Starting shotgun

[Wijbrandus]

Hey all.  If you had to buy just one shotgun to do anything you'd want a shotgun for, what would it be?  I'm thinking about getting my first shotgun.  I'm not worried about recoil, got some heavy kicking rifles, but I want to get something that will be effective across a lot of sport and utility uses.

My criteria is this.  Relatively inexpensive, reliable, and easy to maintain.  Other than that, tell me what to start looking at.

Thanks for your input!

~Robert

[Greybeard]

Remington Model 870. It was the first shotgun I bought for myself, the first shotgun I fired a round of registered skeet with, the first shotgun I shot a round of trap with and the one I've won more money with than any other. It will be the last one left at my house if all others left. Sure wish I'd kept that little 28 ga. I used to shoot skeet with so much. Got so good with it I shot it in 12 and 20 ga. events as well as 28 ga. for a long time. Never ran a hundred with it but sure got a lot of 98s and 99s with it.

GB

[stv]

You got good advice from Marshall.  Look for an older but not abused 870 Wingmaster.  The depreciation will be already out of it, thus the price is better.   Recent Remington quality trends are dismal.  There will be literally 10's of thousands of good rounds left in it.  You can use it for competition, hunting small, game migratory game deer, etc, etc, etc. I have known several other people besides myself who have onwd and used 870's and I can't think of one case of failure!!!!!

[Wijbrandus]

So what gauge should I be looking for?  I'm assuming a 12ga, since I like shooting the big-bore centerfires too, but would that be too much to start out with?

~Robert

[Frog123]

I've got to back Marshal up on this one. If I was going to only go with one shotgun I'd go with the 870. The 870 is reasonably priced, easy to maintain, and near indestructible. Go ahead and get the 12ga, it's going to be your most versatile choice. Recoil isn't bad, recoil is more dependant on the load you shoot, and with the 12ga it's going to give you the option of purchasing additional barrels of different lengths and applications like the fully rifled slug barrel. Good Luck!!



Frog

[Wijbrandus]

Works for me.  Thanks for the advice.

Now to start checking prices...

~Robert

[kevin.303]

my uncle started of with an 870 when he was in high school, and it was on it's 3rd owner then! he takes good care of it and will probably give it to one of his kids when they are old enough. both remington and mossberg make low priced but good quality pumps. i think there have been something like over 9 million 870's made since the fifties

[wm.f. in fla.]

my suggestion is a remington 870 EXPRESS. you can get it in any guage you choose. if you will have only one shotgun i suggest 12ga 3" chamber.
the suggested retail on the remington web site is $329. for that money i wouldn't waste my time haggling over a used gun. if you are close to a bass pro shop retail outlet this shotgun is readily available.

[razmuz]

By all means get an 870, preferably a Wingmaster.  Your grandchildren will thank you.  The 870 never changes.  If you get anything else it will be out of date in two years.  If they were so great they wouldn't have to come out with a new model ever year.  A 40 year old 870's parts will fit a new 870.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of wonderful shotguns out there, I own about eight myself with all the bells and whistles.  But if I could only keep one for ever and ever it would be the 20ga 870.  Lots of luck in your selection.

[Big]

I bought an 870 Express 12 gauge in 1996 and since then have killed many deer, pheasants, doves, and clay pigeons, and scared the heck out of a turkey with it.  I've used it to knock down steel targets in a three-gun match, and I've heard it's a fine defensive weapon.  With a ribbed barrel for shot and a slug barrel for slugs, it's versatile, to say the least.

I don't know if it's because it was made a few years ago, but my Express sure hasn't lived up to the bad press that the Express seems to get a lot of on this web site.  Maybe I'm just lucky; it's been great.  Anyway, it was my first shotgun, and I bought it looking for the same things you're thinking about now.

I have bought other shotguns recently only because my 870 performs so well as a slug gun (with smooth-bore barrel and rifled slugs!) that I'm leaving it set up as such.  B-square scope mount and Leupold 2-7x32 shotgun scope, in case you're interested.  But that's down the road for you.  The open sights on the barrel worked great; the scope's just there to remind me that my eyes are gettin' old.

[Grumpy]

:grin: 870 is probably a classic for everyone. I have my grand-dads 20ga. and it will go to my grandson when he is a little older.(if its still legal) 12 gauge is very versitile with ammo in the 2" to 3 1/2" range.
You can hunt most north American game from bear to rabbit with the 12.
If you shoot skeet, just throw whats left away. You would have to cook them too long!! :shock:

[savageT]

Well, you didn't say you were a "South-Paw" but even if I was one of them "North-Paws", I would try me one of them down-ejecting Ithaca Model 37's.  Anywhere you look on the web auctions they're about $350....and in 12 gauge.  Now the Deerslayer....there's a slug gun.

[Flatlander.54]

Without a doubt it would be a Remington 870 .12 gauge. My Father bought me a Remington 870 Wingmaster in 1980 and not once has it ever failed me. And I have to agree with Graybeard....if I were to give up every other gun I own the 870 would be the one to remain...along with my Fathers old Ruger 10/22. You can spend alot more money but in my opinion youll never find a better shotgun than the time proven 870.