NationStates Jolt Archive

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

I have some great advice!

Aim the barrel away from yourself.;)

Don't cook naked. You're just asking for trouble.

go to the place where you would shoot skeet.

take some lessons from the pro using the various good choices for a gun.

buy the one you like the best.

Make sure that you actually pick it up and bring it to your shoulder to see if it feels natural. Also, make sure you can withstand the kick of the ga. without one of those wussy rubber buttpads.

I'm partial to the Mossberg line myself, but different strokes for different folks...

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?
I saw a thing on the Outdoor Channel a while back that featured CZ shotguns. I went and looked at a couple in the store and they look and feel nice. I wasn't in the market for a new shotgun, but they're high on the list when I am.

If you want a pump, I'd recommend a Mossberg 500. You can get a combo package with an 18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel and 28" modified choke barrel for around $250 last I checked. Barrel change is simple, the action is extremely rugged, and I personally find it comfortable to use.

Of course, my friends tend to adhere to the Remington 870, and I am acquainted with a couple of Winchester owners, but I still say Mossberg. See if you can shoot each type one after another some time and decide which feels right. No magazine article or web page should convince you to buy a gun that you don't like.

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

I've heard great things about Remington 870s. Also, when I was department manager of sporting goods at a Wal-Mart (1998-1999), I took a good look at the pump shotguns. The 870 seemed to have the forearm with the least slop in it. I don't know if that's changed since, but if/when I get a shotgun, an 870 will be at the top of my list of considerations.

Also, see if there's a range in the area, that will allow you to try various types before you buy one.

if your daughters boy friend can run fast get a long barrel shot gun. that way the shot stays together longer meaning he cant get away.

if your daughters boyfriend can duck and dive quickly take a shorter barrel shot gun to spread the shot out.

if he can do both carry two shot guns.


PS send me and invite to the wedding.

if your daughters boy friend can run fast get a long barrel shot gun. that way the shot stays together longer meaning he cant get away.

if your daughters boyfriend can duck and dive quickly take a shorter barrel shot gun to spread the shot out.

if he can do both carry two shot guns.


PS send me and invite to the wedding.

:p

For some reason this gave me a great idea for a shooting theme park. You know those places where they give you those kind of bullshit 'terrorist' training things?

Yeah, well, it's kind of bullshit, right? Why not embrace the bullshit and go whole hog-

Zombie Town! Shambling mannequin zombies that you work your way through a maze like fake city blasting with a shotgun, or hitting with a chainsaw, or whatever you can find. Tell me you wouldn't go for that...

Wow, this kind of thread normally, has about 12 people bitching about how gunz r teh ebil, or near-flaming the OP because they think that people only use guns to compensate for something.

@OP:

I suggest a Remington, or a Mossberg.

For some reason this gave me a great idea for a shooting theme park. You know those places where they give you those kind of bullshit 'terrorist' training things?

Yeah, well, it's kind of bullshit, right? Why not embrace the bullshit and go whole hog-

Zombie Town! Shambling mannequin zombies that you work your way through a maze like fake city blasting with a shotgun, or hitting with a chainsaw, or whatever you can find. Tell me you wouldn't go for that...

This is the best idea in the history of ideas. I would go every day. Hell, I'd buy stock.:D

Wow, this kind of thread normally, has about 12 people bitching about how gunz r teh ebil, or near-flaming the OP because they think that people only use guns to compensate for something.

@OP:

I suggest a Remington, or a Mossberg.

If he had asked for shotgun advice that would be best for blasting hippies in half, then yes. But he wants to go skeet shooting. Nothing wrong with that.

The truth is that it's attitudes about guns that are more of a problem than guns themselves.

If he had asked for shotgun advice that would be best for blasting hippies in half, then yes. But he wants to go skeet shooting. Nothing wrong with that.

Well, he didn't ask that because everyone that knows anything about guns knows that you use rifles for shooting hippies.

The truth is that it's attitudes about guns that are more of a problem than guns themselves.

And what attitude is that? Wanting to protect yourself froom crime?

Why get a pump action? You use more ammo, there heavier and you can’t fire as fast as with a semi or a double barrel.

Why get a pump action? You use more ammo, there heavier and you can’t fire as fast as with a semi or a double barrel.

A heavier gun handles the recoil better than a lighter one, allowing you to keep a sight picture.

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

The Remington 870 is a better choice. If you have to go cheap, buy a Mossberg.

The Winchester 1200 series is a pain in the ass to disassemble for cleaning.

A heavier gun handles the recoil better than a lighter one, allowing you to keep a sight picture. True, but he could just get a heavy O/U. This raises an interesting point that was in the Shooting Times a while back. Americans, whose tendency is for walked up game shooting, use the heaviest guns with the highest ammo capability when they shoot comparatively little and walk along distance. The British, who are more into driven game where you stand there and have the birds coming at you, use lighter guns with usually two and sometimes only one shot. Could be something to do with British companies making the best high-end shotguns in the world, but even the lowliest shooter will probably choose a £50 S-S over a £50 semi.

Most Brits would prefer a break-open gun for a clays too, but that’s more of a safety thing as you can easily see wither a gun is loaded or not as the barrels will be either open or closed. Unlike a semi or pump where its much harder to see what’s inside it, that and there are quite a lot of reports of issues with the safety catch on cheap semi’s/pumps.

True, but he could just get a heavy O/U. This raises an interesting point that was in the Shooting Times a while back. Americans, whose tendency is for walked up game shooting, use the heaviest guns with the highest ammo capability when they shoot comparatively little and walk along distance. The British, who are more into driven game where you stand there and have the birds coming at you, use lighter guns with usually two and sometimes only one shot. Could be something to do with British companies making the best high-end shotguns in the world, but even the lowliest shooter will probably choose a £50 S-S over a £50 semi.

Most Brits would prefer a break-open gun for a clays too, but that’s more of a safety thing as you can easily see wither a gun is loaded or not as the barrels will be either open or closed. Unlike a semi or pump where its much harder to see what’s inside it, that and there are quite a lot of reports of issues with the safety catch on cheap semi’s/pumps.

The doubles in the US that would be in his price range would be crap as firearms go.

To get a decent double in the US (say, the Ruger Red Label or Browning Cynergy or Citori) you have to put down at least a thousand dollars.

Most well made doubles have a better balance and swing.

On the other hand, if you're doing sporting clays, some of the automatics are very, very good, and the Browning Gold has very good balance.

The doubles in the US that would be in his price range would be crap as firearms go.

To get a decent double in the US (say, the Ruger Red Label or Browning Cynergy or Citori) you have to put down at least a thousand dollars.

Most well made doubles have a better balance and swing.

On the other hand, if you're doing sporting clays, some of the automatics are very, very good, and the Browning Gold has very good balance. True, over here we used to have a lot of gunsmiths making traditional British side by side sporting shotguns. These days the trade has somewhat declined for obvious reasons, so our second hand market is flooded with good quality sporting shotguns as the people who bought these guns new are hitting old age and having to give up the sport. You can pick up many for less than £200

If you want to modify your firearm in any way (new stock, barrel, slug sights, 'tactical' accessories, whatever) the easiest to alter would be the Remington 870, closely followed by the Mossberg 500 and distantly trailed by Winchester.

Barrel swap is probably fastest on the 500, though. Open the action halfway, unscrew the magazine tube end bolt, and twist off the barrel. Reverse the process for the new barrel. 45 seconds at most and you shift from hunting clay pigeons with small shot to hunting deer with slugs.

if your daughters boy friend can run fast get a long barrel shot gun. that way the shot stays together longer meaning he cant get away.

if your daughters boyfriend can duck and dive quickly take a shorter barrel shot gun to spread the shot out.

if he can do both carry two shot guns.


PS send me and invite to the wedding.

:mp5: Thats what rapid-fire semi-auto rifles with large capacity mags are for! ;)

Unless you are planning on rapidly engaging multiple targets, go with the pump shotty, as opposed to other types.

True, over here we used to have a lot of gunsmiths making traditional British side by side sporting shotguns. These days the trade has somewhat declined for obvious reasons, so our second hand market is flooded with good quality sporting shotguns as the people who bought these guns new are hitting old age and having to give up the sport. You can pick up many for less than £200

In the old days in the UK, you were "fitted" to your double with a "try stock".

Back when Abercrombie and Fitch was an actual gun shop and outfitter, and not some clothing store for young metrosexuals, you were fitted there, and usually purchased your sword, an African rifle, a double, and your Webley pistol there.

In the old days in the UK, you were "fitted" to your double with a "try stock".

Back when Abercrombie and Fitch was an actual gun shop and outfitter, and not some clothing store for young metrosexuals, you were fitted there, and usually purchased your sword, an African rifle, a double, and your Webley pistol there. Aye, I’ve got my granddads old fitted AYA No.1. Its the same with the Army Navy Store, I’ve got a catalogue from the 1940's for it and you could buy just about anything, from pistols to billiard tables to elephants feet. Now if you Google it, it’s just another clothing store for 'new men'

thanks for the advice so far!
And I'm 17 (I plan on buying the gun on my 18th birthday)...if I had a daughter, and somebody was saying she was her boyfriend? Yeah. Shotgun time.
And as for all the modification stuff, I'm more doing this cus I've been shooting a lot with a friend the past month or so, and I want to do this as sort of an easy, kinda laid back hobby as compared to sick competition shooting. heh. Maybe I'll do that later.

thanks for the advice so far!
And I'm 17 (I plan on buying the gun on my 18th birthday)...if I had a daughter, and somebody was saying she was her boyfriend? Yeah. Shotgun time.
And as for all the modification stuff, I'm more doing this cus I've been shooting a lot with a friend the past month or so, and I want to do this as sort of an easy, kinda laid back hobby as compared to sick competition shooting. heh. Maybe I'll do that later.

Here's another suggestion. From what I've read on another forum, some people get great deals on used firearms at pawn shops (depending on the laws and pawn shops in your area, you might be able to get in on this action when you turn 18 too).

If you want a pump, I'd recommend a Mossberg 500. You can get a combo package with an 18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel and 28" modified choke barrel for around $250 last I checked. Barrel change is simple, the action is extremely rugged, and I personally find it comfortable to use.

Of course, my friends tend to adhere to the Remington 870, and I am acquainted with a couple of Winchester owners, but I still say Mossberg. See if you can shoot each type one after another some time and decide which feels right. No magazine article or web page should convince you to buy a gun that you don't like.

I second the Mossberg. I believe it is a great gun for the money. Never had any problems with mine or has my son.

Mossberg 500 is always a good choice, like the Remington 870. TOZ shotguns are good too..

Saiga 12 ga. - it's basically an AK chambered for 12 ga. - Njoy!

http://www.gunsamerica.com/UserImages/96101/991990842/pop_wm_884682.jpg

Don't cook naked. You're just asking for trouble.
Kiss my cock.
and
That wiener isn't for eating.

My advice: don't drink while you're painting.

[Insert Dick Cheney hunting joke here]

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

Over and Unders are the way to go.

Saiga 12 ga. - it's basically an AK chambered for 12 ga. - Njoy!

http://www.gunsamerica.com/UserImages/96101/991990842/pop_wm_884682.jpg

I'm not sure that has the sight radius necessary for trap/skeet, and depending on where he lives, hunting with a semi auto shotgun may not be legal for certain seasons.

Lots of people have endorsed the Mossberg, and I don't disagree with that. But no one has mentioned the prettiest little bird gun in the $500 range...

The Browning Upland BPS
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=216

Lots of people have endorsed the Mossberg, and I don't disagree with that. But no one has mentioned the prettiest little bird gun in the $500 range...

The Browning Upland BPS
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=216

I have used a Remington 870 for skeet and hunting. I love the Remington 800 series. Not very elegant but they are reliable and fairly cheap when slightly used.

If I were going for a skeet gun however, I would go for a Benelli. Those guns are super sweet and totally worth the money. They are like the Ferrari's of shotguns imo.

link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibBgBhwafGM)

I suggest one of these. (http://www.snipercentral.com/tango51.htm)

I have used a Remington 870 for skeet and hunting. I love the Remington 800 series. Not very elegant but they are reliable and fairly cheap when slightly used.

If I were going for a skeet gun however, I would go for a Benelli. Those guns are super sweet and totally worth the money. They are like the Ferrari's of shotguns imo.

link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibBgBhwafGM)
There just over the top and illegal/hard to get in many countries, although there still awesome. Wouldn’t call them Ferrari’s though, for that look at http://www.purdey.com/ or http://www.hollandandholland.com/

Advice? Don't make the next girl pay for what the last girl took.

I'm going to add my voice to the chorus endorsing the Mossberg. I've used one that my father owns for hunting and skeet, and it's sweet action.

When you buy a pistol, I also recommend the .45 over the 9mm. And if you can get a Colt 1911 .45, hang on to that sumbitch.

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

New England Firearms. They are great shotguns. Their shotguns are almost identical to some of remingtons, but they are cheaper because they are synthetic and use aluminum instead of steel(which also makes the gun lighter which is very nice)

So yeah, the title pretty much says it all. I want a shotgun for trap/skeet, maybe hunting, that is ideally less than five hundred bucks. I'm looking at the Winchester 1200 or Winchester 1300 for now, its a 12 guage pump action that is relatively cheap ($340) but I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Thoughts?

Important but possibly overlooked point: what hand are you? The Mossberg's have a good rep, but I'm pretty sure I could never get one, because they don't usually come in a left-handed variety. If I used the standard Mossberg, the shell casing would hit me in the shoulder when it came out. I believe Remington has a lefty model, but I don't remember the details of the discussion my uncle and I had on the subject.