What is the best shotgun for a beginner?
November 19th, 2009 by eranio
I would like to get started turkey hunting and waterfowl hunting. I’m in college and don’t have a lot of disposable income so I was just wondering what the best deal for the money would be. Also I live in Kentucky so maybe that will help in deciding the type of gun (due to the type of game available).
Posted in best shotgun
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Well, you could probably pick up a used single-shot 12 ga shotgun around there for under $100. Maybe under $65 if you find a deal. And you could use it for all of your hunting needs for the rest of your life. You won’t be happy with it long term, but you could do it. Especially if you are on a really tight budget. Since the odds are good that things aren’t likely to be that dire, you might consider looking into the two best selling shotguns in the country. The Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870. Both have their good and bad points. But for the most part they can do the same thing for about the same price. I would look at those and see which one fits you better. Also, don’t stress about being able to use 3.5 inch shells. Most of your hunting will use 2 3/4 inch shells anyway. With the occasional 3 inch shell mixed in for long waterfowl shots with steel. I have a gun that can use 3.5 inch shells, and I have shot exactly one box full of them in 20 years. I wasn’t really all that impressed.
I personally like the layout of the Mossberg’s controls more. It was the first shotgun I ever bought, back when I was a starving student myself. I got the combo package which came with a 28" hunting barrel and an 18.5" riot barrel. I have used that gun hard for almost 20 years now. It is still going strong. The only thing I picked up for it was a 24" smoothbore slug barrel with rifle sights. However, when I went to build a combat/social shotgun, I went with the Remington. There were just more aftermarket goodies for it, and it was much easier to extend the magazine.
After you decide which one you like more, look around and see who has sales on them. And look for package deals with an extra barrel. If you can’t find a package deal, get one with a 28" barrel if you plan on doing much hunting. Also, 99% of them come with choke tubes that you can change. Make sure that your one isn’t one of the 1% without them. That gives you a lot more flexability. A full choke is great for high flying ducks and geese. But if you hit a rabbit at 20 yard with it, all you get is a skin full of soup. Those are darned hard to clean, and it is almost impossible to get any useable meat off of. Good luck, and have fun.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
For quality and value, It’s tough to beat a Remington 870 "Wingmaster"
Whichever shotgun you decide on, you might try gun shows, Gunbroker & GunsAmerica, to help you find a nice gun at a good price.
http://www.gunbroker.com
http://www.gunsamerica.com
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
835 mossberg 3 1/2 inch magnum. Great turkey and goose gun. Get in to one for about $350.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Also look into
Mossberg 500 series
or
Remington 870 series
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Remington 870 with a 3 1/2" chamber. Very nice, reliable gun. Best selling shotgun in history. Wish I had bought one instead of my Benelli Nova. Wanna trade?
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Of course, "best" and "inexpensive" are incompatible concepts, but if you know what you’re about, the decision is easier on which gun within your budget will be the wisest choice.
Best guns, in addition to the handwork and decoration, have a practical basis in being "best:" they’re custom fitted to the shooter. It would be nice if you knew the correct length of pull, drop at heel and comb, and cast off (cast on if you’re a southpaw) are best for you. That has the very practical advantage of having the gun point naturally to where you want it to, without your having to make adjustments in your technique.
You’re likely to get plenty of answers recommending the most popular guns, especially those from Remington and Mossberg. I’d suggest you get the one that fits your frame best. That’ll make shooting easier, and it’s more important than whether it has one or two barrels, or what kind of action it has.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
i would suggest starting with a sgl shot 3" . on clays with 2-3/4" shell #4 shot. once your use to it then p/u a pump 3" chamber. remington, mossberg. Maverick, H&R & NEF have cheaper priced guns.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
When i started I got a Benelli Nova pump 20 gauge, under $400 new!! it is a great pump gun and i use it for every kind of shotgun hunting, even sporting clays sometimes! The good thing about it is it can handle whatever you throw at it and is fully customizable later if needed. It is a military style gun and will work after dropping it in a foot of muck in the duck pond with no cleaning. It is a low maintenance gun and fantastic over-all.
Hope this helps! Happy Huntin’
Alex
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
A pump 12 gauge from a high rep company such as Remington or Mossberg. If you start looking at Benelli or Beretta, you’re going to pay out the kazoo.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
I would recommend the Remington 870 pump shotgun, chambered for the 3 1/2 inch magnum. You may never need or want a 3 1/2 inch shell, but I’d rather a gun equipped for them and never use them, than need them and not be able to use them. The 3 1/2 is less than $50 more than the 3 inch only version, so why not pay the bit extra and have a gun you can use for everything.
Mossberg makes good shotguns as well and they are normally a bit less expensive than the remington. However, I prefer the Remington, because of the location of the safety. Remington puts the safety on the trigger guard, where as Mossberg usually puts their safeties on the rear of the receiver. While many people probaby prefer the safety on the receiver, i grew up using .22′s and shotguns with trigger safeties and still prefer this type.
I would also reccomend getting a shotgun with interchangable chokes. This will allow you to use the same gun for hunting ducks, turkey, geese, and shooting skeet.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Big 5 has I single shot shotgun usually on sale or Mossberg 500
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
.20 gauge remington, mossberg
November 19th, 2009 at 1:15 am
on a budget? try a Remington 870 pump or 11-87 semi-auto. also maybe a mossberg 500.
my brother actually bought a nice used Mossberg 835 for $300 from gander mtn.
one brand you should check out is Stoeger. Owned by Beretta, parent of Benelli and several other nice names, Stoeger makes cheap yet still reliable guns. i just bought their Condor 12 ga. over/under for $260. check out their pumps and autos. nice guns for beginners and those on a budget.