i am 13 and am about to buy my first shotgun and my budget (parental controls) only allows me to buy a $400 gun and I want to know what 3.5 incher would be best in my price range. (am willing to buy used gun in this range if residing in north dakota)

There's not much available in 3 1/2" for under CAN$400. Just the Remington 870 Super Express and Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag. These guns are too light for 3 1/2" shells and recoil is brutal. If you need goose loads use the heavy shot loads like Federal Tungsten and Remington Hevi-shot instead of steel shot.

http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=440214&cat_id=10&subcat_id=43&PHPSESSID=68bf6e1a7af95e2df534053c299d0dba

http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=440156&cat_id=10&subcat_id=43&PHPSESSID=68bf6e1a7af95e2df534053c299d0dba

http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=440165&cat_id=10&subcat_id=43&PHPSESSID=68bf6e1a7af95e2df534053c299d0dba

Bye
Jack

well $400 american because i assumed everybody was american so yeah but no like $700 canadian

You're two years behind on the exchange rates. The Loonie is worth about .88 cents US now.

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=CAD&to=USD&submit=Convert

Importing guns from the States is a real headache now with all the 9-11 sercurity stuff. Buy from a Canadian dealer and save yourself a big hassle and some money too.

Bye
Jack

You have $700 Canadian to spend? Not bad. I would suggest the Remington 870 3.5" gun then. You should be able to find one for that. I am a double barrel guy, I just bought a Stoeger Uplander combo set(12 ga and 20 ga barrels) for just over $700 not long ago. But those are just 3" chambers on both barrel sets.

not so much behind I know the exchangebut, unless we have a reason to go down there I am much more limited to cost. Wouldn't the benelli be better?I have a neighbor who has had finish problems with 870 express

I never had any problems with my 870 or my Grandfathers 870. Not sure about new made ones, there are always going to be the odd ones from any company with a problem or 2. I don't have experience with Benelli, I have used Remington, Winchester, Norinco, and Mossberg pump guns. Remington's seemed to give me the best time of it.

Just my thoughts but I think you're not going to get much benefit from a 3.5" chamber. I've gone full circle trying all kinds of loads from mild to those comparable to field artillary beehive rounds. In all honesty, once you get over 1.375 - 1.5 ounces of payload in a 12ga, you're loosing, not gaining. The heavier the payload, the lower your velocity gets, the longer the shot string gets and in every single gun I've patterned, once the particular gun hits it's maximum payload capasity, the pattern density will start wandering. In other words, you may still be putting say 80% of the pellets into 30" @ 40 yards but what happens in the pattern is no longer evenly distributed within that circle, one spot will be loaded with pellets while the rest will be barely touched. Also, the longer the shot string becomes, the more of the payload that will be lost on a wing shot because it's going to lag way behind the moving target. If you're looking to shoot steel shot, I just ran a battery of pattern tests with the Federal 2.75" 1.25oz #4 steel loads for a friend of mine in his Mossburg 500. I'm no fan of steel shot but these Federals were definitely impressive without kicking like an angry mule.

My suggestion is you should seriously consider finding someone with a 3.5" gun and go put 15-20 rounds of 3.5" through it before you buy one. Unless you go with a heavy gun, they will beat the snot out of you in short order. Heavier the gun, slower the swing will be and the more you'll have to fight the gun rather than putting your effort into hitting the target. A light gun that kicks like a mule will make you flinch or jerk the shot off resulting in missing the targets as well.

If you plan on buying a gun you'll intend to have for a long time, get one you like and can handle then invest some of the money into reloading supplies & equipment and build your own loads that you can tune to your gun. A load tuned to the gun will out perform any super magnum loads that the gun will not shoot well. Bigger ain't always better.

I don't know if you have Walmart up there but I bought my 835 Mossberg for under $300 American at one. I've owned two 870 3.5 expresses and the recoil difference between it and the mossberg is a bunch. Perhaps it's because the new Mossberg is ported.

My choice is the Mossberg. I also like the camo there covered with. Here's a pix of mine. It's got an aimpoint red dot sight on it.

Just my thoughts but I think you're not going to get much benefit from a 3.5" chamber. I've gone full circle trying all kinds of loads from mild to those comparable to field artillary beehive rounds. In all honesty, once you get over 1.375 - 1.5 ounces of payload in a 12ga, you're loosing, not gaining. The heavier the payload, the lower your velocity gets, the longer the shot string gets and in every single gun I've patterned, once the particular gun hits it's maximum payload capasity, the pattern density will start wandering. In other words, you may still be putting say 80% of the pellets into 30" @ 40 yards but what happens in the pattern is no longer evenly distributed within that circle, one spot will be loaded with pellets while the rest will be barely touched. Also, the longer the shot string becomes, the more of the payload that will be lost on a wing shot because it's going to lag way behind the moving target. If you're looking to shoot steel shot, I just ran a battery of pattern tests with the Federal 2.75" 1.25oz #4 steel loads for a friend of mine in his Mossburg 500. I'm no fan of steel shot but these Federals were definitely impressive without kicking like an angry mule.

My suggestion is you should seriously consider finding someone with a 3.5" gun and go put 15-20 rounds of 3.5" through it before you buy one. Unless you go with a heavy gun, they will beat the snot out of you in short order. Heavier the gun, slower the swing will be and the more you'll have to fight the gun rather than putting your effort into hitting the target. A light gun that kicks like a mule will make you flinch or jerk the shot off resulting in missing the targets as well.

If you plan on buying a gun you'll intend to have for a long time, get one you like and can handle then invest some of the money into reloading supplies & equipment and build your own loads that you can tune to your gun. A load tuned to the gun will out perform any super magnum loads that the gun will not shoot well. Bigger ain't always better.


well I plan only to shoot 1 3/8 payload in a 3.5 because thats all i feel like being able to afford. recoil isnt much of a problem for me in any gun i've shot. A friend of mine has a 12 3" on the underside of 5.25lbs,no pad and it doest seem to kick but their 20 does, odd really. I want the 3.5 for the occasional use of 3.5 i\on waterfowl but mainly for the advantages for turkey

I don't know if you have Walmart up there but I bought my 835 Mossberg for under $300 American at one. I've owned two 870 3.5 expresses and the recoil difference between it and the mossberg is a bunch. Perhaps it's because the new Mossberg is ported.

My choice is the Mossberg. I also like the camo there covered with. Here's a pix of mine. It's got an aimpoint red dot sight on it.

I would'nt mind the 835 semi but, i am not sure if it is a quality gun. I,ve been shown the lack oif quality in mossberg pumps so I was wondering is there quality in a mossberg? By the way we do have a WAL-MART here(not nec\secarily directed to you)Moss bergs are about 600,the same model as yours.

A couple years ago I was in the same situation as you and was lucky to find a used Remington 870 Wingmaster in a sporting goods store in my town. It cost $270 and so far the only problem I've had is a magazine cap that likes to loosen (bit of loctite fixed that). Aside from that, it's a great shotgun. It has a 3" chamber, but the only times I use 3" shells are for waterfowl and when I want to have fun with 3" slug loads.

I would'nt mind the 835 semi but, i am not sure if it is a quality gun. I,ve been shown the lack oif quality in mossberg pumps so I was wondering is there quality in a mossberg? By the way we do have a WAL-MART here(not nec\secarily directed to you)Moss bergs are about 600,the same model as yours.

I've actually found just the opposite. The Remington 870 Wingmasters were and are excellent guns. The three express 870's I've owned were not near as nice a gun as the Mossberg 835.

Lots of little things that were wrong, but the new finish there putting on the express models would litterly rust in a bucket of oil. I guess Remington has cured some of this rust problem, but...

Keep in mind I'm a Remington fan. I've also been a gunsmith for near 30 years and I'll attest to the quality of the new 835's. Their well made and function superbly.

If you do decide on a Remington my advice would be to find one of the older wingmaster 870's with the blue finish.

For a new gun I'd defenitly go with the 835. My hunting partner has had one since they came out and the way it performed compared to my 870 3.5 inch express magnum was why I bought my 835. Gotta say I'm a happy camper with it. The years I spent repairing guns has made me a pretty fussy gun buyer.

I have to agree that there is little use for a 3.5" 12 ga. As an old Missouri boy I've shot more turkeys with 2 3/4" shells than anything else. Now I shoot mountain grouse and pheasant mostly. The 2 3/4 12 ga. works just fine and has plenty of juice for the occasional duck or goose.

faucettb has given good advice based on much more experience than I have.

Good luck with your purchase.

The 870 Express models have hardwood stocks and a Parkerized finish that seems to attact rust no matter what you do. The 870 Wingmasters have a polished blue finish that's much nicer looking and much more resistant to rusting than the Express models I've seen. The Wingmasters also have nice (but glossy finished) walnut stocks. The Wingmasters also usually have chrome plated bolts, and are typically much slicker operating than the Express models.

Some people have had good experiences with Mossbergs. Some people haven't. Most of the Mossbergs I've handled haven't been quite as smooth as a 870 Express, and far from as smooth, or as reliable as a 870 Wingmaster.

I'd buy a used Wingmaster rather than either a new Express or any Mossberg. IMO. As far as the 2 3/4" vs. 3" vs. 3 1/2" question, you'll have to decide what you really need for your particular situation.

I have to agree that there is little use for a 3.5" 12 ga. As an old Missouri boy I've shot more turkeys with 2 3/4" shells than anything else. Now I shoot mountain grouse and pheasant mostly. The 2 3/4 12 ga. works just fine and has plenty of juice for the occasional duck or goose.

faucettb has given good advice based on much more experience than I have.

Good luck with your purchase.


I want a little more punch because Canada's (my personal litest was 7.43 lbs) are basically my main bird , not much fer ducks where I am alowed to hunt cept fer when I go to Oak hammok (A wildlife refuge that has special hunting areas around the area) bout once evry yr or so (hopefully more) I may take a shot at the odd sand hill.

I've actually found just the opposite. The Remington 870 Wingmasters were and are excellent guns. The three express 870's I've owned were not near as nice a gun as the Mossberg 835.

Lots of little things that were wrong, but the new finish there putting on the express models would litterly rust in a bucket of oil. I guess Remington has cured some of this rust problem, but...

Keep in mind I'm a Remington fan. I've also been a gunsmith for near 30 years and I'll attest to the quality of the new 835's. Their well made and function superbly.

If you do decide on a Remington my advice would be to find one of the older wingmaster 870's with the blue finish.

For a new gun I'd defenitly go with the 835. My hunting partner has had one since they came out and the way it performed compared to my 870 3.5 inch express magnum was why I bought my 835. Gotta say I'm a happy camper with it. The years I spent repairing guns has made me a pretty fussy gun buyer.



I would like to thankyou for your input about the 835 would like more. I also glad that (some of you replied) you shed some light on the 870 (evrybody)

I would'nt mind the 835 semi but, i am not sure if it is a quality gun. I,ve been shown the lack oif quality in mossberg pumps so I was wondering is there quality in a mossberg? By the way we do have a WAL-MART here(not nec\secarily directed to you)Moss bergs are about 600,the same model as yours.


I know I goofed about the 835 being a semi. I thought of the 935. My friend just got an older 835 but I havn't got the pleasure to shoot it but, I was told it was a pretty good gun if you treat it right (cost is actually about $450)

I just gotsted me a 835 woood stock and blued barrel sadly, it has relatively low recoil (lol) bis fun to shoot (camo model was outta stock)