This is a discussion on What is your favorite shotgun? within the Ruger Shotguns forums, part of the Rifle & Shotgun Forum category; My Benelli Super Black Eagle II. It is a pleasure to shoot and points like a fine game gun. One shotgun on my list to ...
My Benelli Super Black Eagle II. It is a pleasure to shoot and points like a fine game gun. One shotgun on my list to purchase is a Merkel 12 ga. SXS with an English stock. Mmmm.
My absolute favorite is my Red Label. It fits me perfectly and helped my claybird scores. I also have a Rem 870 Supermag that I use for waterfowl and turkey and a Win 1300 with Rifle BBL and scope for deer. They all serve me well.
My favorite shotgun is a Remington Model 11, 12 gage, made in 1942. It is a clone of the Browning Auto-5. Mine has a 25" barrel with removable choke tubes, and an MMC rear sight/post front sight for shooting IPSC three gun matches. Shoots elchepo Foster slugs into less than 3" at 50 yds. And it works!
I have one that is a 28 Gauge featherweight. Kicks like a son-of-a-bitch. Hell on phesants and grouse though.
For my money, Id take a Winchester Model 12 3" Heavy Duck with a factory vent rib. They point like the finger of doom.
Depends on what you want it for. For home defense, I have an 870P and don't think there is anything that would be significantly better. Not that this is the end all and be all, but it works for me and I'm used to it from PD days.
For turkeys, I prefer a TC Turkey gun as you can use the rifle barrels for added versatility. For ducks, upland, and deer, I'd recommend whatever you like best with multiple barrels/chokes. For me that would probably be an 1100 / 1187 only due to familiarity. Boils down to your preferences.
Those Darnes are beautiful pieces of work. Never had the opportunity to examine one, but in the pictures they sure look nice. Probably most elegant shotgun I've seen along with the Merkel.
My favorite shotgun is my model 37 Ithaca 12 Ga. made in the early 50s but I think I lost it to my son he borrowed it last fall and it hasn't found it's way back to dad.
I beat the hell out of an 870 Wingmaster in 12 ga.--and loved it, for years.
I wore out a Browning Citori Skeet model--had it rebuilt and re-blued in Missouri, and now I'm hoping to wear it out again.
I once owned a Mossberg 500 in 20 ga. that was reliable as hell and a terrific value for the money--gave it to my son.
(I think the Ruger Red Labels are great shotguns, but they just don't fit me.)
In the past few years I bought a couple of CZ side by sides, and gotta say, I flat love them. Good guns for the money.
Word about the CZ Bobwhite came to me from a couple of buddies who had them. Mine, in 12 ga. is the one I carry for pheasant and grouse.
My quail gun is a CZ Ringneck in 28 gauge. If I didn't reload, I don't think I'd think much of the 28--not because it wouldn't get the job done, but because it would cost too much to shoot! But it's cheaper to reload than a 12, 16 or 20, is wonderful to carry, and seems to kill better than anything that small really should. A lot has been said about the surprising ballistic efficiency of 3/4 oz. of shot from 28 ga. bore.
I have to say, my experience confirms it.
Can't say I have a favorite--depends what I'm using it for!