Cheap but Reliable Shotgun??? - Page 2

Dr. Strangelove · November 28, 2010, 04:25 PM

I've got both a Mossberg 500a and a Remington 870 Express here at the house, and have used both extensively. The only difference I can tell is the Mossberg holds one shell more in the magazine with the plug out, and I like the position of the Mossberg's safety better. Otherwise, flip a coin.

shortwave · November 28, 2010, 06:39 PM

As has already been said, the Rem 870, Moss 500 or the Mav 88 would all be good reliable shotguns. Have owned all and put them through the mill.

There are other older reliable pumps out there like the old Smith and Wessons ( if you can find one ) that you can pickup fairly cheap but you should be informed enough to be able to inspect them before purchasing.

As far as the Ithaca 37, if you find one around here thats worth having, it won't be as cheap as a new 870 or 500. Also, I own 3 Ithaca 37's and they may be a better built gun with a much smoother action but by no means have I found them to be any more reliable than the Rem. or Moss.

Guess it would boil down to which one you like best for the purpose you're useing it for and which one you can get the cheapest. With Christmas coming up, you can be gaurantee'd of a lot of sales/rebates.

silvercorvette · November 28, 2010, 11:24 PM

TNN makes an excellent quality coach gun but it isn't cheap. You are better off with a pump for home defense but if you decide on double barrel THIS GUY SELLS THE TNN COACH GUNS FOR $399

I paid more than that for mine because I wanted the Case hardened finish.

jborushko · November 28, 2010, 11:40 PM

remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express
remington 870 magnum express

ethan95 · November 29, 2010, 12:43 AM

A Remington 870, or a Mossberg 500. i like the 870, you can get a base line model for about $350. It would also help us all to know some of the things you would use it for.

bamaranger · November 29, 2010, 01:53 AM

I have not read all posts, but shotguns do not come any cheaper or more reliable than a quality, USA made single barrel. Recoil may be an issue, but you can load down with trap or "low brass" and still do most of what a shotgun does, effectively. Or, you can grit your teeth and shoot full power stuff and do the same thing the repeaters do, only one shot at a time.

About a schazillion million old time country folks can't be wrong.

Next step up is one of the older Savage 311 doubles. The Russian double I bought a few years back is now where near the equal of the old savages.

Unfortunately, used 311's are no longer cheap.

mpd61 · November 29, 2010, 01:08 PM

I bought the Pardner Pump (870 clone by Hawk industries) which is the same thing as an 870, for shorter $$$. It's solid as a tank and works fine.

jproaster · November 29, 2010, 09:58 PM

Reliable and cheap. Reliable has reputation and cheap is determined by the person buying.

Mossberg 500 and Rem 870 have earned their reputations for reliability and that at an affordable price.

Other shotguns can do the job for sure; but, for the money with a reputation- it's the 500 or the 870. Which ever one you find at the best price...good for you.

john

*shot my 870 yesterday- simply awesome; love the slug barrel

ET. · November 30, 2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sserdlihc:

870 Remington!!

This

xMINORxTHREATx · December 1, 2010, 08:24 AM

Just going off of the original post, buying a reliable, affordable shotgun for a friend, not knowing if shooting for fun or defense or both, and, after shooting both, I would have to say the Mossberg 500.

The 870 is just as reliable, and some say built better, but your going to pay 50-100 extra bucks just for the name Remington to be stamped on it.

I carried a M590A1 (basically US Army issued Mossberg 500) and when I got out the first firearm I bought was a Mossberg 500 Special Purpose, which is a fine choice if you are a fan of synthetic furniture on firearms. I have fired over 1000 rounds through my 500. Everything from high-brass buck, slugs, field loads, flares, dragons breath, flechette, bean bag rounds, bird bombs, you name it, and have never, NEVER had a mis-feed.

Also, in my opinion, the Mossberg 500 is easier to reassemble after cleaning.

zippy13 · December 1, 2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpd61

H&R Pardner/870 in disguise
I bought the Pardner Pump (870 clone by Hawk industries) which is the same thing as an 870, for shorter $$$. It's solid as a tank and works fine.

When the "Wingmaster" Model 870 was originally introduced, with its stamped sheet metal parts, it was a smooth-shuckin' lower cost option to older guns like the Winchester Model-12 and the Ithaca Model-37. With 61 years of success, the R-870 has earned the title of the best selling pump shotgun in firearms history.

After 37-years, remington down graded the Wingmaster's exterior finishes and introduced the "Model 870 Express" to compete in the entry level market. Like the original Wingmaster, the Express has been a very successful. Now, it seems the latest cost effective 870 is an imported version known as the H&R/NEF Pardner Pump.

To those who haven't been following the wild world of mergers and acquisitions, Remington Arms is part of the Freedom Group of Companies (FGC). Marlin is also part of FGC and H&R/NEF is part of Marlin. Perhaps the Pardner Pump is Remington's way of introducing a new imported version of the 870 via the back door.

seansean1444 · December 4, 2010, 10:20 PM

H&R single shot 20 guage. best gun you will ever get for 130 bucks new. the pardner pump 20 guage is 150 bucks, it isn't that pretty to look at but it is built like a tank

jmortimer · December 5, 2010, 12:37 AM

The $200.00 H&R Padner Pump is as good as current production 870s or 500s.

TheKlawMan · December 5, 2010, 07:29 PM

FWIW I, and while I owned several guns many years past, am a relatvie newbie but after pretty well studying the market I like the Hawk 982, a Remington 870 clone with one major exception. It is basically the same as the H&R Pardner also from the same Chinese manufacturer.

The one big difference seems to be that in order to use a Remington barrel you need a spacer. One trucker made one out of a piece of pvc pipe and painted it black.

It holds 5 2-3/4" in the tube and 1 in the chamber but MAX100, a gunsmith that posts a lot here, sells a 2 round magazine tube extension. They go for just around $200 and come w Ghost Ring Sights.

Here is a link to a review by MAX100. http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f...o-review-6488/

shogan191 · December 5, 2010, 11:34 PM

How about $499.00 for a Lanber over and under. Great quality. Nice looking reliable. My son has used one for years and I shot some clays with it this past summer. Nice shooting gun.

CDNN has them starting at $499.00 New.

November 28, 2010, 11:24 PM	#28
silvercorvette Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: Anderson SC Posts: 466	TNN makes an excellent quality coach gun but it isn't cheap. You are better off with a pump for home defense but if you decide on double barrel THIS GUY SELLS THE TNN COACH GUNS FOR $399 I paid more than that for mine because I wanted the Case hardened finish. __________________ I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff

November 28, 2010, 11:40 PM	#29
jborushko Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 469	remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express remington 870 magnum express __________________ EDIT: yeah i always "edit" my posts

November 29, 2010, 12:43 AM	#30
ethan95 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 169	A Remington 870, or a Mossberg 500. i like the 870, you can get a base line model for about $350. It would also help us all to know some of the things you would use it for. __________________ Μολὼν λαβέ

November 29, 2010, 01:53 AM	#31
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	single barrrel I have not read all posts, but shotguns do not come any cheaper or more reliable than a quality, USA made single barrel. Recoil may be an issue, but you can load down with trap or "low brass" and still do most of what a shotgun does, effectively. Or, you can grit your teeth and shoot full power stuff and do the same thing the repeaters do, only one shot at a time. About a schazillion million old time country folks can't be wrong. Next step up is one of the older Savage 311 doubles. The Russian double I bought a few years back is now where near the equal of the old savages. Unfortunately, used 311's are no longer cheap.

November 28, 2010, 04:25 PM	#26
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	I've got both a Mossberg 500a and a Remington 870 Express here at the house, and have used both extensively. The only difference I can tell is the Mossberg holds one shell more in the magazine with the plug out, and I like the position of the Mossberg's safety better. Otherwise, flip a coin.

November 28, 2010, 06:39 PM	#27
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	As has already been said, the Rem 870, Moss 500 or the Mav 88 would all be good reliable shotguns. Have owned all and put them through the mill. There are other older reliable pumps out there like the old Smith and Wessons ( if you can find one ) that you can pickup fairly cheap but you should be informed enough to be able to inspect them before purchasing. As far as the Ithaca 37, if you find one around here thats worth having, it won't be as cheap as a new 870 or 500. Also, I own 3 Ithaca 37's and they may be a better built gun with a much smoother action but by no means have I found them to be any more reliable than the Rem. or Moss. Guess it would boil down to which one you like best for the purpose you're useing it for and which one you can get the cheapest. With Christmas coming up, you can be gaurantee'd of a lot of sales/rebates.

November 29, 2010, 01:08 PM	#32
mpd61 Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Central Mass Posts: 352	H&R Pardner/870 in disguise I bought the Pardner Pump (870 clone by Hawk industries) which is the same thing as an 870, for shorter $$$. It's solid as a tank and works fine.

November 29, 2010, 09:58 PM	#33
jproaster Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: SE Tennessee Posts: 239	Reliable and cheap. Reliable has reputation and cheap is determined by the person buying. Mossberg 500 and Rem 870 have earned their reputations for reliability and that at an affordable price. Other shotguns can do the job for sure; but, for the money with a reputation- it's the 500 or the 870. Which ever one you find at the best price...good for you. john *shot my 870 yesterday- simply awesome; love the slug barrel

December 1, 2010, 08:24 AM	#35
xMINORxTHREATx Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 286	Just going off of the original post, buying a reliable, affordable shotgun for a friend, not knowing if shooting for fun or defense or both, and, after shooting both, I would have to say the Mossberg 500. The 870 is just as reliable, and some say built better, but your going to pay 50-100 extra bucks just for the name Remington to be stamped on it. I carried a M590A1 (basically US Army issued Mossberg 500) and when I got out the first firearm I bought was a Mossberg 500 Special Purpose, which is a fine choice if you are a fan of synthetic furniture on firearms. I have fired over 1000 rounds through my 500. Everything from high-brass buck, slugs, field loads, flares, dragons breath, flechette, bean bag rounds, bird bombs, you name it, and have never, NEVER had a mis-feed. Also, in my opinion, the Mossberg 500 is easier to reassemble after cleaning.

December 4, 2010, 10:20 PM	#37
seansean1444 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Location: ithaca, new york (home of the ithaca shotguns!) Posts: 395	H&R single shot 20 guage. best gun you will ever get for 130 bucks new. the pardner pump 20 guage is 150 bucks, it isn't that pretty to look at but it is built like a tank

December 5, 2010, 12:37 AM	#38
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	The $200.00 H&R Padner Pump is as good as current production 870s or 500s.

December 5, 2010, 07:29 PM	#39
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	FWIW I, and while I owned several guns many years past, am a relatvie newbie but after pretty well studying the market I like the Hawk 982, a Remington 870 clone with one major exception. It is basically the same as the H&R Pardner also from the same Chinese manufacturer. The one big difference seems to be that in order to use a Remington barrel you need a spacer. One trucker made one out of a piece of pvc pipe and painted it black. It holds 5 2-3/4" in the tube and 1 in the chamber but MAX100, a gunsmith that posts a lot here, sells a 2 round magazine tube extension. They go for just around $200 and come w Ghost Ring Sights. Here is a link to a review by MAX100. http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f...o-review-6488/

December 5, 2010, 11:34 PM	#40
shogan191 Member Join Date: July 28, 2010 Posts: 27	How about $499.00 for a Lanber over and under. Great quality. Nice looking reliable. My son has used one for years and I shot some clays with it this past summer. Nice shooting gun. CDNN has them starting at $499.00 New.