Okay, in a few months I am going to be looking to buy a good shotgun. This will be my first one, mostly for just shooting at ranges and stuff, maybe a hunting trip or two. Id like it to be a good beginner gun and not too expensive. What would be a good gun to start out with? Id like not to go over $250. Also, what kind of liscense or class do you have to take to get a shotgun? Are there any requirements? I am 18. Thanks all

 

For that price the Remington 870, Winchester 1300, and the Mossberg 500 will all do good. It is just like cars Ford, Chevy, Dodge all about the same. You need to handle all of them to see what one fits you better. I like the 870 because it has a steel reciever, is this better I dont know, I just like the way it feels.

 

What jpfreak73 said. I like the Remington too. Check the prices on the new ones and then hit the pawn shops and sporting goods stores. You should be able to find a well conditioned use gun at a decent price, even cheaper if you can wait till hunting season is over. The price range you mentioned limits you to the pump guns more than likely, but you never know, you may find an old Rem 1100 that someone is in need of cash and is willing to let go. Guns with screw in chokes are recommended (more versatile) but may up the price some, especially if it has several chokes supplied with the gun.

 

What are chokes and what purpose do they serve? Is more than one better? If so why? Sorry for so many questions, but I want to know as much as possible before I buy

 

You should try to find a hunter safety class to take... it may not be required since you are 18, but its a good idea, it'll give you a jist on local laws and such.

I would avoid the Winchester as a beginner gun, they have extremely complicated trigger assemblies, that are very difficult to clean and reasemble.
The Remington and Mossberg are both excellent guns, both made in the USA. You will find a lot more aftermarket parts for the Remington. Both have chambers available in 3 1/2" lengths, however a Remington with a 3.5" chamber is a lot more money. A plain jane 3" chamber Remington retails for $279. Barrels for it are around $200. A mossberg retails for $199. I haven't priced extra barrels, but some guns are bundle packaged with a slug barrel & skeet barrel, and they retail for about $300.

Unless you are a sissy, I'd get a 12 gauge. There are a lot more shot offerings in 12 gauge. 20 gauge shells are usually a bit cheaper, but you have to be a better shot

I just recently picked up a nearly new Remington 11-87 Special purpose for $300 at a pawn shop, they were having a 50% off sale.

Choke tubes change the constriction at the end of the barrel (muzzle) to allow for longer shots. They are available in several different sizes (labeled: Extra Full, Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder, Cylinder, and Skeet.) Sometimes they are labeled with a constriction, Full is generally .660, Cylinder is .720. Thats the measurement in inches. Some chokes, Turkey, for example are so tight that they extend beyond the muzzle and have holes or slits cut in them, to provide compensation to reduce the recoil.
If thats not confusing enough, some chokes are only for use with lead or steel shot, and beyond that, they have special chokes for bismuth and tungsten iron shot. Those are generally the full and extra full chokes, turkey chokes are only for use wtih lead shot.

 

Chokes provide a constriction causing the shot to pattern better. Shotguns hsells have many little pellets in them and spread out in a pattern, a tighter choke (termed full choke or extra full choke) constriction will hold a tighter pattern then an improved cylinder or skeet choke which will hold a large pattern.
Most people can do all the hunting they ant with a full, modified and improved cylinder choke. Modified is kind of a medium choke that is kind of an in between general use choke. Imp. cyl. would be good for something fast moving and small such as doves or quail or somethign that you really need to hold a large pattern. Full choke would be better for somethign at longer ranges or bigger targets like a turkey or what I use them for is squirrels and shooting buckshot at coyotes.

I think the remington 870 is the best gun on the market in terms of quality, cost and reliability. I have many shotguns but if I had to pick one to do everything with or use to survive it would be my 870 wingmaster 12 guage.
The winchester 1300 is a good one to but I always thought they were to heavy, mossbergs to me are like Chevy trucks, don't have a desire to own one at all.

 

I would agree with the Remington's. I have an 870 and a 1100 both 12 guages. 870 is pump action 1100 is auto loader. Both have little felt recoil with 2 3/4 shells. I like the 1100 a little better but is higher priced. Buddy of mine just got a Benneli pump for his anniversary and for the price paid was cheaply made. Rattled something awful.

 

Screw in chokes are cylinders that actually screw into the end of the barrell and "adjust" the diameter of the fired shot pattern. An improved cylinder choke cylinder will have a very large diameter shot pattern at thirty yards, maybe six feet or more. But an extra full or turkey choke will have maybe a foot or so shot pattern at the same distance. For clay pidgeons and bird hunting you want a larger pattern to hit the small moving target. For longer ranges or stationary targets, a tighter pattern is preferred.


EDIT: What Mattsbox said above! Man I type slow!

 

I also recomend the 870 Remington. I would suggest a pump gun over an 1100 auto I think you can cycle shells through the 870 nearly as fast as a semi auto, but you don't have to choose what shells you will be shooting, 2 3/4, 3 inch, magnum or standard load. Put a 2 3/4" target load in a 1100 chambered for a 3"magnum and it won't eject the shells. JMHO.

 

My 1187 will cycle any shell out there. Plus the recoil is about 1/4 of a normal 12 gauge.

I put two Winchester Supreme 2 ounce 4 dram turkey loads in, then two Federal Low Recoil Handicap 3/4 ounce 2 3/4 dram loads in, pulled the trigger as fast as I could...
I broke all four clays with the first turkey load (gotta be some kind of world record), but kept shooting anyway...

 

Another vote for the Remington 870. And for a little less expensive version, get the Remington 870 Express. I think it is about $330 (been a year or so since I got mine, can't remember exactly).

 

68 351 bronc, my 1100 has never malfuntioned. I did not know they made a 1100 chamber in 3 in. I thought the 11-87 was the one chambered in 3 in.

 

The chamber is the same on the 2 3/4" and the 3" 1100's, you had to switch barrels though. The only difference in them is that the 3" barrel had a smaller exhaust gas port to push discharge gas to the piston to cycle the gun. The 2 3/4" barrels had a larger opening to push just as much gas to the piston as the 3" barrels would. The 3" barrels will shoot 2 3/4 shells but usually only the heavy 2 3/4 loads, and eventhen you are pushing it to it's lowest.
The 1187 models are gas compensated instead of gas operated. Really much is the same as far as funcion but teh 1187 regardless of what you shoot will always send the same amount of gas to the piston, so you can interchange 2 3/4" or 3" loads very easily.

 

[QUOTE=Mattsbox99]You should try to find a hunter safety class to take... it may not be required since you are 18, but its a good idea, it'll give you a jist on local laws and such.



I just recently picked up a nearly new Remington 11-87 Special purpose for $300 at a pawn shop, they were having a 50% off sale.

Good Idea on the safety class.

I don't like the safety in front of the trigger on the winchster and the mossberg 500 thumb safety will rust that detent ball if you don't clean it regularly

Doesn't the special purpose have an english stock and a21" barrel?

I have 2 870 20 gauge and 1 12 870 special field that have the english stock and 21" barrell.

Is the 11-87 chambered for 3" or 2 2/4 I can't remember

Mike

 

Yes, 12 g is probably a more versatile gun for several reasons, but I know some dudes who might take issue with that sissy part...when they're done laughing.

These guys have been skeet and sporting clay shooting for so long and are such good shots that they use 20 gauge and 410's so it doesn't get boring (less shot to hit with). They still hunt larger birds with the 12's for the knockdown, but for pigeon they'll use the 410.