Iso cheap shotgun, pump vs semi auto

CB85

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Looking to pick up a 12g for hunting and clay shooting.
My questions:
Pump or semi auto?
I'm a teacher with kids so very little $...
Which is the best deal?
I will probably use it to shoot more Clay's than ducks so what would y'all suggest?
Looking to stay around or under 350-400$
 
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I picked up one of those Benelli pumps the other day for under $400. I have not yet shot it, but a friend of mine has one that he really likes. You could probably find a good M12 Winchester for about that price. It would obviously be used. I got a real nice one this spring for $400. Not having screw in choke tubes might be a deal breaker for you for a M12. That would also rule out the very excellent Ithaca M37 that can easily be found on a used rack for about what you want to spend.

The two favorite pumps these days seem to be the 870 Remington and the Mossberg. I have both and would hate to have to choose between them. I am not sure the cost of those these days.

I can't be much help with the autoloaders because I use Browning A5's when I use an autoloader. There are lots of different autoloaders around, but the price may be a little bit higher for the good ones.
 
Are you just getting in to clays and hunting, or were you an accomplished shot once-upon-a-time and you're getting back into it?

You should have no problem finding a basic-bitch Mossberg Maverick 88 for well under your price point. Academy has it with a 28" barrel for $190, for example. It's an extremely utilitarian gun, so someone used to high-dollar over/under clay guns would probably find it pretty unsatisfying. But if you're just getting into clays and hunting and looking to have some fun, then you aren't really going to need screw-in chokes and all that jazz for a while.

You can find a used semi-auto in your price range, but it's going to be a search. I picked up a Winchester 1400 in 20 gauge for $250 (I think; something like that) a few years ago, so they're out there.
 
I have dabbled in both hunting and Clay's.. but it's something I want to get back into. Not seriously but more for fun on the weekends.
 
Looking to pick up a 12g for hunting and clay shooting.
My questions:
Pump or semi auto?
I'm a teacher with kids so very little $...
Which is the best deal?
I will probably use it to shoot more Clay's than ducks so what would y'all suggest?
Looking to stay around or under 350-400$

Being that you are in Concord, you have two decent places to check out a lot of different shotguns whether it be a semi, pump action or even an O/U. Bass Pro and Academy. You will find lots to choose from in your budget. Pick one that fits you the best but remember, the cost of the gun itself is the cheapest part of shotgun shooting. Clays/range fees and ammo will be where the expense comes in. I shoot skeet 2-3x per month at an approximate cost of $40 for each outing depending on how many rounds I shoot. You can do the math of the cost over time. Good luck in your search!
 
My advice in this area is a bit limited, since I'm not a clay or skeet shooter. But for an inexpensive shotgun to learn on and teach kids, I'd recommend picking up a mossberg 500 or a remington 870. You can find either for well under $350 new, and sometimes around $200 used. Either is great for hunting or self defense.

For a dedicated clay/skeet gun, you may be better off with an over/under double, but I don't know enough about them to recommend anything.
 
To be perfectly honest I bought one of the hatfield semi auto from wally world. They are now 197. I thought why not. Try it if I don't like it I'm out 197. But I will say for 197 I was pretty impressed. Shot about 800 clays and it was a good entry gun. And they come with 3 chokes.
 
The Weatherby PA-08 series have gotten some good reviews. I've been eyeballing the 20ga version for a few months. They can be had in various lengths; 28", 26", 24" and multiple barrel combos.
-chrome lined barrel
-comes with three chokes

The link below is for the 12ga 26" version from grabagun for $320.

http://grabagun.com/wby-pa-08-12-26-3-bl-syn.html
 
Yeh at this point it's between a Hatfield semi Auto and a Mossberg 500.
I already have a Mossberg 8 shot so may keep with the brand. THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK!!!
 
I see you have already decided but for anyone else reading this post the answer is "save another $150 and get a Beretta A300. There is nothing worse than a cheap unreliable semi-auto. The A300
has most of the same internals as the $1800 A400 and it has adjustable LOP, cast and drop. You get what you pay for and remember " if it don't fit you will not hit"
 
I've got one of the 6 shot (or maybe 5?, can't recall it's always got the plug in it) mossberg pump combo 12 gauge guns I picked up for $229 on sale. Came with the 18" and 28" barrels. Used the 28" for clays, trap and upland game (pheasant, quail, chuckar, and dove) and it worked well enough. Later I got a 24" ported barrel with screw-in chokes to use for turkey, I don't recall how much that barrel/choke setup was but it worked to get my bird. Cheaper than a new gun.

Eventually as I got more into clays I moved to a O/U that fits me so much better than the mossberg ever could and it makes a HUGE difference. If I'm going into the field and don't know the conditions I grab the Mossberg instead of the O/U though because banging up the Mossberg just makes it look better and you can refinish it with krylon as needed. No bird has failed to drop because it didn't like my gun or walmart shells. :)

I've had one of the 8 shot 20" versions for HD use since the early 90s, so I am biased.

Some of the clays places rent guns, and if I wanted to go semi-auto I would probably go see and shoot their rentals. Anything they rent is probably on the low end and super solid given the abuse they'll see as a rental.
 
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Find a used Remington 1100 or Wingmaster that is in good shape and thank me later. A new Browning BPS can also be found withing your price range if you shop around. I have never seen a cheap semi auto that worked the way it should.
 
Benelli Nova Pumpgun. Dollar for dollar, feature for feature, they are one great deal!! Great ergos, all the controls are right where they should be.

https://www.benelliusa.com/pump-shotguns

This is the one I own: https://www.benelliusa.com/nova-tactical-shotgun I paid $387 (taxes included) out the door.

nova-tactical-shotgun-12-gauge.png



There are models specifically suited for hunting, defense, etc...They all can be found for considerably less than the posted MSRP.
 
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Benelli Nova was my first gun. Still have it. Originally got the 26", but traded a buddy that barrel for a 24". Added a +5 Nordic extension tube and clamp. Buckshot in the tube, slugs in the side-saddle. Love that gun.

It's definitely my all-purpose SHTF gun.
 
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For your budget you can find a Stoeger O/U - at least try one on before you make a decision.
 
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