I like my Winchester model 12's!

I have had to choose just one pump shotgun, it would be a 870.

I have tried models from several of the top manufacturers and models. The 870 just fits me, priced right, and has never failed me. Not once in over 40 years.

I own 9 870’s.
Only shotguns I’ve ever shot in any amount.
Every gauge except 28 they made.
I shoot/hunt more than most.
When you occasionally have a little problem with one, they are super easy to work on.
I have 2 wingmasters that have had 10’s of thousands of rounds poured through them. Never a bobble with either.

Wow, no love for the Mossberg 500?
My favorite, by far.

I like my mossberg 500. Bought an extra iron sight open smooth bore barrel off trap shed couple years ago. Shoot .69 round balls cast from a lee mould. Bought an 870 30 years ago or so. I hit better with my mossberg. No idea why. Never had to fix the mossberg. I only kept the 870 a couple years. Traded it for 330 and 220 traps.

BPS. I have 3. 2 12 gauge and a Youth 20 gauge for the boys when they were 8 and 9. DIL uses it now. All have screw in chokes, standard 3" chamber, bottom ejection, and top tang safety.

The Mossberg 500 is bullet proof, and inexpensive, not sure why they don't have the following of the 870. I've read the newer 870's, especially the express is not the gun 870's used to be...
An older one should be readily available used, just make sure it's new enough for interchangeable chokes, I think all 870's are 3" rated but check....Nothing wrong with looking at M500's either

If recoil is a concern, find a gas operated semi, the older 11-87's were solid, new ones not so much. Winchester semi's are Brownings, at least the SX3 was, very smooth but light, I had one and no matter what shims I used I couldn't get it right, for me....but they are very popular.

I have an old 870 wing master that money can’t buy. I paid 100 bucks NIB when i was 13. But for turkey dove deer slug rabbits squirrel my one gun is a moss berg 500 that came with rifled slug barrel. The scope mount is attached to the top of the barrel via cantilever mount. So swapping out barrels the scope remains zeroed. Buddy I hunt with has 870 but scope is side mounted to receiver. When he swaps out barrels gun must be rezeroed. 28 inch barrel with screw in choke covers everything you will ever hunt in North American.

870 or bps. The wing master or bps will last almost a lifetime. I’ve replaced a few parts in both for guys that use them daily. Everything else is junk including the nova.

870 Wingmaster

well i would reccomend an 870 wingmaster or express also highly recommend the winchester 1300/120 and 1200 the mossberg 500 also has a good following but i own a 870 wingmaster and a winchester 120 and my go too is my winchester probably because ive owned it since i was 15 and it fits me a little better and i like the postion of the safety on the winchester over the 870

Benelli Nova or super Nova , I've owned a 870 yes they aren't to bad but I sold it and after shooting a Benelli I've not looked back .
12 ga 3 1/2 " does the trick and they have a quick lock up system when the action heats up .

I have an 870 and a 500

if both were suddenly gone and I wanted to an off the shelf shotgun for do most everything with

I would get a 500 turkey that is as close as you can get factory to what I found I like

this is my current 500 , love it , I built to be like this
it started life as a 500A combo 28inch vent rib and 24 inch smooth bore slug barrel
I ran it with the 28 inch barrel for several years , I always wanted a shorter gun
I don't recall exactly the year but several years ago I decided to have my 870 police threaded for Rem chokes I loved it although it still had the rifle sights I shot some clay and birds with it
it got me thinking what I would really like is a 20 inch vent rib and I saw this barrel offered for the 500.
then about 5-6 years ago I fell on the ice hard with my 500 slung on my shoulder while out hunting, I cracked the vent rib darn near cracked my head open but it was hard enough to take the hit , I got a big goose egg and walked out the 3/4 of a mile I was in at the time.

Morgan pad to make the stock long enough and drop it just a bit
tactical safety to make it a chuck of aluminum not plastic and make it really easy to work with gloves
20 inch vent rib Mossberg barrel with accu-choke
Carlson's extended ported BCS buck shot choke in full

lots of people will say you need more barrel length to get velocity or have sight picture.

I am getting within 5fps of the box velocity , yes I get more with the 8 inch longer barrel but I will take advertised box velocity with this much convenience
and if I don't have a sight picture I am way past where I had a pattern and it patterns decently well to 50 yards I have shot several birds at 50 now 75 is a no go

the Velcro is for shot cards , Esstac specifically I tried others but it was the only one I found that held rounds secure under recoil
you can see a card with shells in in peaking out from behind the reciver
great way to leave ammo with the gun for fast deployment , I take it off when I am carrying it to hunt I run a couple cards in my zipped pocket to compliment my shell loops in the other pockets no shells moving around rattling in a pocket that way.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1025457425?pid=659115

the Velcro on the stock is there because I tried a shot card there and did not like the location and balance I just didn't take it off , it wasn't hurting anything

Model 12 would be my pick then a 42 in 410

A Remington 870 or a Benelli super nova if budget is a thought. If you're not afraid to spend a little, both companies make auto loaders of higher quality

GCP, I did pretty much what yours is, 20" bbl, velcro shell holder, recoil pad,sling , but replaced the stock with an adjustable collapsible "tactical" type...just makes it a little handier...

I'll have a 37 with a couple NEFs
om the side thank you.

That Alaska guy on here
HATED modern Rems.
Or maybe just liked to argue.

I bought an 870 when I was 12 for $95 bucks and I'm still using it. I have other shotguns. But the 870 is an old friend.

870 rem

This. You can actually go back in time to an older 870, swap out the barrel for a Remington new ribbed barrel and go hammer away.
One of those I did is always in the truck on pheasant hunts for a backup gun. They’re bullet proof, no pun intended.

Osky