Favorite all around shotgun!!!

[engineerpower]

I have an old 1100 I bought off Armslist from a dude in Crawfordsville for $300. Had the original wood furniture from the 60's or 70's, and a 28"-ish plain barrel. I cut it down to 18.5", added a Wilson Combat +2, and man does it feel right. Solid metal, works with authority, easy shooting, just a great shotgun.

Only thing I would change on it is the button on the liftgate you have to hit to insert shells or release the locked-back bolt. There's a speedfeed or speedloader or somesuch that make it easier, but I don't like the big lever hanging down to catch on stuff and break the fine lines of the thing.

 

[tallend]

The Remington 1100(semi auto) hands down----------barrels available-----from 20",to 36" with fixed choke----or newer barrels with screw in chokes tubes---rifled barrels,rifled barrels with cantilever scope mounts---synthetic stocks----trap and skeet wood available-------cammo stocks-------magazine extensions--------tons of aftermarket items for the 1100-----------
I shot registered trap with a 1100 for 8 years------NO FAILURES---still have the gun---great Pheasant gun
Second choice would be Remington 870(pump) similar components available for it

$0.02
tallend

 

[Captianbullseye]

I would have to go with the Remington 870. Good ole reliable piece of equipment.

 

[oldpink]

My heart tells me to go with my dad's favorite, the venerable Ithaca 37, but my head says Remington 870.
The dual action bars make it a demonstrably more reliable action.
I've heard lots of good about the Mossberg 500 and its multiple variants, especially for its ambidexterous safety, screwdriver-replaceable ejector, and for ease of loading, but on the flip side, it's a bit harder to add upgrades (extended magazine tube, etc.) to, and I never really cared for the way they're put together.

 

[craigkim]

My heart tells me to go with my dad's favorite, the venerable Ithaca 37, but my head says Remington 870.
The dual action bars make it a demonstrably more reliable action.
I've heard lots of good about the Mossberg 500 and its multiple variants, especially for its ambidexterous safety, screwdriver-replaceable ejector, and for ease of loading, but on the flip side, it's a bit harder to add upgrades (extended magazine tube, etc.) to, and I never really cared for the way they're put together.

I grew up with mossbergs and we had them for the same reason everyone else does price/performance, but I was super excited when I could afford ANYTHING else. My first 12 was the old 500 combo that was dark gray with some factory sprayed olive splotches on it. Killed my first deer with it. I consider Remington a step up and I had a few 870s and then I got into Brownings. I never thought I'd like anything better than my browning gold....until I started looking at benellis and got an m4. I will have a super black eagle sometime soon. To be fair though, I think that mossbergs have come a long way since the rattly junk they made in the early 90s, but Remington's still seem nicer to me. I think that versamax looks great.

 

[Lee11b]

Agree with Captianbullseye!!! I have an old (1970s) Remington 870 Wingmaster Magnum. The action is SO SMOOTH!!!!! They don't spend the time refining them lie they used to.

 

[ncuster852]

Quick search and all of the below show to be had for at or under your $800 range in some or all variants.

Weatherby SA-08
Mossberg 930/935
Remington 11-87 <----love this one
Beretta A300

 

[oldpink]

I can chime in on the other end of the spectrum from my own very limited personal experience: worst all around shotgun
That would be the Weatherby model 92 pump shotgun I was given as a Christmas gift when I was about 15.
The damn thing would double feed shells repeatedly, totally jamming the action to the point that I was constantly forced to disassemble a loaded shotgun to clear the jam.
I struggled with it for years, then finally the extractor broke.
I sold it a McGalliard Guns in Muncie for $50 and put the money toward a new 870.
Not so much as a hiccup since.

 

[Bfish]

Elkaholic, I do not know what you want to this this shotgun for... But is it for hunting? I see you said something about a Benelli... They are amazing guns, and I would recommend one without question. However, I have no idea what you intend to use your shotgun for, and you may or may not have to adjust your budget for a Benelli. Otherwise there are other great options in or much closer to your price range.

 

[mclovin1033]

why not go Saiga? reliable, tough, lots of bang. this shotgun system is modeled after the ak platform.The ak's a reliable although not precision system, but who needs precision with a shotgun.

 

[chubbs]

Wingmaster 870 with a couple different barrels would be my suggestion. Great shotguns that will last a lifetime

 

[engineerpower]

why not go Saiga? reliable, tough, lots of bang. this shotgun system is modeled after the ak platform.The ak's a reliable although not precision system, but who needs precision with a shotgun.

Maybe it has something to do with the amount of energy and head-scratching expended on trying to get them to run reliably...

 

[Wolffman]

I agree with mclovin. I love my Saiga. Very versatile. Hunting. Home protection. Easy and quick to change ammo. Too bad the idiot in charge has banned them. All he has done is drive up the price.

 

[AmericanBob]

Grizzly mag fed SBS. As soon as they're allowed here, I'll have one in the truck.

https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/dominion-arms-grizzly-8-5-magfed-shotgun/

 

[ModernGunner]

Personal favorite has been the 590A1.

 

[Win52C]

Model 97 Winchester, THE American classic.

Classic American hand biter

 

[alexIndy]

For a pump, I love my Benelli Nova

 

[Vigilant]

I'm a Benelli fan from way back. The M1S90 to me was the perfect shotgun, and is still my goto shotgun. I've wanted an M3, strictly for the pump/auto novelty, but have yet to find one reasonable.

 

[alexIndy]

If I had a couple grand to spare, I'd love the M4 or M3 as well...

 

[Bfish]

Make a choice yet OP? Or decide what you want the gun for?