actionexpress

O/Us make for a nice club though. Off subject, but how do you like your CZ? (the Redhead).

Mayor Al

I bought two Mossberg's at an auction Saturday... One is a 500 12 ga with a slug barrel and a 26" smooth barrel with it for $180

The second one is a 20 gauge Smoothbore 26 " barrel, pump-action in like new condition for $150.
Mossbergs can be a real bargain if you shop smart.

Tater

A shotgun that will take 2 3/4 and 3" shells is plenty.

HueyDriver

I bought a "Maverick", made by Mossberg. You can catch them on sale at Academy now and then, but even at $189 they are excellent.

Academy - Mossberg® Maverick® 88™ 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun

Tip: Before you buy a pistol grip shotgun with no butt stock...shoot one and see if you like it.

MILLERTIME

I like my Mossberg 930 semiauto 12 ga. Shoots well for me and they a fairly cheap .

cwl1862

Yep my vote is for the 870 too Just a change of the barrel and you've got a totally different shotgun. They are fast and totally reliable. Rem 870's are the tanks "Rugers" of the shotgun world.

Catman

As someone who own 7 870s and 4 Mossbergs and a couple of Maverick ...the 870 is HANDS DOWN the best gun. It is much smoother and overall fit and finish are superior. I've never had any of the above guns fail. Also ....IMO there are more accessories for the 870. If you are careful you can find great deals on the 870s. FWIW ...I have not paid over $185 for any of mine. Back when Academy ran the Maverick on sale for $119 and had a free aluminum hard shell double case ...it was a 'no brainer' ....but at the regular price of close to $200, there is no way in HADES I'd buy one.

IMHO too many people get in hurry and pay too much. Wait for the right price. Times are hard ...money talks and BS walks.



.

NCLEO89

The 870 is pretty hard to beat, particularly in terms of reliability and overall toughness. I have the Marine Magnum [stainless] version, outfitted with a Tac Star sidesaddle ammo carrier. When I bought it [used] a year or two back at the gun show, it was in perfect condition, and looked like it had never been fired. It was also the only one in the building. Got a great deal on it, and since it didn't come with a box, I was walking around with it at the show for a while after buying it...ten different people came up to me that day wanting to buy it!

azbuckeye

Remington 870 12 gauge.....

West Texan

+1

ikar

I carried shotguns as a backup weapon for years and the 870 with a police barrel is the one I used the most and will pick up later. The other one I carried was a trench gun but the prices I have seen them go for takes them of the list.

gunaddict826

I have a of Mossy 500 that was cheap enough. Shoots well and have never had any kind of problem with it. Not too bad to clean, but it's a pump.

Best deal I've found was a Charles Daly 12ga Auto at WalMart a few years ago for my then girlfriend. Thing was really well balanced, came up nice, and shot very well. Kind of a pain to clean, but not as bad as a Rem 1187 as I recall, though I haven't cleaned one of those in years. Hell....I haven't cleaned the Daly in years either for that matter. She took it when she left.

With the Benelli SBE I'm spoiled on the whole cleaning thing.

TomP5

I love reading these sorts of threads. It demonstrates so clearly why there are so many different brands, sizes, shapes, styles, colors, stocks, gauges, calibers, etc! There is literally something for everyone!!

What a hoot.

arg0naut22, I do think you've been given some very good advice! The Remington 870 comes in lots of configurations and is a great gun! I wanted an 870 Wingmaster as a kid, but bought a Savage for less than half the price. Who would have guessed that almost 40 years later I'd still be shooting that old pump Savage! (But I also now own a few other makes and models, including a Browning Gold Hunter, which is my favorite. )

Oh, and I also think those Mossbergs are very versatile and affordable, especially with multiple barrels.

All that to say, at this point I would suggest you sort of jot down a summary of what our fellow Ruger Forum guys have suggested, go to your LGS and hold a few of those. Compare how they fit you, how the balance feels to you, how you like the pistol grip on some that have that, and of course the price! Based on all of that, you are sure to find something that will meet you needs/wants.

Oh, and I agree with you, as most of the other Ruger Forum guys do, that guns are like good potato chips: you can NOT only eat (own) just one.

arg0naut22

[QUOTE=TomP5;665823]I love reading these sorts of threads. It demonstrates so clearly why there are so many different brands, sizes, shapes, styles, colors, stocks, gauges, calibers, etc! There is literally something for everyone!!

What a hoot.

arg0naut22, I do think you've been given some very good advice!

thanks, tomp5 and everyone else. yes, this will definitely help me with decision making. i'm leaning toward the 870, but as you say, there is no substitute for holding them and if possible trying them out. as far as pump vs. semi goes, for my budget and purposes i think i need to stick with pump (also having talked the other day with a friend who's used pump action for clays for years and done well). nice thing is, if i'm able to get one when i'm up in montana, not only might the prices be a tad lower, but there'll be no sales tax.

Dsteele

If money werent an issue. (And it totally is for myself.) Id go with a Mossberg 590. All metal, ghost rings, and I love the ergonomics on a mossberg. Not that Remington doesnt make a fine shotgun. I own an antique Model 10 that shoots ALL day long. They make a fine product. For me though I want that 590 for HD.