Seems to be some interest in this firearm, so I'm going to post my impressions of mine and (hopefully) a post-fall hunting followup.
My shotgunning is oriented more or less entirely to waterfowl hunting. I warm up each year with some sporting clays and usually do at least one or two jaunts for small game like rabbits. So my impression of the gun is filtered through that lens.
I have hunted with an old (early 1980s) Mossberg 500 for several years. Despite some gunsmithing and attentive ownership on my part and the previous owner's part (I know the guy), the gun just doesn't do well with 3" steel shells. they don't cycle well, occasionally get stuck in the chamber and the gun has, on numerous occasions, ejected unfired shells. This was a problem I just couldn't deal with any longer so I started shopping for a new pump gun. I was immediately attracted to the PA-08 for the price tag and what appeared to be quality workmanship. I also looked at the Mossberg 500, Remington 870 Express, the Benelli Nova and the Browning BPS Hunter. I ultimately settled on the Weatherby because I'm just not interested in synthetic stocks (Benelli), the Browning is just too expensive, the Remington 870 Express' seem to have problems and I understand the laminate stock doesn't hold up well when it gets wet, and, to be honest, I'd rather wait and get a wingmaster someday. I don't have a good reason to not get another Mossberg other than wanting a change, though it seems like most of the Mossbergs I see in stores are synthetic.
A buddy of mine's dad won a PA-08 at a gun bash a few months back so I got the opportunity to shoot it before buying. I sent 100 rounds through it during a clays session (as well as 2 sets of 3 steel shells fired and pumped at top speed, just to see how it cycled those) and found myself really enjoying it. It's lighter than other guns (6.5 pounds) so it kicks a tiny bit harder, but it points well, swings well and cycled very fast and without flaws - and I was the first guy to shoot the gun! it hadn't even been oiled.
So I went and bought my own! I partially disassembled the gun (didn't drop out the trigger) and gave it an oiling and then put it through the same treatment - ~100 target shells and several rounds of 3" steel just to test it out under field conditions and to get some patterns. so far so good! no problems and it patterned 3 of the 4 steel loads I had on hand through the factory Mod choke very well. At the moment I feel very confident that this gun will hold up well for many years to come and I'm excited about taking it out! The walnut stock and forearm are sturdy and have no visual blemishes. The internal parts I was able to visually inspect have visible patterns from the machining, but they all feel smooth and finished. the gun ships with three chokes - mod, IC and full - but I haven't tried anything other than the mod. the factory chokes can be used for steel shot.
As I said, I'll try and post more impressions here as the year wears on, but anyone who is looking at this gun should consider it seriously. I got mine at Dick's for $320 and it feels like a great deal so far.
and in case anyone is interested, at 30 yards through a Mod choke, the best patterns were produced by Winchester HV (3" #2), followed by Kent Faststeel (3" #4), Winchester Super-X Drylok (3" #2, MAG) and finally Remington Sportsman Hi-Speed Steel (2 3/4" #2), which produced a truly awful pattern.
thanks for reading and hope this helps somebody out!
yrs-
Evan!
My shotgunning is oriented more or less entirely to waterfowl hunting. I warm up each year with some sporting clays and usually do at least one or two jaunts for small game like rabbits. So my impression of the gun is filtered through that lens.
I have hunted with an old (early 1980s) Mossberg 500 for several years. Despite some gunsmithing and attentive ownership on my part and the previous owner's part (I know the guy), the gun just doesn't do well with 3" steel shells. they don't cycle well, occasionally get stuck in the chamber and the gun has, on numerous occasions, ejected unfired shells. This was a problem I just couldn't deal with any longer so I started shopping for a new pump gun. I was immediately attracted to the PA-08 for the price tag and what appeared to be quality workmanship. I also looked at the Mossberg 500, Remington 870 Express, the Benelli Nova and the Browning BPS Hunter. I ultimately settled on the Weatherby because I'm just not interested in synthetic stocks (Benelli), the Browning is just too expensive, the Remington 870 Express' seem to have problems and I understand the laminate stock doesn't hold up well when it gets wet, and, to be honest, I'd rather wait and get a wingmaster someday. I don't have a good reason to not get another Mossberg other than wanting a change, though it seems like most of the Mossbergs I see in stores are synthetic.
A buddy of mine's dad won a PA-08 at a gun bash a few months back so I got the opportunity to shoot it before buying. I sent 100 rounds through it during a clays session (as well as 2 sets of 3 steel shells fired and pumped at top speed, just to see how it cycled those) and found myself really enjoying it. It's lighter than other guns (6.5 pounds) so it kicks a tiny bit harder, but it points well, swings well and cycled very fast and without flaws - and I was the first guy to shoot the gun! it hadn't even been oiled.
So I went and bought my own! I partially disassembled the gun (didn't drop out the trigger) and gave it an oiling and then put it through the same treatment - ~100 target shells and several rounds of 3" steel just to test it out under field conditions and to get some patterns. so far so good! no problems and it patterned 3 of the 4 steel loads I had on hand through the factory Mod choke very well. At the moment I feel very confident that this gun will hold up well for many years to come and I'm excited about taking it out! The walnut stock and forearm are sturdy and have no visual blemishes. The internal parts I was able to visually inspect have visible patterns from the machining, but they all feel smooth and finished. the gun ships with three chokes - mod, IC and full - but I haven't tried anything other than the mod. the factory chokes can be used for steel shot.
As I said, I'll try and post more impressions here as the year wears on, but anyone who is looking at this gun should consider it seriously. I got mine at Dick's for $320 and it feels like a great deal so far.
and in case anyone is interested, at 30 yards through a Mod choke, the best patterns were produced by Winchester HV (3" #2), followed by Kent Faststeel (3" #4), Winchester Super-X Drylok (3" #2, MAG) and finally Remington Sportsman Hi-Speed Steel (2 3/4" #2), which produced a truly awful pattern.
thanks for reading and hope this helps somebody out!
yrs-
Evan!
