FIRST shotgun purchase; Would like to talk some things over with the "pros"

millsboy79 · #1 06-28-2012, 05:57 PM

Hi there, I just received my PAL and am pretty sure my first purchase will be a 12ga shotgun. Will be going hunting for waterfowl, and other birds. I have been doing a lot of reading on here and other forums as well as watching a number of reviews on youtube. Sometimes I feel I find solid information, but other times I find it raises more questions than it answers.

Most recently was 3 vs 3.5" chambered guns. They were discussing the pluses for the 3.5 does not out way the negatives. They talked about extra weight and how the gun itself handled. Personally I would have to think 3.5 is better since you have more options.

I am pretty sure that I want to buy an auto-loader but if someone wants to make a case for a pump or over under, I am always happy to learn.

The current front runner is the Stoeger 3500 because of price point and inertia drive done by benelli as apposed to gas. Like most people I would rather the Super Vinci (go big or go home right) but I am not ready to drop that much money at this point.

I know that fit is of the utmost importance so I plan a day at bass pro to shoulder a few and see what I like.

I hope to get all kinds of feedback here and look forward to learning what you have to share.

elkhunter11 · #2 06-28-2012, 07:05 PM

Buy a shotgun that fits you, the best made shotgun in the world isn't of much use to you, if it doesn't fit.

catnthehat · #3 06-28-2012, 07:49 PM

For an all around gun, any action will do as long as the gun fits.
if a person is going to be doing more pass shooting and higher volume
( read longer shots) , then a semi will be better over the course of a day because of the recoil factor.

From a blind, weight is actually a good thing as well, because it absorbs recoil and you don't have to pack the gun around like upland hunting.

However, if you are jump shooting, a lighter gun is preferred by many .

I have shot many of the newer semis and they are pretty good for the most part, but no better IMO than an 1100 Remington, simply because to realize the difference one has to fire a lot of ammo to notice the difference.

I don't hunt with a semi, in fact I don't hunt very much with a 12 bore , and when I do it's a SXS hammer gun.
Most of my waterfowl hunting these days is done with a 20 over decoys.

Many if my friends use older 1100's or newer semi autos like the Maxis or Extrema, and they all think theirs are the best!

However, like EH11 stated, make sure it fits- most of the newer guns have shims and spacers to help with this.
Cat

qwert · #4 06-28-2012, 08:02 PM

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2c.shotguns.htm

catnthehat · #5 06-28-2012, 08:15 PM

He's looking for real world feedback, not something from Chuck Hawkes that may or may not be simply cut and pasted.

I once asked a factory shooter who had gone from one of fthe biggest selling companies in the world to a smaller company, what the difference was in the respective semi's o truthfully.
" The biggest difference in the fact that one costs 4 timems as much as the other, they both work fine, but you will not notice the difference in weight or cycling from brand X to brand Y unless you shoot 500 birds in a day"
He shoots the cheap $400 guns just as well as the other brand costing $1,900 .
THAT is about as truthful as a person can get.
He was released because o0f health issues, BTW, nothing else....
Cat

gopher · #6 06-28-2012, 08:23 PM

1100s made a nice single shot.

GoneFishin' · #7 07-03-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

For an all around gun, any action will do as long as the gun fits.
if a person is going to be doing more pass shooting and higher volume
( read longer shots) , then a semi will be better over the course of a day because of the recoil factor.

From a blind, weight is actually a good thing as well, because it absorbs recoil and you don't have to pack the gun around like upland hunting.

However, if you are jump shooting, a lighter gun is preferred by many .

I have shot many of the newer semis and they are pretty good for the most part, but no better IMO than an 1100 Remington, simply because to realize the difference one has to fire a lot of ammo to notice the difference.

I don't hunt with a semi, in fact I don't hunt very much with a 12 bore , and when I do it's a SXS hammer gun.
Most of my waterfowl hunting these days is done with a 20 over decoys.

Many if my friends use older 1100's or newer semi autos like the Maxis or Extrema, and they all think theirs are the best!

However, like EH11 stated, make sure it fits- most of the newer guns have shims and spacers to help with this.
Cat

Hey Cat, that's the exact shotgun that I use.(12 ga 2 3/4- but probably going to switch up to 3" barrel on it) I got it given to me, and it's an older one but works amazing for the rounds that have gone through it.

Guitarplayingfish · #8 07-03-2012, 01:03 PM

I am in NO WAY a pro...

But I picked up a remington 870 express super magnum... 28" barrel... I know a lot of people aren't too fond of this due to its weight but I have really liked it so far... Shoots nice, and for a big guy like me it seems to fit quite nicely.

I also picked this up because it was only 360$.... shoots 2 3/4, 3 & 3 1/2...From what I have read it is a very versitile gun and you can hunt anything from waterfowl to deer..

millsboy79 · #9 07-04-2012, 07:33 PM

SO I have started my collection of Canadian tire money, because I just found out that I can buy shotguns at a location in town. It will take a month or so of getting gas there and I will still have plenty of time to figure out what it is that I actually want to buy and will be in time for the hunting season.

That being said, anyone who wants to throw the odd amounts of Canadian tire money laying around into the pot to help get my first gun, I certainly wouldn't say no.

Currently for any of those keep score, The browning bps is the current pump front runner, as for the semi, it changes almost daily but like always it will depend on the amount of tire money saved and which happens to be on sale that day. LoL

Till then keep the comments coming I certainly appreciate the info.

#10 06-29-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsboy79

The current front runner is the Stoeger 3500 because of price point and inertia drive done by benelli as apposed to gas. Like most people I would rather the Super Vinci (go big or go home right) but I am not ready to drop that much money at this point.

.

I had the opportunity to shoot nearly every shotgun in the Stoeger family last week and I must say that the 3500 did not impress me. It would not eject trap loads consistently and I realy didn't like the way it felt. The one shotgun that really impressed me though was the A400 Xtreme. It will definitely be my next purchase.

Saltmania · #11 09-12-2012, 04:53 PM

I'm brand new to shotguns too.

I've been out a few times shooting clays with a friend and their older 870 wingmaster. It always worked well no major complaints, but I found myself tilting my head a bit too much.

I just recently picked up a Browning BPS hunter 3" 12g 26" and so far it's great. I'm no expert but as far as I can tell it fits my shoulder very well. The fit and finish is very good, action is smooth and the bottom eject makes it easy to find and pick up spent shells. I also really like the tang safety location. To be honest, I tried swinging a 28" barrel and couldn't really tell the difference so I went with 26" to shave a few grams and make it easier to pack in the canoe. So far it has broken every bird I've pointed it at.

Good luck. New toys are always fun!