Choosing the right shotgun

[Horizontal Hunter]

I have a Winchester 120 (Ranger) with the assisted opening feature. I am using the original smoothbore barrel with a variable 1.5 4.5x Bushnel scope and find it accurate to 100 yards with rifled slugs. It was an inexpensive gun that I don't mind using in rain and snow. I have killed a lot of deer with it and never had a problem with it. The assisted opening does speed up running the action, but it takes some getting used to.

Bob

[raydaughety]

That's why I was looking for a "used" 1100 for Tyler. They simply don't make them like they used to . The follower in Tyler's 20 ga 870 that we bought him for his B_day last year is a thin piece of plastic and hangs up frequently. I need to order a an aluminum follower from Midway USA and replace it.

[mikej]

i have a 120 ranger that gun is older than i am and still works like new

[Kelley]

I have a 1200 bought in '69 for $49.95 cash. Shot a boxcar of shells and harvested a bargeload of game without a miss-que.
Kelley

I must confess, I have a 1100 with a I/C barrel for birds and a Cantilever riffled barrel that I use for deer.

[bbbwb]

Went through a similar assessment for my daughter. I am a Browning A-5 owner but quick to go to the Rem 870 for a simple and reliable item. However the 870 that I have been familiar with ( good friend owns) was the Wingmaster . He also had an Express and did not like it in comparison to the Wingmaster. It was not as smooth an action and the matt finish was hard to keep from rusting -- had to be sure it was wiped down with an oil film more carefully than the glossy blued finish of the Wingmaster.
In my shopping I found several good used Wingmasters and was leaning to getting one when I found a 20 ga. A-5 which I purchased. I suggest that one shop around being knowledgeable in the inner workings of the Wingmaster. In this way one can disassemble a unit and judge as to the abuse or excessive wear. There are good used firearms to be had without going to brand new.

bbbwb

[Mike P]

I love shotguns! And I have a lot of them. Some are high end that never see the light of day and are kept in safe storage. Others are tools and I use them as such. These are the ones I will talk about.

The picture above shows two Remington Wingmaster Magnums. They are consecutive serial numbers. They are 1979 models. I bought four of them at one time in 1979 for myself and three of my buddies from work. I beat the living hell out of the one for the past twenty-nine years. I am sure you can tell which one that is. The other I finally wrested away from my buddy from work a couple years ago. It probably has less then a box of shells put through it. I was thrilled to reacquire this gun. It is perfect.

The beat up one still performs flawlessly. I have used it as a paddle. I have used it to break up ice around decoys. I have abused this gun to the utmost, and it still just keeps on ticking. If I had to rate one shotgun above all that I have owned, the old Wingmaster Magnums win the prize.

That being said, here are my thoughts on other shotguns I own and use from time to time.

Browning BPS

A superb shotgun with bottom ejection. It is a perfect duck gun if you hunt with others who complain about getting hit in the side of the head with ejected shells from the 870's!

Mossberg 500

One of the best beater guns you can buy for the price. Sure the fore arm slap is ridiculous but what do you expect for the price. It shoots. It kills. And it does it at a bargain.

Winchester 1200

I love this shotgun for its feel. The forearm comes back and covers half the receiver when you chamber a shell. It is fast and light weight and shoots like a dream.

Winchester 120

Pretty much the same as the Mossberg 500. A good cheap gun that just keeps shooting.

Ithaca Model 37

Another of my all time favorites. Light weight, great feel and shoots like a dream.

Remington 870 Express

Nice gun for the price. Very functional and takes a beating. Not near the old Wingmasters in quality but pretty good none the less.



I do not think you can really go wrong with any of the shotguns the guys have mentioned here. My best advice is to pick up the one that feels the best when you bring it to shoulder. And after you purchase the gun, use it like you swiped it! Don't be afraid to hurt it. All those battle wounds tell a story. And you shoot better if your not worrying about a scratch!

[Isis]

The shotgun I use the most these days is my Browning BPS. It shoots a good grouping of Challenger slugs (no scope). The safety is on the top same as my double shotguns. The action is very smooth. I use it for turkey and geese as well. It has 3 chokes. Also the shell ejects out the bottom.
Mind you I don't know what one cost these days.

[Pydpiper]

My Itica is almost identical to the one in your picture Mike, same stock, mine is parkerized and has a shorter barrel. I hear it is a police issue, it is also stamped Ithica 87, a rare one.

[Mike P]

My Itica is almost identical to the one in your picture Mike, same stock, mine is parkerized and has a shorter barrel. I hear it is a police issue, it is also stamped Ithica 87, a rare one.

Piper, all those pictures relate to Remington 870 Magnums. The barrels shown are the ones that fit those two 870's.

The two guns shown in the picture are both 1979 Wingmaster Magnums. They came off the assembly line one after the other. One is serial number V912368M and the other is serial number V912369M. It's kind of neat to have two guns with consecutive serial numbers.

I probably should have put pictures up of all the other guns mentioned so there wouldn't be any confusion but I had that picture i used already at photobucket so I just popped it in.

I am just in from the morning hunt and will grab some food and head on back out. At least the weather has taken a turn for the better today for Ohio's gun season.

[VixChix]

I love my Ithaca 37 - it's my grouse gun. Great for carrying in the woods. It's an well-used older gun. The first time I picked it up it felt like it was made just for me. I'd be hard-pressed to ever part with it.

I owned an 870 and now a Mossberg 500... there were things I liked better about the 870 and things I like better about the 500. The 500 fits me a bit better, but I'm still working out some kinks. After having owned an 870 the Msbg's 500's forend felt clanky, but I don't really notice it anymore. I can carry it as quiet as the 870 once I got used to it. I liked both the 870 and the Msbg, but for me the Msbg seems to be a bit more natural to carry and shoot.

I prefer to buy used guns. I like them worn-in and pre-scuffed and with some history.

[Cossack]

So why has no one mentioned the Beretta Nova? I shoot Remington rifles so I'm not dissin' the Big Green, but the Nova is one hell of a pump. I shoot their gas operated semi auto due to bad shoulder and it is very easy recoiling. I also work on guns as a hobby, isn't anything easier to maintain than a Nova. IMO it's like the Excal of pump guns.
PS I don't need a ration of made in the USA, they are made here now.

[bukee]

I have the Benelli Nova Pump in camo and love it. Gummed up my Beretta semi duck hunting. The Benelli pump is cheap, under $600, and will shoot 2 3/4 upto 3 1/2 with little kick and no chance of ever sticking.

That being said, if you are going to hunt deer with slugs, go for the remington, they have a great package with combo barrels, so you can do all your hunting with one gun.

[hunter7558]

I OWN 2 870 WITH RIFLED BARRELS FOR DEER, I FIND THEM VERY RELIABLE FOR SLUG GUN HUNTING WITH NO PROBLEMS, I USE A BENELLI NOVA PUMP 3 1/2 INCH FOR DUCKS AND GEESE AS WELL AS RABBIT, I HAVE HAD THAT GUN IN MUD SNOW AND RAIN AND ALWAYS FIRED EVERY LOAD OUT OF IT INCLUDING 2 3/4INCH RIGHT TO 3 1/2 INCH I WOULDNT BUY ANYOTHER PUMP GUNS EXCEPT THESE TYPE, ANOTHER WORD OF ADVICE I GIVE IS BUY A SYNTHETIC STOCK AS THEY ARE EASIER TO KEEP CLEAN AND WONT GET RUINED IN EXTREAM CONDITIONS.

[Grizzly Adam]

Remington 870 Express ... Nice gun for the price. Very functional and takes a beating. Not near the old Wingmasters in quality but pretty good none the less.

You've got me wondering, Mike if the factory Remington Customer Service person was yanking me around about the 870 Express. He told me that the difference was more appearance than performance. He went on to say that all 870's started out life as an Express model, then they would convert them over to Wingmasters by polishing certain surfaces (expensive human labor he put it). He also stated I could convert my Express into a Wingmaster by doing the labor myself; i.e. disassemble and have at the surfaces with steel wool.

Every longtime shotgunner that I know disagrees with this yet they can't seem to tell me the difference between the Express model and the Wingmaster other than the generalization of the Wingmaster being of superior quality to the Express.

It's the name, Bob!

WINGMASTER

Don't think Remington didn't know the marketing power of choosing a snazzy name when they brought out the 870! Automobile manufacturers have been doing it for decades!

With all due respect to our 870 owners and fans, I daresay the Remington rep was telling you the truth. I think the major difference between the currently common Express and the older Wingmasters is indeed final polish of mating parts and finish ... all price point related.

Of course, the better the polish on mating parts, the tighter a weapon is and the smoother a weapon functions, and tactile feel is vastly improved ... but the advantage is largely in the mental associations produced rather than in any real field utility.

Indeed, in the roughest sort of field use, a little looseness is critical to continued function (think of the SKS and other battle rifles).

Other than that, I believe that the legend of the Wingmaster versus the Express largely comes down to the perceived superiority of a slicker, prettier weapon over a rougher, utilitarian weapoon ... and that NAME.

OK ... now let the war begin.

Remember, guys, before you tear me up too bad ... this thread is all about opinions!

Now ... let 'em fly!

[DropTine]

LOL Grizz!