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SubscribeYup. I have used mine as a boat oar more than once over the years in unfortunate circumstances. No problems afterward. A well built pump is a tool that will take a beating and last.Meh, I used to throw my M500 in the bottom of the boat. To me a Nova was fancy. Pistol grips suck for wing shooting IMO.
Want a Carlson barrel and it's more comfortableA pistol grip for waterfowl?
WHY??
Why not buy the barrel length you want instead of a replacing it?
I wonder how many people still know to pattern the loads they use or if they buy whatever they find or see in Guns and Ammo. And then, not knowing they have shitty patterns, say the barrel or gun sucks.If you're clearing a house or a p-way I might agree. If you're swinging through on a fast moving, small target they kind of suck. Then again, I was born with one in my hand, and if you are new to shot gunning maybe a pistol grip doesn't feel as fucked up as it does to me.
I will however say unequivocally that you will not shoot one iota better with a Carlson barrel than you will with the Benelli or Remington barrel that comes on the gun. I would bet on a hundred pattern boards, with all three side by side, you can't tell the difference.
For the cost of tungsten I am hesitant to pattern those rounds. Both bismuth and tungsten seem to be a rare product. Hevi has the Bismuth but those aren't as good as Kent from what I can tell. I did find a bunch of Remington Wingmaster HD Tungsten in 3 1/2".I wonder how many people still know to pattern the loads they use or if they buy whatever they find or see in Guns and Ammo. And then, not knowing they have shitty patterns, say the barrel or gun sucks.
^This. The old 870 Wingmasters are smooth as glass, OEM quality parts are easy to locate and economically priced if you ever have a problem, and they’re usually very attractive guns to boot (deep bluing and great wood). The older 870’s usually weren’t threaded for chokes, so make sure you check what choke barrel it is by marking. Full seems to be the most common choked barrels I see.Find an older wingmaster.
The newer bismuth should be good in the older shotguns and get you better than steel performance (still not as good as lead or tungsten).You won't be able to shoot steel through an old fixed full choke barrel. My dad called Remington the other day and they said not to shoot anything bigger than 4s through his fixed mod (I think it's a mod). You're giving up a lot of utility to get a nice blueing job and a 30 year old gun.
The action on my nova will eject a shell if I hold it vertical and hit the slide release. No pumping required. It is super smooth. I have probably 5000 rounds on it though.
Any pump you get now is going to feel cheap. That's why they are all $400. An old 870 is great for what it is, but not for a new duck/goose beater pump.
I've had good luck with my 870 Supermag.Like the post above. If I had to buy a new pump duck gun today it would be a BPS. Just a lot “slicker” action than the other new pumps out there.
My vote within OP’s options would be a 3” 870 Wingmaster. Late 80’s or 90’s model. With rem chokes.
Dang, never did a waterfowl hunt like that. But, then I had a friend that had a nice boat we used or went on guided hunts.Obviously you are not a waterfowl hunter. This very morning at o’darkthirty I was doing a wade and shoot, and breaking inch thick ice using the recoil pad of my Citori to create open water. I should not have brought it. I should have brought a pump, but I thought we were going to be in a blind. Several times the whole stock went under. It could have frozen the trigger assembly of my gun (but it didn’t). It would have frozen up an automatic, and there would have been nothing you could do. A pump, on the other hand, you can muscle your way through ice and frost and make it fire. They’re just a tougher action and will take way more mud and ice than an auto.
Don’t get me wrong, they‘re superior as you state, but for some things you can’t beat a pump, so as usual it depends on what you’re doing.
This is fucking hilarious considering I live in the Waterfowl Capital of the US, grew up killing ducks like it was cool, and even had a decoy carving class in highschool.Obviously you are not a waterfowl hunter. This very morning at o’darkthirty I was doing a wade and shoot, and breaking inch thick ice using the recoil pad of my Citori to create open water. I should not have brought it. I should have brought a pump, but I thought we were going to be in a blind. Several times the whole stock went under. It could have frozen the trigger assembly of my gun (but it didn’t). It would have frozen up an automatic, and there would have been nothing you could do. A pump, on the other hand, you can muscle your way through ice and frost and make it fire. They’re just a tougher action and will take way more mud and ice than an auto.
Don’t get me wrong, they‘re superior as you state, but for some things you can’t beat a pump, so as usual it depends on what you’re doing.
I had an over under 10 gauge once…. I accidentally set off both barrels and decided I should prolly not use it. 32” barrel…. Was like shooting a damn roll of quartersFinally!! This thread has the potential to get good.
All you bastards are wrong, myself included! A single shot 10ga NEF, that's where its at. Ugly, tough as nails and nobody is going to steal it. Kind of like your tatted up meth head girlfriend.