John Singer
Active member
Ok, I have been following this thread some.
Please answer a question that has my curiosity up. What is your "sunny day" gun such that you are seeking a "rainy day" gun?
Rainy Day Shotgun Under $500?
- Thread starter BritLab79
- Start date
Ok, I have been following this thread some.
Please answer a question that has my curiosity up. What is your "sunny day" gun such that you are seeking a "rainy day" gun?
I use a benelli ultralight auto 12 gauge.
BrownDogsCan2
Well-known member
Weatherby element is on sale for 539 at cabellas
Munster927
Well-known member
Years ago I bought a Mossberg 535 for about $350 bucks new. I looked and it's still under $400. That would be my "rainy day" shotgun. When I picked up a new Sweet 16, I sold 2 other pumps I didn't use much, but I kept that Mossberg. It's like a beater car, as long as it shoots I don't care much what happens to it.
gimruis
Well-known member
Forget this "alternate rainy day gun" and just use your Ultralight. Benelli's will work like clock work in the elements. Just make sure you dry and clean it properly afterwards.
Munster927
Well-known member
I agree with Gim. While I do have a beater shotgun, idk the last time I even used it.
I too have an ultralight and when it rains/snows the camo Franchi gets the nod. I've got a intensity auto loader with a 26" barrel that shoots awesome and is bomb proof in the elements...just not as pretty to look at.
Birdman2
Well-known member
Great gun especially the ones made in USA.
birddude
Well-known member
Some years ago, I laid out a dozen or so guns, a couple upwards of 2 k. Told my grandsons to pick one out. My oldest who already had a couple nice guns, picked up my cherry 1958 16 ga. Ithaca 37. and said what's this? I said that it was not a target gun, turkey, duck or deer gun. What it is, is one of the best pump guns ever made. Its a game gun, made to shoot instinctively. It's light, fast and weatherproof. The following weekend we shot some clay and even though he didn't shoot it as well as his browning silver, afterwards he stroked the 37 and said I love this gun. Today is the beginning of our annual put and take pheasant hunting. My youngest will be packing his Rizzini that he picked. I know what my oldest will be packing!
Ericb
Active member
When was there ever an Ithaca M37 not made in the USA?
Kismet
UPH Guru
An Official Journal Of The NRA | A Look Back at the Ithaca Model 37 Shotgun
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, this pump shotgun has always enjoyed a loyal following.
"The Chinese and Argentines have produced knock-off variants of the Model 37 as well."
Ericb
Active member
So Ithaca M37s have only been made in the US. Thought so. Those knockoff variants are not Ithaca 37s.An Official Journal Of The NRA | A Look Back at the Ithaca Model 37 Shotgun
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, this pump shotgun has always enjoyed a loyal following.www.americanrifleman.org
"The Chinese and Argentines have produced knock-off variants of the Model 37 as well."
Kismet
UPH Guru
I stumbled across one at a local town's police department's silent auction. It had been a squad gun in a small Wisconsin town. It was labeled
"PS/DS featherweight," which stood for Police special/deerslayer special and was open cylinder 12ga, 20 inches, with the extended magazine and the most accurate slug gun I've ever shot. At the time, my area was shotgun-only hunting for deer.
Through no fault of my own, I made two incredible one-shot kills, one on a running deer ( I mean running) and the second a tough shot through the woods. I was told that the police specials had the open cylinder refined for slug accuracy--have no idea of how factual that report is.
I sent it on to a friend in Southern Indiana, where they still have shotgun only deer season. He reported punching center holes in targets with regularity.
Neat gun. Heavy as heck when you load the magazine with slug shells- I think it was eight rounds, or seven +one. I only did that once when hunting. Why did I? Well, jeez, there's all this space and...and.... Bad idea.
"PS/DS featherweight," which stood for Police special/deerslayer special and was open cylinder 12ga, 20 inches, with the extended magazine and the most accurate slug gun I've ever shot. At the time, my area was shotgun-only hunting for deer.
Through no fault of my own, I made two incredible one-shot kills, one on a running deer ( I mean running) and the second a tough shot through the woods. I was told that the police specials had the open cylinder refined for slug accuracy--have no idea of how factual that report is.
I sent it on to a friend in Southern Indiana, where they still have shotgun only deer season. He reported punching center holes in targets with regularity.
Neat gun. Heavy as heck when you load the magazine with slug shells- I think it was eight rounds, or seven +one. I only did that once when hunting. Why did I? Well, jeez, there's all this space and...and.... Bad idea.
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birddude
Well-known member
I don't think they did but there was a short time in the 80s that they were not the gun they should have been. I don't know about the new ones, but I guarantee They are heavier with the 3" chambers.
Ericb
Active member
I had a new one in ‘20. It was a bit heavier than my ‘52 but not bad. It had a good feel and the fit was good. There were a couple things about it that I didn’t like so it’s gone now.
birddude
Well-known member
First put and take phenomenal of the year. Notice guns.
Attachments
birddude
Well-known member
Pheasant not phenomenal!
Birdman2
Well-known member
Dude, I think you are right. Quality went way down in the 80's.