Lower cost pump shotguns.

I seem to have the reverse problem that most people have with their parents. My father is always borrowing MY guns.

So before departing for his winter home in Arizona, dad says, “Say, I want to shoot trap in the old farts league this year. Can I borrow a 12 gauge?”

Me: “Why no, you can’t. I only have one 12 gauge and I use it all winter for coyote hunting.”

Dad: “What? Can’t I use that nice over and under?”

Me: “No. It’s a 20 gauge and you’ll get grubby fingerprints on it and never clean it. Besides, it’s too pretty for an old fart’s trap league. It deserves better.”

Dad: “You should get another 12 gauge so I have something to shoot. I can’t believe you only have one 12 gauge.”

I can’t argue with logic like that so I guess now I’m supposed to get 12 gauge. Since I won’t actually be using it, it makes sense to spend as little as possible so long as it goes bang…

I’d prefer a synthetic stock, pump gun, of recent vintage, with screw in chokes. I don’t really want an 870, the older ones go for silly money and the new ones make me sad to see what has happened to Remington.

So here’s what I’m thinking. Anyone have experience with these:

– Stoeger 3000P
– Benelli Nova

Or feel free to suggest something similar.

Grouse

I was in the market for a cheap pump gun 3 or 4 years ago and almost bought a weatherby. Fits all of your criteria except I don’t know if they make one with a synthetic stock. But they are cheap enough you don’t need to baby it. Was very close to buying one till I got lucky and found an old barely used wingmaster for $250. The wingmaster only took 2-3/4″ shells and no screw in chokes but didn’t look like it had seen a full box of shells in its life.

I own a couple Nova’s, they are pretty maintenance free and hold up to the test of time. Added bonus, the Nova holds 3.5s incase your dad decides to go goose hunting

My son (16) and I each have Novas. Great guns.

He shoots trap in the school trap league and has put a lot of shells through it. No issues. Very reliable.

I have a 12 and a 20 nova. The 12 eats anyshell you feed it. I have ran trap loads to 3.5 bb for geese and everything in between. Never has jammed or anything. It has the button on the pump to stop the next shell from feeding which I use more than I thought I would. Found the 20 at a local gun shop for $225 with the 3 chokes and it was practically brand new. It was a no brainer. Keep your eyes peeled you might find a good deal.

I bought 2 of my kids new mossberg 500s to use for the high school trap team and hunting they shoot around 1000 rounds a year through them every year and have not had any issues. i bought these guns at dicks sporting goods bird barrel with screw in chocks rifled slug barrel with scope for around $250 on sale and with another 10 percent off for opening a dicks card.

Hadn’t thought of the Mossberg 500, good suggestion. Will have to watch those to see if I can find a used one.

Trolled the websites last night and discovered kind of a dilemma. There are some cheaper used autoloaders that are within $100 or less of the price of good condition used pump guns.

I’m sure dad would prefer that I spend the extra $100 and get me (him) an autoloader. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s only money…

A coworker from Sweden introduced me to a fantastic old Swedish saying: “It is easier to take broad cuts of another man’s leather.” Brilliant.

Grouse

Nova hands down. I bought one of the first year models and have beat the living crap out of it. Duck, goose, turkey, you name it. I hate to admit it but I am terrible with gun maintenance. The Nova doesn’t care. My kids both bought them as their first shotgun and are still plugging away with them. Both my bros also have them. We have had zero issues with them. I like that you can shoot 3.5″ers out of them for goose and turkey. The stock is synthetic and very durable, they come apart in seconds for cleaning and they are just plain bullet proof. If I ever have to buy another shotgun it will be a Nova, but I can’t seem to wear this one out and I shoot a hell of a lot of shells each fall.

You can find used Rem 1100’s in the $300-350 range. They are classic guns that you see all over the place at sportsman’s club trap leagues. I purchased a CZ 712 a couple years back and have been very impressed, I wouldn’t hesitate looking at their pumps also. Turkish made shotguns have come a long way in recent years.

Novas are typically about $400 I think new. Got mine for $375 on sale a year or so ago. Used no idea, but given how reliable they are/have been, if you seen any for $300 or less, I’d snap one up.

Older/cheaper autoloaders….no direct experience other than what I’ve heard. My brother has a Benelli Super Black Eagle II and he absolutely loves that gun. But they’re very expensive, probably 4 times what you’d pay for the Benelli Nova. Or more.

404 ERROR wrote:

You can find used Rem 1100’s in the $300-350 range.

Too bad you sold the one you had to a fine, young buck.

An older Winchester model 1200 with accu choke excellent for the money used $150-$200

Well, the 1100 is out because I want something that can shoot a 3 inch load interchangeably. So then I won’t have to find my father a turkey gun every time he draws a tag as well.

Also, a good number of the 1100s on the market don’t have screw in chokes.

But they are fine shotguns and certainly one of the best gas autos of all time.

Grouse

I like my Nova enough, never thought it was great but was the best option at the price range for me. You could sure borrow it if you want.

Another option might be the Winchester SXP, as I have the old version (Winchester 1300) and thought it was much better than the 870 express that was offered at the time. I haven’t picked one up since the have been introduced as the SXP though.

My Nova jammed constantly waterfowl hunting. I’d shoot two 3″ shells and have a 3.5″ for my last one. I got rid of it after one season.i guess I must of just gotten a bad one

Sounds like your dad should be doing the shopping…and financing.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

Sounds like your dad should be doing the shopping…and financing.

I have tried to bring this exact point up, however whenever I do, the cell phone reception breaks up. Apparently, they have very poor reception by the pool down there in Arizona. It has something to do with the cacti and whatnot breaking up the signal.

Here’s an even better one. I suggested to dad that he just use his 16 gauge Remington Model 11 (Browning A5). Which, BTW, I bought for him as a retirement present!

He said the shells were too expensive. I should have seen that one coming.

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Here’s an even better one. I suggested to dad that he just use his 16 gauge Remington Model 11 (Browning A5). Which, BTW, I bought for him as a retirement present!

He said the shells were too expensive. I should have seen that one coming.

Grouse

More expensive than buying a new gun?

tegg wrote:

More expensive than buying a new gun?

Of course. The gun is financed by Grouse…The ammo is financed by Grouse SR.

tegg wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
Here’s an even better one. I suggested to dad that he just use his 16 gauge Remington Model 11 (Browning A5). Which, BTW, I bought for him as a retirement present!

He said the shells were too expensive. I should have seen that one coming.

Grouse

More expensive than buying a new gun?

That’s a complicated question. I could explain it better if I had a whiteboard.

Grouse

404 ERROR wrote:

Of course. The gun is financed by Grouse…The ammo is financed by Grouse SR.

And we have a winner.

Grouse

Winchester makes a good pump shotgun too. Might want to give them a look.

I used to shoot an 870 express and went to a Winchester SXP. They are a little lighter. 325-350 new, used one out there as well. They are over-bored and use invector+ choke tubes. I really like the patterns it throws. They also fit me right. My gunsmith thinks well of them also.

ClownColor wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Outdraft wrote:</div>
My Nova jammed constantly waterfowl hunting. I’d shoot two 3″ shells and have a 3.5″ for my last one. I got rid of it after one season.i guess I must of just gotten a bad one

LOL, I was so pumped when I got mine. shot clays with it a few times, then went out duck hunting and had nothing but jam after jam. Almost thru it away. Had dealer send it back to Benelli, and had it back in two weeks…working like a charm every since…that was 4 years ago.

When my little brother got his I was curious about jamming because he is a well known shortjacker. Tries to pump the round in/out so fast that he doesn’t go all the way back. He has had zero problems with it jamming, in fact I know a lot of guys with Nova’s and this is the very first I have heard about jamming.

I borrowed a Nova one day to shoot a round of trap. I had my standard reloads and I felt it recoiled harder than the Wingmaster I was shooting at that time. Gun fit could have been the cause.

Don Miller wrote:

Gun fit could have been the cause.

If the Wingmaster was heavier (likely), that would play a big factor.

I will throw in I see no one has recommended the Stoger and I personally would stay as far away from that choice as possible. I have seen several of them come from the factory with head space issues.

Mossberg 500 would probably recoil a bit more then the 870. Alot of guys in college shot 870’s and put an adjustable butt pad on for trap to get a perfect fit.

sticker wrote:

When my little brother got his I was curious about jamming because he is a well known shortjacker.

When you say it that way, it sounds like some kind of problem he should ask his doctor about.

Grouse

Grouse, I recall you had a berretta 390 20 gauge. The most obvious answer is to sell me the 390 to finance your Dad’s new 12.

All your problems are solved!!

I actually thought about finding a 12 gauge Gold Mallard 390 to match my 20 gauge, MN.

But I just don’t use a 12 enough to justify that level of gun.

Here’s my view of the 12 gauge. I’ll be honest, it’s really the redheaded stepchild of my gun safe.

I only take a 12 gauge out when it’s time to win ugly. Gotta blast coyotes with a superfull choke and a load of plated BB’s? Check. Gotta hunt pheasants on a windy day with snow falling and the guns going to get crusted in ice and snow? Check. Turkey hunting where the gun gets laid down on the damp ground all the time while calling? Check.

Basically, the 12 gauge is a beater to me. I only use it when I have to or to avoid beating up on a pretty little 20 gauge. So it will surprise no one to know that I only own one, and it’s an el cheapo Stoeger M2000. Which, by the way, functions beautifully. Goes bang, shucks shell.

I don’t blame dad for assuming I’d have overlapping 12 gauges. I have a lot of overlap in the rifle collection, but not in shotguns.

I’m watching a few auctions to see if I can pick up a deal on a used pumpgun. You guys don’t be bidding against me now. I’ll know it’s you.

Grouse