Recommend me a new 20 gauge for $350

kobes31 · August 14, 2015, 11:35 AM

I do not hunt and have very limited experience with long guns. I'm sitting on a store credit after winning a raffle and don't want to shell out much extra cash or I'd be getting myself another HK pistol. I'm torn between a pump and semi. I'll probably take this out to learn turkey hunting with family members who regularly hunt. My sons will probably end up using this more than I will down the line. No need to make it HD tacticool. Thanks for your suggestions.

FITASC · August 14, 2015, 11:48 AM

You aren't going to get anything NEW that is worthwhile for that amount in a semi; even a pump will be hard for new. Used opens up a few doors.

About the only NEW 20 I can think of will be the Mossberg Maverick which might work out for your amount of usage.

eastbank · August 14, 2015, 01:17 PM

walmart had rem express shotguns with a 50.00 rebate that would get you below 350.00. eastbank.

Doyle · August 14, 2015, 01:39 PM

For that price, you are looking at either a Remington Express or a Mossberg 500 (or the Maverick 88 clone of the 500). Personally, I'd pick the Mossberg.

leadcounsel · August 14, 2015, 05:24 PM

Buy ammo with the store credit.

Then go find a good condition used Remington or Mossberg for $200. Not hard to find.

trapper9260 · August 14, 2015, 07:12 PM

I say a Moss. 500 would work better.

Will Beararms · August 14, 2015, 10:46 PM

You can get a Remington 870 Express 20 gauge for $350.00 If you want an all around shotgun, get the 26" or 28" barrel. If you want an excellent CQB/Home Defense tool, get the 870 Youth 20 Gauge with 21" barrel.

i have hunted all my life, 44 years----since the age of 7. I guided for 7 years in a duck camp. The Remington 870 Express is an excellent shotgun. It's all steel and balanced very well. Mossbergs have an aluminum receiver and kick like hail IMHO.

If you will spray the metal parts with Rem Oil repeatedly for a day or so letting the oil sit for an hour then wiping it off and re-applying, water will bead off of it lime you waxed it with carnuba wax and it will not rust.

Shotgun ammo is still cheap and an important part of any good SHTF prep plan.

kobes31 · August 15, 2015, 06:19 AM

I'm not totally against something that's a little bit more but understand I don't want or need a $600 gun you know? Would there be any advantage to spending another $100? Is a pump the way to go or should I look SA? Like I said this will end up being used by my sons in a handful of years.

SARuger · August 15, 2015, 07:48 AM

I own 4 870's, one is an express. I have a Mossy 500 and a Maverick 88. All 20g.

Honestly they are all great guns. The Wingmasters are pretty and shoot as good as they look but a good shooter is a good shooter. If you can point a $1200 gun, you can point a $200 gun. I recently witnessed this first hand, a kid at the skeet range was shooting a very expensive O/U and making smoke. He went 100/100. Someone handed him a rusty old Savage SXS .410 w/full chokes and said "try that!". He went 25/25 LOL!

The Mav 88 does kick more than the 870 and the 500. If your shooting turkey mags on a super full choke its really gonna hammer you.

I recommend the Express with a 26" barrel for all-around usage. Pick up a HD 18.5" barrel in the future and it can serve you well for two purposes.

Its hard to beat a Remington shotgun

I will say barrels for the Mossy/Mav are cheap! I just got my 18.5 HD barrel for my Mav 88 from Mossburg new for $62 and $7 shipping!

Will Beararms · August 15, 2015, 04:08 PM

Mossbergs are tough. i have seen my son drop his in mud, shake it a few times and then dunk it in water and hunt the rest of the morning with it. They ate also well made.

g.willikers · August 16, 2015, 08:51 AM

If the store deals in used guns, you might look for a nice used Remington 1100.
They're usually priced just a little over your store credit.
There's so many out there, it shouldn't be hard to find one.

Skeets · August 16, 2015, 09:51 AM

Maybe a trusted friend will help you sort out the 870&500 shotguns.You'll do well!

August 14, 2015, 11:35 AM	#1
kobes31 Member Join Date: December 19, 2011 Posts: 18	Recommend me a new 20 gauge for $350 I do not hunt and have very limited experience with long guns. I'm sitting on a store credit after winning a raffle and don't want to shell out much extra cash or I'd be getting myself another HK pistol. I'm torn between a pump and semi. I'll probably take this out to learn turkey hunting with family members who regularly hunt. My sons will probably end up using this more than I will down the line. No need to make it HD tacticool. Thanks for your suggestions.

August 14, 2015, 11:48 AM	#2
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	You aren't going to get anything NEW that is worthwhile for that amount in a semi; even a pump will be hard for new. Used opens up a few doors. About the only NEW 20 I can think of will be the Mossberg Maverick which might work out for your amount of usage. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

August 14, 2015, 10:46 PM	#7
Will Beararms Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,834	You can get a Remington 870 Express 20 gauge for $350.00 If you want an all around shotgun, get the 26" or 28" barrel. If you want an excellent CQB/Home Defense tool, get the 870 Youth 20 Gauge with 21" barrel. i have hunted all my life, 44 years----since the age of 7. I guided for 7 years in a duck camp. The Remington 870 Express is an excellent shotgun. It's all steel and balanced very well. Mossbergs have an aluminum receiver and kick like hail IMHO. If you will spray the metal parts with Rem Oil repeatedly for a day or so letting the oil sit for an hour then wiping it off and re-applying, water will bead off of it lime you waxed it with carnuba wax and it will not rust. Shotgun ammo is still cheap and an important part of any good SHTF prep plan. __________________ "Without a rifle you are nothing, worthless, you are waiting for death, any minute, any second." -- Aron Bielski

August 15, 2015, 04:08 PM	#10
Will Beararms Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,834	Mossbergs are tough. i have seen my son drop his in mud, shake it a few times and then dunk it in water and hunt the rest of the morning with it. They ate also well made. __________________ "Without a rifle you are nothing, worthless, you are waiting for death, any minute, any second." -- Aron Bielski

August 16, 2015, 08:51 AM	#11
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	If the store deals in used guns, you might look for a nice used Remington 1100. They're usually priced just a little over your store credit. There's so many out there, it shouldn't be hard to find one. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

August 14, 2015, 01:17 PM	#3
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	walmart had rem express shotguns with a 50.00 rebate that would get you below 350.00. eastbank.

August 14, 2015, 01:39 PM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	For that price, you are looking at either a Remington Express or a Mossberg 500 (or the Maverick 88 clone of the 500). Personally, I'd pick the Mossberg.

August 14, 2015, 05:24 PM	#5
leadcounsel Junior member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,119	Buy ammo with the store credit. Then go find a good condition used Remington or Mossberg for $200. Not hard to find.

August 14, 2015, 07:12 PM	#6
trapper9260 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 119	I say a Moss. 500 would work better.

August 15, 2015, 06:19 AM	#8
kobes31 Member Join Date: December 19, 2011 Posts: 18	I'm not totally against something that's a little bit more but understand I don't want or need a $600 gun you know? Would there be any advantage to spending another $100? Is a pump the way to go or should I look SA? Like I said this will end up being used by my sons in a handful of years.

August 15, 2015, 07:48 AM	#9
SARuger Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 954	I own 4 870's, one is an express. I have a Mossy 500 and a Maverick 88. All 20g. Honestly they are all great guns. The Wingmasters are pretty and shoot as good as they look but a good shooter is a good shooter. If you can point a $1200 gun, you can point a $200 gun. I recently witnessed this first hand, a kid at the skeet range was shooting a very expensive O/U and making smoke. He went 100/100. Someone handed him a rusty old Savage SXS .410 w/full chokes and said "try that!". He went 25/25 LOL! The Mav 88 does kick more than the 870 and the 500. If your shooting turkey mags on a super full choke its really gonna hammer you. I recommend the Express with a 26" barrel for all-around usage. Pick up a HD 18.5" barrel in the future and it can serve you well for two purposes. Its hard to beat a Remington shotgun I will say barrels for the Mossy/Mav are cheap! I just got my 18.5 HD barrel for my Mav 88 from Mossburg new for $62 and $7 shipping!

August 16, 2015, 09:51 AM	#12
Skeets Member in memoriam Join Date: April 6, 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 583	Maybe a trusted friend will help you sort out the 870&500 shotguns.You'll do well! __________________ Skeets "Over Kill Never Fails"