Well, I am fixing to buy my first shotgun, a Remmington 870 Express...

My mother is VERY anti hunting, so I have never really hunted, last weekend I went out in the field with a good friend of mine that is a very big hunter, we were working his new bird dog and hoping to find Quail... I am now wanting to hunt on a regular basis, and from my understanding of how it works a shotgun would be a great help...

Not sure of the gauge I want, the gun will be used mostly for Quail, other birds, mostly upland, some Ducks and Geese...

Not sure is the lighter 20ga with less recoil would be better, or the wider pattern on a 12ga?

Figured I would post here, as I respect the opinions I get here.

 

You want a gun that will cover your spectrum...In my opinion, you need 2 for the hunting you want to do- 12 and 20 ga.
quail and upland, a 20 ga is perfect. For ducks and especially geese, a 12 ga is better.
If you can only afford one gun and plan on hunting all the above like you stated, get a 12 ga. You can get light loads that won't tear up quail and upland birds too bad, and you can also use heavier loads for ducks and geese. Either shotgun has replaceable chokes that will suit your needed pattern for the game you are hunting.

 

12 if your planning on ducks and geese. if your seriouse about geese, need a 3 1/2" chamber too. 870 is an average gun, if you have the money, get something better

 

As his first shotgun, the 870 will do great. It is one of the best pump guns out there. For what he is using it for, you can't beat it.

 

I'm picky, so here goes

Field gun:Upland birds
Any 12, 16, or 20 gauge will do...It's all in what you want to spend
My field gun is a Browning BPS 12GA that was my Dad's...Sentimental more than anything...Only gets used in dry conditions...2-3/4 low brass #6 steel for pheasant

Waterfowl gun:
10 or 12 Gauge...CHEAP PUMP model....Plastic stocks...If 12GA get one thats flexible, I.E.: 2-3/4", 3" and 3-1/2"....Good for anything from September Teal to Giant Canada's in January...CHEAP because this gun's gotta get wet, muddy, dropped in the lake, and in the snow....PUMP cause it's gonna freeze...Pumps are way more reliable in freezing conditions IMHO...Mossberg 835 for me...#4-#2's for ducks, BB-T for geese...3 inchers backed with a candlestick just in case.....

Slugger for deer
Again, any inexpensive gun will do....This is one thats gonna get banged up against the tree, dropped from the tree (hope not-could be deadly)

Like I said, I'm picky, and I dont mix my guns for different uses....No slugs through my bird guns...Field guns dont get wet...Pumps all the way....


So for you, 12GA, either an 870 Express or an 835 will do you fine!!



I live in the "Goose Capital of the World", or so the tourism bureau like to say...Tim Grounds country (even though he's an $##(@%&) Hope you boys up north get LOTS and LOTS of white stuff soon...My dog's getting anxious!!!

 

8" on the ground here........ 10 more days till snowmobile season!

 

hes right and along with a 12gauge you can use it to hunt small birds just use low base trap loads you'll be fine

 

Thanks, I was pretty much decided on the 12 for versitality.

I anticipate mostly small birds, but wanted a 12 first for the capibaility, even if it mostly shoots lighter loads. But I don't want to destroy every quail and dove I shoot at.

The 870 express is about all I have the cash for at the moment, thus having to pick one now, and comprimise with the gauge. Hopefully by next season I will be able to get a Browning pump in 20ga for upland, and keep the 12ga for waterfowl.

 

I have both a 12 and a 20. My 12 is a Remington 870 Express Magnum. The 20 is made by a company called Noble, its just like the 870, its a pump action.

The 870 is real nice. Depending on the size shot you shoot will determine how hard it will kick. Ex. a slug will kick harder than a load of bird shot.

Trust me, you will like the 870. I love it and it has yet to let me down.

 

I prefer the 20.........milimeter that is........

Hard to miss with this setup.
And you don't even have to get out of your lawn chair when you see the birds comming.

 

Good call. You can always buy a 20 guage later. Guns are like golf clubs, you need a different one to do different jobs. If you take good care of them they will hold their value very well. Get a good gun case and lock it up (unloaded) when you are not hunting. Get some trigger locks also. That will help mom be little less nervous, and show her you are a resonsible gun owner.

 

I think that's for a different kind of bird altogether, Ed.

 

get the 12, I got my first 12 at the age of 10, sure if I put a hot round in there it kicked but as I grew I didn't need to upsize, just change loads. Lots of diverse loads available, one for every need but 20 ga on geese? you will send more on to a distant/ unharvested death. I would also highly suggest getting the chamber for 3 1/2 inch loads, never know when you might want to use it and if ya don't have it you are stuck buying something else down the road. Sure I stll have the first 12 but got newer nicer guns because I wanted them, not needed them.

 

For your first shotgun the 870 12 Ga is the way to go get use to shooting a shot gun. Just change your chokes and the shot for the game you are going to hunt. Then if you really get into it you can upgrade to a big $$$ gun.

 

Make sure you have removable choke tubes for the gun you get, and make sure you use anti seize compound on the threads.