Best value in lower priced shotguns

MikeSP · Mar 24, 2011

I've been looking for a shotgun primarily for home defense and have narrowed it to a few possibilities.

Mossberg 500 security/field combo (18.5 and 28" barrels) in wood: $330 +tax at Dicks Sporting Goods special order.

Maverick 88 - 28" vent rib barrel $177 +tax at Walmart to which I could buy a 90015 barrel for @ $80, making that combo $177+$80= $257 + tax. (I really dislike walmart though)

IAC Hawk 982 - I haven't seen one of these in person, but I like the look of it and have read some positive things from people that have them. I think they are @ $240 +tax.

Is there anything I might be overlooking? I am keeping an eye out for used also. The Maverick seems like the best deal, but am a little concerned with walmart being involved. I half suspect they forced the manufacturer to skimp on something to get the price that low...

august1410 · Mar 24, 2011

Out of the three, I would choose the Mossberg 500 first. I have 2 of them, one in 12ga and another in 20ga and they have proven to be reliable and durable.

The Maverick is a barebones Mossberg 500, with some cosmetic differences, and a different location for the safety.

The IAC Hawk, if I recall, is a clone of the Remington 870. For less than the price of a new Hawk, you can get a fantastic used Remington 870.

Shop used. Most of the time, you can find a decent gun in decent shape for next to nothing. I paid $150 for my Remington 870 and $100 for my Ithaca 37.

MikeSP · Mar 24, 2011

august1410 said:
Out of the three, I would choose the Mossberg 500 first. I have 2 of them, one in 12ga and another in 20ga and they have proven to be reliable and durable.

Thanks, I did kind of feel like the Mossberg was the highest quality choice.

august1410 said:
The IAC Hawk, if I recall, is a clone of the Remington 870. For less than the price of a new Hawk, you can get a fantastic used Remington 870.

Shop used. Most of the time, you can find a decent gun in decent shape for next to nothing. I paid $150 for my Remington 870 and $100 for my Ithaca 37.

I would love to buy used at prices like that, but I haven't had much luck. Where is the best place to look? I am checking the classifieds here. Ive been to a few gun stores, but didn't see many used shotguns.

august1410 · Mar 24, 2011

MikeSP said:
Thanks, I did kind of feel like the Mossberg was the highest quality choice.

I would love to buy used at prices like that, but I haven't had much luck. Where is the best place to look? I am checking the classifieds here. Ive been to a few gun stores, but didn't see many used shotguns.

Depending on where you shop, you will either find the motherlode or zilch. I moved here to NC, where shotguns grow on trees

The Gun Shop in Essex always had a nice selection if used guns and there is always Northwestern Pawn in Baltimore.

pasayan73 · Mar 24, 2011

northwestern pawn +1. location is -1......

trbon8r · Mar 24, 2011

No need to reinvent the wheel. Just find the best price you can on an 870.

MikeSP · Mar 24, 2011

august1410 said:
there is always Northwestern Pawn in Baltimore.

http://www.nwpawn.com/guns.htm they do have a lot of used guns and could be on my way home from work...

MikeSP · Mar 24, 2011

trbon8r said:
No need to reinvent the wheel. Just find the best price you can on an 870.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the safety location. It seemed a little awkward/unnatural behind the trigger. Otherwise I did like them a lot.

CallMeIshmael · Mar 24, 2011

i would go with the 500, but my preference is a saiga 12

trbon8r · Mar 24, 2011

If you like the safety better on the Mossberg then I would not try to change your mind as far as buying it.

Truthfully what most folks who have a pump gun for HD do is keep the hammer down on an empty chamber with a tube full of ammo. In other words if you need the gun in a fight you would never touch the safety, and would only have to rack the gun to bring it into action.

If this method of storing your HD gun doesn't work for you, and the Mossberg is more up your ally, then good on ya.

zombiehunter · Mar 24, 2011

Who uses safeties anymore?

hvymax · Mar 24, 2011

There is the Stoeger line of econobenelli's. Other than that the 870 has the capability for mag extensions for resident goose or HD. The 500 is good with the 18" barrel an 5rnds. I am a big fan of folding stocks for HD and adjustable stocks for seasonal wardrobe adjustments and young shooters.

Biggfoot44 · Mar 24, 2011

Maverick is Mossberg parts assembled in Mexico. IAC is China knock off of 870 .

Buy used. Anytime your daily life brings you past a gunstore , or pawnshop , quickly stop in for a look. Under $200 common, under $150 hit or miss.

In addition to above choices , Win 1200/1300s are also excellent shotguns, selling for good prices used.

MikeSP · Mar 24, 2011

zombiehunter said:
Who uses safeties anymore?

trbon8r said:
...In other words if you need the gun in a fight you would never touch the safety, and would only have to rack the gun to bring it into action.

OK, I see what you mean, and I guess once you have your shotgun and drill with it a bit and become familiar, the safety probably becomes more natural to disengage or not used. I'll revisit the 870's

fivepointstar · Mar 24, 2011

Once you buy one shotgun you'll end up buying more....its a disease called SCATTERPOX

If you have a Dicks Sporting Good near buy...they sell Pardoners and sometimes I see Mavericks.

Goose Guy · Mar 24, 2011

august1410 said:
...and there is always Northwestern Pawn in Baltimore.

curse you....I almost forgot about that extra barrel I saw in there.

Did find this on the site, though,

INV#1557
Mossberg
500A
12GA
Pump
28" Vent Rib; 2 3/4 / 3"; Accu-Choke
$ 169.50

jimbobborg · Mar 24, 2011

fivepointstar said:
Once you buy one shotgun you'll end up buying more....its a disease called SCATTERPOX

If you have a Dicks Sporting Good near buy...they sell Pardoners and sometimes I see Mavericks.

They have a Pardner Pump which is an 870 Copy with the extended mag tube for $240 last time I checked. Nice shotgun, especially for the price.

Jim

MikeTF · Mar 24, 2011

You can't beat the Mossberg's price/performance ratio. If you're focused primarily on Home Defense, you may want to entertain a Beretta 1200 FP or 1201 FP riot gun for around $400. Many are police trade-ins, which mean they have a rough exterior but were rarely fired. It's a semi auto Benelli with the Beretta name slapped on it. This is a very reliable inertia based action that is very easy to clean. Here's an example of one: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221008189

possumman · Mar 24, 2011

I got a great deal on my sons shotgun from Northwest Pawn - and it is particularly fun to take it outside and walk down Pennsylvania Ave with a shotgun wrapped up in newspaper- by the way,it still looks like a shotgun . They have a lot of long guns, look at their internet list before you go. Park nearby, its not a great 'hood.

erwos · Mar 24, 2011

Some pretty decent deals at that pawn shop on shotguns; saw some 1100s in the list for rather a lot less than retail. Since I'm also looking for a first cheaper shotgun for shooting sports and visit my parents in NW Baltimore a fair bit, I'll hijack the thread a bit and ask:
1. Are there any special tricks to determining a shotgun's condition, or will my experience with rifles and handguns (both modern and C&R) keep me in reasonably good stead?
2. How do I determine if a choke is removable or not?

Best value in lower priced shotguns

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