From the guns listed in those 2 articles, give me the BPS first choice and the Mossberg 500 for a second choice. Light load or heavy load they will cycle everything. After seeing the luck some of my buddies have had with their inexpensive o/u's, I would prefer a Mossberg 500.

 

$1k budget.......
#1 Mossberg 930, and order the Or3gun suite of upgrades for it. About $750 in total. ( I have 3. All have been flawless) If you want a nice wood stock, see Boyds. Total is still under budget.
#2 Beretta A300 Outlander
#3 Mossberg 500
#4 Used 870 Wingmaster

I don't care who reviews or talks up Turkish guns. Save for a very few, very expensive Turkish guns, they are all junk.

 

My vote goes to no.4 ,the 870 ! So many options available, reliable, damn near bulletproof, and any barrel, for anything. I carried one in vietnam, and will always own one !!!

 

The Impala is the best sub $1000 gun? That's laughable, given the list of guns presented in the linked articles. Suggest someone check Mr. Wakeman's bank account for a sudden substantial deposit.

 

Also, best shotgun for what? I remember starting out with a High Standard Pump with a vent rib and a Poly Choke. Shot everything with it. So I guess a Pump with Screw Ins is as universal as you can get.

 

I really do not know, I have not bought a shotgun under 1k in a while. I do have a Mossberg 930 and it is bulletproof so far, bought it when they first came out.


cdb

 

Beretta A300 Outlander. Good versatile gun and good investment.

 

I forgot about this one. I am updating my list. The outlander is also a solid weapon.

 

SX4 and the A300

 

Under $1k? For me it would be a Husqvarna or German sxs. Used, of course. These are quality guns that if built today would cost upwards of $4,000. They are not highly sought after in the US so prices are more than reasonable.

 

I trust Randy Wakeman and respect his reviews. But you have to listen to what he says, not listen to what you understand.

Details he says: take your $410-$500 shotgun and remove the trigger group. Send it to Precision Sports in Oshkosh Wisconsin for a $85 trigger job. Now you have the best shotgun under $1000. $585.

Franchi is the only company shipping all chokes rated for steel (except Fabarms but they are out of the price range) so consider the other shotguns need $80 for 2 steel rated chokes. Maybe $40, you decide.

$1,000 MSRP! Not used, not prices from a couple years ago.

Franchi Affinity 3- MSRP is $1,049 so that's out. It's offered in 20 gauge, compact and women's specific as well as real nice wood stocks but then MSRP is around $1279.

Browning BPS? Just no. How they make it 7 pounds 10 oz is beyond me and anyone with a Wingmaster or Model 37 just.. says no.
Stoeger P3000? $389, 6.9 pounds... I have never seen one. If that's all you can afford, I bet it will go bang. Is it as nice as the $410 Impala semi auto? I doubt it. By the time you add the duck chokes, the price is the same.
Mossberg 500? $504 v. $410


CZ All Terrain- I have never seen one but everyone says they bite your thumb to load. $749.
Turkish over and under - they are fun for special purposes but you might be disappointed until it runs right

Weatherby / tristar viper G2. Okay.. now we need to handle both. Tristar Viper G2 $685 v. Impala with a trigger job $585. Remember when Tristar Vipers were cheap? This has to make you think...

Beretta 300 $869. I have seen one. I would not have that Beretta.

If I was not a short man needing a compact stock, I would buy an Impala and tuck it in my gun safe. I think in 2 or 3 years it will be selling for $700. I just hate the idea of cutting yet another wooden stock to fit me.. and I have an L4S so anything will disappoint me.

Regarding Randy's honesty- I think he's a cranky old son of a biscuit and he's going to tell you what HE likes, despite what public opinion is. If you go ahead and buy a gun that shoots high and to the left.. well, he told you so.

He likes Beretta, he just hates some of their new cheap crap. You have to read and understand.

and no, ain't no one making money in the gun review business.

 

I trust Randy Wakeman and respect his reviews. But you have to listen to what he says, not listen to what you understand.

Details he says: take your $410-$500 shotgun and remove the trigger group. Send it to Precision Sports in Oshkosh Wisconsin for a $85 trigger job. Now you have the best shotgun under $1000. $585.

Yea, the 500 is more. And it is worth every penny more in quality, warranty, and keeping American's working.

To defend my 930 statement:
Mossberg 930 $511.95 I only pay $25 for transfers, and will assume $20 for shipping, though it is usually about $12. So $557 at this point.

Search results for: 'Mossberg+930 All Purpose Field'

grabagun.com

Full Or3gun parts kit, $169.95. So, $727.00

OR3GUN Competition Mossberg 930/935 Series Part Combos

$161 for a plain, but wood stock set from Boyd's. You could spend a touch more and get EXACTLY what you want.............

Build & Price Gunstock Configurator | Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks

Shop hardwood gunstocks for any make, model, and action with the Boyds Gunstock Configurator. Choose from several wood and finish options.

www.boydsgunstocks.com

So, $888 total, not including a little more shipping. And for those on a budget, one would not have to order all parts at one time.

I posted links not for sales, but to site my sources and provide proof.

 

Randy is a salesman I believe. I'm sure someone will come along and mention I am too new to this site to say that but I'm not new to guns. I agree with the others here that there are much better options. I would also ad to the lists above in the used category, the 1100/11-87.

 

Benelli Super Nova...$619-$729
SuperNova Pump-Action Shotguns | Benelli Shotguns and Rifles (benelliusa.com)

 

This is subjective, it all depends on what people like and think is a good value for them.

In terms of a good shotgun, I would think the best way to judge is to have one in your hands and shoot all the others. Then without looking at who's name is etched on the receiver, pick the one you like best.

If you're willing to accept an inferior shotgun, or an equivalent quality at a more expensive price because of where it's made, that's your personal values- not a value intrinsic to the shotgun.

As I said, for me, the Impala doesn't cut it because I want a 20 gauge with a compact stock, and they don't offer that.
In a 12 gauge, the best value is a used L4s and unless you've shot one.... how can you tell me I am wrong? BUT that's an MSRP of $1550 ... which is THREE Impalas. But I am a gun snob and carry a shotgun at least 12 hours a week hiking the fields from October thru January and am a gun snob and want a gas system. Although I do tend to collect Ithaca Model 37s from the 40's and 50s if you want to talk about used deals on pump guns that spoil you from any new pump gun, permanently.

Anyone that says they would rather have a Winchester SX4 has a leg to stand on.

p.s. Randy a gun salesman? Seriously? He's an 'influencer', for sure. Maybe before making any accusations ask him what he carried on his arm just this last pheasant season. He will tell you.

 

p.s. Randy a gun salesman? Seriously? He's an 'influencer', for sure. Maybe before making any accusations ask him what he carried on his arm just this last pheasant season. He will tell you.

Salesman, influencer, same thing. Yes. Seriously. Why would i ask a salesman or influencer what they carried for any hunt and not expect a biased answer, toward either sales or gaining followers? I'd rather do my own home work. But since I have zero interest in the op's example, and have had first hand experience shooting other Turkish guns I'll stick with my answer and some of the others mentioned.

 

Saturday I bought a new SX-4 waterfowler DRT camo 3.5", for $925....hope its better than most gun writers claim, we'll see. Had my SX-2 since new 2003, thousands of magnums thru it, it's real tired..but, still runs for the most part

 

For clay games this, Franchi Affinity 3 Sporting II Matte Black 12 Gauge 3in Semi Automatic Shotgun - 30in
For the field this, Beretta A300 Ultima Black 12 Gauge 3in Semi Automatic Shotgun
I use both of these as backups and bad weather guns for my Blaser F3 and CSMC Revelation.

 

I own a 12 gauge outlander. It has been discontinued. The A300 Ultima replaced it. I have an Ultima in 20 gauge. I do believe it is the best value semiauto under $1000. The Ultima has won at least one NSCA subgauge championship and is a solid field gun.

Comparing pumps and semiautos is apples to oranges. I had high hopes that Retay would be a value gun but those prices have crept up.

Wakeman could be right. An Impala at those prices may be worth buying and testing.

 

well, time to grab the popcorn

 

Just bought an Impala Plus, currently in transit. Popcorn for me as well, will be interesting to see how this contention plays out.

 

Just got a peek at the Impala Plus Nero Red at the receiving FFL's place to start the Kaliforniastan 10 day jail period. It was shipped minus the stock add-on cheek piece and the Alien muzzle wrap sight. Dunno whether this was due to the loss leader $275 sale price or what. No biggie, not really interested in either. Didn't have much time to check out the arm. Finish didn't seem to be bluing, more like parkerization. Felt to be quite light, bolt movement felt very slick. Had a year 1959 Winchester Model 12 waiting for me at the same time, a lot more heft for as it turned out about the same price, kinda made the Impala feel like a toy, though of course that macht nichts as far as how they will shoot, TBD. FWIW, YMMV.

 

Use which ever definition you want, peddling is peddling. No I havn't shot this particular gun... and I probably don't need to since the few turkish examples I have were junk in comparison to the 1100/1187 and some others that were mentioned. They are clones with few distinguishing differences. There is nothing threatening about the impala, and I didn't get the impression it was for anyone else that offered a better option. like you said, it's just marketing and hype.

 

Well it passed the “kid test.” 😃. No mention if the BIL would buy one for his own use.

“And the highest praise I can offer this gun is that my brother in law vowed to buy it for his kids if I didn't, and he's been a Benelli guy for decades, so he knows the good stuff.”

Impala Plus Max 5 Synthetic: Shotgun Review - Wildfowl

The new Impala Plus semi-auto shotgun gets a hot field test on a barrel-burner dove shoot; here's how it performed.

www.wildfowlmag.com

 

Sub 1k autoloaders, no pumps too old and lazy, I would go Beretta A300 or Winchester SX4.

The sad truth is 1k does not get you much these days.

 

I'm hesitant to put much stock in reviews by anyone in the gun writing business. There's too much advertising, free hunting trips, etc. being passed around.

 

I'm with mauserfan and Mike103, SX4 or A300, shoulder them both and pick the one that fits you best, can't go wrong with either one.

 

Remington V3 under $600 for me!

 

My money is still on the Tristar G2 Bronze.

 

My money is still on the Tristar G2 Bronze.

View attachment 72158

Damn that's pretty!

I have the Viper G2 Sporting. I wanted the 30" barrel, but its "red" and has a synthetic stock. I shoot it occasionally, but mostly is a loaner gun that I stress about if its handled roughly. We all need a gun to loan our friends who don't understand why we don't let them touch our more expensive browning. 😀

If I were really worried the looks of my guns, and I am a little, I would buy one of these and put my 30" barrel on it. I've thought about that more than once.

 

So ….. you a have $999 dollars to spend. What’s the best shotgun you can buy?

I tend to lean towards well-cared-for used guns. In the last couple of years, I picked up the following sub $1000 shotguns:

Winchester SX3 for $700 - I read the newer SX4 was the victim of design shortcuts, and the peak was the SX3. I found a used one with Dura-Touch coating on the stock that was sticky. We looked it up there in the shop and Winchester offered to replace the stock for free. Feels and shoots like a new gun that devours every type of ammo I feed it. I primarily use this for Waterfowl and the occasional sporties.

1978 Browning Citori $950 - I picked this up on the O/U page here on Shotgun World for $800. It was choked F/M and I sent it to my gunsmith to be opened to M/I for $150 because I wanted to run steel through it. This is my primary pheasant gun and the occasional sporties.

1970s(?) Ithica SKB 200 E $825 - Just found this on gunbroker today for $699, which came to $825 with tax, shipping, and transfer fee. Will be used for pheasant and grouse.

Any version of this quality new would have been considerably more. An important part of my firearms strategy is that they either maintain value or appreciate, and that is much easier to do when buying at used prices.

 

Winchester SX3 for $700 - I read the newer SX4 was the victim of design shortcuts, and the peak was the SX3. I found a used one with Dura-Touch coating on the stock that was sticky. We looked it up there in the shop and Winchester offered to replace the stock for free. Feels and shoots like a new gun that devours every type of ammo I feed it. I primarily use this for Waterfowl and the occasional sporties.

My son has been fielding a SX3 Max 5 camo 12 ga. for ducks and upland since he was 13 y/o, he‘s 22 now and that Winchester has eaten a whole lot of 3” steel in the past 9 years, been beat around like kids will do, fell over into brackish water once and been walked through many fields, it just keeps going and going and going. Dad kept it clean until he got to a more concerned about such things age, about year 20, but I still do an annual full strip and clean, I have it stripped down on my bench right now since our duck season ended week before last. I’ve replaced a few small parts over the years, buffers and the magazine spring cap assembly, we replaced the blued steel mainspring assembly with a Sure Cycle stainless steel assembly a couple years back and the butt stock is slightly cracked inside on the web that supports the mounting nut and washer, but that was most likely from me torquing the nut down a little too much, still holds and supports the butt stock to the receiver though.

What have you read about the SX4 that gives you pause? Can you reference an article for my, and others, edification?

Best,
Mac