Multiple use shotgun that won't break my bank

[bch1988]

Hey guys

So I am interested in buying my first shotgun. I would like to be able to use it for multiple purposes: hunting, sport shooting, and would like to have the option for easy home defense

I have been looking at the mossberg 500s and remmington 870s.

I am looking to not spend over 500ish.

Any other thoughts or particular used guns to keep my eyes open for?

 

[atmay]

An older, all metal 870 should fit the bill. Sometimes you can find em with multiple barrels if you look around enough.

 

[ivarr]

i'm a mossberg guy

 

[Independence Arms]

I picked up a Remington 887 nitro mag tactical. It's intended use is HD, and fun blasting, but I could easily toss a 26" barrel on it for clays or birds if needed. Price point was nice.
There were horror stories of theses when they first came out, but mine has been flawless.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

i'm a mossberg guy

I am too, but not on purpose, it just happened that way.

An 870, or a 500 would do it for you. However, the Mossberg 930 might be worth a look. I bought mine as the SPX model on sale for cheap at Dicks, which would have been a sweet HD gun if I wanted it that way. I found a 28" barrel on gunbroker for cheap money and it would have been a sweet hunting gun with a standard mag tube cap if I wanted it that way. I had the barrel cut to 22" to shoot 3gun with it, and it works well for that purpose.

I recently took it out to the trap field in it's current 3gun configuration and shot a 19 after being told by Elmer that it was the wrong gun for that game.

 

[rep308]

Kittery has a couple of 870 that fit the bill and you can get barrels off of gun broker. The 870 is the most popular shotgun ever produced. Yes, my first gun was a Mossy 500 out of economic necessity, but I'd take a used 870 over a new Mossburg 500 every day.

 

[Mike-Mike]

Most gun stores are loaded with used pump shotguns for ~ $250 ish. You can always puck up something like that and upgrade later.

 

[vellnueve]

They're both trash. Get a Benelli Nova or Supernova, they'll both be under $500 and they're both much better quality than the current production 870 and any 500.

 

[Zappa]

The 870 is the most popular shotgun ever produced.
I'd take a used 870 over a new Mossburg 500 every day.

This

 

[mac1911]

for all around gun a 870 is hard to beat. you can easily find many barrel types from 18" to 34" trap barrels.
stocks are a plenty for any intended use. from field to trap to HD
not to mention aftermarket parts and replacement parts.
Are there better shotguns? Yes. Will you find a more broad range of accessories with any other gun? It would be tough.
You could get a synthetic stock set for hunting in the wet(ducks)
A nice stock set up for trap with adjustable comb, recoil pad ect ect. Stock set a little shorter for the cold season heavy jackets
Barrels my god, so many choices....only problem after switching out barrels and stocks you might find yourself buying barrelled recievers for your extra accessories.
like with ARs its tough to have just one lower for your many uppers.

 

[That Guy]

I picked up an 870 a KTP earlier in the year and they had a huge selection of barrels - my gun came with the full sized wingmaster barrel and I bought a shorter barrel with sights while I was there along with a magazine extension. I still walked out of there for less than $400.

 

[winter]

This

+1

 

[vellnueve]

I'll say it again... the new 870 Expresses are trash. I've seen quite a few lemons among newer 870s, including my 20ga. The design is absolutely sound but the quality control has destroyed the gun. If you must have an 870, either get a Wingmaster or an older model.

 

[bch1988]

Do you have a timeframe of the dusk yet decline? Like should I look for 20 years old? Or much older?

 

[Billy2]

Mossberg 500 combo 329.00 from buds guns

 

[vellnueve]

Do you have a timeframe of the dusk yet decline? Like should I look for 20 years old? Or much older?

I'd say avoid anything from the 2000s... especially anything made after they got bought out.