Whats the best shotgun to buy?

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MikeSantor
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by MikeSantor » 04 Nov 2011, 08:48

I have a 870 that I have put quiet a few slugs and buckshot through and it still performs flawlessly. It actually started out as a joke. my buddy and I had a few beers in us and started talking about building a l33t Tactic00l zombie slayer.

Alcohol + Dumb Friends + credit cards are not a good mix.

So to say the least, by the end of the week I had a pile of fedex boxes full of the tacticoolest stuff we could find, with blurred vision that is. Now I have a classic shottie that comes with me on all my outings that gets a lot of laughs and "Oh, I gotta shoot that" 's...

I would post a pic but im pretty sure it would make Blue's head explode...

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flyingirish04
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by flyingirish04 » 04 Nov 2011, 10:13

I own quite a few shotguns. So I will attempt to put this thread to bed.

Used to shoot sporting clays competively, and still hunt upland and waterfowl quite a lot. My SD gun (no mag limit on upland game in that state) and snowgoose gun (no mag limit either) is a extended tube Benelli Super Black Eagle. Can hold 9 rounds, which for some SD strips, is still undergunned. This year, I ran out of rounds twice on wild pheasant flock shooting. Shot 9 times and killed 5 birds, missed the first, the last one took me three shots to get the right lead. It weighs the gun down a bit, but not enough to affect my swing which is good because nothing flies like a wild SD pheasant, as far as pheasants are concerned that is. I have another SBE without the long tube mag and with a plug I use for waterfowl and turkey.

I have pistol griped, hi-cap, shorter barrel 870 under the bed at all times. Looking at buying a Benelli M3 as well, but it is below a few other guns on my list. Sold my M4 when I was in the military. In fact it may have been when I bought my FsN.

Had a Mossie 500 with a 26 inch barrel in 12 gauge, but it was crap. Wouldn't fully chamber rounds without me slamming the action closed really hard, and it rusted all over, even the aluminum got that nasty gunky look that it does when it corrodes. I gave it to my cousin. I have shot a lot of Mossbergs in my life, and they are ok cheap guns. I won't pay money for one though.

My sporting clay gun now is a pristine condition old SKB 585 Target O/U (sold my spendier SC gun , give you a hint, starts with a "K". Don't need 5K dollar gun anymore, maybe never did). Own a Berretta 686 O/U 28 gauge for quail, woodcock, grouse, chukar, hun, and even use it for pheasant sometimes, and will never sell it. Only side by side I own is a Winchester 23 in 12 gauge, beauty of a gun, don't shoot it much now though. My dad used it for everything but luckily, kept good care of it. Have a single shot old berreta 20 gauge that was my first gun. Shot my first pheasent with it, grandpa gave me the gun shortly after to keep. Also have a Beretta 390AL with a slug barrel, haven't used it since I was in college in IN, where I couldn't hunt with a rifle.

So you can accrue quite a few shotguns pretty easily if you are not careful. I have almost as many as I have pistols and rifles.

So, now that my foundation is thoroughly established here is what you should buy:

Just a value gun for home defense: Rem 870 12 gauge

Uber tactical: Benelli M3 (pump and auto in one) 12 gauge

Turkey/waterfowl on budget: Stoeger 3500 or Benelli SuperNova

Turkey/waterfowl: Benelli SBE II, or Super Vinci in 12 gauge(buddy has one and it is a great gun too)

Turkey only: Benelli Super Vinci Turkey in 12 gauge (has pistol grip and optic rail I believe)

Upland only cheap: Rem 870 Wingmaster in 12 or 20 gauge or go the cheap O/U route with a Baikal M350 in 20 gauge. Not a bad cheap gun.

Upland only pricy: Benelli M2 or Montefeltro, or Vinci in 12 or 20 gauge (don't need 3 1/2 for upland only)

Upland/smaller upland uber swanky: Beretta 686 or 687 in 20 or 28 gauge or could go all out with a Caesar Guerini 28 gauge side by side

All around hunter: Benelli SBE or SBE II or Super Vinci 12 gauge

Sporting Clays/Skeet: Quality Over Under that has been fitted to you and customed tuned and choked.

Trap: Quality high rail single shot or o/u that has been tuned to you like SC/Skeet gun

As you can see, it all depends. :thumb:
Killed Two Stones with One Bird.

Alexader
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Alexader » 28 Nov 2011, 09:42

Anyone looked at Kel Tec i haven't put much into looking the company over but they recently added a bullpup shotgun (supposed to be released in the next month)
pump, 2 feed tubes 6+6+1 3" or 7+7+1 2.75"(select between slug/shot/Beanbag?) ambidextrous(shells eject down), 26" OAL

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/shotguns/ksg/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kel-Tec_KSG

i've never heard of the company and the only shotguns i own are passed down Remington's but it looked interesting

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Rapier1772
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Rapier1772 » 28 Nov 2011, 12:45

Yup, already a thread started
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=9625" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
How to post pics & videos: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6363
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Oldbindlestiff
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Oldbindlestiff » 28 Nov 2011, 15:35

Wow, quite a thread! A short-barreled 12 or 20 ga. is quite a SHTF longarm. I've put a thousand rounds through my Beretta 390 without cleaning and it never burped. It is a sporting arm, however. My "behind the door gun" is a double-barreled Stoeger Coach gun. I have an 870 "hiding" upstairs. Anyone up for a "pump vs auto vs double" discussion?
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flyingirish04
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by flyingirish04 » 28 Nov 2011, 19:40

^^^I agree on the 390. I shot mine about the same amount before cleaning. I remember when my dad bought it for me when I was 12, the gun guy said to shoot it till it stopped cycling, then clean. I did. :D

As far as pump versus auto, reliability is the only thing going for the pump. Auto simply have that one process that could mess crap up. Then again, you take care of your stuff and practice troubleshooting, you can minimize the risk. Doubles are great, but then you have capacity issues, but again, for the prowler, a double is probably plenty.

I do have a 870 hiding in the bed room though too.
Killed Two Stones with One Bird.

srt-4_jon
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by srt-4_jon » 28 Nov 2011, 19:50

If you carry a semi auto handgun/rifle but wont have a semi shotgun, thats a little silly if you ask me. many reliable/proven semi shotguns are out now.

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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by panzermk2 » 28 Nov 2011, 19:51

Franchi Spas 12 Shotgun best of both worlds.
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flyingirish04
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by flyingirish04 » 28 Nov 2011, 21:11

Or Benelli M3. Like it better than the Spaz
Killed Two Stones with One Bird.

Oldbindlestiff
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Oldbindlestiff » 29 Nov 2011, 08:30

:agree: with the Benelli. Unfortunately, excess testosterone fueled with equal amounts of stupidity and alcohol led to crashing just about anything on two wheels before I discovered that I have a brain as well. Degenerative discs and arthritis have left me weak on one side which rules out fast action with a pump. I love the SPAS; just too heavy for me now.
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wacjr
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by wacjr » 30 Nov 2011, 18:51

I asked my patrolman friend what he had in his patrol car. Remington 870. Good enuf, I bought one, love the way it sounds when you load a round in the chamber. Great quality for the money.

Deathmaster
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Deathmaster » 01 Dec 2011, 20:31

I am surprised to hear positive things about the SPAS 12. I thought it was an awful POS shotgun... also, very difficult to take apart and clean. I just didn't like it at all.

I hunt ducks 30-40 times per year and I use Benelli shotguns. I have an M2 (Black) and a SBEII in Max4. I have also used and owned an M1 Super 90 Tactical model and LOVED that gun. I probably wouldn't spend the extra cash on an M4 over a regular M2 Field Tactical. I have NEVER had a Benelli jam even after being completely submerged under 3' of muddy water for a couple hours. I am so rough on these guns that I generally tear off the front fiber sight at least once per year (dragging them through brush at 4am, etc...) and need to head to Cabela's and buy a new one.

I have no strong opinion on Rem vs Mos. I have a 500 sitting loaded at my house but haven't shot it in about 10 years.

Iyyob
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by Iyyob » 11 Jan 2012, 09:25

870 tactical gets my vote
Last edited by Iyyob on 14 Jan 2012, 07:11, edited 1 time in total.

MikeSantor
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Re: Whats the best shotgun to buy?

Post by MikeSantor » 11 Jan 2012, 10:13

wacjr wrote:I asked my patrolman friend what he had in his patrol car. Remington 870. Good enuf, I bought one, love the way it sounds when you load a round in the chamber. Great quality for the money.
If I could do it again, I would get the Marine 870 (all stainless) and get it cerakoted. You live and you learn.

If I was born rich instead of so good looking I would have gotten the M3...

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