Budget Shotgun

I've been borrowing my father in laws old Browing A5 with IC and Full chokes, but it's gotten to the point that I probably need give it back and get my own since he won't sell it to me.

If I were to hunt, which is somewhat unlikely, it'd be for pheasant or rabbit. I do go 5-6 times a year to do various clays, so I don't want to spend a ton on a casual interest. I've been periodically checking armslist, but haven't come up with anything that really sparked my interest or has a choke set.

I was eyeballing the CZ-912 the other day, and the street price is right at $499, but I'm curious if anyone else had some input on budget shotguns.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-912-12-28-3-choke-tubes/

 

I run a Remington 1187 12ga semi auto been a pretty good gun picked it up for right around 700$. Some people complain they have issue ejecting lighter load shells but I’m yet to have that issue.

 

remington 870. Check your local walmart still priced under $300. I bought mine in 93 and I still use it today!

 

Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Both are running $300-$350

 

Mossberg Maverick is the cheapest okay shotgun you will find on the market.

 

Winchester 1300, savage 320, stoeger condor. several others some mentioned here, you can check gunbroker.com, guns.deals, and budsgunshop.com all great sites.

 

Don't buy a new remington, their post-freedom group stuff is all garbage.

If you want a cheap semi-auto, I have a mossberg 930 I picked up for $650 (for the full retard tactical version) and it's been fantastic so far. It is gas operated, so it gets dirty, but I enjoy cleaning my guns.

 

Check out the Hawk982, it's a Chinese knock off of a Remington 870 (blatant copyright infringement), and has really good reviews from people that actually shot it. A lot of people will dismiss a Chinese made knock off right off the bat, but I believe it was reported that all aftermarket parts for the Remington fir the Hawk without issue.
There was a thread here or maybe it was mentioned in one of the firearm BS threads, but most agreed they were worth considering.

Usually about $200 new (since you want cheap), but like others have said, the real thing is only another $100 or so.

Correction: you can get a Hawk for $150-170.

 

The Mossberg 930 looks promising and the synthetic stock with a 28" barrel looks to be running a bit over $500 new.

 

Just noticed your username, I owned an old Nacra 5.2 before I moved north. If you're hanging around Central Ohio you're welcome to take my 930 for a spin.

 

What's wrong with an A-5? - Last one I bought was sub $300 - Find one with a MOD tube and GTG - even if you sent the barrel to Briley you're still doing better than most options.

Or just get an 11-87 3", not 3.5"

 

Remington 870 supermag runs $350. Perfect budget shotgun

 

For low price look at Stoegers and Mossbergs. Mossbergs are real work horses, they can go thru hell and back and keep on working. If you want a little more quality and moderate price check out Franchi Affinity. Very good and dependable shotgun.

 

Mossberg 500 . I've been shooting mine for ~15 years, and is still smooth as butter.
Very similar to the 870, main difference is location of safety (I like Mossy location better).

 

My father in laws A-5 is an awesome gun, but I haven’t had any luck finding a used one that wasn’t beat to death.

I hadn’t thought about the 11-87.....maybe the used market will be better after the holidays.

 

The trick with A-5's is the forearm wood - they are notorious for splitting so inspect well. I got a 1959 with a 28" bbl, full choke for $275 out the door with tax. The wood was "refinished" so the checkering was full of polyurethane and needs a good stripping and oil finish. It's in better condition than my Dad's.
My Dad's 1965 has very little blue left - it's only on the underside of the barrel at the top of the receiver. To anyone else it's worth $150, to me it's priceless.

Check Cabela's out - I found mine in Maine and rescued it.

The Remington 11-48 is worth knowing about too - precedes the 1100 and is based on the A-5 recoil system. For a budget minded purchase you could probably find one that suits your pocket.

Good luck

EDIT: If you find an A-5 that is "beat to death" I'll bet you it ain't pretty but still operates

 

Less than 3 hundo?? Sorry, but I gotta call BS. I've bought enough of these, and never have I ever seen them that cheap no matter the condition.

I'd buy every one of those I could find. Every...single...one!

But to answer the OP's question....

O/U - Stoeger Condor
Pump - Remington 870 (the older ones are better than the new ones)
Semi-auto - Franchi (owned & made by Benelli, I think), Winchester SX3

However, I would be patient and hold out for an older Browning Auto 5. Gunbroker.com, Cabelas, etc. They can be bought reasonably, and are head and shoulders above anything mentioned.

 

I'll dig out the sales slip - I'm either right or wrong on the price. I'll post pics of the gun too - either way.

 

well sometimes deals are found...Ive bought rifles that were well under the average price for that particular rifle...sometimes people get lucky!

 

Love my Mossberg 935 waterfowl 12 gauge. Thing is a tank! I’ve had it for 12 years it’s been through hell and back without a single misfire. Been dropped in mud, water and has been frozen over from snow and sleet while duck hunting. Shoots 3” and 3 1/2” shells. Simple to take apart and clean too. Was about $500 new when I got it. 1st day I had it hunting I accidentally didn’t attach the sling all the way, walking down a road back to the truck and the top of the sling came off and the barrel swung into the concrete and then fell completely... tiny chip in the tip of the barrel that’s it