Beginner Shotgunning

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:23 am

Can you guys suggest to a beginner what shotgun/gauge to buy? I have a friend who is into handguns/rifles that now wants to start hunting. He's never fired a shotgun but has fired every class3 there is.

I wasn't sure if he should go for an auto or an over/under, 12ga/20ga? What would you suggest? Brands would be nice. Just want to get a general concensus.

Post by **ezzy333** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:26 am

I vote for a 20 unless you are doing a lot of waterfowl hunting. There are many brands so I think he best thing is to pick what you can afford.

Ezzy

ohiohuntinweim · Post by **ohiohuntinweim** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:01 am

What will your friend be hunting? I think thats the place to start. Then go to a gun store and try out different O/U's, SxS's, auto's, pumps then once he finds one that comfortable for him. Different guns work for different folks...kind of a personal preference.

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:07 am

he doesn't want to waterfowl hunt. he wants to upland since he likes the walking and being outdoors. he also likes the taste of pheasant and grouse and feels those are the birds he mainly will hunt. as for a dog he doesn't have one (yet) and is looking into some odd breeds (munsterlander) but that is a whole other topic for another day. He wants to hunt with a pointer club this fall as to get an "intro" 101 but he would like to own his own shotgun. Nothing fancy.

I think he'd do well with a 20 but he's like, "well what's wrong with the 12! I shoot 308s!" He has a sweet DS Arms (FN type) "sporting" rifle that has a 16" barrel. That thing is nice for um, target shooting. I'd hate to see him bring that on a big game hunt. Anyway I really think a shotgun is very different than a rifle in every aspect. So he needs to start at with the basics and build from the ground up. Which shouldn't be hard since he's very familar with firearms and is pretty good at shooting.

I just want to suggest a brand and if he should go auto (he only wants ONE shot gun to do everything) or O/U or S/S... I think the auto might be good for him.

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:41 am

vzkennels wrote:Yeah he only wants 1 now but we all know how one leads to 2 & 2 to 4 etc.

yup. with him it will only take a month before he has 5 shotguns of all different brands, types, uses. He originally wanted to get a Benelli M3 super90 14" barrel :roll: show up with one of those on a bird hunt i am sure he'd get kicked out quick.

he has maybe 30 handguns and 15 rifles.

romeo212000 · Post by **romeo212000** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:12 am

For first shotgun i would go with a 12 gauge. It is a very versatile all purpose gun that can be used for upland birds, turkey and waterfowl if he ever got into it. Probably an auto or pump at that. Amoo is cheaper for 12 gauge too.

gar-dog · Post by **gar-dog** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:45 pm

I say a verstile 12 gauge for a first gun. You can do the clay games, plus use lighter loads for upland game.

Get him thinking Beretta 391 or 3901 series or Remington 1100.

Those are great all-purpose guns and he can specialize later. After all, no one can own just one.

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:01 am

At the risk of repeating old advice ... get a shotgun that fits. In other words, when the shotgun is brought to the shoulder it will naturally point to where you are looking. Remind him you do not shoot a shotgun like a rifle, i.e. you shoot with both eyes open and you don't "sight" down the barrel. If he lives where pheasants develop thick plumage late in the year due to cold weather he'll be better off with a twelve gauge. If he has shorter arms steer him away from a pump as the forearm is further forward. Stay away from a 3 1/2 inch gun due to the extra weight unless he really has a need for one.

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:09 pm

That's funny because when he picked up my shotgun he but that stock real tight in his shoulder and his cheek so far forward like he was using a rifle. I wish there was some type of site he could go to and get the 101 on shotgunning and upland hunting. i'd write it all out for him but it takes so much time.

he doesn't understand "shot size" and what to use. He just wanted slugs and 00 :roll: i hope he was joking.

romeo212000 · Post by **romeo212000** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:14 pm

"Stay away from a 3 1/2 inch gun due to the extra weight unless he really has a need for one."

I have to agree with you on this one. My personal belief is that if I cant put it down with a 3" shell then it won't fit in the oven. As far was waterfowl hunting goes 3 1/2" shells only serve one purpose and that's for sky busting. And I dont sky bust, nor do I think its good practice to do so.

bean1031 · Post by **bean1031** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:22 am

I would go with a remington 870, they are innexpensive, virsitile and can take a beating. As far as guage I would say probubly a 12 incase he wants to do some waterfoul.

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:14 pm

funny, he is looking at a used Benelli Legacy 26" 12ga and a used Beretta AL391 Urika Optima 26" 12

not sure if either is a good "beginer" shotgun for the field. He wants to shoot clays first to get practice for this season.

utahmomof4 · Post by **utahmomof4** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:55 am

He shouldn't go wrong with either of those. I personally prefer the Beretta over the Benelli, but they are similar enough that it shouldn't make a huge difference. I own both a 391 in 20 ga. and a 3901 in 12 ga. and they are outstanding guns.

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:05 am

Barrel length is personal preference. Having said that, in competition, shooters generally use guns with longer barrels, 30"-32". Shorter barreled guns are used in the field because they are a couple of ounces lighter and some folks feel they come up faster. Longer barrels tend to facilitate a smooth swing and follow through. A few competition shooters I know use 28" guns in the field. I have both myself.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:20 pm

If I just could have one shotgun, it'd be a 16 gauge. However, good ones aren't easy to find, and the shells can be expensive. For a first or one & only I'll put another vote in for a 12 gauge. A 3" chamber is more than enough. I'd also say go with a OU or SxS. It's easier to clear the action when crossing fences or some other obstacle, and easier to check the barrel for obstructions. I'd also say go with 28" barrels, I have everything between 26" and 36" and the little bit of additional muzzle weight of 28" barrels swing smoothest for me because the gun feels balanced better.

If money is a concern, there's nothing wrong with an 870. It's a good, solid, reliable gun.

Fit was mentioned too, which is sooooo important. The gun has to fit. As I've said before, if it doesn't fit perfect, just OK, go ahead and get it provided you are willing to part with the $$ to have a gunsmith fit the gun to you.

You will not hit squat with a gun that doesn't fit. Just ask my wife...

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:43 am

nj,

So if you are on the "squat" list at home it could be an advantage to buy your wife a poorly fitting gun!!!!

MARK

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:26 am

BigShooter wrote:nj,

So if you are on the "squat" list at home it could be an advantage to buy your wife a poorly fitting gun!!!!

MARK

Now that was funny!

adogslife · Post by **adogslife** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:34 am

The Benelli Montefeltro is light weight and feels great.

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:20 pm

adl,

It's light weight and feels great .... sounds like a beer slogan!

Shadow,

Did your friend buy a shotgun yet?

Mark

TheShadow · Post by **TheShadow** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:17 pm

no not yet. He was leaning towards the used Benelli Legacy but someone bought it already. But there is another gunshop that has a them brand new but he thinks its expensive.

He is putting it on hold until he gets his IRS check ($600) but in the meantime he wants to just rent one and start practicing. He is deadset on an auto though. No O/U or S/S or Pump.

He also tried out a NIB Montefeltro Silver that he says "fits" really good. But too expensive. I think his budget is $800 or less. New or used is fine. I can tell he likes Benelli. But he was saying he was going to look into all the auto Beretta models next.

I went with him to the store and he is a funny guy, he loves all the "mean" looking shotguns. Personal defense. He was eye'ing a M4 with pistol grip, solid stock, picatinny rail, tritium ghost ring sights, 7 round mag, told him no way is he bringing something like that into a bird field.

[edit] i still think i should steer him to an O/U because i'm just unsure how versatile the auto will be for loads. I mean he even said to me he'd be doing a lot of skeet shooting during the off season so... I honestly think an O/U would be a better bet. I think he feels recoil is a lot more with an O/U but... I personally own a Beretta White Onyx 28" 12ga that is the one i use all the time.