What is your favorite pump gun...

Slugo · July 12, 2011, 06:24 AM

and why?!? I'm pretty new to them and recently purchased a 20 gauge Browning BPS. Although, an older 870 Wingmaster would be sweet...

BrittB · July 12, 2011, 08:18 AM

I really like my old JC Higgins model 20 and High Standard model 200. They are basicaly the same gun but it's so true about what everyone says about a gun fitting the person. I also like the fact that they are under rated and inexpensive. Great shooters and easy to work on.

oneounceload · July 12, 2011, 08:25 AM

As a LH, I once owned an Ithaca 37, but then soon discovered O/U's

oletymer · July 12, 2011, 10:20 AM

I have a BPS and two Ithaca 37s. The Ithacas are my favorites. They are built like the older guns, all steel parts. The BPS has some stamped parts but is better than the other new designs.

zippy13 · July 12, 2011, 10:27 AM

Model 12 Pigeon

.300 Weatherby Mag · July 12, 2011, 10:40 AM

Model 12 / Model 42

drew332 · July 12, 2011, 10:45 AM

My favorite pump gun is my 14 inch 12 gauge Mossberg 590A1 shotgun with Surefire 621FA Weaponlight, Hogue Youth Stock, and 3GunGear.com 7-shot nylon side saddle:

And seen below with my 5.56mm Rock River Arms Entry Tactical Carbine:

She's a beast! Short and maneuverable in close quarters, solid and strong, she eats everything I feed her!

**Spats McGee** · July 12, 2011, 11:02 AM

There are lots of good ones, but my personal favorite is the Remington 870.

BigJimP · July 12, 2011, 11:13 AM

Browning BPS - either the Hunter or the Trap model. I have Hunter models in 12ga and 20ga that I purchased in the late 1970's - that are still very solid guns ....after 50,000 shells apiece thru them easily....at both clay targets and a lot of upland birds and waterfowl ( and as training guns thru 2 boys / and now 4 of the 10 grandkids I have ....and when the other 6 grandkids reach 12 yrs old or so ....they'll all have a chance to shoot the 20ga BPS ) ...

So they've held up thru a lot ...

but I have other 20ga, and 28ga and .410's for them to shoot too.

But the BPS is cast neutral / safety is on the top of the tang - so its easy to reach even with heavy gloves on in the field. The BPS has a smooth action - bottom ejection...

Hawg Haggen · July 12, 2011, 11:47 AM

Winchester model 12 followed by Winchester 97

Rifleman1776 · July 12, 2011, 12:37 PM

870
Or, whatever is in my hands when I need it.

BigJimP · July 12, 2011, 01:20 PM

What gun and why ....and part of the discussion should be whether you want a pump gun as a "field" gun, a clay target gun, a defensive gun or as a Tactical - Fighting gun ...or maybe some combination of one or more uses....

Personally, I have no need of a shotgun for a tactical or a primary defensive weapon.../ if, I need something for defense, I'll depend on my 1911 in .45acp...

but I think intended usage - affects this inquiry a lot.

I'll also share that a number of my youngest sons buddies ( guys in their late 20's and early 30's ) have all bought Remington or Mossberg tactical, short barreled, pump guns with fixed open cyclinder chokes - extended mags, etc. Most of them - when the guns were first purchased - put 5 or 6 boxes of shells thru them/ some of them put a few boxes of "00 Buck" or slugs thru them ...and only in this limited sample, because I ask when I see them - they like to talk guns - none of them have fired those guns in well over 3 yrs ...because they aren't that much fun....

the fun in shotgunning ...for many of us ...is in clay targets ...

I do go to a tactical shooting class once a yr or so -- for 2 or 3 days ---but its always based on one of my handguns ( usually a 1911 / sometimes a revolver ...). But everybody in the gun hobby - has different interests / different tactical experience / some of us "old dogs" have been doing this a long time and have a lot of shotguns and other guns ...some guys are just getting into this or back into this hobby ...

So lots of reasons for various choices...

lamarw · July 12, 2011, 01:23 PM

I have a Mossberg 500, Weatherby Patrician II, Remington 870, Winchester 12 and a Winchester 1200. My favorite is not necessarily the best of the bunch. it is the one I have hunted with the most and owned the longest. It is the Winchester Model 1200 with the Winchoke system.

For years, all the experts claimed it to be a poor gun. It has never let me down.

BlueCord · July 12, 2011, 02:01 PM

My all time favorite pump shotgun is my Remington 870's. I have a couple
Wingmasters and one Police Tactical without any tactical mumbo junk on it. Just a nice 7 shot 870. I shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays, and hunt with all of them.

I was issued a mossberg for several deployments and being, what I call, a true shotgun lover, I used this piece of equipment because it was issued, not because I liked it. If worked, it functioned, it performed in deadly sitations, but I never liked it the way I do my Remingtons.

Further, I bought and many years later sold a Mitchell High Standard 12 gauge pump shotgun. I don't recall the model number but it held 7 rounds, had rifle sights with the front sight being hooded. I absolutely loved this gun and regrett selling it. I've looked and looked for one like it but have never found one. I bought this shotgun for use in Law Enforcement. It was knocked around, banged, dropped, beat up on ranges and I loved it.

But, as my first paragraph stated, my overall favorite is the Remington 870.

BC

Dave McC · July 12, 2011, 02:44 PM

The 6 most favorite pumps for me are.....

The 870.

The 870.

The 870.

The 870.

The 870.

And the famed 870.

I also like Model 12s, 97s,37s,1200s,1300s, 500s.

But first and foremost, the 870......

shortwave · July 12, 2011, 04:04 PM

Favorite has to be the Ithaca 37.

markj · July 12, 2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Favorite has to be the Ithaca 37.

Yes for sure, liteweight very nice gun. Got mine for 200.00

I had a old win 97 but it bit my hand bad Dad shot it fine but his hands were smaller than mine. Had a 1200 full choke, loved that gun I would wait till everyone missed then unleash the long range gun

knocked em down every time. Have a 1300 an early one maple stock and all that, I use it for deer with a rifled barrel, I hit em hard with that one. I had an 870 express, too heavy and cumbersome for me. Moosberg in a 500 20 ga is also a good one I own.

Clifford L. Hughes · July 12, 2011, 05:09 PM

Sllugo:

When I shoulder my model 12 Winchester trap gun, 1955 vintage, I get the feeling that I'm shouldering steel and walnut, not alloys and plastic. The bluing is rich and pleasant to look at. In other words a mans gun.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

Slugo · July 12, 2011, 06:54 PM

amen Sarge! I couldn't agree more. Here's an old 870 Wingy 30" plain barrel that I owned. Steel and wood with literally no plastic...

blackriderhank · July 12, 2011, 07:53 PM

I like the 870 also. Well made, dependable and all wood and steel.

Pahoo · July 12, 2011, 08:11 PM

Well, of what I think is the best, I'd say it's the BPS 20ga. upland, However, I too have a special place in my heart, for the Ithaca 37. It's the only one that I would buy back. ......

Twenty years ago, I sold a 12Ga. with plain barrel with the intentions of getting a 20Ga. with vent rib. You know what they say about good intentions..

Be Safe !!!

Hog Buster · July 13, 2011, 01:31 AM

My Ithaca Model 37’s, one in 12 gauge and one in 20. Thousands upon thousands of rounds fired thru them, never a misfire, never a problem. Many ducks, squirrels, quail, dove, rabbits, etc. and a bunch of hunting memories. Both purchased new in the 60’s for less than $100.

southpaw02 · July 13, 2011, 11:05 AM

For me its the Ithaca 37 I have one in 12,16,and 20ga.

batmann · July 13, 2011, 12:50 PM

I am on board with the Browning BPS. I have two, one a Hunter model that has seen it's share of Goose and Duck hunting and 'Tactical' with polymer stock and extended mag. The older Remington 870's were great, but not sold on the newer ones.
I just cleaned my 'Tactical' after a session at the range and it is all steel, except for the stock.

Slugo · July 13, 2011, 12:54 PM

Ithaca 37, Winchester 12, Remington 870 Wingmaster and the Browning BPS. The rest are, well, just the rest!

July 12, 2011, 06:24 AM	#1
Slugo Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 938	What is your favorite pump gun... and why?!? I'm pretty new to them and recently purchased a 20 gauge Browning BPS. Although, an older 870 Wingmaster would be sweet... __________________ *"Sometimes the search is most of the fun!" - BigJimP*

July 12, 2011, 10:45 AM	#7
drew332 Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 42	My favorite pump gun is my 14 inch 12 gauge Mossberg 590A1 shotgun with Surefire 621FA Weaponlight, Hogue Youth Stock, and 3GunGear.com 7-shot nylon side saddle: And seen below with my 5.56mm Rock River Arms Entry Tactical Carbine: She's a beast! Short and maneuverable in close quarters, solid and strong, she eats everything I feed her! Last edited by drew332; July 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM.

July 12, 2011, 11:02 AM	#8
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,345	There are lots of good ones, but my personal favorite is the Remington 870. __________________ A gunfight is not the time to learn new skills. If you ever have a real need for more than a couple of magazines, your problem is not a shortage of magazines. It's a shortage of people on your side of the argument. -- Art Eatman

July 12, 2011, 11:13 AM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 9,962	Browning BPS - either the Hunter or the Trap model. I have Hunter models in 12ga and 20ga that I purchased in the late 1970's - that are still very solid guns ....after 50,000 shells apiece thru them easily....at both clay targets and a lot of upland birds and waterfowl ( and as training guns thru 2 boys / and now 4 of the 10 grandkids I have ....and when the other 6 grandkids reach 12 yrs old or so ....they'll all have a chance to shoot the 20ga BPS ) ... So they've held up thru a lot ... but I have other 20ga, and 28ga and .410's for them to shoot too. But the BPS is cast neutral / safety is on the top of the tang - so its easy to reach even with heavy gloves on in the field. The BPS has a smooth action - bottom ejection... Last edited by BigJimP; July 12, 2011 at 01:22 PM.

July 12, 2011, 11:47 AM	#10
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,240	Winchester model 12 followed by Winchester 97 __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

July 12, 2011, 08:18 AM	#2
BrittB Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 551	I really like my old JC Higgins model 20 and High Standard model 200. They are basicaly the same gun but it's so true about what everyone says about a gun fitting the person. I also like the fact that they are under rated and inexpensive. Great shooters and easy to work on.

July 12, 2011, 08:25 AM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	As a LH, I once owned an Ithaca 37, but then soon discovered O/U's

July 12, 2011, 10:20 AM	#4
oletymer Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 328	I have a BPS and two Ithaca 37s. The Ithacas are my favorites. They are built like the older guns, all steel parts. The BPS has some stamped parts but is better than the other new designs.

July 12, 2011, 10:27 AM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	Model 12 Pigeon

July 12, 2011, 10:40 AM	#6
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,707	Model 12 / Model 42

July 12, 2011, 12:37 PM	#11
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,838	870 Or, whatever is in my hands when I need it.

July 12, 2011, 01:20 PM	#12
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 9,962	What gun and why ....and part of the discussion should be whether you want a pump gun as a "field" gun, a clay target gun, a defensive gun or as a Tactical - Fighting gun ...or maybe some combination of one or more uses.... Personally, I have no need of a shotgun for a tactical or a primary defensive weapon.../ if, I need something for defense, I'll depend on my 1911 in .45acp... but I think intended usage - affects this inquiry a lot. I'll also share that a number of my youngest sons buddies ( guys in their late 20's and early 30's ) have all bought Remington or Mossberg tactical, short barreled, pump guns with fixed open cyclinder chokes - extended mags, etc. Most of them - when the guns were first purchased - put 5 or 6 boxes of shells thru them/ some of them put a few boxes of "00 Buck" or slugs thru them ...and only in this limited sample, because I ask when I see them - they like to talk guns - none of them have fired those guns in well over 3 yrs ...because they aren't that much fun.... the fun in shotgunning ...for many of us ...is in clay targets ... I do go to a tactical shooting class once a yr or so -- for 2 or 3 days ---but its always based on one of my handguns ( usually a 1911 / sometimes a revolver ...). But everybody in the gun hobby - has different interests / different tactical experience / some of us "old dogs" have been doing this a long time and have a lot of shotguns and other guns ...some guys are just getting into this or back into this hobby ... So lots of reasons for various choices...

July 12, 2011, 01:23 PM	#13
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 1,234	I have a Mossberg 500, Weatherby Patrician II, Remington 870, Winchester 12 and a Winchester 1200. My favorite is not necessarily the best of the bunch. it is the one I have hunted with the most and owned the longest. It is the Winchester Model 1200 with the Winchoke system. For years, all the experts claimed it to be a poor gun. It has never let me down.

July 12, 2011, 02:01 PM	#14
BlueCord Junior member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: South West US Posts: 5	My all time favorite pump shotgun is my Remington 870's. I have a couple Wingmasters and one Police Tactical without any tactical mumbo junk on it. Just a nice 7 shot 870. I shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays, and hunt with all of them. I was issued a mossberg for several deployments and being, what I call, a true shotgun lover, I used this piece of equipment because it was issued, not because I liked it. If worked, it functioned, it performed in deadly sitations, but I never liked it the way I do my Remingtons. Further, I bought and many years later sold a Mitchell High Standard 12 gauge pump shotgun. I don't recall the model number but it held 7 rounds, had rifle sights with the front sight being hooded. I absolutely loved this gun and regrett selling it. I've looked and looked for one like it but have never found one. I bought this shotgun for use in Law Enforcement. It was knocked around, banged, dropped, beat up on ranges and I loved it. But, as my first paragraph stated, my overall favorite is the Remington 870. BC

July 12, 2011, 02:44 PM	#15
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	The 6 most favorite pumps for me are..... The 870. The 870. The 870. The 870. The 870. And the famed 870. I also like Model 12s, 97s,37s,1200s,1300s, 500s. But first and foremost, the 870......

July 12, 2011, 04:04 PM	#16
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,008	Favorite has to be the Ithaca 37.

July 12, 2011, 05:09 PM	#18
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Sllugo: When I shoulder my model 12 Winchester trap gun, 1955 vintage, I get the feeling that I'm shouldering steel and walnut, not alloys and plastic. The bluing is rich and pleasant to look at. In other words a mans gun. Semper Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

July 12, 2011, 06:54 PM	#19
Slugo Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 938	amen Sarge! I couldn't agree more. Here's an old 870 Wingy 30" plain barrel that I owned. Steel and wood with literally no plastic... __________________ *"Sometimes the search is most of the fun!" - BigJimP*

July 12, 2011, 07:53 PM	#20
blackriderhank Member Join Date: May 7, 2011 Location: SC Wisconsin Posts: 21	I like the 870 also. Well made, dependable and all wood and steel.

July 12, 2011, 08:11 PM	#21
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 4,401	Lots of good ones out there !!! Well, of what I think is the best, I'd say it's the BPS 20ga. upland, However, I too have a special place in my heart, for the Ithaca 37. It's the only one that I would buy back. ...... Twenty years ago, I sold a 12Ga. with plain barrel with the intentions of getting a 20Ga. with vent rib. You know what they say about good intentions.. Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

July 13, 2011, 01:31 AM	#22
Hog Buster Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Location: Pointe Coupee, Louisana Posts: 751	My Ithaca Model 37’s, one in 12 gauge and one in 20. Thousands upon thousands of rounds fired thru them, never a misfire, never a problem. Many ducks, squirrels, quail, dove, rabbits, etc. and a bunch of hunting memories. Both purchased new in the 60’s for less than $100. __________________ Those who beat their guns into plows, will plow for those who don't.-Thomas Jefferson

July 13, 2011, 11:05 AM	#23
southpaw02 Junior Member Join Date: November 28, 2009 Location: S.E. Va. CSA Posts: 14	For me its the Ithaca 37 I have one in 12,16,and 20ga.

July 13, 2011, 12:50 PM	#24
batmann Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2004 Location: Greenwood, IN Posts: 657	I am on board with the Browning BPS. I have two, one a Hunter model that has seen it's share of Goose and Duck hunting and 'Tactical' with polymer stock and extended mag. The older Remington 870's were great, but not sold on the newer ones. I just cleaned my 'Tactical' after a session at the range and it is all steel, except for the stock.

July 13, 2011, 12:54 PM	#25
Slugo Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 938	Ithaca 37, Winchester 12, Remington 870 Wingmaster and the Browning BPS. The rest are, well, just the rest! __________________ *"Sometimes the search is most of the fun!" - BigJimP*