New duck hunting shotgun?

[SeaMonkey]

Hey guys, I'm looking at buying my first shotgun with the plans of using it primarily for duck hunting. After reading more reviews and opinions than I can count online and after talking to friends and the staff at a few stores I was planning on getting a remington 870. I figured how can I go wrong with a gun that's been around for so long and has 10 million sold. When I went to the store, the manager at the store really tried to convince we to go with a few other options. I didn't really bite until my brother in law showed up and jumped into the conversation. Now they almost have me convinced to go with a Stoeger 3500. It seemed really nice in the store and the price was good. What do you guys think?

[njbowhunter]

Wow they talked you out of a remington for a stoeger. I would go with the 870 or a benelli. But Bottom line it all comes down to what you like.

[waterfowler 19]

cant go wrong with the 870 all around great gun

[SeaMonkey]

So actually, the shop owner wanted to sell me a versa-max. I probably should, but I'm not really prepared to spend that much on my first gun. Anyway, when I told him it was out of my budget he went right to the Stoeger.

Let me say that I know that the 870 is a great gun and that you can't go wrong with this classic. The biggest arguement sticking in my head right now it the difference between the pump and the semi-automatic (at close to the same price.) They had me thinking that I'd want the semi-auto as soon as I knew a little more about what I'm doing.

The second thing is that the Stoeger felt much smoother than the 870 and just seemed have a higher quality feel. Since this is my first gun and will probably be the only gun that I have for a while I don't want to buy something that I'll want to replace next year. I don't know what I don't know which is why I'm looking for opinions here.

Thanks

[Jerseybuck]

Bought a Stoeger for my son 2 seasons ago. Won't buy another one, no matter what the price. The bolt on the Stoeger is a pain in the ass, if it doesn't slam home, it won't fire. The action likes to be kept really clean.

You want a solid all around gun, get the 870, you'll shoot less shells to. Find a used one and save a few more bucks.

I shoot a Remington (Bailkal) Over Under. No complaints.

[Nitrous SwampRat]

semi autos can be a pain to keep clean. stay with a pump action.
A lot of brands out there. Remington, Mossberg, Benelli to name a few.
Get a synthetic stock since your going to be waterfowling(in and around water).
I have never owned a stoeger but havent heard good things.
Dont get caught up in the 3 1/2" shell craze either. You pattern your gun and find out what ammo it likes the 3" shells it will be just as good minus the extra recoil and cost.

Nick

[Buck Tales]

I agree with Nick, stay with the pump. I have shot for years with my Mossburgs and love them. Look at a nice pump combo setup that comes with 2 barrels in synthetic. You will have a deer gun and a nice vented rib barrel which you can just screw different chokes in to hunt ducks or what ever you want. Most all the Mossburgs that I've seen shoot 2-3/4 or 3" and some even the 3-1/2". My combo set in synthetic cost me $250 and I spent $100 more the next year on a new muzzle loader barrel for the gun. So for $350 I got an extremely acurate slug gun, and an all around barrel that has shot everything from buck shot to turkey loads, and a muzzle loader that has killed several deer just as dead as my other guns. I can now hunt every season, including muzzle loader, with 1 gun. It takes 2 minutes to change barrels if you want to and your back to hunting. Best bet for my money for sure. Did I mention how much I love my Mossburg? LOL!!!!

[SeaMonkey]

Ok, brands aside I'm getting the message to avoid the semi-auto.

Let me ask you guys another question. There are a few guns that I've seen and seem to like that are over molded with a polymer coating such as the Remington 887 and Benelli SuperNova in particular. My brother in law has several rust spots on his 870 so this coating seems like a great idea. What do you all think?

[Nitrous SwampRat]

Im not familiar with any guns that have a coating but as with any equipment you use you should clean it up properly. When you get home just give a quick wipe down for any outside moisture on gun and then wihtin the next day or so clean the action/barrel. only takes about 10 minutes. can do that while watching TV.
Guns, bows, fishing rods, coolers....all get cleaned after every use.
make it routine.

Nick

[Jerseybuck]

[QUOTE=SeaMonkey;65250]. My brother in law has several rust spots on his 870
What do you all think?[/QUOTE

There's a reason that Rustoleum makes Spray paint. Nothing is tougher on a gun than duck hunting. Sooner or later, it's going to happen. I haven't heard anything first hand about how the new coatings hold up, but with all the knocking around in the boat, you would think that sooner or later it would chip.

[w8n4adeer]

If your going to get a pump go with a 3 inch model. The 3 1/2 pumps take a lot more time and effort to pump back. Eventually you may want to switch to a 3 1/2 inch autoloader. The autoloaders kick a lot less because the bolt going back takes out some of the force.

[SeaMonkey]

I'll let you guys know what I wind up with, but I'm still waiting on my FID card and a lot of stores are not particularly helpful without having one (they wont show me anything.)

[avasea]

Go with the 870, it is time tested and reliable. Stay away from low end semi-auto's, you can't make a good one cheap. I heard the same thing as Jerseybuck recounted about the Stoeger. There are a lot of 30 and 40 year old 870's out there being used all of the time, that tells you something about the design. I also would not get a 3-1/2" chamber on a pump. You can shoot a pump as fast as you can shoot a semi-auto, I have used both and they are equally as good a choice.

[SeaMonkey]

Thanks for all the input so far guys. It looks like it will be either the 870 or the 887.

[powerstroke350]

dont buy the 887, its junk. ive seen too many problems with them. i know a few people that bought them and sold them within a couple weeks of buying them. Stick with the 870 if its your first gun. The supernova is a nice gun i have one. The biggest problem i saw with it was when i did shoot 3.5 inch shells, it kicks like a mule. Other than that, i sunk it in mud completely and still went duck hunting. I did my best to clean the mud out in the marsh and it still shot fine. I think its a little more pricy than the remington. Also, buy what is going to fit you best. The guy behind the counter may try and sell you something more expensive that you may not like. Good luck

[Setterman]

I would pick the 870 over the 887. I don't own an 887, but when they first came out, Remington did have some quality control problems with them. It wasn't received too well by some gun writers either.

Probably the most brutal review I've read:
http://randywakeman.com/ClunkerOf2009Award.htm

[.280 REM]

Hey guys, I'm looking at buying my first shotgun with the plans of using it primarily for duck hunting. After reading more reviews and opinions than I can count online and after talking to friends and the staff at a few stores I was planning on getting a remington 870. I figured how can I go wrong with a gun that's been around for so long and has 10 million sold. When I went to the store, the manager at the store really tried to convince we to go with a few other options. I didn't really bite until my brother in law showed up and jumped into the conversation. Now they almost have me convinced to go with a Stoeger 3500. It seemed really nice in the store and the price was good. What do you guys think?

I have a Stoeger 2000 in camo, and it woks fine.. Have some 870's too.. If you can live with a pump, you can't beat'em.. I hunt geese and ducks, and have never needed 3.5 inch shells.. Why beat yourself up? You might find a clean Bennelli or Berretta also.. Camo finish is a must...

[nchuntin]

I own a stoeger 2000 down in NC. Havent had a minutes trouble out of it. Feels good and fires every time. I own a Mossberg 935 in NJ and have waterfowl hunted with it for about 5 years now. Again in and out of the marsh and fields and not a minutes trouble. I also a 870 super mag and it's a great handling gun. You have to ask yourself two questions: How many days will you be hunting? And how many shots do you realistically think you will be firing in a day? Because if your in the field alot and firing the gun alot, the auto will save ur shoulder!!!! As my father says the 3.5" guns kill on one end and wound on the other!

[bambam]

mossberg 835
shots 2 3/4
3 and 3 1/2 inch

[Kevin Stupp]

The pump is definitely a less finicky gun then the auto. That being said, if you clean it regularly, like you should ANY gun, it won't give you many problems. I personally have a Remington 11-87 Special Purpose 2-3/4" & 3". I have had this for 10+ years and I have only had one break down with it. The arm that brings up the next shell, the tiny ear that pivots on a pin broke. That was just due to use. I had roughly 10,000 rounds through the gun at that point. That's about 4 cases of shells a year, and I know there has been years with a lot more than that. The 1st month I owned the gun I put 1,500 rounds through it. I've used it for everything. Skeet, trap, lots of sporting clays, turkey, pheasants, deer (slugs and buckshot) and LOTS OF WATERFOWL. As for 3-1/2" if you plan on hunting geese and deer with buckshot, I would buy a gun capable of handling it. I bought mine when 3-1/2" was just coming out and you couldn't put a slug barrel on a 3-1/2" gun. So I stayed with 3". When goose hunting there have been days with weiry geese that would flare right on the edge of being in range. The extra punch of a 3-1/2" would be nice for those situations. Better to have the capability and not use it then not have it and want it. And a 3-1/2" auto stills kicks less than a 3" pump. As for make and model, I have two friends that have Stoeger 2000's and they both have had issues with the firing pin. They've had shells that wouldn't fire, even after multiple atempts. Put those same shells in my gun and they fire. The 11-87 is still available new and you can find them used too. The down side is that they are a little heavier, not a big issue for sitting in a blind. The newer Versamax has great reviews and is lighter, but has a heavier price tag. But whatever you buy, I would buy a camo coated to protect your investment frm the harsh conditions of duck hunting. I know guys that use Rustoluem, but I can't bring myself to spray paint something I spend that kind of money on.

Just my $0.02. Good luck and happy hunting with your new gun.

[boatliftman]

Don't get a cheap auto if you need a cheap gun go for the pump hands down I have a benelli auto and I love it but it was exspensive