So this year I get the chance to hunt turkey on my boss's land and she and her husband are going to let me use one of their shotguns and I got to thinkin that I kinda want a shotgun. Mind you im on a tight budget until income tax comes around and then im back on the budget LOL. I see that the Mossberg 500s are cheap of around $150-$200 and the Rem 870 Express is about the same maybe $50-$100 more. What would you guys/gals suggest? I'd be looking at either 12ga or 20ga.
The last shotgun I bought was a Mossberg 535 ATS. It's basically a Mossberg 500 that is chambered to handle 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/2" shells. I found it at Dicks Sporting Goods on sale for $270, plus a $50 mail-in rebate. I got the Turkey/Waterfowl combo, which came with a 22" Turkey barrel (with cantilevered scope mount), a 28" Waterfowl barrel (with vent rib and fiber-optic sight), 3 screw-in chokes, and a red-dot sight. And everything is Mossy Oak New Break Up camo too. :-)
I kinda like the idea of the beads vs the ramped front sight and all that. I got a .30-06 so I don't need the slug barrel but could always sell that haha. I gotta check the local sporting goods store and see what they have and all that. There are quite a variety of birds out here so that will be another set of stamps and what-not I'd have to get.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
If you wanna save money, look for a Rem 870 in the local pawn shops and gun stores. Since you want to hunt turkey and pheasant, I'd go with a 12 Ga. I prefer the 28" vent rib barrel with chokes.
__________________ I keep tellin ya Doc, I'm in pretty good shape considerin the shape I'm in !!
If you wanna save money, look for a Rem 870 in the local pawn shops and gun stores. Since you want to hunt turkey and pheasant, I'd go with a 12 Ga. I prefer the 28" vent rib barrel with chokes.
What kind of chokes do I need to look for? Like open? Full? Half? Also whats the difference aside from length in the different shells?
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
In addition to the Rem 870, to save ya even more money, ya may want to look into the NEF Pardner series, very comparable to the 870 but less $$.
As for chokes.......depends on what range you think you'll be shooting at, id say probably full........maybe modified.... there's my $.02 .
__________________
" This house is protected by the good Lord, and a gun......."
Now I know i'll catch some heat, but I would get either the Mossburg 535 or the Rem 870 Super Magnum. I know you don't need a 3.5 inch gun for anything, but you did mention turkeys, and if you want one shot gun to do absolutely everything, I would go for the 3.5.
At the prices you quoted Archetype wyo, if the shotguns are new the Mossberg is cheapest to buy. My Maverick is similer to a Mossberg, as far as operations it's perfect.
I also own a couple 870's and there perfect to and I feel is the better one But they both do the job and both do it well.
The Pardner Pump was mentioned and I have one of them to. There very well built, though the parts are made in China. A card comes with them that says there hand assembild in the U.S. Inspected and tested in the U.S. They've also gone up in price.
The Mossberg 535 was mentioned to. When they came out I wanted one and I stayed on top of the reports that came out, which were very good.
The 535 has a different designed reciever that is semi-hump back and it also flows down the butt stock in aiding shooter alignment. It is a good looking reciever to.
When I got my money together to buy a 535 and I swear this is true, at the last minute I ordered Mossberg's 930 semi-auto instead that has the same style reciever.
If you could get a deal on the Mosberg 535 it would be one of the finist multi-purpose Pump shotguns to own.
The stock even comes with adjustment shims to adjust the butt stock to fit you and it comes with 3 chokes.
The 535 has some other excellent difference's than the 500 so while your shopping check the 535 out.
Also how easy are the chokes to change? I mean me getting a shotgun today/tomorrow or however soon all depends on whether Sports Lure will let me open an account for a gun, not sure if its against store policy to put a gun on an account or not. But other than that it will be whenever income tax comes in that I can get one. I want to know what all I need to do and get so when the time comes whether it be today or tomorrow or whenever my income tax arrives that I can go out and get what I need and be done.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
Mike what is the difference in the 2 1/2", 2 3/4" and 3" shells? I mean whats cheap but still reliable and what types would I use for certain applications?
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
I don't think I've ever seen a 2 & 1/2" shotgun shell but 2 & 3/4, 3" and 3 & 1/2 I have.
First off what makes them different is the lenght of them LOL !!! AND the quanity of shot and powder.
Also they kick a bit more the longer the shell is. You'll find 2 & 3/4 will be what you shoot most often with 3" being best for Turkey Geese and Ducks as well as the 3 & 1/2.
Personaly the 3 & 1/2 in a pump shotgun might be a little more recoil then you can stand. I don't have a shotgun that will handel 3 & 1/2 and thats good !!!
With all the varity of loads we have available in all lenght's (Specialized Loads) With a little research you can go to the manufactures websites which will better explain to you better than I can.
I buy Remington express loads in #6's to squirrel hunt as far as turkey loads I've got 2 box's my son bought made by Fedaral that he never used and gave to me, so I use them but I have'nt killed or shot at a turkey with them yet.
I know there # 6's but's thats all I can remember. Since these loads were bought there has been many new turkey loads come out that happen to be costly and better in regards to distance.
If I ever get a chance to shoot these loads I have and use them up, I will try some of the newer turkey shells.
Because they are better.
Thats all I can do for you which is'nt much...A.H
Mike its a good base of information to go off of and I thank you kindly for it. Now for Sports Lure and their answer to me gettin an account with them and buyin a gun like that and doin payments. Here was the owner of the store's answer and I have lived here in Buffalo all my life and have spent untold thousands of dollars in there(my response is in the single quote marks:: "You want an account because you can't buy the gun outright?" 'exactly' "Well unless you're rich we won't give you an account, you might want to put a gun on layaway and pay for it that way."
Well layaway defeats the whole purpose and he will now miss all of my future gun purchases unless he has an extra special price on one that I just can't live without. I understand with the way the economy is and all that how he feels but I don't think he realises how much money I spend in there. Hell I just spent $850 in there on that PT-1911, deer and elk tags, and like 4 boxes of 45acp. I guess business doesn't matter that much to him. Sucks that there isn't another gun shop in town or else I'd tell him to piss up a rope. Looks like Rocky Mountain Discount Sports in Sheridan, WY will get all my business from now on. What an a-hole. My family has been here in Buffalo, Wyoming since 1979 and are respected here in town, my dad and grandfather both have worked for the City for 20+ years.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
You don't need and will probably never use a 3 1/2"chamber.A 500 Mossy or 870 Express will do all you should be doing.I have used 870,s for years and believe they outwear 500,s because they have a steel action.Either handles well in 3'chamber but the 3 1/2" is slightly slower.I prefer the tang safety on the Mossy to the crossbar on the 870.(the mav 88 has acrossbar too)As to chokes,a full .694", or modified,.710" will do all of your bird or rabbit/squirrel hunting and the modified will handle slugs.A super turkey in .665" will handle turkey.Later in life,if you insist on getting the hell kicked out of you and spending big bucks for very little gain,you can get a 3 1/2" chamber.They just aren't worth it. ,,,sam.
Thanks much Sam. I am going to start pricing them in the next town over for when I have the money. Sports Lure has just lost a good portion of my respect and purchases, its bad enough they overcharge but for them to not work with a loyal customer on getting a gun in these hard times? Jeese. Anyways yeah I like a tang safety alot better as well. That trigger guard safety just doesn't do well for me haha. I spose I could walk around with the pump back and then when its time to shoot throw it forward and shoot. I would like to get an older 870 Wingmaster cause they are about the price of a new 870 but more expensive than the 870 Express.
Also whats the difference between the 870 and 870 Express?
Sports Lure, taking your first born at every transaction.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
Both are cheap and I would like a 20ga as well as a 12ga. Keep options open when it comes to ammo and versatility yah know? Let me know what you guys/gals think.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
Both are cheap and I would like a 20ga as well as a 12ga. Keep options open when it comes to ammo and versatility yah know? Let me know what you guys/gals think.
Either of those guns are fine. As I predicted, I caught hell for mentioning the thought of a 3.5 inch gun. I don't think the recoil is that bad, however, a 3 inch will still do everything you want.
Get your 12 gauge first. You can get lighter 2 3/4 loads that are similar to a 20 gauge in performance, yet you will still have the versatility of a 12 gauge. Not trying to knock the 20 gauge, its just that you can do so much more with a 12, and if you are looking for one shot gun to do it all, a 12 gauge is the way to go.
Well looks like from what everyone is sayin here that Pardner Pump will be on its way as soon as I have $250ish leeway I'm gonna order that one and get some shells and toy around with it.
__________________
The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
