The price range he's looking at, you can't really go much beyond remington or mossberg. I won't knock the browning or the benelli but, IMO the 870 Wingmaster is still the best pump ever made.

The past issues that you talk about with the 870's have been addressed. In the past they used a lower quality machining process, and several of the pieces were stamped in the Express. This problem was only when they first started making the express. Currently the action on the express is manufactured to the same standards as the Wingmaster. The wingmaster just gets better wood and a nicer finish, which makes it hard to justify the nearly double price tag, but I somehow found a way.

 

my dad has a benelli that can hold 8 shots

 

I have a Mossberg 500 and it has been a great gun to me. I have owned it for a few years now and has never let me down so far. I got a few buddies that have them and they also like theirs. The 870 is also a very good gun. I prefer the 500 for target shooting but that is just my opinion. either way both guns are very nice and a decent starter gun for ya. If you have a ****s sporting goods in your area check 'em out. That's where I bought my 500 for I think like $170 or so on sale.

 

I've had and still do, a Remington 1100, semi-auto 12 gauge for years. never had a problem, but its a little over $250

 

No. In Texas you do not need any type of permit or firearms license to purchase shotguns. Simply go to the counter with your valid Texas driver's license and fill out the federal background check form.

One word of advice tho. Everything that you fill out on the form MUST correspond to your driver's license. If your address has changed and is not reflected on your driver's license then put the address that is on your driver's license on the form. If you put down an address that is different than that on your license you will be denied and will not be able to buy the shotgun that day. You are not allowed to make changes to the form of any kind and you cannot start over.


To address the Mossberg Maverick Home Defense Pump Shotgun. This is not a shotgun to be used in the field hunting. This is a tactical shotgun that has extra capacity in the magazine tube. It can hold 6 shells. While hunting birds, you are not allowed to have the capability to have more than 3 shells in the shotgun. Let me be clear about this. You must not be able to load more then 3 shotgun shells in the gun, total. There must be a build in limiter (often called a plug) that prevents you from putting more than 3 shells in your shotgun. You must make sure that the "plug" is in your gun or be prepared to face the music. I am employed by Texas Parks and Wildlife and I see this infraction all the time and it is a costly mistake. Even more than what you are willing to pay for your new shotgun.

ox

 

Good deal, thanks for the info man. I will also keep that "plug" in mind when I get around to hunting.

So how do I go about finding a place to hunt if I wanted to go hunting for Qual this coming year?

 

Go used and get you an old Beligium Browning Auto5 in either 20g or 12g. I've shot one of mine for 21 years now and put thousands and thousands of rounds through it. Not to mention it was somewhere around 45 years old when it was given to me. Talk about a bullet proof gun (pardon the pun). hehe

I now have two of them and a Winchester WW2 clone of the A5. I've shot lots of guns over the years, started to buy a few over the years and I just keep comming back to my baby.

 

Thats the old "humpback" isn't it? My grandfather had one for many years. It was a good shooting weapon, but he complained that it "beat him up", too much recoil for an auto and really heavy to lug around. He traded it for a Citori Over/Under. That weapon will shoot forever though.

 

There are several places where you can sign on to a lease. We hunt out near Sealy, Tx (west of Katy). Been on a lease there for a couple years. But this may not be for you due to the cost factor. My hunting buddy is a Medical Sales Rep and he puts it all on his expense account when we take doctors out hunting. So no cost to us (me).

But there are solutions for you.
I would recommend that you get the TPWD Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit. This is in addition to your annual hunting license. It cost $48 and is valid from 9/1 to 8/31 each year. You can buy it at any authorized license retail outlet like Academy Sports, Wal-Mart, Bass Pro Shop, etc... or any State Park. It allows you access to 1.2million acres to use for hunting/fishing/camping/hiking etc. Its great for all types of birds (ie doves, ducks, geese, chuckers, pheasants, turkeys) and for mammals like deer, hogs, rabbits, squirrels. All of which you can hunt with your new shotgun with the right type of ammo. Only people with this permit are allowed to set foot on these lands.

Go to this link and look around.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/

You will find information that you need and maps of the different WMA's (Wildlife Management Areas) in Texas that you can Publicly hunt with this permit.

BTW Not sure if this pertains to you but, all Texas hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 are required to have taken the Hunters Education course. They will not ask you to provide proof when you purchase your license but if you do not have proof that you have taken this course, you may be cited by a game warden in the field if stopped and asked to provide proof. This applies to anywhere in Texas, not just public hunting lands.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning...required.phtml

cheers

ox

 

hey Ox, What do yall shoot in Sealy? Waterfowl and deer? Are there alot of dove and Stuff? My Dad lives in Sealy and has 200 acres in Cat Spring, and I would love to start hunting out there when my step mom is gone

 

We are on a private lease where we hunt upland birds (quail and pheasant). These are programed hunts where the birds are released earlier in the day by an outfitter and we walk the fields later with dogs who flush the birds. I know, its not hunting in the truest sense, but these doctors that we take hunting want action and we pay a premium price to ensure they get some.

ox

 

Cool. Have done some of those hunts before . They are fun cause you definatly see some birds and stuff.

I have always seen tons of Deer on my dads place, but my Step mom has forbidden hunting on their property. Now that they have the Ward street house done in Sealy, she will be moving off the land!!

 

I have a Rem 870 Express Super Magnum I've been shooting for almost three years now. It is the only shotgun I have ever bought, no need for another. I have in no way taken care of it and I have never had a problem with it. It can shoot 2 3/4", 3" or 3 1/2" shells without modification, which is really important if you are looking for an all around gun to be able to shoot anything with. I have shot trap, quail, duck, geese, phesant, coons and possums with it, always working perfectly. I personally think it is the best beginners shotgun on the market. Also, if you want to start hunting deer, you can buy a rifled barrel for it for around $150.

I would also suggest that whatever shotgun you buy, make sure it has a minimum 28" barrell. If you go shorter you'll have problems shooting things at distance.

 

i have an a5 (yes its the humpack, but mine isn't belgian made ). they are excellent weapons. i wouldnt use it for upland because of its weight but it is awesome for waterfowl and clays. im taking it deer hunting on saturday.

i dont feel what he felt apparantly, i think the pad and and action absorb recoil very well, i barely even feel 2-3/4 shells. ill be using some 3" slugs though so ill see how those are.