Beginner’s Shotgun Recommendations
There are two schools of thought when it comes to getting started in a new hobby. You can either start off as cheap as possible so that, in the off chance you don’t like it, you’re not out too much money. There are others that follow the line of thinking that if you spend as much as possible, you’re less likely to give up because you’ve made such a large investment.
Let me sidestep for a moment. Consider putting someone in a high end supercar for their very first car/driving lesson. A 16 year old can get into a Ferrari 458 and learn to drive fast and precise but can they really appreciate the engineering perfection of that car without having driven other cars? I’m not saying that they can’t, mind you, but without the experience, for the most part it’ll just be a car that goes fast and kills their parent’s insurance premium. If you start a person on, say, a Subaru Impreza which is a great car but a little on the boring side then move them to a Mustang then to a Porsche and finally a Ferrari. By the time they get to the Ferrari they’ll have an understanding of the benefit of mid engine design when it comes to balance and handling. They’ll really grasp why the multi-clutch gearbox and computer adjusted suspension give such an advantage when powering through turns.
In the firearms world, however, things get a bit wonky. When dealing with pistols and to some extent rifles, the difference between a $500 beginner gun and a $1500 advanced gun are subtle enough that the beginner isn’t going to notice them as much. That’s not to say they won’t but it’s more of a matter of appreciation. The difference between a properly broken in Glock trigger and a properly broken in, high-end 1911 trigger is noticeable but only so if you’re used to one or another. Hand that super expensive 1911 to someone who’s never held a gun and tell them to dry fire it and they’ll pull the trigger, nod and say “ok” then hand it back to you. Rifles, once you get past a certain point, are essentially the same. AR-15’s also have a quality plateau and after that point come down to the number of accessories slapped on to them.
Shotguns, on the other hand, are a different beast. There is still a point of diminishing returns but there are certain quality checkpoints across the board. Comparing a $400 Stoeger Condor over/under to a $2000 Beretta 686 then to a $13,000 Perazzi MX2000 you’ll see some incredible differences that even a total noob can appreciate.
So if you’re wanting to buy a new shotgun, where do you start? Let’s break it down into the common 3 big reasons people buy shotguns and then break those down into the “start out cheap” category and the “decent starting investment” group.
Home Defense
- Beware of Dog: You can’t go wrong with the Mossberg Maverick (reviewed here) pump action in this case. It’s a solid 12 gauge shotgun that holds 8 rounds and can handle any kind of shell you put in it. Because of it’s near identical footprint to the Mossberg 500, you can upgrade it as time goes by.
- Moat and Missile Pods: Or you can spend a bit more and just get a Mossberg 500. These are probably the most widely sold shotgun in the world* with various militaries and police forces using them.
*With the possible exception of the Remington 872 but with the quality problems Remington is having at the moment, I can’t recommend their guns.
Clay Sports
- Cup O’ Noodles: The Stoeger Condor (reviewed here) is a fantastic over/under and a good, solid choice if you’re wanting to try out clay shooting but aren’t sure if you’re going to like it. It’s not really upgradable but the price tag can’t be beat. If you enjoy it, you can always trade it in for something like…
- Champagne and Caviar: Anything from Beretta, really. Whether it be the 686 over/under or the A400 semi-auto line. They’re not the priciest things on the market but they’re not the cheapest by far. They are, however, the last shotgun you’ll ever really need.
Hunting
- Be Vewy Vewy Quiet: It really comes down to what you’re hunting. If you’re looking for birds, something like the Stoeger Condor is a great choice but Stoeger also makes a series of pump action and semi auto shotguns that are more geared towards hunting than something like a Maverick.
- I Am the Master of Maiming Meat: Here again, you can’t go wrong with Beretta’s hunting offerings. To use my car analogy earlier, Berettas as the BMW’s of the shotgun world. Solid, high performance and incredibly well engineered.
Keep in mind, these are just suggestions based off my own experience. I’ve tried quite a few shotguns at this point and, no matter what, I keep coming back to these. While there are always exceptions to the rules, prices, as with many things in the firearms world, are a usually good indicator. A $2000 Benelli shotgun is going to be able to go toe to toe with a $2000 Beretta. In the end, find the one that feels the most comfortable for you to hold in the price range you’re looking at.
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