Had a fun discussion at work last night. Three of us argued about what the best shotgun to be made was. I am of the opinion that no finer shotgun has been produced than the model 12 Winchester. One coworker claimed that the Remington 870 is superior. The other fellow opined that the Mossberg 500 was the best, so we're not going to talk to him anymore.

Anyway, what do you folks figure is the best? Also , if don't mind saying, why is it the best? I'm heading to bed now, and would sure like to read some opinions, and maybe a good argument or two when I wake up.

Have a good day folks.

Pump actions...meh.

What is the best, Lugnut? Semi autos and high end double guns are more than welcome. Heck, even a good single shot, bolt action, or lever gun.

Belgian Browning A5

You can't go wrong with a Mossberg 500 or Maverick 88.

My old model 12 and next is a cheap savage 77E,it is indestructible......jk

I'm not a big shotgun guy (only shot a few) but there's room for quite a bit of range in your question. You and your co workers sound like it's mostly a comparison of budget range pump shotguns. Some may laugh at this but I've got a Winchester Ranger 120 in 20 gauge that I used a ton of in 1986 - 1988 shooting pigeons around farms when I was in high school with a friend of mine. That gun would cycle some of the worst looking reloads through it without missing a beat, cleaning was non existent. He had an 870 and that ran about as smoothly but I'd give the edge to my gun. The Ranger also just fit me better than the 870. Anyone else here have a Winchester Ranger I'm sure someone does or used to?

Other than that my other shotgun experience is with a 410 single shot that my Dad bought me used for a B-day present when I was a kid. Good gun for shooting squirrels. I also shot and got the only 2 grouse I ever shot at on the fly with that 410. Still got it but haven't shot it in a long time.

Not much for experience on my end but I'm sure you'll get plenty of better feedback.

I think Remington 870's and Winchester 12's are pretty much the Ford and Chevy pickup of the gun world. Plenty of other shotguns work, some better at some things, but those two get the most work done.

And Mossberg's are like Dodge's, haha.

Beretta 391, it's the ak47 of semiautomatic shotguns, it just runs and runs and runs.

I’ve owned a lot of different shotguns I found the simplest answer is the one that fits you is the best a simple but true statement. I use a Remington Ultra Max that I customized for turkey hunting and a Beretta 391 for everything else. Fit is everything throw to your shoulder all you see is sight/sights and not any rib,

Shoot trap for a few seasons it’s a great was to understand about shotguns work.

I'd take a nice Sweet 16.

there's a reason the Remington 870 is the number 1 seller in history, it just works Everytime

i've dropped them in frozen lake chasing ducks, rolled one down mountain chasing turkeys, yes it was on my back, you can't kill them

It's a hard decision on the best. I love a 870 Wingmaster but the Winchester Md 12 is right up there. I guided for Waterfowl in Canada for many years. The SBE, the fancy Berettas all became 1500.00 plus single shots. The cold and sandy conditions were not good for them. Give me a 3 inch 870 and I'm happy.

The one that fix's you.

Winchester Model 97

Less recoil on you.

Best shotgun , ever?, lol, lot of ground there....

BUT,.. fit, fit, fit! , is everything.

Seriously if most folks shot lighter loads they would maybe shoot better just hand a guy a empty gun target practicing and see what happens when he anticipates the recoil I’d say most folks flinch sometimes.

Benelli supra 90. Toughest I have seen

Lotta great old models, late models…. A400.


Osky