 'game' hunt and started thinking shotgun. So, today I did it! I bought a cheap break action. It has a short barrel (for a shotgun) but I don't care because .... I will be silencing it!!! That will just also happen to reduce the recoil a bit, which is a good thing since I don't like recoil too much. I am only supposed to be using silenced 22rf's but find it hard to kill possum sometimes and what does one do when the possum is up a tree with no back-stop? Of course, I will be loading up sub-sonic's for it.

So, suppressing a shotgun is an option which will take the edge of the recoil and muzzle blast and with sub's and a "big" silencer, they can be very quiet!

I'd second the suggestion of the Mossburg 500. Lighter than the Remington, and the best feature it has is a tang safety.

Go 12ga. You can buy very light recoiling loads with the same payload as a standard 20ga shell (7/8ths oz), for practice or doves, squirrels. Middlin' loads for rabbits, pigeons, small ducks, heavy loads for larger ducks, geese turkey. Max loads work well for close range foxes and other vermin.

JPK

nice little 20 gauge SxS will do nicely. I have an SKB for such chores.

Rich
Buff Killer

870 20ga 3" chamber. I use mine for squirrels, turkeys, and ducks. All the abuse I put my 870 thru I have never had a problem with it.

It's old school, but get a 12 ga. pump in anything. Win 1300 prefered.

M

I recommend the H&R single shot. They are inexpensive and very rugged. It wont break your heart if it gets a few dings. For a new shooter, it is easy to check and see if its loaded. In the cover you will most likely be hunting rabbits in, you may not get a second shot anyway.

Single shots are also light. Lugging a heavy gun around is no fun, and with a recoil pad and some field loads, even the 12ga is easy to shoot.

I started out with an H&R, and taught my sons to shoot with break action doubles because that is what I had. If i had to start over, I would get an H&R Topper Deluxe. Comes with a vent rib and screw in chokes, and the whole package is cosmetically updated with checkering etc.

Rem 870. 12gauge or 20gauge. modified choke. Since most shotgun shooting is done standing up, the perceived recoil is quite different than a rifle. It would be best if you could try each of them out, however. There is a learning curve of getting accustom to them.
Do not, do not make the mistake of getting a .410. It is the most worthless pos in the woods and has made more kids give up hunting than it has ever taught.

quote:

Originally posted by Steffen:
my vote goes to a Baikal o/u
(not the Remington Spartan series, they are grossly overpriced).

rugged, dependable, o/u are 3 words to describe it.

I will second this. Over and unders are incredibly versatile, provide the fastest second shot, can be used for both hunting and clays shooting, AND offer the best visual safety feature of all, you just break open the gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdDo0nrt2M4

I have seen these for sale, used, for between $300 and $400.

I love both my 20 and 12ga ITHACAs
I also say by used.

013174 USED ITHACA 37 **CLEARANCE 371275306 12GA FWT PLAIN FULL $259.95

004281 USED ITHACA 37 12 VR 1C C.O. 671627659 $289.95

021994 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 512776 2 3/4" SOLID RIB W/POLYCHOKE $369.95

028564 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 4778 30" MOD PLAIN 2-3/4 $295.00

030125 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 2.75 371071183 30" FULL VR $269.95

031602 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 2.75 371097307 30" FULL PLAIN $315.00

026663 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 275 381002657 28" MOD PLAIN $279.95

029840 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 28" 97703 FULL 2 3/4" $269.95

029855 USED ITHACA 37 12GA 28" 586795 MOD PLAIN 2 3/4" REFINISHED & DRILLED $299.95

011989 USED ITHACA 37 12GA C.O. 371583794 VR MOD 2 3/4 $295.00

026133 USED ITHACA 37 16 211330 $295.00

OU's are nice but cost a bit more even used.

Al

I'd go Rem 870 all the way.
Still my go to shotgun. Goes bang every time, and I don't much care about going through mud, water, briars, or whatever else I need to in order to hunt successfully.

Remington 870's

027121 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA C234182M 3" 28" VR RC EXPRESS $249.95
028019 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA V497443V 23/4 VR MOD 28" WINGMASTER $409.95
028194 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA S745406M 3" DEER SMOOTH $279.95
029673 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA R743897 2 3/4" 30" VR FULL WINGMASTER $249.95
029923 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA C781246M 3" FULLYRIFLED EXPRESS 20" DEER $295.00
031313 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA AB265951M 3" MARINE W/MAG EXT & BOX $549.95
031997 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA S286344V 2-3/4 30FULL M/C STOCK $425.00
055818 USED REMINGTON 870 12GA 3" B092326M 28" VR RC MOD $299.95
025249 USED REMINGTON 870 LH 12 W308933M 3" 28" VR MOD WINGMASER $499.95
019985 USED REMINGTON 870 LH 12 V127465V VR MOD WINGMAS $349.95
030985 USED REMINGTON 870EXP A413099M 12GA 3" 28" VR RC $239.95
028439 USED REMINGTON 870EXP 12 D225459M 3" 26" VR RC $259.95
029765 USED REMINGTON 870EXP 12 W605709M 3" 28" VR RC $259.95


Al

Mosseys

USED MOSSBERG 500 12 3" L649119 28" VR ACCU $209.95
028522 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA K556507 3" 28" VR ACCU $195.00
028768 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA R136890 3" 28" VR ACCU $219.95
028796 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA T208344 3" 28" VR ACCU PORTED SYN STOCK $195.00
029533 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA K318591 3" 24" DEER W/ RIFLED CHOKETUBE RS $215.00
030435 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA $209.95
031018 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA P458118 3" 28" VR ACCU $199.95
031371 USED MOSSBERG 500 12GA P909889 3" 24" VR ACCU $209.95


Al

The 870 is everything folks said it is. However If there is a better one it's an Ithaca 37 20 ga and I can get you one for under $300.

Bottom eject means is ambidextrous and extremely light.

I hunt all upland birds with a 20 ga and have never wanted a bigger gauge.

Today I use a Browning lightning feather but that's a pricey gun.

More expensive, but much nicer to shoot: how about a synthetic Beretta 390/391 20 ga ? Not all that pretty, but an absolute joy to shoot, and not goofy money, either.