ButchA

+1 to that!!

The Remington 870 has been around forever and is a true workhorse. You can bang it around, drop it in the mud, etc... and it will still keep on truckin' without any problems.

In fact, I know a waterfowler who still uses an old,tired,beatup, 1956 Remington 870. This old shotgun has seen better days, but let me tell you, it still works perfectly and has never had a problem!

Butch A.

Serrinon

excellent input guys!

to tell you the truth, I don't know what I'll be doing with it yet because I'm new to the sport. To start I'd just need to go to the range a bunch and get my aim down. Then I could see myself getting into skeet (most likely to happen), dear, and possibly birds.

as far as the 20 GA vs 12 GA. I liked the sound of less recoil with the 20 GA, but would I still be able to go skeet shooting or hunt dear?

Thank you guys!

oh and it looks like walmart has the 870 for $275
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3170098

they didn't have the mossberg, and the remington 1187 started at $664 (they had the "premier" and "upland" models, looked to just be a difference in style).

BrutalAttack

I agree. I bought an Mossberg 835 the first year they came out and it's done everything turkey, grouse, waterfowl etc, and never once failed.

Only shotgun you'll ever need.

Aught Six

I second the 870 Express. It can handle anything you need it for and will do so for many years to come. Great design that holds up in the field.

Baleful Scout

I was at my local walmart earlier today.
They had an870in wood for $238.28

Serrinon

Thanks Baleful, I just checked and they have the same price at my walmart.

So as a budget purchase for a beginner I think I'm going to get the Remington 870 for now (later I can get a more expensive shotgun).

The one thing I still have to decide is 12GA or 20GA. Sounds like for birds the 20GA is better, but for dear the 12GA would be better, but a 20GA is still ok. How about Skeet? I know that I'd be better off with a semi auto or a double barrel, but would a 20GA Remington 870 be ok?

Aught Six

I'd recommend the 12 ga. because it's moreversatile andobviously more powerful, but it's also important to get a gun that you can handle and shoot well repeatedly. If you don't want to deal with the recoil of the heavier 12 ga.loads, take the 20. Most people don't seem to have a problem, though. Try one of each from a family member or friend if you can.

The 870 pump is plenty for just about everything, trap/skeet, birds, turkeys, big game. It's a one-size-fits-all for every hunter, and for an excellent price. All shotgunners dream of custom rigs, but I think many, if not most, start with an 870.

TUK101

I have been shooting shotguns for close to 25 years and shot 12g for about the first 22 of them and now that I own a 20g I cannot see ever going back to a 12. The 20 takes a bit more precise aim, but I have not seen anything that the 12 does that the 20 wont. People will tell you that you need a 12 to kill turkey, well I beg to differ, I have gotten several turkeys in the past 2 years with my 20 and it killed them just as dead with less meat damage. Anyways its all about shot selection with a shotgun anyways and to me the lessened recoil of a 20 is more important to me than more shot per pull of trigger. I also like my break action guns compared to the pumps due to a significant reduction in weight and ease of aim.

Baleful Scout

I use a 12ga. myself but the 20 is fine.
The proper load and choke combination is more important than the difference between the 12 and 20.
The 12has more power with a little more recoil.
My opinion.

legion

I've bought three shotguns this year. (See sig.)

I took the 870 out trap shooting and had a blast. It was very comfortable and intuitive. I hadn't shot a gun in 15 years and still managed to get 20/25 in my first round (and went downhill from there).

I bought the Stoeger single barrel because it was on clearance at the local Dick's for $65, and it's great to have as a loner when I want to talk a friend into shooting trap.

I bought the SPR 310 because I wanted to give skeet a try...