Help me choose a new shotgun....

I bought a browning BPS a couple of years ago and was disappointed in the recoil of this gun. I'm 6'2" and go a couple of hundred pounds and recoil don't bother me much, but this was brutal. I felt a lot of recoil up in the face area. Just my observation. I also bought a franchi 612 automatic and think for the money they are the best. Very easy to clean and not many parts. Rick
 
Benelli's Nova line is the biggest joke on the market. Why anyone would want a bulkie plastic pump at Benelli price's in beyond me. I guess if you can't afford a real Benelli but have to have a gun that says Benelli on it maybe?
 
I would look to a semi-auto with a 3" chamber & a 26" barrel. With the right 3" load you don't need 3.5". If you can swing it I would look to Benelli,Browning or the Winchester semi-auto that they still make. I'm sure there are others out there.
 
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If you are going to shoot alot of mags stay away from pumps the hurt too much to have fun.I have a rem 870 3.5 mag and i wont shoot mags in it anymore and im far from recoil shy.
 
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Benelli's Nova line is the biggest joke on the market. Why anyone would want a bulkie plastic pump at Benelli price's in beyond me. I guess if you can't afford a real Benelli but have to have a gun that says Benelli on it maybe?



Yupper.... That's why I bought the one I have.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I guess I was lucky, too, in that it has been a very serviceable shotgun. And I wish I could find the "real" Benelli's - at "Benelli price's" - like you recommend for the same $318 that I paid for the Nova...NIB

Now that I know the truth, it will probably break just sitting in the safe and I'll never get to use it again... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

-BCB
 
I'm sorry BCB, I've been around em in the blind, and I wouldn't take three of them for one 870. Seen em freeze up, and missfire, maybe you got a good one. But for another $80 you could of had a Stoeger with inertia drive (but then it wouldn't say Benelli). Sorry but there isn't a pump out there that compares to the 870 for the price.
 
Remington 11-87 and Browning Gold are great semi autos. dont cost as much as Benellis, but if you can afford one Benellis are great. for pumps not many can beat a Browning BPS or Remington 870, good reliable guns. my family and friends havent had good results with mossbergs except my silver reserve.
 
I have killed a lot of yotes with a 12ga shot gun of one type or another. I duck hunted for 6 years with an 870, 1100. I lived in Az for 8 years and shot doves with a Benelli Super Black Eagle.

Your personal fit on the shotgun is very important. You need to go to a large gun store and try many shot guns.

I did quite extensive testing on handloading buckshot using Ballistic Products wads, buckshot, and filler. I'm telling you one thing, when you start shooting 1 5/8 to 1 7/8 of lead you will learn to appreciate soft kicking shot guns. I shot 870's and an Ithaca 37 Pump for years and they just about kicked my teeth out. I made the decision to go to auto's to aid in recoil. I also shot and loaded for an Ithaca 10ga that was the cat's meow for yotes at 65 yards.

Everyone will have a different opinion. A guy that shoots very little will have a very different opinion than a guy that shoots a lot.

When shooting doves in Az, I found that my new Benelli Super Black Eagle turned my arm green from recoil. The SBE fit me extremely well, and I could not seem to miss with the shotgun. I also had a lot of trouble with the SBE jamming after about 5 boxes of Remington Factory dove loads.
The inerta recoil system in the SBE kicks the same as a pump. I sold the SBE and bought two Browning Gold Sporting Clays which I shot the heck out of with no problems.

I also had a Beretta 390 and what a fine shot gun that is. It never jams and swings well also.

For a beater shotgun to use on yotes, I bought a 3" 1100 and taped the gun up with camo tape. The 1100 Kicks much less than my 11/87 also. The 1100 kicks less than the 390 also. The only thing about the 1100 is that it is a high maintance gun, hunt with it and shoot it, then wipe off the magazine tube and it will be trouble free.

I've killed hundreds of yotes with a load of 1 5/8 oz of #4 buck that is going 1350 out of a 2 3/4" Active hull while hunting in Mexico. This load will flat out ring your bell in anything but a good gas auto.

Depending on which side the coyote comes in on, I often found that when sitting on my little foldiing stool on a stand, that I had to shoot left handed when I usually shoot right handed. When I start shooting on my "Off" side, the recoil of real Mean heavy loads will really rattle my cage, especially for follow up shots on multiples.

I envy you guys that can shoot a pump with these real heavy loads and stay in the game...I reckon that I'm just a [beeep]. I also have real high cheek bones that get smacked when the gun is under very heavy recoil.

Everybody is different and chances are that you may have to try a few shotguns to see what your personal likes and dislikes are. If all you want is a good shotgun for calling yotes, then a $150 Mosburg 500 from a pawn shop with screw in chokes will fill the bill. I hope that you are not as recoil sensitive as I am.
 
Considering a predator caller seldom shoots enough shells in one setting/day to suffer the effects of recoil, for this forum it doesn't seem to be a big deal. High volume shoots such as doves in S. America, ect. a gas gun with heavy steel frame will of course be softer shooting than a double gun, or, the pump and recoil operated semi-auto. However, I certainly don't want to lug an eight pounder around up and down hill and dale and beyond when I can have a lively and lighter gun with better reliability and less maintenance. To each his own... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Excellent gun the Beretta. That's the best gas gun without doubt IMHO. I'd never swap a Benelli M1/M2 for a gas gun, but that is my experience and preferences.

I know, that describes my personal situation... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
When I was Hunting in the South West, it usually involved wearing very thin clothing. Even in the winter, a light field jacket was the only required, at least in most of the hunting that I did. An Army field jacket was about the heaviest coat that I ever wore.

The 12ga with 3" mag buck shot has the recoil of a 375 H&H to a 416 Rigby...nothing to sneeze at. 3" buckshot loads have a very fast snap to the recoil, not a mild push.

Shooting very heavy recoiling guns leads may leade to a flinch in your rifle shooting, if you shoot the heavy buckshot loads in light clothing. Shooting Pump guns with heavy duck loads never bothered me due to the fact that I had on heavy clothing. The recoil of the Ithaca 10ga is not bad either which is more of a long push in felt recoil.

Like I said, the guy that shoots very little will have a different opinion compared to a guy that shoots a lot. A guy really has to examine his needs he has for each particular type of game he is hunting. If you want to use the shotgun for coyote hunting, then you may enjoy a 24" barrel or shorter. While for dove hunting, a guy may want a lighter gauge, and for duck hunting yet another type of shotgun.

When we were hunting yotes, we did not carry the shotguns very far. We would usually park the truck and walk 300 or so yards away and make a stand. We also carried the shotgun in a scabbord on a horse or mule. Coyote populations were very high in Mexico and in secluded areas in Az that were only approachable by horse back. If you could hunt on the leading edge of a low pressure front, you would shoot a lot of Buckshot. It has been my experience that you shoot about twice as much buckshot as rifle ammo.

I have never had any problem with my 1100 3" Mag. I was taught to wipe off the magazine tube each and every time I hunt with it when the gun has been fired. I have shot over 1000 rounds of Buckshot through this particular 1100 without problems, but I do clean it when it has been shot.

Weight was not ever a problem, even with the Ithaca Auto Mag. The Swing on the Ithaca 10ga was a problem however.

I can not stress enough the proper fit on a shotgun if/when you intend to shoot a lot. I had an Ithaca over and under 12ga that it was almost impossible to miss with, but the shotgun gave me a black eye. Any light pump shotgun would give me a bright red spot on my cheek from the gun slapping my face under heavy recoil. The Remington 870 and 1100 shoot about 8" low for me at 40 yards due to stock fit.

The Beretta 390, Browning BPS, and the Benelli SBE fit me
the best.

The poster wanted various recomendations as to a shotgun. If I had to pick just one shotgun in an auto, then it would be a Beretta 390 or 391. If a fellow were to be insistant on a pump, then I would pick a Browning BPS due to my fit.

There were several guns mentioned that I have never tried, it is very interesting to hear those comments.
 
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Look at the Mossberg 835 Tactical Turkey it has a 20" barrel and a collapsing stok like an AR comes camoed perfect gun for yotes and it has a 3.5" chamber. From what I am hearing the 835 essentially is a 10 Ga. But shoots 3.5" 12 ga shells They are a bit pricey for a mossberg around 600 bucks but that is way less than a bennelli or barretta



Just like this one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Works like a champ. Little finicky with buckshot, but Hevishot - dead coyote works great. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DSC00715.jpg
 
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I'm sorry BCB, I've been around em in the blind, and I wouldn't take three of them for one 870. Seen em freeze up, and missfire, maybe you got a good one. But for another $80 you could of had a Stoeger with inertia drive (but then it wouldn't say Benelli). Sorry but there isn't a pump out there that compares to the 870 for the price.



No need to feel sorry for me... I'm a big boy... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif But, I looked back and I can't see where I said anything bad about a Remington 870. I merely asked what was wrong with the Benelli Nova... Mine has worked fine....

And feeling uncertain, I just checked a gun safe and there are still a couple of 870's in there, so I guess they're still OK with me even though I bought a Nova just so I could have a "name" in one of my gun safes.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As for the Stoeger, A friend used to have one.... He sold it and encouraged me to not buy one.... Hmmmmmmm.....? I guess that's why there are horses in a horse race and we just don't declare a winner before they run...

Is there any kind of tractor I shouldn't buy if I decide to be a farmer when I grow up...? And is there a "name" tractor I should have in the equipment shed to impress my neighbors... What someone else thinks is always really important to me when I make a personal decision... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
-BCB
 
Thanks a bunch for all the replies. I really like the looks of the "tactical turkey" but how does it swing on birds??? But it looks like i'm leaning to either a Benelli or Beretta. It really sucks living up here as far as being able to shoulder or look over a paticular model before I buy. The nearest real gun shop is over 150 miles away although the local gas station/liquor store/deli will order guns for me and only tack on 20 bucks. So it looks like I might have to take a road trip to Reno or Bakersfield to check them over before I purchase.

Richard
 
I don't shoot birds other than crow with it. That works fine. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I guess if you wanted more throw out of it, you could get a longer barrel for it without a large expense.


It is designed for turkey hunting, but it works excellent for predator hunting as well. It fills the gap I had and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
 
After seeing pictures of a guys face after the stock collapsed on his mossberg tactical turkey I'd stay away from them. He need several stitches from the scope hitting him. I'd get your self an 870 supermag if you want a pump. SBE2 if you want an automatic.
 
I'm not discounting what you say Rem

But like with any collabsible stock, if the set pin is not fully engaged or the lever is depressed for movement and not secured, it will happen.

Was this a case of the plastic breaking or what? If the plastic was extruded or molded wrong, it could happen. But we all take these chances at some point. I have shot mine several times without failure and trust it will hold.

I know the pin and screw that hold the stock together is made of heat treated 4130 steel. The plastic shell is not as strong but if the pin is engaged, it could hold 1klbs of force without being bothered. I guess I could put my Rockwell hardness gage on the plastic to see what it actually measures, but the mesh is overkill strong anyway so I haven't bothered.

I'd like to see those pictures if you have them.

I just know I have something that works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

 
I've seen the pic's, when that stock broke it really messed up that guys face. That scope slamming into his face from the recoil of the magnum .12 gauge probably felt about like a baseball bat. It looked like some wounds I've seen at bar fights and other festivities that got out of hand and someone resorted to a hard metal object of one kind or another to bust someone up with. Nasty indeed...
 
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