Please recommend a first shotgun - $ - Total noob

[DeltaCharlie]

+1 for Remington 870. Recommended to me for my first and now I also recommend it.

Remington often has rebates as well...

[bluetrane2028]

Mossberg 500. The 870's loading gate annoys me, and the 500 is ambi friendly.

[arjohnson]

I'd look for an older Remington 870 0r Mossberg 500. I have a 500 that's over 20 years old that was unfired when I got it last year, nicest trigger on any pump shotgun I ever had and I actually prefer the Mossberg 500 over the Remington 870, but honestly either will serve you well.

[win67]

If you're not sure whether to go with a 500 or 870, do some research on the ongoing Ford vs. GM debate and you will find it instructive.

I'm loyal to the Mossberg side of the holy wars.

[IronButt]

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

Nah!

For shotgun quals Each of us built what amounted to outside shithouses with plywood & 2x4's, (It was the Marine Corps, so they only allowed us to have hand tools), then we came back after lunch & blew them apart with old WW I vintage trench guns & 00 buck.

That was most ultimate-est!

[win67]

Nah!

For shotgun quals Each of us built what amounted to outside shithouses with plywood & 2x4's, (It was the Marine Corps, so they only allowed us to have hand tools), then we came back after lunch & blew them apart with old WW I vintage trench guns & 00 buck.

That was most ultimate-est!

Cool! What kind of trench guns did you use?

[IronButt]

Cool! What kind of trench guns did you use?

They were Winchester 97's with heat shields & bayonet lugs. Pretty neat old guns! Our ammo was 2 3/4", all brass cased 00, 12 ga. The brass cases were collected & counted like they were gold.

[IronButt]

Something around $300 or less. No idea about gauges - only shot pistols so far. I'll be heading out to the gun show in Feb. Are the prices there better than the retail shops?

What was your first shotgun? What do you recommend?

I'm partial to 870's, but there's nothing wrong with the Mossberg 500 either. I'd go with a 12 ga.

My first shotgun was a 20 ga Mossberg, magazine fed bolt action with C-lect choke that I bought from an uncle for $20. That was about 56 years ago. (Holy shit!)

[PA1936MN]

You wont go wrong with a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500. As far as your son goes it might help him more to learn from a single shot shotgun first which can be had for under $200 these days.

I still have and use the single shot 20gauge shotgun I got as a child.

[Splittiebus66]

Take a look at a Winchester 1300 or 1200 defender if you want something different. I paid $300. It's a nice setup, 18 1/2", 7 shot tube. I put an XS big dot on mine and have been using it for Slugfests.


IMG_4008 by splittiebus66, on Flickr

here's a real nice picture of one




And Hickok 45 shooting it.