Author Topic: Shotgun for Christmas; Need Recommendations (Read 749 times)

Patriot_1776 · « **on:** October 11, 2004, 09:25:16 AM »

My decided Christmas gift will be a shotgun, so I wanted to have some input on which brand you would recommend. So far, my preference runs like this: I want a pump action, synthetic stock and forearm, 12ga. 3 1/2" chamber w/ 24" barrel. The ones I have found so far that fit the bill, is either the Browning BPS Mossy Oak Breakup NWTF series; or the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag. I'm kinda on a slight budget so anything over $800 MSRP would be unsatisfactory. Actually, I decided my own budget, some-what. My first choice was the Moss., then the Brown. So I decided to make it easier for myself on choices, and said something like: "Look, I'll pay for however much more it is over the Moss."

And that was it. My brother has the 835 and it is a really sweet gun. I don't like the ported barrels though. Just cleaned his gun this morning after Dad and myself took it shooting Saturday; and that porting is really a pain!! :cry: What really saved the day was my nylon brush for my 17HMR! :grin:

(Glad I had that puppy!!!) But I also have a question about the barrel configs. The Brownings have what are called "back-bored" barrels, and the Mossberg's have "over-bored" barrels. What are the reasons for the diffs? I've read about what over-boring helps, but what does back-boring help with besides pattern integrity? If you have time to get off your hands, detailed answers on both configurations would be appreciated. And thanks too for any brand suggestions. Patriot

Ramrod · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2004, 12:53:00 PM »

Quote from: C130E

Pick 'em all up and see what feels good.

Amen!
I can't believe how hard it is to get this point across sometimes, especially to rifle guys. A shotgun that fits you is alot more important than all the bells and whistles. And if it fits, you DON"T need porting. It is the guns that don't fit that hurt.

Bob_K · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2004, 03:28:54 PM »

It's kind of hard to make recommendations without knowing what your intended use is. Neither would be my choice for Skeet; both could be good turkey guns. It's kind of like buying a computer. Decide what software you want to run, then select a machine that will do it. A shotgun is just a tool to get a task done. What task did you have in mind?

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2004, 06:54:09 PM »

Bob_K Wrote:

Quote

A shotgun is just a tool to get a task done. What task did you have in mind?

Well, speaking of computers, my main database of scheduled tasks

, would revolve mostly around trap shooting and maybe in the distant future, but relatively unlikley, fowl and turkey hunting. But mostly a really well made SG, that could be put through hell and back, and still come out on top was my first decision. Secondly, I wanted something that would be fun to shoot, and has the hardware for other tasks to which I may be interested in when or if the time comes. And lastly, a shotgun that is very well renowned as one of the most top quality of it's class, and looks good too. I hope that explained more fully my intended tasks with this certain SG. Please keep it comin' and thanks! Patriot

Doc T · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2004, 05:41:24 AM »

If you plan to hunt in a duck blind, stay away from the ported barrel. Your hunting buddies will have a few choice words for you after you shoot it if you don't. If it were me, I'd get the Remington 870 Supermag if I were set on a pump.

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2004, 02:12:10 PM »

Doc T Wrote:

Quote

...stay away from the ported barrel. Your hunting buddies will have a few choice words for you after you shoot it if you don't.

Strange though...I don't seem to notice a difference in muzzle blast aside from an un-ported barrel. I've also been a bystander while someone else shot it and it still sounded like any other 12ga. The only reason I don't want ports is the extra cleaning time required. I'd hate to spend more time cleaning the extra holes than I would spend just on the barrel. Especially after I get home tired and fatigued. So, I'm willing to put up with the extra recoil, if there will be any more. I'm still goin' for the Browning BPS, so does anybody know of any reviews done on the BPS series? Thanks for your time on this subject.

Patriot

dukkillr · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2004, 02:25:21 PM »

the BPS is the best pump made today... buy it... it doesn't jam, it doesn't let gas get in your eyes, it ejects down, it works for left or right handed shooters...

i shoot an 870 for turkeys and i like it, but my work-horse gun is a bps with a synthetic stock and 26" barrel... i also have a 10ga bps

i don't like the 1200 or 1300 but my favorite pump gun is an old Model 12... unfotunately you can't get them in 3.5" and the 3" is heavy and generally has a longer barrel than you would want for small game and birds...

the nova is a nice gun, i'd say it's similar to the 870... i'm not a fan of the funky space-age look, and it has the same jam and left-handed problems of the 870...

all of these guns can be bought in synthetic with various camo patterns and barrel lengths... i think it's hard to beat a bps with a synthetic, camo stock with a 26" barrel...

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2004, 02:41:55 PM »

Sounds good dukkillr. I remember hearing something about barrel length, so maybe you or someone could clear this up for me. I heard, that if you want better range/great patterns but with less velocity, 26"+ is better. If you want best velocity/ combined with great patterns @ a reasonable range, stay around 24". Or, if you want excellent wieldability/reasonable velocity/@ expense of less range, 22" or less. Is that true, that the longer the barrel, the less velocity? I can understand that would occur, due to the somewhat small powder charge of fast burning powder. The longer barrel extends the time of friction with the barrel, hence velocity loss. But it seem to me the 24" barrels offers the best velocity along with good range and excellent patterns. What would you say to these things I've heard? I'd appreciate some speculation.

Patriot

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2004, 03:21:05 PM »

all guns handle different... some doubles handle well with 22-24" barrels but most guns balance well at either 26-28". there is no significant difference in pattern or velocity with the length change... i've heard that as well, and my guess is that those people are refering to older shells and powders...

the biggest issue with barrel length is that short barrels are loud and dangerous... i've guided guys with 23" barrels before and i hate it... those barrels simply are too short to be safe in a blind... i consider a 26" to be safest... i also believe that short barrels "jump" more which makes follow-up shots more difficult...

TPhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2004, 04:14:09 AM »

I have the NWTF BPS and love it...For turkeys I shoot a .670 Comp-N-Choke with Remington #6's and at 20 yards it will punch a 2" hole...For geese I switch over to a Kick's High Flier Choke tube and with #2 Hevi-shot the geese just drop...The BPS is by far the most comfortable gun I have ever shot...I own 2 of them and they fit like a glove...Watch the 835 for jamming...My brother owns one and it jammed alot until he did some filing in the action... :eek: