So the soon-to-be Mrs. wants to get me a wedding present and she wants to get me a gun. I need a nice deer rifle and a nice shotgun, but I figure I could get a lot more use out of the shotgun. Right now I have a matte / synthetic 870 that I would keep for turkey hunting, but it certainly doesn't win style points.

I don't quite know the budget but I do have about $350 in Cabelas points should I have to kick anything in to ensure it's what I want. She doesn't know that and I just assume keep my points so I have leverage for a future purchase

I'd probably go with a 12ga. Right now I'm more concerned about the action but do want to throw out a few possible brand specifics.

So given I already have an 870, I'm half tempted about a nice pump such as a Wingmaster or Ithica since I'm used to a pump and they use the same safety location.

Another choice would be a semi-auto - I'd love to have a 6lb Benelli Montefeltro but it would probably be a Browning or Remington.

And then there is the over / under. They have a nice look but it would take some getting used to. I'm also thinking I may not want to give up the 3rd shot.

So what say you for that one shotgun that's going to last the rest of your life?

Couldn't vote I like side by sides or single shots and the only reason is because there the only shotguns I can hit with. If I'm going for a mixed bag I carry a 22 pistol on my hip for the land animals which includes sitting grouse. Which type do you shoot best?

Mossberg 500 FLEX All-Purpose. Swap out the barrels, stocks...and you can hunt ducks, deer, and defend your home all in the same day.

**edit**

I took out this image because it was killing screens.

I've always wanted a good pump but I could never hit anything in the air with one. When I was a kid I got quite good pass shooting at ducks with an old Iver Johnson single shot with an automatic ejector and 2 shells between my fingers.

I prefer SxS over anything else. Problem is the expense. As with a good O/U you won't find a good used one under $1,000 If you have the budget, go here: http://www.connecticutshotgun.com/ and enjoy.

More down to earth, the finest pump gun for your needs is a used Ithaca Model 37. Nice walnut and blue steel, no plastic anywhere on ours. New ones are around a $1,000 as well but you can get used ones for $250. I like the feel and balance of them better than any other pump model and I love how the bottom eject puts the hulls right at your feet. My wife has one in 12 gauge and I have one in 16 gauge and I'd love to get one in 20 as well. They're the last survivors of the pre-WWII way of making pump shotguns - much nicer than the Remington and Mossbergs of the world, I think.

If you're serious about one shotgun for the rest of you life, then get a newer but still used Ithaca and get it with a Modified choked shot barrel for duck & upland and a slug barrel for deer.

eelj wrote:Which type do you shoot best?

I've used a pump 99.9% of the time. The couple of times I've shot a o/u or semi, I did fine.

atxgunguy wrote:Mossberg 500 FLEX All-Purpose. Swap out the barrels, stocks...and you can hunt ducks, deer, and defend your home all in the same day.

I pretty much have that in the 870. What I'm looking for is a nice glossy blued metal and walnut

eelj wrote:When I was a kid I got quite good pass shooting at ducks with an old Iver Johnson single shot with an automatic ejector and 2 shells between my fingers.

Still the way I squirrel hunt!

wlewisiii wrote:I prefer SxS over anything else. Problem is the expense. As with a good O/U you won't find a good used one under $1,000 If you have the budget, go here: http://www.connecticutshotgun.com/ and enjoy.

More down to earth, the finest pump gun for your needs is a used Ithaca Model 37. Nice walnut and blue steel, no plastic anywhere on ours. New ones are around a $1,000 as well but you can get used ones for $250. I like the feel and balance of them better than any other pump model and I love how the bottom eject puts the hulls right at your feet. My wife has one in 12 gauge and I have one in 16 gauge and I'd love to get one in 20 as well. They're the last survivors of the pre-WWII way of making pump shotguns - much nicer than the Remington and Mossbergs of the world, I think.

If you're serious about one shotgun for the rest of you life, then get a newer but still used Ithaca and get it with a Modified choked shot barrel for duck & upland and a slug barrel for deer.

I think CZ makes a decent double

I agree, the 37 is a great gun. Because of the nature of this gift, I would like to buy new. I'm not sure I can justify $1000 for one. $600 for a Wingmaster is a little more reasonable for a pump shotgun. When you are talking 1000 dollars, you can buy a nice semi

Only thing on the CZ (Bikal really) is if you expect that you might get into clays. The CZ is strong enough to be a hunting gun but they don't stand up to the stress of sporting clays. Better than Stoeger but that's not saying all that much.

If you might get into that, definitely go for a good quality pump. Winchester makes a nice one too that's not as spendy as Ithaca.

I'm voting O/U- just because I want one myself- a good one will never fail you, with nearly nothing that moves to go wrong.

Hmm, I was not aware CZ was made by Baikal. I looked online at the new Winchester 101. Aside from some weird scrolling work, it looked like a very nice shotgun.

In looking at other makers websites last night, I was soon aware that there are some really nice guns out there in my price range...but the companies went about 95% in their efforts where they could have been at 100%.

For example:
The scroll work on the winchester 101 looks a little strange. The 870 Wingmaster looks like it uses some of the same parts the Express uses. And probably worst of all, a $1400 Benelli Ultra Light uses a plastic trigger guard and magazine cap. I know it's supposed to be ultra light, but Jesus H Christ you're spending 1400 dollars --- there should not be a plastic part on that thing!

wlewisiii wrote:I prefer SxS over anything else. Problem is the expense. As with a good O/U you won't find a good used one under $1,000 If you have the budget, go here: http://www.connecticutshotgun.com/ and enjoy.

I can vouch for their quality having seen some in person. They are absolutely beautiful shotguns.

M4Builder wrote:

wlewisiii wrote:I prefer SxS over anything else. Problem is the expense. As with a good O/U you won't find a good used one under $1,000 If you have the budget, go here: http://www.connecticutshotgun.com/ and enjoy.

I can vouch for their quality having seen some in person. They are absolutely beautiful shotguns.

One of their cheap ones is here: http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/18322.htm

$4000 can get you this sweet 16...

Based off of the small game/waterfoul in the title, I went O/U.

Based off of what I enjoy shooting, I'd say pump. I know you said Winchester or Ithica, but don't discount the Rock Island M5. Personally, I think the action on that one is superior.

You might want to look into the Stoeger Uplander. It's got A-Grade Walnut furniture for under $500.

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firear ... lander.php

I thought the CZ doubles were Turkish made, not Russian?

Fukshot wrote:I thought the CZ doubles were Turkish made, not Russian?

I've been looking since I wrote that and you're right. CZ are made by the Huglu co-operative in Turkey. BRNO makes them in the Czech Republic though. Baikal are imported as themselves apparently.

As for the Stoeger Uplander, the one I had broke the stock the first time I shot it. o_O Cracked the wrist bad enough that if I'd pulled the second trigger, I'd have had two pieces. I was not a happy camper. Sold it at major loss at a gun show because Stoeger refused to repair it or take it back.

Model 12. Used can be had for maybe $350. Best pump gun ever.

Remington 11-48. Recoil opperated semi based on Browning 5. You can get one for $250. Best deal in semis right now.

Savage Model 24. You could get he 30-30 over a scattergun for about $450.

I would recommend 20g for rabbit. Also, the Model 12s and 11-48s with the "dial-duck" chokes are shunned by collectors and considerably cheaper than fixed choke models. Ugly as sin, but GREAT for the field.

If you need to use steel shot, forget any of this.

senorgrand wrote: I would recommend 20g for rabbit.

I am going back and forth. The 20 does offer a good benefit of being 1lb lighter. That could possibly help the bad disk in my back.

20ga modified is fine for rabbits (I shot a break action single for years when hunting with dogs), but a 12ga improved (which I use now) gives you an even better edge.

I would like to do some serouis pheasant hunting in the future as I have shot a few in Northern Missouri and enjoyed it. IMO they can already be out of 20ga range when they get up, hence many people shooting 20ga turkey loads at them.

I'm leaning towards the old adage - if you can only own one, get the 12ga

Sounds like a good reason for a .... 16 gauge!


(yes, I know. But I love mine even though it is hard to find shells. Gotta buy a press this winter).

A Savage 24 might be a good choice. 22lr or 22mag over 12g.

If a rabbit is easy pickins, plug 'em with the rimfire. If not, 12 gauge airstrike.

Just depends how many pellets you're willing to deal with in your rabbit stew.

The other thing about break-opens is that they work well with adapters. You could use 20g in a 12 g. Of course, the choke will be "cylinder". But that might work too.

Savage 24 is on my wish list. With inserts you can actually shoot about anything you want! Makes for a pretty flexible shotty/rifle.

The .222 ones are pretty cheap. Good round for small/medium game if you reload.

I'd go 20 with a bad disk. Interchangeable choke tubes would solve your distance problem for pheasants.

The thing is, you already have the 870, so you don't only get to have one.

senorgrand wrote:The .222 ones are pretty cheap. Good round for small/medium game if you reload.

I agree about the 222, 221, 218Bee or the 22Hornet. The problem is nor all state will let you hunt small game with centerfire calibers. They are not going to take into account that an intelligent person will reload ammo as mild but much more accurate as 22 rimfire. At factory levels the 222 will turn a squirrel or rabbit into a greasy pink spot on the ground.

22 mag would be a good compromise then.

wlewisiii wrote:Sounds like a good reason for a .... 16 gauge!


(yes, I know. But I love mine even though it is hard to find shells. Gotta buy a press this winter).

I wouldn't be afraid of buying a 16ga, just buy a case of shells at a time. Most of the time the makers just use their 12ga frame for the 16, that is not appealing to me.