Please recommend a first shotgun - $ - Total noob

[Hodgie]

Another Vote for the 500 the 870s can be good too but there have been some serious quality control with Remington over the last 18 months which effected a lot of the 870's. If you buy a used one make sure it's an older model.

[JAKIII]

Shooting up a car was the ultimate.

...banging a car with a LAAW in basic training was 'ultimate-er'...

[Sshuker]

Another vote for the 870 or 500.

I have usually preferred the 870's. Pick the two up and the 870 just seem to jiggle around less, but the fact that 870's have been floating around my family as long as I can remember may have been just as big of a factor in my decisions.

[WVBob]

Another vote for the 870 or 500. Both are good and will get the job done. With a wife and 10 year old you might want to think 20ga. vice 12ga. You can do the same things with the 20 and others can handle it better.

[PHL9mm]

Another vote for the 870 or 500. Both are good and will get the job done. With a wife and 10 year old you might want to think 20ga. vice 12ga. You can do the same things with the 20 and others can handle it better.

Thanks, Bob. That's good to know.

[Ooglar]

At the risk of making this thread even more repetitive - Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 (or590) in either 12 or 20 gauge, with a stock. Those pistol grip only guns look awesome but are completely impractical (I will shamefully admit my first gun was a Mossberg 'Roadblocker', which was mighty expensive after I replaced the stock, barrel, and forend).

Personally I prefer the Mossberg - it has an ambi tang safety (I shoot lefty), slide release that can be used without breaking your firing grip, and lift gate that is out of the way when the bolt is closed (on a Remington the gate covers the loading area and must be pushed past to load a shell, minor issue but it annoys me).

Remington users get to use magazine extension tubes (present on the 590 but not 500), probably more accessories (kind of a wash though), and more of a solid feel (the mossberg slide does rattle a wee bit)

Here is my bedside gun...
[IMG][/IMG]

[gummy jones]

you can find 870 expresses with standard wood both new and used for dirt cheap

check slickguns.com or post a want ad in our classifieds

its counterpart is the mossberg 500 but i personally like the feel of the 870 better. and to answer your question before you ask it, which one is "better" is purely a matter of preference regardless of what anyone else says.

[Hodgie]

its counterpart is the mossberg 500 but i personally like the feel of the 870 better. and to answer your question before you ask it, which one is "better" is purely a matter of preference regardless of what anyone else says.

I agree 100% at least when Remington is making them on par which they were having issues with in 2013 and 2014. I would have no issues busying a used older one but I would not buy a new production 870 express, 870, or 870 magnum for awhile.

[animalmother85]

I agree 100% at least when Remington is making them on par which they were having issues with in 2013 and 2014. I would have no issues busying a used older one but I would not buy a new production 870 express, 870, or 870 magnum for awhile.

Yeah, one that's a few years old. They are good to go.

[LineWalker]

+1 for the 870.

I have no experience with the Mossberg so I cannot comment myself.