New Shotgun


Turkeygirl

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I'm hoping sometime in the spring to purchase a new shotgun with my tax return money. My current one right now I bought used and is my only gun for the 9 years I've been hunting.

So I saw on the Bass Pro website, they said Federal Regulations require a background check and 3 day waiting period prior to purchasing a modern firearm. I sure didn't have to do this when I got my used shotgun. What's this about?

I was thinking a trip to Bass Pro in the spring and coming home with a new shotgun but geesh, if ya can't even get one the day you go there....That's a 2 hour drive for me. Of course I may be able to pick one up at a store closer by that has alot of guns.

What do you guys use or recommend for shotguns? My current is a Mossberg 500 20 ga which I switch chokes in depending on what I'm hunting. I want a gun w/ a thumbhole stock but that seems to be in just the turkey guns.

I was looking at the Remington 870 Expresses or maybe another Mossberg? I dunno...what do you recommend for something that I can hunt deer/turkey/small game or just deer/turkey?

Oh yeah, and I shoot guns left handed so do they make any thumbholes for left handed or left handed guns in general? Or are most guns for either/or?

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Well between researching Mossberg and Remington...I'd really like a thumbhole stock, but if they don't work for a left handed person, I'm out. Maybe I'll get a thumbhole specifically for turkey and small game and put my old Mossberg just for deer. Turkey season and small game season runs alot longer than does a 3 or so long week shotgun deer season...

And Remington is the only one so far I've found that has a thumbhole in 20 ga. Maybe I'll switch to 12 ga. if it'll be for turkey and small game....

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I personally didn't like the thumbhole on the shotguns b/c of the thump. I have a thumbhole on my TC omega and love it on that. They do make them for left handers, but they will probably be tougher to find and BPS may have to order that in. The 835 with thumbhole would be a good choice, but since you already have a mossberg I would get an 870 with a 26 inch barrel that is capable of shooting up to 3.5 inch shells. You can absolutely not go wrong with an 870 and with that 26 inch barrel and 3.5 capability you can use it for anything.

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So I saw on the Bass Pro website, they said Federal Regulations require a background check and 3 day waiting period prior to purchasing a modern firearm. I sure didn't have to do this when I got my used shotgun. What's this about?

Think that is probably something related to the liberal laws in New York Ruth. Here under normal circumstances you can walk in and walk out in under 15 minutes usually with new gun purchases from bass pro, wal mart, or any other granted you have a clean background.

Even though your wal marts probably do not carry guns, you could do some online looking here http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=420390&fromPageCatId=420391&catNavId=170084 to get an idea of what a fair price should be and on what you might want.

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Both are good guns but I would lean towards the 870. I have had both and the 870 is a tighter gun. The mossberg is loose fitting in the forearm and the slide. When deer hunting you have to be careful not to make noise with it when you pick it up. My brother-inlaw has one that is the same way. AS far as the thumbhole that is personal preferance. I would think it would be alright if you were only deer hunting with it. But for jump shooting or quick shots it would likely be a problem getting your thumb in the hole. Good luck on your choice,

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Same thing on my Mossberg 500 20 ga....the slide and forearm really rattle....I mean really. So when I'm turkey or deer hunting...I'd got to hold it the whole time so when something comes in..I'm not grabbing it and it rattles.

I'm looking at a Benelli Nova 20 ga....heard the forearm rattleso n that...but until I hold it..I don't think it would rattle as much as my Mossberg.

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The 3 day thing is not a federal law. Otherwise everyone in the U.S. would be subject to it. That must be something you can thank your liberal New York politicians for. :mad: We can buy long guns or handguns here in a matter of minutes so long as your background check goes through. I''ve seen it a fast as 30 seconds!!

Another vote of confidence for the 870. You'll find the Nova loose and tinny in your hands........kinda like the Mossberg........maybe a little less.

The 870 Express actually comes in a lefty version......3" chamber and 28" barrel. I've had dealings with Remington before. You may be able to get them to swap you a shorter barrel for a minimal fee.

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Hands down get the Mossberg Turkey Tactical 12ga. The tactical stock is fully adjustable to 6 different positions and is ambidextrious. Anyone can shoot it because it adjusts to them. Use you current Mossberg for wingshooting and this for Turkeys. You can tame it down with 2 3/4" turkey loads and it usually comes with a ported choke tube. Look on Mossberg's website. Its an awesome gun.

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My vote is also a remington 870 or 1100/1187. Depends on if you want a pump or automatic. I have several Remingtons, Winchesters, Mossbergs & others but the Remingtons are my favorites. I am thinking about getting each of my boys a camo 870 & putting them back for Christmas. A great gun & looks great. A couple months ago I traded a beautiful Browning BPS I had to my brother for a very nice 870. The Browning was worth more but I never used it. It was to heavy, plus I didn't want to scratch it, had very pretty wood. I was wanting another 870 for my oldest son, for deer season, so we made the trade. Lots of good guns out there. You need to look at several. I am partial to remington, can't go wrong with them.

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Same thing on my Mossberg 500 20 ga....the slide and forearm really rattle....I mean really. So when I'm turkey or deer hunting...I'd got to hold it the whole time so when something comes in..I'm not grabbing it and it rattles.

I'm looking at a Benelli Nova 20 ga....heard the forearm rattleso n that...but until I hold it..I don't think it would rattle as much as my Mossberg.

I've got a Nova 12 ga. and love it, most of the time. I'm 5'6" and when I'm wearing a coat the gun gets caught in my armpit. I really wish I had gotten the 20 ga. youth model. There are some allen bolts you can tighten up on the slide and it will get rid of the rattle.

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My vote would be the Mossberg 500. We have four of them and we have never had any problems with any of them. They are great guns and they really are workhorses. I hunt small game, waterfowl, deer, and turkey with mine and have had no problems at all. The mossberg would be my choice, but it really is personal prefernce. I've shot 870's before and I personally don't care for them, but then I've had buddies shoot my gun and they don't like mine. It's all about what is most comfortable for you.

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I'm not sure where the 3 day waiting period came from. I live in NY state and when I buy a gun I simply fill out the Fed. form, the dealer calls in the info. and I am out of there.

This process gives me just enough time to find something else I think I need!

Handguns are subject to our county's rules. You have to get the ser. # of the gun you want to buy, give it to the Sheriff's office, they run a check on the handgun, you add it to your permit and they give you a slip authorizing the purchase. Sounds complicated, but it really isn't. It does protect you from buying a handgun with bad history or one which has been reported stolen.

Lynn

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