Author Topic: Top 5 shotguns of all time? (Read 4511 times)

dougk · « **on:** November 23, 2007, 01:33:40 AM »

After seeing that Field and Stream had the top 50 shotguns, I thought it would be interesting to see what we thought were the top 5 shotguns of all time. There are no categories. Just what do you think are the top 5 shotguns of all time?

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2007, 03:27:26 AM »

The reason for the randomness of the article was probably because a shotgun is only good if it fits the user's purpose well. There are also a lot of over rated and under rated shotguns through history. It came off as a bad article.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2007, 06:18:48 AM »

I think I'd say the Remington 870, Remington 1100/11-87, Remington 32/3200/K32/K80, Winchester M12 and the Browning Superposed/Citori.

mudstud · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2007, 01:41:32 PM »

I agree with GB, except I think we should make it the top 6!! The Beretta 686/687's have got to be in there somewhere!!

dukkillr · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2007, 05:54:16 AM »

Winchester Model 12
Browning A5
Remington 870
Remington 1100
Ithica 37

In that order.

popplecop · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2007, 02:11:27 PM »

Let me see, A. H. Fox, Parker Bros. Lefevers, Ithaca, and L. C. Smith, not in any particular order. Please excuse my bias for SxSs

RBishop · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2007, 07:49:50 AM »

Winchester Model 12
Browning A5
Remington 1100
LC Smith
Browning Superposed

chucky52 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2007, 10:48:52 AM »

Interesting, in a prior post I stated that there had not been much innovation in shotguns. A review of this post makes it pretty clear that there are not a lot of new innovative shotguns in the top 5 or 6 "of all time" which includes modern times. I took a some grief over my comment. Maybe the new innovative shotguns just aren't that impressive.

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2007, 11:46:51 AM »

Or maybe it's a mature technology. There is nothing that a modern pump does better than a Model 12, but there's nothing a model 12 does wrong. There is no real room for improvement. Benelli improved the autos, but the technology was there. Pumps and doubles are pretty much a final product and have been for years.

You took grief because people couldn't figure out what it was you wanted in a gun, and it looked like you were complaining about the choices available without having any actual reason for improvement.

myronman3 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2007, 07:11:25 AM »

auto 5
mossberg 500
browning bps
ruger red label
remingtong 11-87

working man's guns.

chucky52 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2007, 07:58:21 AM »

I took grief mostly due to attitudes that cnc machining and overseas manufacturing had greatly improved the selection of great shotguns. My additional point wast that innovation was in modern pricing. Ok, if shotgun technology is mature, think I'll shop for a mature shotgun with a mature price as opposed to a modern price.

dukkillr · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2007, 08:07:22 AM »

uh, ok?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2007, 08:14:03 AM »

browning A_5
rem. 870
rem 1100
win. model 12
win super X 2
have hunted with all and all worked !

jbmi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2007, 09:09:32 AM »

WINCHESTER MODEL 12
BROWNING A5
BROWNING SUPERPOSE
REMINGTON 870
PARKER BROTHERS SXS

Butch Fish · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2008, 02:08:57 PM »

Winchester 101
Browning A-5
Winchester Model 12
Browning Citori
Parker Brothers SxS's

LONGTOM · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:11:49 PM »

BROWNING A5
REMINGTON 870
WIN 12 or the 1300
any good SxS
any good SINGLE SHOT

By the term ( any good ) I mean one that patterens well and points true to aim!

LONGTOM

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #16 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:23:01 PM »

I think the Benelli SBE should be in there. Shoots all 2-3/4 to 3-1/2" mag shells. Easy to dissemble and clean. Screw in choke tubes. Recoil not gas operated. Very few parts.

torpedoman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:32:53 PM »

A really nice one is a W.W. Greener side by side box lock each and every one hand made Pricy rascals but great shotguns.

pastorp · « **Reply #18 on:** June 26, 2008, 05:47:17 AM »

I must agree with popplecock, When you talk about the top shotguns, that pretty much limits the discussion to the great american doubles. JMO Byron

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** June 26, 2008, 05:53:26 AM »

Greatness is in numbers ! number made - number of shots on hand - number of shooters who love um !
think pumps and autos !

pastorp · « **Reply #20 on:** June 26, 2008, 06:04:58 AM »

Shootall, Not in my mind. JMO Byron

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** June 26, 2008, 06:29:12 AM »

You have a right to differ , even if its wrong !
just kidding , i looked at it like this if i could only have 1 and it had to do everything what would it be . Pumps came first then autos . That defines top for me . the american double defines refinement and art along with some British and a few other guns !

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #22 on:** June 26, 2008, 07:20:41 AM »

Looking at all the lists, I just see people picking the shotguns that they like and or know. I don't see a why.
I would say:
1-The Winchester 1897- First successful pump shotgun Started the whole trend and why they made the 870, 500, or Nova in the first place. I know there was the 1893 winchester pump but with the 2 5/8" chambers it was not as popular and there was the Marlin pump gun but again it was a) not a popular and it was made after the 93.
2-The Browning Auto 5- First successful Auto loading shotgun leading to the 1100, 1187, M2, Super Black Eagle and any other gewiz auto you can think of.
3-The group as a whole of LC Smith, Baker, Parker, and Fox Sterling for showing that an American company can put out a side by side every bit as good as any of the the English firms at prices most shooters could afford.
4- The Ruger Red Label- First gun to come out as a 20ga and later made into a 12. Ok the Browning super posed that started the popularity of the over and under. I just like 20ga and like that the Red label (my uncle calls it a Pink lable cause of the 20 ga) and was scaled up to 12 rather than scalled down to 20 as most other models are.
5- NEF, Iver Johnson, and H&R single shot top breaks- With out these in expensive "Starter" guns not too many would have gotten a start hunting as kids. With this we now have shotgun designed as youth models.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #23 on:** June 26, 2008, 07:23:37 AM »

I guess that arguemnets could also be made for the Winchester 1300 and 1400 of the early 90 as they were the first guns offered with screw in chokes ( Win Choke).

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #24 on:** June 26, 2008, 07:26:11 AM »

the 1200 and 1400 had screw in chokes in the 70's if not the 60's

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #25 on:** June 26, 2008, 08:02:02 AM »

I ment to say early 80's and made a typo. I remember big articles in the Guns and Ammo mags as well as ads for the screw in chokes when I was first starting to hunt in the early 80's. I know they had the screw poly choke and screw in chokes for a cutts compinsator back in the 60's by Dad has a cutt's on his 1962 Browning Auto 5 and my step granfathers Rem model 11 of just afer WWII sports a factory mounted dial a choke. But I think the Win models in the early 80's were the first with internal screw in chokes. But I could be wrong.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #26 on:** June 26, 2008, 08:09:28 AM »

i got my wife a winchester in 1978 , it was used at the time and it had screw in chokes . For some reason i think the mod. 50 had a fiberglass wrapped bbl with screw in chokes as an experiment in the late 50's or early 60's . Also the rotary bolt of black eagle fame , the 1400 had it in the 60's talk about a gun before its time .

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #27 on:** June 26, 2008, 11:15:08 AM »

weber · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2008, 12:21:45 PM »

#1 Benelli super black eagle 2 ... Accept no Substitutes !

Always Rem 1100/870 Classic

Browning Auto

Ithaca Doubles !

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #29 on:** July 23, 2008, 07:02:20 AM »

weber you must have had better luck than me ! i had one that a little dirt would stop and two friends had the same thing happen . But in being honest i have a friend that has had no problem . We hunt in some dirty conditions , bad enough that we have power washed our gun before cleaning . So far the Super X 2 has not jammed !