Decisions decisions...

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S&Wtinkerer

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This isn't a very serious request but more of a sounding board I suppose. I am looking to get a new shotgun, one that will most likely see some fairly hard use. Not 20,000 shells a year but definitely being dragged around the woods for hunting seasons and ideally something I could throw a shorter barrel on for home defense/other duties when needed.

I have seen a bunch of press on the Beretta A300 Ultima. Seems like a nice scattergat but at $900 that is a significant investment, and there are NO cheap barrels for shotguns anymore.

I also looked at the Mossberg 930 since, again, I won't be running several rounds of 3 gun or skeet every month. However, when I looked on Mossberg's website they don't have any barrels in stock.

Finally, there is a third option that doesn't make much sense but hear me out. I want to find a really used, beat up/crusty 870 (ideally pre freedom group but beggars can't be choosers), ideally a police trade in, and send it off to Wilson for their reconditioning:

Shotgun Custom Work

Wilson Combat has been the innovator in custom pistols, long guns, and accessories since 1977. Home of the Wilson Combat 1911, EDC X9, WCP320, and more!
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Again, not a vital item of importance but more for just some fun debate. Which gun would you purchase? I have most of my hunting/shooting experience with pumps if that makes any difference to the recommendations. Not really looking to do more than MAYBE but a light on. Once I find a micro red-dot that can pull triple duty on a carbine, pistol and survive a 12 gauge's recoil then maybe that will go on top.
 
I gotta be honest....benelli....the m2 m3 or m4 is a great choice. The m2 can be had used for reasonable prices as well. The can be a little more but the investment is worth it. Budget wise the m2 would fit the bill.
 
CoryMcNeill said:
I gotta be honest....benelli....the m2 m3 or m4 is a great choice. The m2 can be had used for reasonable prices as well. The can be a little more but the investment is worth it. Budget wise the m2 would fit the bill.
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I kissed putting that in the post. Is there a significant difference between the M2 and M4 as far as operating system or components? Or is it akin to the Mossberg 500 and 590?


*** Edit missed not kissed
 
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They are different. The m4 is piston driven where the m2 is standard inertia. The m4 has lower recoil but the m2 is a good do all. The m4 is better tacticly. I went m4 due to the piston system. It cycles whatever you throw at it save for less than lethal rounds, but that's by design.
 
CoryMcNeill said:
They are different. The m4 is piston driven where the m2 is standard inertia. The m4 has lower recoil but the m2 is a good do all. The m4 is better tacticly. I went m4 due to the piston system. It cycles whatever you throw at it save for less than lethal rounds, but that's by design.
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I might just try to hunt one down then. I noticed... not a ton of used M4s out there really, or a lot of 1301s.
 
I say, go with the old 870 or Mossberg 500. They just work and you don't have to worry about semi-auto action malfunctions at all. Also, they're cheap. Pretty good aftermarket for both as well.

Another thing, the Turkish guns have come a long way as well. Shoot, if you get one of those you won't even care if you lose it.
 
S&Wtinkerer said:
I might just try to hunt one down then. I noticed... not a ton of used M4s out there really, or a lot of 1301s.
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That says something about them though. It took me a while to get my m4/1014. Found it on tacswap from a dude in Greensboro. If you are concerned about any malfunctions the m3 is there it can be a pump or semi. However the m4 is used by Leo's and the marines, it's been tested rigorously.
The Turkish copies are an option, I have heard mixed reviews for long term use but for the price it's hard to be mad at.
 
I would buy a brand new maverick 88.

You can buy three or four of them for the price of a higher end shotgun and they last long enough that you shouldn't ever need to.

Heck, you could buy two and squirrel one away. It would still cost less than a lot of others.
 
S&Wtinkerer said:
ideally pre freedom group but beggars can't be choosers)
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DO NOT BUY A FREEDOM GROUP 870

I have a freedom 870 that had to go back for repairs. Even if you do not have issues actions are rough on all of them even after repairs "finished". If it is going to be a pump buy a Mossberg or an older Remington.

My recommendation goes to buying a Franchi. I replaced my hunting 870 with a Franchi intensity (now called affinity 3.5) the gun has had zero problems with the few thousand rounds I've thrown at it. Very accurate with rifled slugs and I've won a few turkey shoots with it. It's interia drive and under the "Benelli" umbrella made in Italy. For context I bought my Franchi before Beretta acquired Benelli. As far as I know Franchi quality has not gone down. I haven't had any issues shooting light Walmart bs dove loads including but not limited to RIO - the crap everyone hates

A300 is faster operating and will be happier cycling the crap cheap arounds but is heavier. If you are weight sensitive the Franchi might be a better choice.

I'm not quite a fan of pump auction guns especially in tactical applications unless you are door breaching or running bean bags most of us are better served by semi auto guns.
 
SOneNote else mentioned the Maverick 88, at the least buy a Mossberg 500 and add a Mac 88 with the barrel you want. Within gauge and capacity the barrel should be interchangeable. Watch the 12ga 7 round 20” barrel though, believe that one is an outlier with a different magazine length.

At anyrate the Mav 88 is how you buy a second Mossberg barrel (and get a free extra action).
 
Mathieu18 said:
Watch the 12ga 7 round 20” barrel though, believe that one is an outlier with a different magazine length.
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There's a few mossbergs like that. You cannot just add a tube extender on them I'm not quite sure why they haven't made everything like the 590 where you remove a cap and add a tube extender on.
 
Squanchy said:
DO NOT BUY A FREEDOM GROUP 870

I have a freedom 870 that had to go back for repairs. Even if you do not have issues actions are rough on all of them even after repairs "finished". If it is going to be a pump buy a Mossberg or an older Remington.

My recommendation goes to buying a Franchi. I replaced my hunting 870 with a Franchi intensity (now called affinity 3.5) the gun has had zero problems with the few thousand rounds I've thrown at it. Very accurate with rifled slugs and I've won a few turkey shoots with it. It's interia drive and under the "Benelli" umbrella made in Italy. For context I bought my Franchi before Beretta acquired Benelli. As far as I know Franchi quality has not gone down. I haven't had any issues shooting light Walmart bs dove loads including but not limited to RIO - the crap everyone hates

A300 is faster operating and will be happier cycling the crap cheap arounds but is heavier. If you are weight sensitive the Franchi might be a better choice.

I'm not quite a fan of pump auction guns especially in tactical applications unless you are door breaching or running bean bags most of us are better served by semi auto guns.
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While I have not run a ton of rounds through my Franchi Affinity, it has been very reliable. Really like it. Shoots great with a wide range of shells.
Very nice quality. Mines made in benelli factory in Italy.
 
VersaMax the best shooting shotgun I have ever had. I've shot Duck, Dove, Trap, Skeet, 3-Gun Match, low brass light, high brass heavy turkey and I havent' cleaned it once.

The boys at the our 3-Gun Match used to love to shoot it. Soft and smooth recoil.

Plenty of Aftermarket and Remington barrels, tubes, sights. etc... Put in a big Pelican case and a la carte it!
 
I appreciate all the suggestions. I will take a look at the Franchis. I have a HORRIBLE problem of impulse purchasing Maverick 88s because they are so cheap and cost the same as a whole replacement barrel, if the barrels are even in stock.

Remington always has a special place for me as I learned to shoot skeet and took my first duck with an 1100, but the modern Freedom Group guns have a lot of finish issues and QC to watch out for. We shall see.
 
I have a franchi affinity 3 and have been pleased with it. I originally purchased it as a clays gun and it did fine for that but I ended up switching it to my duck gun. I don’t feel so bad when it gets splashed with freezing water instead of the wood stock and blued barrel on my A400. They both have been fine guns along with my wife’s a300. No problems from any of them with any type of shells.
 
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