Advice on first shotgun

WYSIWYG · March 16, 2000, 09:15 PM

I'm looking for a shotgun to be used for hunting and possibly skeet.

Particulars: 12 gauge, pump, and under $300

Any input would be welcome.

Thanks!

Gunslinger · March 16, 2000, 11:04 PM

That is an easy one; Mossberg 500. Of course you may get differing views.

(Geez, I hope Sensop doesn't see the green thing.

)

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Gunslinger

We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.

Big Bunny · March 16, 2000, 11:58 PM

Try a good secondhand Italian 12GA (EG Fausti, Bettinsoli, Zoli etc) under and over(U/O) with 5 screw-in chokes[EG skeet 1, skeet2 , half, three-quarters and full ], it is a very versatile outfit for a beginner and all the top skeet shooters use U/Os and at the Olympics, coming up in Sydney OZ.

In the field U/O is also quite OK and most recommended, but I would only favour a pump like a Winchester 1200 for an experienced wild-fowler. Concentrate on field-craft and accuracy/ranges first before blasting away !

If you set up and pattern your loads with the various chokesat your preferred ranges, you can have a very comfortable combination of coping with most senarios and any hunting or sport shooting.

Also a U/O will not boot or hurt you like a lighter gun...AS LONG AS IT FITS YOU. (Very important - also your cheek is the rearsight in instinctive shooting).

May I suggest you borrow different types of club guns and take part in a shoot before choosing ?

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***Big Bunny***

Hueco · March 17, 2000, 12:53 PM

Well...what do you want to hunt, and are you thinking of competitive skeet? A good many skeet shooters use autos. For hunting these are good too. But I do not recommend a pump for the skeet field -- those doubles will be too frustrating. An o/u would be ideal, but they are expensive. Take a look at the Remington 1100 (an auto), perhaps used if you can find one. I hear good things about them.

Hueco

[This message has been edited by Hueco (edited March 17, 2000).]

Al Thompson · March 17, 2000, 01:27 PM

The 870 express is a very good buy for your purposes. Nothing wrong with the Mossberg, I prefer the Remington.

Giz

TheOtherMikey · March 17, 2000, 04:24 PM

A pump gun is probably the toughest action to shoot on skeet. This is mostly true on doubles which you will experience on four positions. It takes a quick hand to shoot the first bird, shuck in another shell, and kill the second bird. I know, I have shot skeet with my Ithaca Mod 37 (new production) which has a ventilated rib.

I would suggect that you get yourself a good used Remington 1100 automatic with RemChoke system. This is a great gun on the skeet range and for hunting. Only problem with an automatic (and a pump too) is picking up your hulls.....that is if the club will allow you to pick up a hull once it hits the ground.

Hope this helps, Regards, Mikey.

WYSIWYG · March 18, 2000, 09:39 AM

Thanks for the input

I want to start turkey hunting. Skeet would be just for fun--nothing serious.

Art Eatman · March 18, 2000, 11:30 PM

WYSIWYG, whatever you get, make sure it's set up for screw-in chokes. Read the post in another thread about the new, ultra-tight turkey choke.

For duck/goose hunting, a full choke is good; and for quail/dove and skeet, the improved cylinder choke is preferred. (Well, "skeet" choke for the pros...)

FWIW, Art

March 16, 2000, 09:15 PM	#1
WYSIWYG Junior Member Join Date: April 29, 1999 Posts: 13	I'm looking for a shotgun to be used for hunting and possibly skeet. Particulars: 12 gauge, pump, and under $300 Any input would be welcome. Thanks!

March 16, 2000, 11:04 PM	#2
Gunslinger Junior member Join Date: January 5, 1999 Location: Springfield, Missouri Posts: 2,105	That is an easy one; Mossberg 500. Of course you may get differing views. (Geez, I hope Sensop doesn't see the green thing. ) ------------------ Gunslinger We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.

March 16, 2000, 11:58 PM	#3
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	Try a good secondhand Italian 12GA (EG Fausti, Bettinsoli, Zoli etc) under and over(U/O) with 5 screw-in chokes[EG skeet 1, skeet2 , half, three-quarters and full ], it is a very versatile outfit for a beginner and all the top skeet shooters use U/Os and at the Olympics, coming up in Sydney OZ. In the field U/O is also quite OK and most recommended, but I would only favour a pump like a Winchester 1200 for an experienced wild-fowler. Concentrate on field-craft and accuracy/ranges first before blasting away ! If you set up and pattern your loads with the various chokesat your preferred ranges, you can have a very comfortable combination of coping with most senarios and any hunting or sport shooting. Also a U/O will not boot or hurt you like a lighter gun...AS LONG AS IT FITS YOU. (Very important - also your cheek is the rearsight in instinctive shooting). May I suggest you borrow different types of club guns and take part in a shoot before choosing ? ------------------ *Big Bunny*

March 17, 2000, 12:53 PM	#4
Hueco Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 1999 Posts: 561	Well...what do you want to hunt, and are you thinking of competitive skeet? A good many skeet shooters use autos. For hunting these are good too. But I do not recommend a pump for the skeet field -- those doubles will be too frustrating. An o/u would be ideal, but they are expensive. Take a look at the Remington 1100 (an auto), perhaps used if you can find one. I hear good things about them. Hueco [This message has been edited by Hueco (edited March 17, 2000).]

March 17, 2000, 01:27 PM	#5
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	The 870 express is a very good buy for your purposes. Nothing wrong with the Mossberg, I prefer the Remington. Giz

March 17, 2000, 04:24 PM	#6
TheOtherMikey Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1999 Location: Surprise, Arizona, USA Posts: 171	A pump gun is probably the toughest action to shoot on skeet. This is mostly true on doubles which you will experience on four positions. It takes a quick hand to shoot the first bird, shuck in another shell, and kill the second bird. I know, I have shot skeet with my Ithaca Mod 37 (new production) which has a ventilated rib. I would suggect that you get yourself a good used Remington 1100 automatic with RemChoke system. This is a great gun on the skeet range and for hunting. Only problem with an automatic (and a pump too) is picking up your hulls.....that is if the club will allow you to pick up a hull once it hits the ground. Hope this helps, Regards, Mikey.

March 18, 2000, 09:39 AM	#7
WYSIWYG Junior Member Join Date: April 29, 1999 Posts: 13	Thanks for the input I want to start turkey hunting. Skeet would be just for fun--nothing serious.

March 18, 2000, 11:30 PM	#8
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	WYSIWYG, whatever you get, make sure it's set up for screw-in chokes. Read the post in another thread about the new, ultra-tight turkey choke. For duck/goose hunting, a full choke is good; and for quail/dove and skeet, the improved cylinder choke is preferred. (Well, "skeet" choke for the pros...) FWIW, Art