Best Starter Shotgun

[David]

I've been looking for a decent shotgun to begin bird hunting and skeet shooting with. I'm settled on the 12 gauge but not the make/model. What would be your suggestion for a good first shotgun?

[Q]

David,

In my opinion, it's really hard to beat a Remington 870. The 870 is an icon and an absolutely tried and true shotgun. It's inexpensive, it's accurate, it's easy to operate, and it's easy to tear down. It will hunt, it will shoot clays, and it won't fail. I'd go with a 28" vent rib model...modified rem choke...and while you'll probably buy more "better" shotguns over time, you'll always come back to it.

[afioc]

David,

In my opinion, it's really hard to beat a Remington 870. The 870 is an icon and an absolutely tried and true shotgun. It's inexpensive, it's accurate, it's easy to operate, and it's easy to tear down. It will hunt, it will shoot clays, and it won't fail. I'd go with a 28" vent rib model...modified rem choke...and while you'll probably buy more "better" shotguns over time, you'll always come back to it.

+1

[ILstMyMarbles]

If you're looking for a shotgun which is reliable and can play the field: whether skeet, 3-gun competition, hunting, or home defense; and is a fun weapon to modify....that would be the Saiga 12 shotgun imported by Izmash of Russia. Utilized by the Russian Speznas (SWAT), this weapon is based on the tried and true AK47 design. It is imported by RAA (Russian American Armory) in a sporterized configuration, but can be converted back to original. It comes with a five round detachable magazine and fires 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells. The shotgun can be converted fairly easy with much information that can be found at SAIGA12.com. A few years ago, they sold for about $250.00, but at present they sell for about $600.00. They are somewhat hard to come by at this time; however, it is projected that availability will improve considerably in the very near future. Whenever I take my converted Saiga12 with its 10rd magazine to the range, others are floored by its appearance and performance.

misc. photos 074.jpg

[Q]

No offense, but if that's a "Starter Shotgun" then I'm an astronaut...and I aint left the atmosphere that I know of! Cool looking piece, but I wouldn't show up to the skeet range or a dove shoot with it.

I'm sure it's a whale of a home-defender or combat piece though.

[ILstMyMarbles]

You are very right about it not being a starter shotgun(mine, that is). But in its original configuration as purchased before I modded it, it looks like this. And it is a very good shotgun for a first shotgun which can be given unlimited options depending on one's need. It is quickly becoming the shotgun to be reckoned with in competition by top competitors such as Taran Butler and Dean Makos.

saiga_12.jpg

Don't get me wrong- I own an 870 and a Moss 500 as well. Good weapons, but I'd rather use a Saiga12 for whatever the occasion. To each his own.

[David]

I could go for the Saiga but I'm not too sure how good it would be for skeet or bird since the barrel is so short. Also, Bud's doesn't even have the Saiga on their website. Is there a better place to find one online?

The 870 is looking like the gun to beat right now.

[BaronAguon]

You would like a fine starter guage? Mossberg 500. Less expensive than the Rem. The add on barrels, for starters, are WAY less expensive. They have fully rifeled, various smoothbore 20", 24", 26", 28". 30" fixed Full or Modified. Muzzeloader barrels! But I don't think they have a breech plug so may be a pain to clean. Mossberg even makes 18.5" barrels for the Rem. as a less expensive allternative. The Rem reciever is made of steel, Mossbergs out of Aluminum alloy. The Rem has a crossbolt saftey, in front of the trigger gaurd I think. The mossberg has a tang mounted saftey. Which I think is better. You also have a better loading gate. When locked In battery the Mossbergs elevator is clear of the mag tube port. Rem has some hinged affair going on. I was not going to bring up the Mil-Spec thing but I will get my two cents in before everyone goes nuts with that. If I was Remington I would not have entered that contest either. It was not that they did not pass the mil spec, they just did not enter. They already had a loyal following of sports and Law Officers. Why give that up IF the military found fault? Which they most certainly would not! The ol' 870 is a fine arm to be sure of. But there are a few features that, to me, hold the 500 over the 870. A co-worker of mine also has a Pardner Pump. Chinese copy of the venerable Rem. with an additional shot mag tube. 5+1 I beileve. I could not find aftermarket barrels online but he special ordered one from Gander Mountain. Also some Winchester 1300s flooting around I you know where to look. I have never shot a Ithica though.

[libertarian]

I like my Mossberg just fine. But I'm no expert.

[David]

Wow, $257 for this http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/39622 is quite a deal. How hard is it to change the barrels? That would solve two roles for me if the barrel swap is simple. It can be a short barreled home defense gun and a long barreled clay buster.