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Let's talk about shotguns

JasonV
I admit I am probably an opinionated shotgun snob. And set in my ways. But I was pleasantly surprised at a pump gun I picked up.
I won't own or shoot an 870 express or a Mossberg 500. Both junk in my opinion after having owned both.
I do love older Remington shotguns, especially a nice light and pretty wingmaster. And the older Remington semi autos are nice. I won't touch anything Remington put their name on in the past 25 years.
I prefer side by sides and over under shotguns with a preference for Browning.
Don't care for a 12 gauge at all, big heavy club.
A 16 gauge is pretty much all I shoot at targets, ducks, doves, and pheasants.
I do tolerate a Benelli Nova just because a fella should own at least one inexpensive shotgun.

I also haven't had much use for Winchester ever. In my opinion they survived way too long on a reputation without innovation and became stale. Everything Winchester made I am interested in is very high priced antiques- that has been my feeling for years.

But then I picked up a old pristine Winchester model 12 at an local estate auction last year. I got it because it seemed like one that was not so normal. It is a 12 gauge feather weight with an improved cylinder choked barrel. I think the barrel is 26 inches long. Made in late 60 or early 70s- i forget which. It has sat in the safe for a year without ever putting it to my shoulder.

But I have a new pheasant dog that needs training and I wanted to introduce her to close up gunfire. She is usually in the house when I am shooting and has never been up close when I shoot. So just for fun I got out the clay bird thrower and grabbed that model 12. Man that gun fits me good! Last night was the first time shooting it and I threw 27 clay birds and hit 24 of them. Tonight I hit 23 of 25. One of the reasons I carry a 16 gauge all the time is they are so light. But this model 12 is light also! I am definitely in love with this Winchester model 12. I think it will be my pheasant gun this year.
And the dog did good with it too! Dog is a standard poodle, her name is Little Ann. She is 8 months old and 50 pounds. Her dad is 90 pounds and I hope she stops growing.

So I guess an old opinionated fool can learn a new thing and be surprised once in a while. Now I have to wonder what other great shotguns I have overlooked!!!!!!
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Comments

35 comments

Date Votes
  • KenK/84Bravo

    I love High Standards. Top line quality.

    Imagine my pleasant surprise to learn my JC Higgins/Sears Roebuck mdl 20 (the one I did not even realize that I owned,) was a rebadged High Standard mdl 200. Way happy.

    (Thanks for the clue BobJudy. Been researching them.)

    Yep, papernicker. A High Standard pump at $200. I'd be all over that. Good score.

    Everytime I receive a firearm through my various FFL's, I peruse the shotgun offerings. I like older obscure shotguns.

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  • asop
    Shot and still have a Mod. 12, 3" for ducks I used for many years.  When lead wasn't  allowed I went with an 870.  Pheasants used and still have Mod. 12, 20 ga.  I also have a Mod. 42 which is the .410 version. 
     
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  • pulsarnc

    Fanciest I own is a new 870 express if you don’t count my grandfather ‘s 1923 Ithaca double . Main gun for most of the last 35 years has been a Winchester 1300 I bought new . It has been my everything gun . Have an assortment of everything else hanging around including some ted Williams , jc Higgins and such .

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  • select-fire
    Started out on a Stevens 311 .410 Dad gave me when I was 8 and used it for rabbit and squirrel hunting. Funny thing when you get good with a 410 every thing becomes simple shooting larger gauges. Then at 11 it was sold and upgraded to a 20 gauge.. same gauge Dad shot in his A5 Browning light 20 with a cylinder bore for quail. I started shooting that gun as a junior in high school during quail season. Dad bought me a 1100 Remington light 20 that yr for Christmas. After he died I kept the Browning and sold the Remington. Didn't need 2 bird guns. Then the 410 bug still haunted me. I bought a superposed browning 410. I loved that gun but it still didn't do what Dads ol' A5 could do to birds. I just couldn't shoot it as well. Then on to Model 42 Winchesters.. Which became an addiction. I cannot tell you exactly how many I owned at one time but it was quite a few. I sold and bought them like candy. Something about a 42 that just felt right in your hands shooting birds. Dads Browning stayed parked in the safe. Then one day a man wanted to buy all my 42's for a collection. He got his way and I haven't owned one since. I went back to shooting birds with the ol' A5. Then as luck would have it I purchased a 12 gauge HK over under at a gun show. Had  a funny barrel that had rifling in it. I thought it was for shooting deer slugs. Only a 24 inch barrel which should be great for upland hunting. As luck had it something pointed me to that gun. It was and still is the best bird gun  I have shot. Dads Browning is parked in the safe and hasn't been shot for yrs. I keep an old remington express with a police ported riot gun barrel along with a 36 inch hasting barrel for long range duck hunting. Dual purpose cheap throwaway society firearm. Not pretty but does the job .
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  • KenK/84Bravo

    Based on the research I have done this AM on the J Stevens mdl 520-30, I am inclined to believe it is Not a "Jam-O-Matic" that a "former MP," relayed to me. It is a John Moses Browning designed Shotgun that was Wartime manufactured from 1940-45'. (33,000)

    It served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. If indeed it was a "Jam-O-Matic," it would not have seen extensive service. Plus the JMB designation makes this hard to believe in itself.

    Just sayin'.

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