I have had pump guns all my life and have been thinking of upgrading to an auto loader.
I want a 12ga. that will shoot 2 3/4 and 3" shells, if it shoots 3 1/2" shells that would be even better but I know I will use it for clay targets as well as for ducks and geese, so it has to shoot the small loads too.
What is the best I can do in the $500 range? Thanks....Flinch

I have had pump guns all my life and have been thinking of upgrading to an auto loader.
I want a 12ga. that will shoot 2 3/4 and 3" shells, if it shoots 3 1/2" shells that would be even better but I know I will use it for clay targets as well as for ducks and geese, so it has to shoot the small loads too.
What is the best I can do in the $500 range? Thanks....Flinch

Flinch,

I gave up the pumps and went to an automatic for ducks and geese.

I went all the way with the Beretta Extreme that shoots the 3 1/2's. It is a beautiful gun but pricey.
You may want to look at the the new Mossburg 935 automatic that shoots the 3 1/2's. I've heard good things from the rice fields where they get a ton of work on geese down on the coast. I've talked to two goose guides down there. They are also easy to field strip when something goes wrong. I think they are about $650 which is about as low as you will find them. Mossburg has a web site.
Good Luck

Got to echo that...best bang for the 3 1/2" autoloading buck in the Mossy 935. I haven't gone the 3 1/2" 12ga. shell route (being hard headed, like the 10ga. for ducks/geese) but if I were in a semi-auto mood, would pick up a Mossberg. Have hunted with shooters who used them, and they functioned fine. Also shot with a Remington 3 1/2" pump user, and I could tell the differecne in recoil....the semi-auto either reduces it, or spreads it out over a longer time frame so that it feels reduced (take your pick...either way, you shoulder doesn't much care, it's just more pleasant to shoot the self-loader).

If you can live with 3" shells, Remington 1187. The cheaper grades at the discount stores with plain stocks and a parkerized finish would be at home in the duck blind, and you won't feel bad about the scratches and dings it's going to get.

Have you guys heard anything good or bad about the Charles Daly maxi-mag? I can get one new for $385. Might kick hard though being its a composite(plastic) stock.

Don't know much about the Daly, I tend to trust the experts in the field.
When they tell me that the Mossy's are easy to field repair, that means a lot because all automatics tend to get gas build up from a lot of shooting and it is sometimes necessary to take apart in the field.

Can't wait until the first flight migrations !

Will the 935 shoot the 2 3/4" shells? It doesnt actually say it can on the website. Anyone ever tried it? I sure dont want to be stuck with a magnum only shotgun as I will probably shoot a lot more clay targets than geese. If it can then I have made my decision, I am partial to mossberg shotguns. Been shooting a model 500 pump since I was 10, 26 years later and ive never had a problem with it. Its not real pretty anymore but it still shoots great.

Will the 935 shoot the 2 3/4" shells? It doesnt actually say it can on the website. Anyone ever tried it? I sure dont want to be stuck with a magnum only shotgun as I will probably shoot a lot more clay targets than geese. If it can then I have made my decision, I am partial to mossberg shotguns. Been shooting a model 500 pump since I was 10, 26 years later and ive never had a problem with it. Its not real pretty anymore but it still shoots great.

I would imagine it would shoot 2 3/4". It would be hard to sell if it didn't.

The 935's actually look pretty good. You would be proud of it.
I use to hunt with an old Win model 12.
It was so ugly, I used it at times to row the boat out to the duck blind.
I wouldn't do that with my new one but I sure miss that old gun.

What do you guys know about the Stoeger 2000? Hopefully nothing bad because I just bought one.
Seems like a good gun for the money, its got the 28" barrel, camo, sling swivel studs, and 5 chokes, for 419 bucks, right in my price range.
The action design is very similar to a Benelli, but im sure the quality, fit and finish, isnt up to its 1000+ dollar big brother.
So far the only thing I dont like about it is the front site bead, its seems way too big and dumb looking. I would like to change this out with one of better quality. Anyone ever done this before? and what types of sight beads are best? I was thinking of a fiber optic style.

I finally got time to shoot some some clay targets with my new shotgun, and so far, I would recomend the stoeger auto loader to anyone. It functioned flawlessly with the 4 boxes of 1 1/8 ounce loades I put through it. Will try a box or 2 of 3" mags today.
As for the sight, I put one of those Tru Glow fiber optic sights on it, the smallest one they make, much better than the factory sight, and installation was simple.

Stay away from the Charles Daly...........CHEAP is as CHEAP does!!! It will not take a lot of heavy steel shot use in the duck or goose blind before it will start coming apart on you, literally....

God Bless,

DAVID

Flinch444 I shoot a Remington 870 supermag 3 1/2 inch. It's got the black plastic remington stocks. I got to tell you with the 3 1/2 shells it kicks the dickens out of you. I got a friend with the 935 Mossberg and it is really pleasent to shoot compared to my Rem. Sure would recommend it.

flinch, I used to have a rem 870, 3 1/2 " , that shotgun was related to a mule, patterened nicley but kicked like a mule. Then I went to an nra sponsored shotgun inst. course where we got to spend two days on the clay rage shooting and shooting and shooting. After about 75rds. the remington was getting uncomfortable but there were many other shotguns to try out. That day I was able to shoot the browing auto gold, its alright but its heavy, would make a good goose gun. shot the winchester 1300, not impressed. A remington 1187 in 12 ga., good gun, but the 28ga remington is lightening quick on clays. Then I found a beretta 390, wow. Light, quick to point, easy on the shoulder, just a real nice gun. So impressed I took my remington down to the local gunshop and sold it, then went to wall-mart and bought me the beretta 390 with synthetic stocks and never looked back, although it cannot shoot the 3 1/2" monster mags, it does do 3" and that is good enough for me. My experience witht the 3 1/2 is that unless you are shooting turkey, goose, or preditors primarily it isnt necessary, and If I was I'd get about a 10lb auto, that shell when loaded to the max has more recoil than my dad's m-70 pre-64 featherweight '06

I know what you guys are talkng about with these hard kicking shotguns. This Stoeger with the plastic stock really tries to beat me to death with heavier loads. I am going to add some weight and see if that helps some. other then that, no complants at all.

Why not scare-up a used Remington 11-87? Their reputation speaks for itself, parts are everywhere and cheap if you do need them, and the guns handle extremely well. You should be able to get a very nice example for $500 or less.

I filled the plastic stock on my Stoeger with parrifin wax and put a few lead wheelweights in also, I kept an access hole to the bolt so I could still get the stock off if need be. Now the stock is solid, and doesnt have that cheap plastic hollow sound either. Balance and recoil are 100% better too. Now I can shoot this all day without feeling like ive just been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.