The one he had certainly was. He was an excellent shot with it as well. Just like his Winchester 74 in 22lr, if it went off, it meant I was going to retrieve something, lol.

I'm sure I'll get some hate for this... but I've had great success and made a lot of memories between my old (1970s) Mossberg 500 and Mossberg 935. Granted I don't fire 1,000 rounds a year through my shotguns but I've abused them a fair bit and they come back for more.
I had a "modern" 870 and had issues with it (also couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it because it did not fit me well). I sold it to my brother after buying the 935 and now we are both happy LOL.
Not sure if it's because I'm 6'4"+ but the Mossbergs just seem to fit me out of the box. I have also tried some of the Turkish guns (imported under different brand names here) and have been somewhat impressed but I am not sure what the maintenance will be like on them after 5 seasons so I'm nervous to try them out myself (want a 20 ga. semi to pass down to the kids in a few years)

Nothing wrong with a Mossberg, a lot of this is just preference /what flavor ice cream stuff that will never matter to 99% of shooters.

If a shotgun fits you, and you like its performance, that's your scattergun.

A good wingshooter can get by with about any of them in a pinch, but when you get all the variables right, it's like an extension of your eyes and arms.

I inherited a Charles Daley 20 ga. o/u from my father. Nice little gun that carries well and although I have not shot it much I do like it so far. I also have 2 Winchester 101's, a 12 and a 20, a Remington Peerless 12 ga., 2 870's in 12 and 20 and an old Fulton 12 ga. sxs. They all shoot good.

That old Fulton was probly made by Hunter Arms Corp. They made L.C.Smith guns here where I live in Fulton N.Y. form the late 1800s till the 1950s.I believe they made three different side by sides.The "Hunter Special",,the "Fulton Special" named after our town and of course the "L.C.Smiths".

Remarkably.......few have mentioned an Ithaca 37 pump? Have never seen or shot one, but always thought they were some kind of cult gun.

There was a time during my early 30's that for reason, I got this notion that I really ought to own a Winchester 23.........in 28 gauge. Proper quail gun and all that. Went so far as to travel to Walls Grocery in Blairstown.......and sure enough............John had a stack of about 10 of them.......all new and in the box. Picked thru those marked "pigeon grade" to get a nice stock.......laid it on the counter and asked how much? $2,800. Ouch. In my mind I had been thinking $800 - $900. So ever so gently laid it back down on the counter so as to not put a scratch on it and slowly backed away.......then slithered out the door with tail tucked between my legs. A blow to one's ego to find out you are not "pigeon grade" worthy.

That Fulton has 30 barrels and the full choke has the tightest pattern of any gun I've shot.

Dang! Sounds about right. Also, as this thread has went on I’m astounded at the folks who are willing to show their ignorance. Bout par for the course with this crew.

How so Hawker?

Wondering that too. Just folks talking about shotguns....

What was said that was ignorant? Makes you sound elitest....

My first new out of the box shotgun was in 1966 and it was a 870 Wing Master in 12 gauge. It was purchased with muskrat and mink Pelt money from trapping before and after school. I just finished writing a story about the gun and it's history with me and my family and will be in one of the trapping magazines hopefully. The gun never failed me or my son and will be passed on to the grandson.

They have a Collector show for all them Hunter Arms guns every year here in my town.This years was last weekend. L.C.Smiths were " The Gun " back in the day. They were named "The Gun That Speaks For Itself "

Whaaaa whaaaaa. It's a good thread with some nice guns hawker.

I have yet to buy a new shotgun

lots of them for sale when the state went rifle and dropped the shotgun zones only a few townships left that are shotgun only.

bought my first one in a guys garage who had advertised on the bulletin board at my moms work. I was 14 handed over my cash for a Rem Model 12A

it is a very good gun I shot a lot of deer with that gun it shot slugs very well from a modified choke barrel

if you don't remember the 12A it is a plain stocked , no frills no engraving 1100 in 12ga , they did the 12A and 12P for a couple years before they dropped the 12A and Made the 12P a 870 express for it's marketing name.

went for a haircut once and came home with a M37 I also got a haircut

Krieghoffs are pretty reliable

No Sir... But did shoot the remnant flocks of the Ft. Cobb roost in nearby areas...As you probably know, Ft.Cobb peaked in the 60's & 70's before the roost was broke up, and the crows relocated.


I was lucky enough to get in on it in the early 70's. They estimated 8 to 10 million birds. Was something to see. I visited Ft.Cobb 2 years ago and not one person knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the crow roost.

Interesting so many mentions of the Winchester model 12 and Remington 1100.
The Remington 870 Wingmaster was highly expected.

Surprisingly no mention of the Savage shotgun / rifle combo. My first hunting experiences were with my Grandfather and his 20 gauge / .22 combo.

Id take a mberg 500 over any remington shotgun ALL DAY. Wingmasters are pretty and 870’s were a dime a dozen but both fit me like crap. My first was a 500, nothing fancy. Then a 500 crown grade and i killed a LOT of pheasants with that the 6 or so years i had it during high school/part of college. Throw in a random ugly camo’d 835 and now my only mossberg is a “tactical turkey”. Factory choke loves 3.5 inch supreme 6’s and ive killed a lot of turkeys with it. I will say the pistol grip and the top tang safety are a dumb combo.