Look at the Benelli Nova in 20 gauge. If it fits you, it's a great gun. I have shot skeet with mine. If you get an 870, get a traditonal stock, not the Surshot. It is designed for turkey hunting, when you need to hold the gun steady like a rifle. I have tried one on moving targets, and could never get comfortable with the pistol like grip. Mark

 

You are going to get lots and lots of suggestions.

Here's a good post to get started with:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=253741&hilit=shotguns+under+$2000

Personally, I don't think a pump is the best choice for skeet, which is the game you mentioned you wanted to shoot. You can do it with a pump, and it's a lot of fun, and we all understand having budget issues at some point. But if you can save up a little bit more, and get a Berreta semi-auto, or Mossberg semi-auto as shown in Jeff's thread, or even a used Remington 1100 semi-auto, it will make the game even more fun, and you will break more targets.

I say this as a shooter that does occasionally use a pump for skeet. Either an Ithaca M37 or Browning BPS. I generally do that if it is near hunting season and I want to practice shooting one of those guns. Other than that, I prefer an O/U or a semi-auto.

Beretta makes one semi-auto that you can find for just under $600 at times. That would be my first suggestion for you.

If you can't go that much, and I understand, then I would look for a good used Browning BPS or Remington Wingmaster, which you should be able to find from $400-$500. Sometimes lower.

Between the two guns you mentioned, I always lean toward the Remington's. I'm not sure what the difference is between the "SureShot" model and the express. I thought all sure-shots were cantilevered slug guns but I just Googled it and saw a version that Academy sells that must be what you are referring to.

Good luck and good shooting!

 

Remington 870 Wingmaster. Not the 870 Express.

 

He has a $300 budget. We can give him lots of suggestions of what to buy for more money. We can even try to convince him to spend more money. Or, we can also just try to answer his question. Mark

 

I didn't think my suggestion is off the mark. i'm looking at a 12 gauge 870 Wingmaster in a local gun shop right now that is on the rack for $399.99. I have no doubt that I can have it for $350.--. It is in excellent shape an does not look to be shot very much. I'm only now receiving my 1100 Sporting so I can start giving some serious consideration to the WIngmaster.

JMO>

 

I didn't think my suggestion is off the mark. i'm looking at a 12 gauge 870 Wingmaster in a local gun shop right now that is on the rack for $399.99. I have no doubt that I can have it for $350.--. It is in excellent shape an does not look to be shot very much. I'm only now receiving my 1100 Sporting so I can start giving some serious consideration to the WIngmaster.

JMO>

He wants to shoot skeet. Does the Wingmaster have screw-in chokes? Or maybe a skeet barrel? Or at least an IC barrel? Oh, and he wants a 20 gauge. So, he's looking for a 20 gauge to shoot skeet for $300. I'd say you nailed it! :lol: Mark

 

Mark. 1. the OP says he wants a pump gun. The Wingmaster I'm looking at has removable chokes. Perhaps you're thinking registered skeet and not shooting skeet for fun. Again I don't see any where that I'm off the mark of the OPs post

LOL :lol: to you too.

 

Wingmaster 20.

Kent

 

and I know I want a 20 gauge.

There is the kicker. The two 20 gauge Wingmasters with choke tubes on GunBroker right now are $550 and $650.
Mark

 

Wow so many replies in such little time! Thanks for all the input everyone. So would going the route of finding a used gun be better than buying one brand new? Also, I do just want this to be an entry-level gun for the time being and I really can't go more than $350 at the moment and I do not plan on using this gun for hunting, just skeet. Thanks for all the replies!

 

Ask around your club and see what people have laying around. Your budget will get you a new mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel that has removable chokes. It will come with a IC choke that will be tighter than recommended but will get you started. If you want to go with a used gun i recommend getting one that has a skeet choked barrel or has removable chokes and a 28 inch barrel with a vent rib. Anything else is personal preference. Good luck with your gun search. Dont be afraid to ask around your club, you will be surprised at how nice the other shooters are to new shooters.

 

Remington 1100 with a fixed choke. If you shop carefully, you'll find one for around $300. It's much better than trying to shoot a pump, and a million times better than some POS double.

 

Remington 1100 with a fixed choke. If you shop carefully, you'll find one for around $300. It's much better than trying to shoot a pump, and a million times better than some POS double.

+1

If you don't want this for hunting, and you do only want this gun for skeet, then I suggest you lose your firm commitment to both it being a 20 ga and it being a pump. I also suggest (as has also been suggested above) that your price range is very restrictive for your stated purpose and if you can save another couple of hundred dollars you would be in much better shape.

For your stated purposes and budget, I would do as drsfmd suggestes above. Enlist some knowledgable shooters from your club to help you find one, but there are millions used Rem 1100's in 12 ga and a suitable barrel configuration. There is a reason why this gun is so popular and is still shot very often on skeet fields.

 

Yep, just checked the GB prices on 20 gauge Wingmasters.

+1 What drsfmd said.

 

Here's a 20 gauge Wingmaster, and a 12 gauge, both look nice and not too far from the OP's price range:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/90755847...ns/Shotguns/Remington-Shotguns/Pump/Hunting/REMINGTON_870_WINGMASTER_20_GA.htm# $425

http://www.gunsinternational.com/REM-MOD-870-12-GA-WINGMASTER-PUMP-SHOTGUN.cfm?gun_id=100239565 $439

Both have a fixed Mod choke which will work to get started. Later on you could easily buy a 28" rem-choke barrel.

 

You wont see many folks shooting pump guns on skeet fields anymore. 50 years ago the pump gun was the king, but not these days. By far the vast majority of skeet guns are O/U guns which by most accounts are beyond your budget. I would think that you would be better off with a good used Remington 1100 field gun. More than likely you will be looking at used guns with a fixed choke. It might be tough to find one with an IC choke which is fine for skeet shooting. Now, if you want to go with a pump, by all means do it. I enjoy skeet shooting with a pump once in a while and it adds another dimension to the game. I would agree that an 870 could be had within your budget, but I would avoid the Express. Alternatively, I recently shot with a friend who was shooting his new Benelli Nova. I thought the Nova was an absolutely delightful gun and a very good value for the money.

 

Here's another Wingmaster. 30" Fixed mod choke, in immaculate shape.

http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10964460

I bought and O/U from this gun store (Lock Stock & barrel) and they were great to work with. I may have just gotten very lucky on that auction, as I bought a LNIB, un-fired Browning O/U target gun last year for let's say around $1300, that normally sells on the street for around $2200. And they were great to work with after the sale, and the transaction and shipping went very smoothly.

The current bid on this one is $95, and there is quite a bit of time left, but it still might be worth putting in your max bid and see if you can win it. If you need some help with understanding how the bidding process goes, we can help you out.

Here's a couple of 1100's that might work if you can add just a little more to the kitty:

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10957697/shotguns-for-sale/semi-auto/ current bid $350. Fixed full choke- a local gunsmith could open this up to "skeet" for $50-$75

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10935.../10935846/shotguns-for-sale/semi-auto/remington-model-1100-lt-20-'pit-bull-spl'

$431 Great looking gun, comes with a full set of screw in chokes, and the previous owners puppy chewed the stock a little bit, but it doesn't look that bad at all, especially considering the price, and would be a great shooting skeet gun! Plus you could always re-finish the butt-stock later to almost like new condition. I would seriously look at this gun

Remington 1100 20 gauge - current bid $300 with less than 2 hours to close!!!! NO RESERVE:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=277108714

Beautiful 12 gauge 1100, reserve is already met at $250, 2 days left on the auction, you should put in a bid of $325 and let it ride!!!:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=278319611

There are a lot more 20 gauge 1100's for sale than 870's, you should really consider both 12 gauge and 20 gauges, and my guess is that if you are careful you could get a good skeet gun for $400 or under.

 

VTHokiesDuckHunter - you have been very helpful to the OP and I'm sure he appreciates it.

My only comment, and it is made with all kindness, is that I personally would not advocate a mod choke gun for skeet to a novice nor send a novice to a gunsmith for barrel work.

If he were an experienced skeet shooter wanting to take out one of his old tight choked SxS's for fun, that's one thing. But Mod is way too tight.

As mentioned, IC is as tight as I think a person wants on a skeet field and even that's too tight. In 12 ga, skeet or even cylinder would suit this beginner much better.

But, opinions are like belly buttons, we have at least one! LOL

 

I completely agree, but a cyl or skeet choke in one of these guns is probably going to be hard to find. I would think that ICs would be more common

 

VTHokiesDuckHunter - you have been very helpful to the OP and I'm sure he appreciates it.

My only comment, and it is made with all kindness, is that I personally would not advocate a mod choke gun for skeet to a novice nor send a novice to a gunsmith for barrel work.

If he were an experienced skeet shooter wanting to take out one of his old tight choked SxS's for fun, that's one thing. But Mod is way too tight.

As mentioned, IC is as tight as I think a person wants on a skeet field and even that's too tight. In 12 ga, skeet or even cylinder would suit this beginner much better.

But, opinions are like belly buttons, we have at least one! LOL

Thanks Baron. Your response is very well written and well-considered. And I agree with you 100% on the best choke would be skeet, or CYL. Actually Rem-chokes would be best!

I did try to qualify my response that a Mod choke would work to get started, but should have said "if that's all you can find", and better emphasized "you will definitely want to get it opened up or a new barrel later, and this might not be a good way for a new shooter to start out" or something.

However, one of the guns I found had Rem-Chokes, and I was just trying to present a broad range of possibilities, since his budget is very tight.

I still think if he considers a 12 gauge 1100 he will have the best luck, and can find one around $400 that is in great shape, with CYL, Skeet, or Rem-chokes. And a 12 gauge 1100 with light target loads is not a very bad recoiling gun if that is his concern.

 

Thanks a whole lot for all the replies everyone, and VTHokiesDuckHunter thanks for all the links and I will definitely check those out. The reason why I wanted a 20 gauge was just due to the recoil of a 12 gauge wearing me down throughout the day, but I'm sure I'd get used to it eventually so I will start looking at 12's as well. Would you all recommend a 12 gauge over a 20 gauge hands down for skeet?

 

Better yet, why not save up a little more and get a Beretta 390/3901 for 500-600 dollars. You could spend a little more money and have a modern gun that can actually be fitted to you without a custom stock, and has screw in chokes and 3in chambers. For just a tiny bit more you can get a much better quality gun thats not 50 year old technology. With all the modern guns out there, suggesting someone get a 2 3/4in only, non shim adjustable gas gun is insane. You could also find a Browning Gold or SX3 for sale in the 5-600 range range too, which also will be the pants off the 1100 in every way.

If you want to hit targets, and not get pounded by recoil or cheek slap, proper gun fit is key. If a gun isn't shim adjustable, it's ancient technology and should be avoided for your first gun.

As for recoil, a 12 gauge gun with light loads will normally kick less than a 20 gauge due to a higher gun weight. For skeet 2 3/4DE target loads with 1oz of shot are great. If you're just going to shoot skeet, you can add weights to it to make it even heavier, which will help with recoil and swing.

 

If you are going to get serious about skeet, then you will not want to be shooting 1 1/8 12 gauge loads from the Wal Mart four packs. That much firepower on the skeet range is totally unnecessary. Most 12 gauge skeet shooters shoot light loads of 1 oz or less. Some are even going down to 3/4 oz because the effectiveness of the load is good and the recoil is negligable. To do this, you will need to hand load or purchase more expensive ammunition. Sub gauges are popular in skeet with a lot of shooters using a 28 gauge and even a .410. I would not hesitate at all to buy a 20 gauge. As an all purpose gauge, it is great on the skeet field and in the field, unless you plan on hunting waterfowl which calls for more gun. But then a waterfowl gun would not be a good gun to shoot skeet with.

 

Insofar as we are talking an auto versus a pump or OU, then I have to say that yes....a 12 ga gun will be most affordable, all around usefull (e.g. you may want to take up sporting clays), and the recoil will not be an issue.

Placebo, please remember that a gas driven auto like a Rem 1100 or Beretta 39x series gun absorbs much of the recoil in the automatic operation (gas as in gasses generated by the shotgun shell operate the action...I'm not talking regular or premium gasoline here LOL). The reason you see a lot of folks shooting autos in 12 ga competitive skeet events while they shoot an OU with tubes for all other events is for the purpose of dramatically reducing recoil versus an OU (or pump) while still putting out a 12 ga's payload and pattern.

Cheers

 

if your open to 12 gauge and as beginning shooter you are throwing more pellets
benelli 12 30" barrel 350$ on sale i shoot a pump i only shoot doubles all the way around i hold my option cause i shoot a double at high 8 and i run 25's sometimes it is the fastest smoothest pump beats my two wingmasters hands down
a used rem 1100 is probably the most numerous gun on the market the thing came out in either 63 or 65 but really hasn't changed much since then i got a new 1100 competition in november and the inside is pretty much the same as my 15 year old 1100
iwill bet someone in the club has a 1100 they keep in the safe they will part with in your price range or will be willing to work with you (pay me 350 now in a few months pay the other 200 or whatever) it's just taking space in the safe and will get them thinking of a new gun to take it's place
good luck be safe