Author Topic: What's the worst shotgun you've owned? (Read 5200 times)

rzwieg · « **on:** May 08, 2011, 11:03:32 AM »

What's most unreliable pos you've had?

For me, hands down it was a S&W 916. It was my first shotgun and it broke down three times in three years.

It was replaced with a Mossberg 500 which has given 27 years of trouble free service.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:52:50 PM »

Win model 1400 mkII semi auto. It was a great single shot.

hillbill · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2011, 01:34:59 PM »

Quote from: rzwieg on May 08, 2011, 11:03:32 AM

What's most unreliable pos you've had?

For me, hands down it was a S&W 916. It was my first shotgun and it broke down three times in three years.

It was replaced with a Mossberg 500 which has given 27 years of trouble free service.

hmmm ive got 2 s&w 916 12 ga guns and kinda like them. one is a riot gun and the other is a long barreled hunting shotgun. never a hiccup out of either but i dont shoot them a lot. what issues did you have?just curious if they have a design flaw and i need to replace them?

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2011, 02:49:03 PM »

Browning B80 semi-auto,functioned when it felt like it.
My brother had a couple Winchester Ranger semi-autos that I believe were the budget model 1400. We told him he should carry one on each shoulder so at least he would get off 2 shots. It made him appreciate the Pintail he's shooting now.

PowPow · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2011, 03:49:28 PM »

Rem 870
Sometimes the next shell in the mag would slip out under the bolt, like a hot-loaded Benelli, only it not would eject with that shell under there. Required significant disassembly to get it back in service.

GeneRector · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2011, 03:54:41 PM »

Howdy! Years ago I used a single-shot, single barrel, break-open shotgun. I did not really mind at the time as I hit most of what I shot at such as quail and rabbits. It was a 3 inch chamber 12 gauge. However, I started trying 3 inch shells in it and it did not shot them very well. A couple of times it would break-open after shooting. It is now retired up in the attic and I will never shoot it again. I now have a Mossberg 500 and an 835 that I use. They seemed to be good guns. The 835 is a challenge sometimes with 3.5 inch shells, so I just use 2&3/4th inch shells mostly. Always, Gene

rzwieg · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:04:21 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on May 08, 2011, 01:34:59 PM

Quote from: rzwieg on May 08, 2011, 11:03:32 AM
What's most unreliable pos you've had?

For me, hands down it was a S&W 916. It was my first shotgun and it broke down three times in three years.

It was replaced with a Mossberg 500 which has given 27 years of trouble free service.
hmmm ive got 2 s&w 916 12 ga guns and kinda like them. one is a riot gun and the other is a long barreled hunting shotgun. never a hiccup out of either but i dont shoot them a lot. what issues did you have?just curious if they have a design flaw and i need to replace them?

It seemed like a solid gun and it was the best smoothbore slug shooter I've seen (the barrel was screwed into the receiver). But the hammer spring broke the first year. The next year the ejector broke. The last year something broke on the shell lifter and I don't remember exactly what. That was the last straw. I never got to use it for deer hunting because of said problems.

I sold it at my grandma's farm auction for $80...$5 more than I paid. Now I see them for75-90 bucks years later.

Others have the same opinion of them and I'll stick with an M870, M31, M12, 500, BPS,...anything but a 916.

bobg · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2011, 12:12:16 AM »

Mine would be an Ithaca 37. Had the same problem with that as PowPow had with his 870.
Close behind that would be a Ruger Red Label. Couldn't hit a thing with that gun.

Traded the Ruger for a Beretta 686. That ended my problem of missing rabbits ahead of my beagles.

eye shot · « **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2011, 03:07:14 AM »

Mossy 500 & Win. 1200. Both wouldn't eject slug hulls worth beans!

S.E.Ak · « **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2011, 11:06:02 AM »

The lower priced SxS's from Spain in the 60's early 70's.Very nice looking guns and well build except for the hammer and sear were so soft without hardening you needed to recut them every box of shells. With hardening those guns are still out there shooting and bring much more than they cost new years ago.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2011, 01:12:26 PM »

Quote from: PowPow on May 08, 2011, 03:49:28 PM

Rem 870
Sometimes the next shell in the mag would slip out under the bolt, like a hot-loaded Benelli, only it not would eject with that shell under there. Required significant disassembly to get it back in service.

I had one that did that as well. Had forgotten about it. The one in the pipe wouldn't come out due to the one kicking out of the magazine and getting stuck underneath. Was a pain in the butt to learn how to get them both out fast and have a follow up shot with the third round.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2011, 03:18:00 PM »

mossberg 9200, semi auto 12 guage. I shot skeet with it and thought I was having a really bad day. I took it to the rifle range to run some slugs down it and on sandbags it shot three feet to the left of poa at 50 yards.

jlchucker · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2011, 04:34:57 AM »

Rem 870 Express. The magazine tube cap keeps going loose and for safety's sake it pays to check the tightness of it every few shots. The old 870's didn't do this. I don't use this gun much so I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, but I should. I don't want to Loctite that cap in place--I need a different fix of some sort. Remington should have designed and manufactured it right in the first place.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2011, 05:20:54 AM »

Quote from: Bugflipper on May 08, 2011, 12:52:50 PM

Win model 1400 mkII semi auto. It was a great single shot.

took the words out of my mouth ! also had one that worked 100% go figure

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2011, 05:25:21 AM »

Quote from: jlchucker on May 10, 2011, 04:34:57 AM

Rem 870 Express. The magazine tube cap keeps going loose and for safety's sake it pays to check the tightness of it every few shots. The old 870's didn't do this. I don't use this gun much so I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, but I should. I don't want to Loctite that cap in place--I need a different fix of some sort. Remington should have designed and manufactured it right in the first place.

did you replace the mag cap with an aftermarket with a sling swivel ? it may be the wrong model. , did you remove ( drill)the indent that keeps the black plastic spring retainer out ? or remove the spring retainer ? all will cause the problem. Also if the bbl has the ball detent it could be the ball is gone or the older bbl is not made to use on the new reciver . Just ideas

marine · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2011, 08:08:16 AM »

The worst shotgun i have ever owned was a new 870 express slug gun. It jammed on almost every shot and wouldnt eject shells unless i held the forend and slammed the butt on the ground. I loved the feel of the gun so i got rid of it and bought an older wingmaster which i would never part with. Just an excellent gun. Glad i wasnt ruined on my first 870 experience.
As for your magazine cap there do seem to be problems with them coming loose but i utilize the slots and take a nice fitting metal bar and go just that extra click past hand tight. mine doest come loose at all when i do this. the ball detent does leave something to be desired but thats how i solved it.

jlchucker · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:33:58 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on May 10, 2011, 05:25:21 AM

Quote from: jlchucker on May 10, 2011, 04:34:57 AM
Rem 870 Express. The magazine tube cap keeps going loose and for safety's sake it pays to check the tightness of it every few shots. The old 870's didn't do this. I don't use this gun much so I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, but I should. I don't want to Loctite that cap in place--I need a different fix of some sort. Remington should have designed and manufactured it right in the first place.
did you replace the mag cap with an aftermarket with a sling swivel ? it may be the wrong model. , did you remove ( drill)the indent that keeps the black plastic spring retainer out ? or remove the spring retainer ? all will cause the problem. Also if the bbl has the ball detent it could be the ball is gone or the older bbl is not made to use on the new reciver . Just ideas

No, Shootall. It's just the way it was when I took it out of the box. Stock all the way. There may be a fix, and I'll talk it over with a gunsmith buddy of mine, but I haven't gotten around to it. Whenever I take it to the trap range I check the cap for tightness frequently. Mostly these days, though, when I need to use a shotgun, my Baikal side by side is what I take to the trap range or for hunting. I got it at about the same time that I got the Remmie, and guess which one has no issues in spite of some heavy use.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:11:32 AM »

The worst I ever had was a Stoeger Uplander. The original gun was replaced 5 times because of either misfiring or doubling(which is kinda interesting when it's a 12). I took the last replacement to a gunshow and sold it unfired.

HWD

rzwieg · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2011, 01:51:55 AM »

I see alot of 870 complaints here. I've been lucky with my two. An M37 20 ga. is also a great performer.

It seems like QC is a big problem now days...not design.

PowPow · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2011, 09:22:47 AM »

Quote from: rzwieg on May 12, 2011, 01:51:55 AM

I see alot of 870 complaints here.

a bad day with an 870 is still better than working.

jlchucker · « **Reply #20 on:** May 12, 2011, 02:01:09 PM »

For Sure, PowPow. It turns out there's good 870's and some not so good. Too bad the newer 870's aren't as good as the older ones, from what I've seen and what others have said. That could be the classic American pumpgun in its older configuration. Even still, a day with my own 870, flaws and all, is surely better than working.

Bullseye · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2011, 02:47:34 PM »

Browning Gold.

I could have spent a lot less money to get a jamming piece of crud like it was.

1marty · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2011, 03:50:43 PM »

Franchi i12. For whatever reason the gun only shot winchester loads. All others would not feed. I finally gave up and traded it in for a winchester x3.

bearman49709 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2011, 04:45:30 AM »

['sote author=PowPow link=topic=233652.msg1099311586#msg1099311586 date=1304905768]
Rem 870
Sometimes the next shell in the mag would slip out under the bolt, like a hot-loaded Benelli, only it not would eject with that shell under there. Required significant disassembly to get it back in service.
[/quote]
Every one that I know who has owned one of these has had that same problem, from the 1960's-the newest. I've had 3 myself,1983 wingmaster bought new, and two express's 1 new one used, they all did it.

rzwieg · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:53:34 PM »

Quote from: PowPow on May 12, 2011, 09:22:47 AM

Quote from: rzwieg on May 12, 2011, 01:51:55 AM
I see alot of 870 complaints here.

a bad day with an 870 is still better than working.

Amen.

Oddly my Express 870 has never given me problems

Quote from: bearman49709 on May 15, 2011, 04:45:30 AM

['sote author=PowPow link=topic=233652.msg1099311586#msg1099311586 date=1304905768]
Rem 870
Sometimes the next shell in the mag would slip out under the bolt, like a hot-loaded Benelli, only it not would eject with that shell under there. Required significant disassembly to get it back in service.

Every one that I know who has owned one of these has had that same problem, from the 1960's-the newest. I've had 3 myself,1983 wingmaster bought new, and two express's 1 new one used, they all did it.
[/quote]

That happened on my Wingmaster when I short shucked it...once.

curteric · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2011, 05:04:58 AM »

Not my guns, but I know of 2 Browning Gold's that are nothing but trouble. One keeps breaking the spring in the gas piston and the firing pin. This gun is only used for sporting clays and only fires Federal target loads. It's owner carries both parts as spares. The other only breaks firing pins. The owner of this one also carries spare firing pins. I wouldn't keep either one if they were mine! My 870 Wingmaster has never given me any trouble. I've only had it since 1967, when I bought it new.

jedman · « **Reply #26 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:53:28 AM »

I owned many that gave some sort of trouble but the worst was a J C Higgins bolt action shotgun I had when I was a teenager.
With the safety on if you pulled back lightly on the trigger you could feel it move and then stop in a awkward feeling condition.
If you then moved the safety lever off, it would fire even with your finger off the trigger.
Even as a kid I didn't like the insecure feeling it gave me trying to Hunt with a gun like that, I sold or traded it and hope nobody was ever harmed by it firing unexpectedly. Jedman

rzwieg · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2011, 03:37:12 PM »

Quote from: hunt-m-up on May 08, 2011, 02:49:03 PM

It made him appreciate the Pintail he's shooting now.

I own a Berreta Pintail. It's most reliable auto I've owned.

jedman; My brother had Stevens 20ga. with the same problem.

jmayton · « **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2011, 06:49:36 PM »

I can't remember the make, but it was a 20ga over and under made in some place in the middle east or eastern Europe most likely. I owned two of them. The first wouldn't fire the top barrel. So I took i back. The second was worst. It looked nice, but would occassionally fire both barrels. I'll take a 3 1/2" 12ga over two 20's at the same time. I went back to the store and told them I wanted the Mossberg 835 they had and a couple of boxes of shells. Still have the 835 and am still trying to forget that O/U.

inthebeech · « **Reply #29 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:49:45 AM »

Not unreliable but just downright painful to shoot; a Savage fox Model B in 20 gauge. I don't think the stock dimensions were too far from standard but for some reason it was punishing. After one season, it went down the road. If it weren't for the nice pheasant I took with it, there would be no fond memories. I went back to my Wingmaster.