Buy the Benelli or save a few more coins for the Benelli semi.

 

If your main plan is for sporting clays, pumps will get old real quick. I would recommend looking at a semi-auto at minimun. For the price of a benelli, you could hold out for a little longer and get a Winchester 101 O/U and be set for a VERY LONG TIME. If the range has rentals, then get fitted and rent until you saved up enough before buying. If your friends have shotguns that they could lend you while at the range, that is another route.

Don't go too cheap, cause you ARE gonna pay twice if you take to the sport on a more serious level.

If you are going to use the shotgun for hunting as well, then there is the Stoeger M3000 that is just a hair above $500. Thaat would be the MINIMUM I would go. You will eventually need to change the extractor (a $8 part) but that is with most any semi-auto shotguns if you shoot enough over time (especially with doing matches). BTW, Stoeger makes barrels for Benelli.

 

I'm not smart,let alone an expert.
Sound like you are looking for a dedicated skeet/clay/competion pump shotgun.
I have 2 of the Stevens,works fine for a utility/field gun..but I don't know if its worth it trying to addon to make it into something its not.
Not trying to correct you,or be a jerk..but it sounds like you are asking for options on a 500$/budget/entry level sporting gun.
I'm sure it can be used for hunting,but to bring a hunting gun up tp competion seems a lot more work/money.

 

I own a couple 870 Wingmasters that serve me for hunting. I have shot occasional rounds of trap with them, and they happen to fit me well.

But for long competitive shotgun shooting, I would pick a top quality semi auto. I understand that does not fit your $500 budget, but neither does the ammo you will be shooting.

So decide on a more realistic budget for the gun, the reloading press, and the reloading components. Btw, the competitive shooters I know own two identical shotguns.

 

My plans for the shotgun are really just to occasionally go out and bust some clays with friends, family or clients (this will never be a thing for me) thus have the utility of that shotgun being able to do other things is important if I'm going to lay out the $$$$$. When I took a sporting clays class I shot it on a CZ over and under ....which I was really not impressed with.

From experience.......buying brand name firearms has always served me well.

I have never owned Stoeger products but the coach guns are on my list to buy.

As for Remington they seem to be a great brand also but are concerned about their ability to stay in business long term. They are a blue chip brand that has struggled with innovation over the years.

HK

 

Thank you. Clearly thought you had plans to compete in regular, formal trap and skeet.

I bought my 12ga Remington Wingmaster in 1987, and my 20ga Wingmaster in 2008. These days the Remington brand is owned by RemArms and controled by the old Remington CEO Ken D'Arcy. Online they claim to be building and shipping new hunting rifles and shotguns, but I dont know what their quality is like.

Probably more important for your application is finding a pump gun that fits you, and allows you to alter it for various applications. This last means you are looking for spare barrels, screw in chokes, replacement parts, etc.

I dont know of very many "well stocked" gun stores these days, but thats what you need.

 

Mossberg 500A 12 ga. Get the 2 barrel combo, options galore if you want to go survival platform.
Yes its a pump, once you learn it, look around for an Over Under 12ga, or your semi auto. O/U models rule Clay shooting, but only 2 rounds if thinking any security of home. Good luck.

 

I shoots mostly ou and ss but I have 2 Remington 1100 80s vintage that are really nice 👍

 

I already have the home defense shotgun covered.....it's a Mossberg M500 bullpup.

Love the look of those Remington 1100's and is the perfect example of a branded shotgun retaining it's value.

 

I bought them from a guy in 97 for 100 bucks each , I also bought 2 Remington bolt action 22s for 100 each 🤗

 

I thought remington was split up into a few different companies and I could have sworn ruger bought the shotgun, rifle, and Marlin brands.

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I thought remington was split up into a few different companies and I could have sworn ruger bought the shotgun, rifle, and Marlin brands.

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Ruger bought Marlin lever guns and has released their first model 1895 in 45-70.
I had to web search to find out about the Remington rifles, and shotguns.

 

I believe the Stevens 320 is a copy of the Winchester 1300 pump gun.. I believe this line under either name is a very under rated arm that is much better than many give it credit..

It is a little different thing than the more popular models, but if you understand the little differences in how to dis assemble, assemble and clean they are very serviceable.. I would take a dozen at $200 US if I could get them..

My 5 cents of opinion and experience..

 

I believe the Stevens 320 is a copy of the Winchester 1300 pump gun.. I believe this line under either name is a very under rated arm that is much better than many give it credit..

It is a little different thing than the more popular models, but if you understand the little differences in how to dis assemble, assemble and clean they are very serviceable.. I would take a dozen at $200 US if I could get them..

My 5 cents of opinion and experience..

That is a great choice in either 12ga or 20ga. I just picked one up in 20ga, with high profile sights, and full length stock. I have taken it down to clean and inspect, lube and am ready to range fire it. 20 ga shotshells are kinda rare here in Norhwest Indiana, but did receive a few boxes of #4, and some deer slugs. Mine was in a Stevens box on pickup. Yes it is an import model, but looks and feels solid to me too. Good luck with yours.

 

Here is a few of my favorites The top is a Charles Daly 12 made in the browning factorey
in Japan it’s modified and full choke and both barrels shoot point of aim
second down is a Remington ton 1100 20g with choke tubes .
Bottom is a 12g duck gun Winchester 50 made in 1941
these where handy for a pic 😝

 

One thing I cannot wrap my head around with Stevens shotguns....... they are owned by Savage.

Savage makes rifles that are what the consumers want, at a competitive price and are high quality. It's amazing what they have done to their rifle lineup over the last 5 years or so.

Which then takes me to the Stevens lineup....... $135-$185 shotguns (320 model) where youtube is filled with modification videos to bring them up to snuff, which makes me wonder why they wouldn't do this in the first place? Applying their rifle business to the shotgun business would seriously turn a lot of heads around in pretty short order.

HK

 

Probably cost, if they made them here vs China, or Turkey they couldn't compete with Mossberg let alone anyone else.
Mossberg Maverick 88 $220.00 made from Mexico produced parts and assembled in Texas.

 

Mossberg 500 is all you’ll ever need. Killed many animals with them over the years. I like where the safety is too

 

After doing some further evaluation I think it's really down to a Mossberg 500 and the Supernova. There are advantages to each and a fair amount of information in comparing the 2.

HK

 

Are you shooting sporting clays at a club or just your backyard? Personally I would find an older Wingmaster on Gunbroker to start, join the club, and find out what others are shooting. There will always be used guns to buy from other club members.

I shot some trap at a club in Illinois and found the above to be true. You can even rent / borrow club guns before buying anything.

 

We have a local shooting center close to us that has 5 different trap/skeet/sporting clay courses. Yes they have range rentals.

That being said......I feel it is important to select and own your own firearms for obvious reasons.

Sporting clays will never be my "new hobby" but just something that is enjoyed as the overall "shooting sport" that goes along with pistol, rifle, air rifle and archery.

I like the idea of changing a few hours of the rifle and pistol range for the addition of shooting sporting clays.

HK

 

We have a local shooting center close to us that has 5 different trap/skeet/sporting clay courses. Yes they have range rentals.

That being said......I feel it is important to select and own your own firearms for obvious reasons.

Sporting clays will never be my "new hobby" but just something that is enjoyed as the overall "shooting sport" that goes along with pistol, rifle, air rifle and archery.

I like the idea of changing a few hours of the rifle and pistol range for the addition of shooting sporting clays.

HK

I would try out some of the rental guns. Find one you like, that you shoot good with, and then buy a used gun to match it.

 

So OP, what did you end up with?

 

I would get a yildiz 12g over and under with steel receiver for that price range. If you are so against o/u then hard to go against a used Remington 870 wing master for couple more hundred bucks if you shop well. If you buying new then I’d get the beretta you mentioned or remy 870 express. Not a big fan of mossberg. I have one and while it does serve it’s purpose for hunting, it’s starts to have problems with high volume rates of fire in a short time like at the clay range. Never had a problem with my remy 870 express at the clay range.

 

I believe the CZ shotguns are made in Turkey.

Also I know the Mossberg 20g youth model semiauto shotgun is.

 

a semi under $500 is generally speaking turkish built and no bueno in my opinion. Id hold out for a pawn shop older rem 870. (before they started using plastic parts), or a cz. Buddy bought a cz 12ga pretty cheap, much better then most current offerings.

 

I know it's an old thread....but since we are here again:
Mossberg 500 for the win.

a semi under $500 is generally speaking turkish built and no bueno in my opinion. Id hold out for a pawn shop older rem 870. (before they started using plastic parts), or a cz. Buddy bought a cz 12ga pretty cheap, much better then most current offerings.

Too funny...foot in mouth time....CZ's ARE Turkish guns!!!! 🤣

What about an Ithaca 37?

I have one. Very, VERY nice slick action, but limited capacity. Hard to find for sale.

 

What about an Ithaca 37?

 

Yes it wound up being the Benelli Supernova......turned out to be an awesome shotgun

 

New? 870 Rem Arms Fieldmaster pump.

Used? Old school Remington 870 Wingmaster.

 

Old school 870 police or 590a1.

You can't go wrong with either.

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for practical purposes? mossberg 500. thing is absolutely a rattle trap, but it goes boom when you pull the trigger, and parts are cheap if you need them.