Good basic new pump shotgun

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5 year old buck +
Any adivce here? Buying a basic everybody should have atleast a shotgun / shotgun for the youngest kid. He has had fun playing around shooting clays with his firends a few times.

Ideally a full length stock, 21" vented rib. Don't see him doing any hunting at all. So, no need for a 3.5" chamber. likely won't even use 3" shells either.

MAybe something blued instead of parkerized. I do not forsee him being too good to this gun, cleaning / oiling. Might be fussy. I got a guns from the 1960's that look better than club member's 5 year old savage specials.

He's renting a apartment and got a little wierded out when the cops escorted an ex boyfriend out of another unit downstairs.
 
My family are all left handed so we have used Mossbergs a lot over the years for the safety. Always had good luck with their pumps.


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My family are all left handed so we have used Mossbergs a lot over the years for the safety. Always had good luck with their pumps.


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This guy is right handed.

I am left handed and have only bought flintlocks in left handed. Everything else is right handed. blackpowder flames and bits of flint in my eyes is not a compromise I want to do. MY only personal shotgun is a 20ga mossberg. I kinda feel weird using left handed stuff in general. Had to make due over the years, you get used to it.

Did buy a felco 9 pruning shear, its their left handed one.

Mossberg was high up on the list. Was a bit tmpted to give him my 20ga and buy myself a new gun. Too many god memories with that pump gun though. I regret selling my citori in 2019. 26" fixed IC/mod 12ga field grade.
 
I think for a pump gun I would go with a Remington 870. I've got one from the early 50's that still is in nice shape and carries well. Good for clay or pheasant hunting. Now its a house gun....and I keep some buckshot handy. Lots of variants in those 870's....but a blued one with decent wood is still a nice gun. What barrel length are you considering?
 
I agree with Foggy. Get this one:


The adjustable sights are the cat's meow.
 
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I went with 870 for my daughters ,one wanted wood the other want synthetic.They have youth model and it still fits them.I believe they had some kind of trade up special on stocks.
 
I saw 870 police trade ins recently but can't remember where. They were wood stock too... That be a great choice
 
My uncle had an 870 youth for my cousin, and he said he was surprised by how hard it kicked. I'm not sure what loads he was using. Is there a budget you have in mind? Any specific gauge?
 
I bought an 870 in 20 gauge for my grandson some years ago. Recoil is modest. I think it was a wingmaster model, with vent rib and nice wood. For wing shooting or clays....those sights said above would not be a good choice....IMO. On a "first" shotgun.....I would think versatility and birds or clays are what is wanted.
 
All great guns mentioned above. Both my kids have bought Turkish copies. They've been cheap and completely trouble free. Our gun shop owner is ex LEO and has his own range. Shoots a lot. Swears by them for something basic to throw in the corner.
 
My uncle had an 870 youth for my cousin, and he said he was surprised by how hard it kicked. I'm not sure what loads he was using. Is there a budget you have in mind? Any specific gauge?
I had one for my oldest daughter. It was quite a bit smaller and lighter than my Wingmaster 20 gauge.

I love 870’s.
 
I got an 870 youth model when I was a youngster. Great gun. I still use it for rabbits in tight cover.
 
X2 on what T-Max said, hard to beat a Mossberg 500! They don't have all the bells and whistles but they are tanks. I shoot lefty but the top tang safety is a no-brainer either way. And I think, much safer. Especially when bird hunting, you can have your hand in a fixed shooting position, put a bead on the bird and pop the safety off with your thumb and fire. And MADE IN THE USA!!!
 
I wouldn't buy an 870 made in the last 25 years. That's just me.

Moss 500 aren't refined or pretty, but they're functional. Down side is they're not $150 anymore either.
Same price range a Benelli Nova is a good gun for someone who's likely not to take good care of it.
 
I wouldn't buy an 870 made in the last 25 years. That's just me.

Moss 500 aren't refined or pretty, but they're functional. Down side is they're not $150 anymore either.
Same price range a Benelli Nova is a good gun for someone who's likely not to take good care of it.
I love old Wingmasters. Used to be 3 on every used shotgun rack but they are hard to find now!

I really want an old Police Magnum receiver for the house gun build and maybe one to put my Sper Slug barrel on. No particular reason, just think it would be cool.
 
I am going to send an old junky 2 3/4” Wingmaster in to Wilson for the “Remington Steal” refinish. The shotgun I’ll send in is old enough to have the silver follower and its action feels perfect but it was a LE trade in. Rough and they put an inventory number on it with one of those old metal etching tools. Will come back with 3” chamber, a new finish and whatever else I decide to do.

 
Some food for thought on getting a reliable brand name over a cheaper import. As the prices can be tempting...

My son bought a tristar cobra 3 as his first firearm purchase. It has a very lazy ejector. They have been a pain to deal with on getting it taken care of. They tried to say I was using cheap shells. After arguing and explaining I have used several different shells they said I would have to ship the gun to them. I do some light gun smithing so asked if they would just send me the parts. Or a brand new bolt I could drop in. It's pretty straight forward. Nope have to ship it to them on my dime.
If I could go back in time I would have encouraged my son to buy a mossberg, Winchester or Rem. They aren't much more money and I'm sure would be easier to deal with on the warranty side. Browning/win has a warranty repair shop right here in my home town. That should have been a no brainer for me... but the $260 price tag lures us in on the tristar
 
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They compound each other. People who tend to buy the discount guns, also tend buy the discount ammo, understandably. Two notorious combinations I've encountered many times, both Remington's. The rough as a cob 870's of recent vintage, combined with cheap bulk pack steel rim Winchester shells. They don't want to extract, and the rims tear right out. (seen a few Mossberg's do it with that ammo too, it's awful stuff IMO)

The other was the Remington 710 bolt action, the Bic pen of rifles. I've seen FOUR of them with broken bolts, broken while trying to to extract cases. Seemed like it was always cheaper steel cased ammo. The two things combined was just two much.
 
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My uncle had an 870 youth for my cousin, and he said he was surprised by how hard it kicked. I'm not sure what loads he was using. Is there a budget you have in mind? Any specific gauge?
My dad bought me one when I was 13. Kicks like a SOB. Still use it as my turkey gun today. 12 g 3"
 
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