• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Shall we talk shotguns?

Mine has some, but I don't mind it. The gun is so light I could probably swing and shoot it one-handed. It cycles like butter. I can probably shoot it as fast as my semis
 
The 37 is accurate and durable. Maybe it’s me and pump actions. I have a Rem 7600, and had a 760. I felt the same about the forestock. The only smooth as butter no wobble pump I’ve handled is the BPR.
 
Gator said:
For clays, Browning XT over/under. For waterfowl, Berretta A391 Extrema, for turkey, Remington 870 custom with Vortex Venom red dot and thumbhole stock. For deer, Savage 220
Click to expand...

The AL390 is a bit simpler and quite reliable so worth a nod as well. It and the 391 are guns I would buy used.

The Savage 220, geez what a break on TarHunt’s market share. Good grades for accuracy for sure, but a few issues here and there. The Browning bolt shotgun is a nicer gun imo, though not an upgrade in accuracy and...sadly, only 12ga.
 
woodsdog2 said:
Ithaca Model 37 one of the best pumps ever!! In 16gauge, the absolute best. Also designed by John M. Browning.
Click to expand...

My grandfather passed down an Ithaca 37 to me. It shoots great but gets less use than it should because I prefer to shoot squirrels etc with a .22. I may have to change that this weekend.
 
A bit spoiled for choice it seems.

I personally like budget 12ga pump guns. Simple, reliable, and I'm not afraid to take one somewhere it might get scratched. My 870 (ok, Norinco knockoff) I built into a slug gun - Magpul stock, rifled barrel, saddle scope base. My upland gun is a 1300. Aluminum receiver, cycles almost as fast as a semi. My turkey/yote gun (smoothbore and RDS) is a Mossberg.

Honestly, it was cheaper to buy the Mossy and Winnie than different barrels for the 870.
That said, if I ever win the lottery I'm getting an o/u, probably in 16ga. Wood stocks, engraved receiver, whole 9 yards.
 
Love the fact that I can keep the trigger squeezed on my Ithaca 37 and just pump the gun to fire. Can't have that type of fun with other shotguns...dang safety police ruin everything.
 
The older 870’s are on a different level than any of the new 870 offerings imho, I have a couple of supermags late 90’s guns that have taken a beating and keep on going, a few years ago I remembered when I was younger and funds were tight I always wanted an 870 special field with english stocks, Gunbroker solved that problem and I scratched that itch from years back, those special field shotguns are on a different level than any other 870 I have ever owned, smooth, quiet, point like an extension of your arm, and a few years ago they could be had reasonable, used obviously they haven't been made in quite sometime, @Plebe I hate guns that rattle too, my 7600 sounds like an empty spray paint can, I retired it many years ago because of this, 90% of the people that hunt near me carry a 760/7600 and every single one rattles, but they are probably one the most user friendly low maintenance rifles I have ever seen, they just plain always work and kill stuff, I still prefer my ultralight bolt action mountain rifles for all my hunting needs.
 
I have a few shotguns. Older Berretta A303 semi-auto for ducks (stock refinished to get rid of the horrid shiny plastic finish, now has a nice dull oil finish and refreshed checkering that I love). That was my first shotgun back 3 decades ago. I also have a 12 ga O/U that I inherited from my late brother-in-law when he passed, which caused me to pass on my older 12 O/U to my kid a few years back. I have a Winchester 12 ga pump combined turkey/deer gun, synthetic and full camo head to toe, which is great for those types of hunting. Just change the choke tube from full to rifled and attach a red dot for deer.

However, I also loved upland game, specifically grouse hunting, and hauling a 12 ga for that style of hunting was a bit unwieldy and heavy. even with an O/U. So I treated myself to an Italian Caesar Guerini O/U in 20 gauge maybe 10 years ago or so. It's the most expensive gun I own (and I have a fairly big collection of shotguns, rifles, black powder and handguns). But man, walking and shooting with that little 20 is such a joy!

A fine shotgun, if you can afford it, is well worth it, in my experience. One day my kid will end up with it....but hopefully not for many years still.
 
I just got the Benelli M2 recently. I haven’t got to shoot it yet but it’s a sweet gun. Light. Feels good. 20 ga. With all the shells these days it’ll pretty much cover everything you need I would think. Turkey. Waterfowl. Clay. Even good for a kid to use if you needed. I got two in sure will be getting their hands on it one day.
 
Jmillwood said:
I just got the Benelli M2 recently. I haven’t got to shoot it yet but it’s a sweet gun. Light. Feels good. 20 ga. With all the shells these days it’ll pretty much cover everything you need I would think. Turkey. Waterfowl. Clay. Even good for a kid to use if you needed. I got two in sure will be getting their hands on it one day.
Click to expand...

Not sure if its still the case, but when I had mine it was smooth as butter all the time. Keep the return spring in the stock clean and oiled. Lots of older benelli's are rusted in that return spring tube and create issues with cycling. Nobody thinks to clean them.
 
Micneador said:
Not sure if its still the case, but when I had mine it was smooth as butter all the time. Keep the return spring in the stock clean and oiled. Lots of older benelli's are rusted in that return spring tube and create issues with cycling. Nobody thinks to clean them.
Click to expand...
Hmm never thought to clean my vinchi there! Thanks for the heads up
 
I haven’t seen anything that’ll out shoot my old Mossberg 835 ulti mag, only downside is it kills on both ends. She won’t win a beauty contest but it has put down many deer, turkeys and hogs.

I also have an old Remington 870 Wingmaster that is a dove widow maker. Those older 870’s were some good all around guns.
 
I bought a "Nice" O/U. Beretta 686 Onyx Field, with NICE wood from Cole. Problem is, I've realized it doesn't fit me quite right, shoot my A400 that gets beat to S**t better because of it. I think I'm at the point I'm going to sell the 686.

Moral of the story - find something that fits you well and you shoot well. Good shooting guns are more fun than pretty guns.

Side note - the A400 gets dropped in marsh mud, submerged in salt water, rarely cleaned and I've never once had a failure to cycle unless my fat gloved hand got in the way of the bolt.
 
MSbowhunter48 said:
I haven’t seen anything that’ll out shoot my old Mossberg 835 ulti mag, only downside is it kills on both ends. She won’t win a beauty contest but it has put down many deer, turkeys and hogs.

I also have an old Remington 870 Wingmaster that is a dove widow maker. Those older 870’s were some good all around guns.
Click to expand...

I also have an 835 that I do everything with and when that action clicks closed…. Something is going to die. I don’t NEED anything else at all but have a few other shotguns and have a want for a super light auto 20 gauge for doves
 
Topdog said:
The older 870’s are on a different level than any of the new 870 offerings imho, I have a couple of supermags late 90’s guns that have taken a beating and keep on going...
Click to expand...
Excellent point. Remington's quality control has beem an embarrassment for well over a decade. An older 870 or 1100 is probably a safer investment than a newer one, especially if you're comfortable sourcing parts on Numrich.

Man, how great would it be if Ruger did for the 870 what they did for Marlin's 45-70?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top