| Author | Message | ||
     Interceptor |
Hey all, I have never owned a gun and am looking to buy a 12 gauge to go out to the range with. A co-worker says he may sell/trade me for a 1971 Marlin model 50 bolt action 12 gauge. I have no idea what the value is or where to start looking or if this is a decent shot gun. Any advice? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Ridesinnm |
It depends a lot on what you plan to do with it. If you are looking to do any skeet or trap with it, you may want something you can fire more than one shot with. Bolt action shotguns are not all that popular. Brad. | ||
| Captnemo |
Remington 870 Express pump action. Probably the most popular shotgun in the states. New ones are under $250, anvil reliable, and generally a good shooter. Look for a 28" barrel length and get choke tubes to match what game you're shooting. The marlin will just make you mad. | ||
| Court |
I'd second the Remington 870. Cheap and likely as sound a shotgun as you can get. If you are SERIOUS, talk to our own Road Thing, one of the top shooters of shotsgun in the Southern US of A. Court | ||
| Tpoppa |
You can't go wrong with an 870. | ||
| Dongalonga |
Here is one of the best entry level shotguns out there IMO. Benelli makes fine weapons: http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/novaPump.tpl Also another option is the Mossberg 500 you can scroll through the different options where it says more models: http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=5& section=products Both can be had for under $300 (Message edited by dongalonga on March 29, 2007) | ||
| Kdan |
My grandfather used to make me use a bolt action shotgun when I was a kid. He figured less accidents that way. It definitely taught me to make the first shot count! I can unequivocally say that bolt action shotguns suck. | ||
| Interceptor |
I had the opportunity to try out the Mossberg 835 tactical turkey. Just skeet shootin and it was real nice. Whatever I get will be mainly for skeet. Yeah, I guess that bolt action would get annoying. I was told it has a three shot clip...I may be wrong though. | ||
| Buellshyter |
I just sold an over and under Charles Daly 12 gauge. In trap and skeet shooting you only get two shots. You can't stand up there and launch 7 shots at a clay. The ability of the gun to fire two shots in rapid succession is paramount. This is why side by side or over and under shotguns are preferred. | ||
| Cheesebeast |
Shotguns must point where you look. It is a bit like picking a pair of shoes for yourself- you try on several pairs, and sometimes a half size smaller or larger than your "normal" size is the most comfortable. I have bought and sold a good number of shotguns over the years- mostly for the same reason. They just didn't fit me properly. Bolt action shotguns are not very popular for several reasons. They are slow to operate (as opposed to a pump). The actions are heavy and tend to negatively effect the balance of the shotgun (this matters as it effects how smoothly you can swing the shotgun when you are tracking a clay pigeon). Bolt action shotguns generally have zero resale value. You are probably better off listening to the advice above about an 870 or some other good condition (used) pump shotgun. Pumps can also generally be fitted with different barrel lengths (short 18" barrels for defense, longer barrels for skeet/trap/hunting). In the end with shotguns the shot MUST go where you look. The gun has to fit you or you will have a tough time hitting clays. If you are looking to pick up a shooting sport then consider getting some instruction on a skeet range. It is addictive and a good instructor will keep you from developing bad habits later on. I was self taught, and unfortunately I have had to work harder to remove bad habits. Professional instruction is almost always worth the $$ in the end. Good luck, Remember that shooting is supposed to be fun! Cheese | ||
| Reepicheep |
Saw a 20 gauge single shot at WalMart last night for $100 NIB that looked a lot nicer then a $100 gun has any business looking. | ||
| Ceejay |
pumps are fun, but I never like the auto pump. I shot a few from Benelli(I think) and it seemed that I was faster with my 870 by hand. Just a data point for ya. IMO 870 is the way to go, it just works and damn well. | ||
| Terribletim |
Wow! I dind't know American Motors built a gun!  | ||
| Chasespeed |
I personally like the Mossberg 500.. Very similar to the remmington in diveristy, etc.., though I have no personal experience with teh Rem.. I have heard nothing but good things... The is second, in my eyes, ONLY to the M4 in close quarters combat.... Of course, ours are modified for moe rounds, etc... but... I have put COUNTLESS rounds thourgh this particular weapon, and NEVER had a jam, stovepipe, or any other kind of mechanical issue.. Easy to maintain..and change barreles etc... BUT, I also very strongly agree with Cheesebeast as far as having a good instructor so as not to pick up any bad habits... Good luck... Chase EDIT, somehow I marked it as a 800 series...probably reading all this about the damn Remington...  (Message edited by chasespeed on March 29, 2007) (Message edited by chasespeed on March 29, 2007) | ||
| Slaughter |
Another vote for the 870 Remington. Modified choke is pretty good if you're just getting started - at least to my way of thinking it's pretty versatile over a variety of distances. I can't imagine a bolt. The pump can get a second shot off pretty quick. | ||
| Loki |
My vote goes to the venerable Mossberg 500 series. Now the Maverick 88 line(?). There was a good write-up in one of the gun mags. Author asked a bunch of those on the other side of the law a simple question. Something along the lines of.. What is the sound you fear most when breaking into a residence? The answer was an almost across the board response. The sound of a 12ga being racked. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I'll throw a vote out for the Rem 870 as well, but I'd steer a little clear from the express models. There's a noticeable difference in quality compared to the other (i.e. Magnum) models. A sporting gun doesn't need to be able to shoot more than one shot. Doubles for trap is not that popular. Mossburgs...well...They're referred to as "throw-away guns" at the range I go to. Use 'em for a round and toss them in the trash. I personally shoot a Browning BT-99. It was the first gun I bought for myself and love it. But, compared to an 870 or a 500, considerably more cash (I practicaly stole mine for $1300 brand new). But back to the 870 - dead nuts reliable, insanely smooth operations, and probably the most versatile shotgun out there. | ||
| Jayvee |
I have both a Mossberg 500, and a Remington 870. The 870 costs just a bit more, so if low cost is the primary object, go Mossberg. I got the 500 new for about $225 with two different barrels, 18" and 26". My 870 came as Police model, later added couple of longer barrels. Both have quite a few after-market things you can use to modify them more to your taste or function. For example, extended mag tube, M4/pistol grip stock, box-magazine conversion, sling, fiber-optic sight, side-saddle shell holder, ghost-ring sight, shock-absorber stock, heat shield, etc. on one or the other of mine. Suggest try holding them both and get the one that feels better. They are practically equal, as far as as good points and bad points, and what you get for the money. | ||
| Road_thing |
You can't go wrong with an 870, either the Express model (parkerized finish and furniture-grade wood or plastic stock) or the higher-priced Wingmaster (polished and blued metal, plus much nicer wood). If you're going to shoot skeet (as opposed to trap or sporting clays) you might look at a 20 gauge. It's got plenty of power for skeet, and the 20 ga 870's are trimmer and generally nicer to handle than the 12's, in my opinion. If you're willing to step up a few hundred bucks, consider a 12 gauge automatic. Beretta's 391, Browning's Gold line or the Remington 1100 or 11-87 are all good quality guns, but by no means the only good ones out there. For under a grand you'll enjoy noticeably lighter recoil than a pump, plus you'll have the extra oomph you'll want if you decide to shoot trap or sporting. The next step up is the over-under (OU) gun. Dead reliable, beautiful to hold and shoot, definitely the top of the line. Browning's Citori, the Beretta 68X series, Ruger's Red Label, anything by Perazzi($$$) or Kreighoff ($$$$). The sky's the limit here--exoect to start in the $1200-1500 range for a really plain gun, when you get up past about $5000 you're buying fancy wood and engraving. Side-by-side guns are popular only with bird hunters--you'll rarely if ever see one on a clay pigeon range. The OU's offer a far superior sight picture. Whatever you buy, re-read Cheesebeast's post above--he's dead on the money. The gun has got to shoot where you look. Instruction and stock fitting are good investments if you want to get good fast. Ping me offline if I can be of any help to you. I'm not in the gun business, but I'm a former competitive skeet and sporting clays shooter (ranked AAA or AA in all gauges) and the father of a former All-American skeet shooter. rt | ||
| Hammeroid |
you must be the brains of the bunch...... Mossberg pump. Excellent gun. or The 12-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. *You got that*? | ||
| Naustin |
Whatever you do, don't buy that bolt action. I have an old Winchester model 1200 I got from my dad who got it from JC Penny in the 70s. Nothing special at all, but its in great condition and its never let me down for the little bird hunting I do. I haven't hunted much since I put my dog down about 9 years ago now (wow! - its been a long time, i can hardly believe it), but i used to rarely miss a pheasant that flushed in range. You can see from prior replies that the 870 basically has the market cornered for reliable, entry level 12ga shotgun. That said, just about any used pump gun will probably satisfy you for your first gun. Buy whatever fits you right. Every gun has a little different "feel" when you bring it up to your shoulder. Just don't buy that bolt-action. (Message edited by naustin on March 29, 2007) | ||
| Bomber |
greener side by side with the damscus barrels (kidding!) | ||
| Road_thing |
greener side by side with the damscus barrels Spoken like a six-fingered former bird hunter! rt | ||
| Barker |
Remington 870 or Nova. 870 is lighter. Nova has more features I got a nova pump in the box shot 10-20 times. 12 ga, 3 1/2 mag 3 chokes, black Make someone a deal on it pm me for info. | ||
| Road_thing |
Interceptor: Listen to these guys--don't buy that bolt gun unless all you want to do is hunt turkey. It's pretty much useless for anything else. rt | ||
| Dongalonga |
Barker you have a PM | ||
| Aesquire |
I'm fond of the Winchester 1300 pump. That said, the Remington 870 is ok, and far more add on parts are available for it. The 1300 is out of production, & does not have the rep that the 870 does, but really works as well. Stores like Dicks sporting goods frequently ( always ) have shotguns on sale. Better yet, drop by a real gun shop, be honest with the salesman about your experience & wants & ask about fit & a good used pump. Bolt action shot guns were traditionally used for goose & turkey hunting, where heavy, slow & cheap were ok, ( heavy to resist recoil with magnum loads, slow to reload because you only get 1 shot at turkey, usually ) They also are long & clumsy, as a consequence of the bolt action design. If you really like shooting clays, then an autoloader, or double is king. Ruger Red Label is THE American made double. ( the $2000 Ruger Gold Label is Extra nice, but you gots to really want one to pay that much ) | ||
| Buellshyter |
This is crazy http://www.bofunk.com/video/2054/automatic_shotgun .html | ||
| Road_thing |
If you really like shooting clays, then an autoloader, or double is king. Truth. Anything else is really not considered "competition grade". If you want to look at some premium guns check out these links: Kreighoff K-80 Perazzi Beretta Bring your checkbook. If you're not ready to drop a couple (or more) grand on a gun, see my earlier comments about 870's and 12 ga autoloaders. A funny story: several years ago, when I was still shooting tournaments (ie, shooting for money) I was practicing at my gun club with a couple of other local hot-shots. Dove season was approaching, so I was shooting my 20 ga 870 Express (painted red, I've posted pix of it here before.) which cost me a grand total of maybe $200. There was a new guy shooting with us, had a beautiful new K-80, engraved to the max, gold chickens, the whole 9 yards. He was doing OK, considering, but I was on a roll. We shot 4 rounds (100 targets) of regulation skeet. I got all 100 of 'em. He didn't. Not even close. When my tournament partner said, "Hey, Tom, you wanna shoot some doubles now?" I said "Sure!" then turned to the new guy and asked him if he wanted to shoot doubles with us. He looked at me (with my $200 gun, shorts, flip-flops and Team Elves T-shirt) then looked at his $10,000 (if it was a penny) gun and said "No, thanks, I think I've had enough..." Moral of the story: It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian. No matter what you shoot, if it fits you and you're confident a $200 gun breaks targets just as hard as a $10,000 gun. Buy what you like, make it fit you, burn lots of powder and you'll be breaking 100 straight in a year or two.  By the way, some of my best friends and the finest folks I know (outside of my BadWeb buddies, of course) are clay pigeon shooters.  rt | ||
| Bads1 |
I love my old Remington 1100. My pop's shot a Browning Belgium Auto.Wish I had that gun now. |
