Mossy Oak Forum / Hunting / Shotgunning / Pump or Auto / Latest Posts

RE: Pump or Auto

jb1buckmaster — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:04:48 GMT

As I told a guy that worked in a gun shop a couple of months ago, so I will tell you.

I started out with a Mossberg 500 20 gauge pump, which I bought with my own money when I was 15, from working in a local park one summer. At the time, I was making about $2.25 a hour and the gun cost $100

It only had a single rod on the pump and it jammed more then anything else. I hunted with it until I was about 21. I made friends with a guy that owned a gas station and sold guns in the back.
He had a Remington Sportsman 48 - 16 gauge semi automatic shotgun.
It was a good shotgun, but it cost twice as much for shells as did the 20 gauge and it only had a modified barrel - which was not very good for Turkeys or pheasants.

I sold that gun when I bought my first Remington Model 1100 semi - 12 gauge.
The bluing was worn and the stock was a little beat up, but it was a 12 gauge and it was a semi.
From that point on, everything got 3 shots.

I sold that gun when I bought one of the first Remington Super Mag's that came out back in 1998. 12 gauge - 3 1/2 inch with screw in choke tubes. That gun has shot a lot of turkeys and pheasants and grouse.

About that same time, I came into some money and I bought a used Browning Gold Hunter 3 1/2 inch semi auto 12 gauge shotgun. The Browning has shot a bunch of turkeys and a bunch of pheasants and a bunch of grouse.

The Remington broke when it was fairly new. I took it apart to clean it and something inside of it was not made right from the factory. The action was very gritty and the gun stopped feeding shells. The gunsmith I took it to repaired it for about $75 and adjusted everything until it works as good as new. I have only took it apart one time since then. As much - too scared that something will not work again as I am that it doesn't need cleaned - because I don't abuse my guns and tearing them apart to clean them - probably wears them out as fast as anything else.

The Browning broke one day on a pheasant hunt, in the middle of a food plot and I took it apart in the middle of a corn field. Some of the aluminum came out of the action. I took it to a gun shop and the gunsmith told me that it was a common problem and to just keep hunting with it.
I could send it back to Browning on my own dime, but if there isn't anything wrong with it, I can't see what it would accomplish. Truthfully - I don't trust it anymore for anything more than the first shot.

So I would have to say that the best gun I own is my pump action shotguns and not my semi automatic's.

I have a Browning 10 gauge pump shotgun that loads and ejects from the bottom. It has a short barrel and screw in choke tubes. I have never shot it. It is in mint condition, and it just sits in the gun cabinet. Some day I will take it out and shoot a couple of geese with it, or maybe a spring gobbler.

For me a gun is like a tool in your tool box, you buy a tool with the hopes that you will need it someday and when you do need it - it will be there. I have a Browning Pump rifle .300 Winchester Magnum - for the same reason. Some day I hope to go hunting Elk and when I do - I already have the gun to do it with.

RE: Pump or Auto

justsay937 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:05:15 GMT

Love my 3 1/2" auto 12 gauge. Started with a single shot .410 when I was young and bought an 870 12 in the late 70's for duck hunting. But it's hard to beat the auto 12 for all around use.

RE: Pump or Auto

nelsondj0 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:21 GMT

I definetaly prefer auto for waterfowl/ upland game. I use a pump for deer.

Randy Nelson
R and L Taxidermy
Buck Gardner Field Staff

RE: Pump or Auto

krawiech — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:18:19 GMT

since i had a bad taste of gout im unable to use my pump anymore so ive gone to a semi auto out of necessity hank

RE: Pump or Auto

gobble — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:36:39 GMT

ever had a mossberg 935 in 3 1/2" magnum? mines been to hell and back nearly 7 times,... the 870 has been collecting dust for some time now, don't get me wrong, the 870 is a strong gun too

RE: Pump or Auto

Turkey_Slayer95 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:18:03 GMT

pumps are easier to take care of...so thats my answer

RE: Pump or Auto

mnoutdoor — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:59:29 GMT

Marlin model 512 bolt action 12ga for deer. Browning bps 10ga for geese. remington 870 12ga for ducks and pheasants. I like marlin bolt action for deer because it is heavy and does not kick.

RE: Pump or Auto

bowhunter67 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:27:24 GMT

Shot singles, shot pumps and autos. Like them all, especially when they go
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. Whoops singles go BOOM!

Enjoy shooting them all 1 or 3 times.

RE: Pump or Auto

Steelheader — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:56:18 GMT

Got stick with the Auto.

RE: Pump or Auto

resqmedic17 — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:11:36 GMT

I have used both over the years for hunting and shooting just about everything, and I have always liked the pump better. Learned early on, it is easy to fix and fewer parts to break/jam on a pump when compared to an auto.

Plus, you can't beat the price on a pump.

RE: Pump or Auto

RMc — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:48:57 GMT

I prefer a Remington 870 Express Supermag with a 26 inch vent rib barrel and a Briley extended .695 exit diameter choke tube for deer and hog hunting.

This combination throws a 3.5 to 5 inch pattern with Dixie Slugs' Tri-Ball III buckshot to the point of aim at 40 yards.

RMc

RE: Pump or Auto

bullsprig — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:33:39 GMT

browning gold auto= ducks, geese,turkeys,doves

old browning A-5 auto = doves , skeet

browning citori o/u= skeet, trap ,doves

RE: Pump or Auto

jlee477 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:04:55 GMT

Remington 870.

RE: Pump or Auto

gehres1 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:27:17 GMT

Ithaca 37 pump
deerslayer barrel toped off w/ leupold

RE: Pump or Auto

bigalcone — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:31:01 GMT

I have both, and I love both for different reasons.

Pump= lighter for long walks, better for new shooters, shoot even the lightest loads w/no probs.

Auto= heavier to absorb more recoil from 3" and 3.5" shells, faster follow up shots in the average shooters hands, if a gas operated gun it soaks up even more recoil, if you really get flustered it wont forget to cycle a new shell (yes, I have forgotten to do this on my 870!)

I choose which to carry based on what I'm hunting.

P.S. I also like a side-by-side double for rabbits and birds! This is what I learned with.

RE: Pump or Auto

Gauge — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:50:17 GMT

I use both Auto & Pump..
Ya always need a back up gun to replace 1,If it go's down on ya.

Gauge

RE: Pump or Auto

scottbrake — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:34:40 GMT

Semi all the way!! wow ya gotta clean it a bit, i clean mine after every hunt and i also have a pump and i dont like it much it might be more reliable but if u keep your guns clean they should all work fine!! unless u get a Lemon!!!!

RE: Pump or Auto

Desertrat — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:50:56 GMT

I like auto....it at least tames some of the recoil....I only have one 12ga. and it is a Benelli M2.....the rest of my guns are 20's and 28's....and they are all SxS and O/U.

RE: Pump or Auto

cwraesmith — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:35:26 GMT

SBE II, the best gun Ive ever shot

RE: Pump or Auto

justsay937 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:53:37 GMT

I have used pumps, auto's and single shot shotguns for deer hunting. I like an auto or o/u when hunting birds and my 3 1/2" auto for ducks, geese and turkeys.

RE: Pump or Auto

Ghillie — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:39:53 GMT

Well, I like pumps and break actions like O/U's and SxS's. With those guns there is so little to go wrong. the only real mechanical parts that is out of our control is the trigger group. Autos are nice and I have one too, but i don't like worrying bout if it is gonna go bang or not on the follow-up shots that for some reason I always have to take...

RE: Pump or Auto

Talkinquack — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:33:18 GMT

When I'm duck hunting I shoot my mossberg 935 auto. Turkey hunting I shoot my mossberg 835 pump. The skeet get dusted with the remington 1100. Everything else is with the ol' trusty remington wingmaster!!

RE: Pump or Auto

NoDak_Hunter — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:21:02 GMT

Pump and SxS. Havnt had the chance to shoot an auto.......yet.

RE: Pump or Auto

Flintlock1776 — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:32:34 GMT

I like the mechanical simplicity of pumps. I have several shotguns none in automatic. I don't duck/goose hunt maybe that is the need for them.

RE: Pump or Auto

xOZx — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:10:45 GMT

Yellowhammer (12/18/2007)

Pump. To me you are going to carry it more than you are going to shoot it. A pump is lighter than an auto, thats why I only have pumps.

Lets weigh up, my Benelli M1 Super 90 to your pump. What ya shootin'?

RE: Pump or Auto

Shortgunner — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:51:12 GMT

9 yrs old. started out with a H & R single shot 410, still have it.
Then to a 1100 Rem 12 and everytime I shot magnums thru it I had to send it to the factory to be repaired.
Traded it off for a new Model 1300 Win. Waterfowl Special pump. Still have it kilt a truckload of ducks, geese and a deer with it.

RE: Pump or Auto

crazycliff — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:59:32 GMT

when i used a shotgun it was a mossburg 695 bolt action

RE: Pump or Auto

Nosdog2 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:44:29 GMT

Savage Model 210 Bolt action for me. Deadly!

RE: Pump or Auto

turkeygizzard — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:39:19 GMT

Pump man!
Grew up using 16 GA Ithaca Deerslayer. Used a Remington 1100 for a while and it was the worst gun I ever had. Now I use a Mossberg Trophy Slugster in 20 GA.

RE: Pump or Auto

runingun — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:18:27 GMT

maybe this belongs in the blackpowder section but i got a knight tk2000 shotgun and i am having a blast learning to use it . i have both auto and pump guns and love shooting all of them.

RE: Pump or Auto

Yellowhammer — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:40:05 GMT

Pump. To me you are going to carry it more than you are going to shoot it. A pump is lighter than an auto, thats why I only have pumps.

RE: Pump or Auto

xOZx — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:18:11 GMT

stephens07 (12/17/2007)

i love my benelli auto...wouldnt get rid of it for anything

ATTA BOY Stephens07!

It ain't nuthin' for me to "go to the plug" in record time!

RE: Pump or Auto

FL_Cracker — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:03:31 GMT

Mossberg 12 gauge pump that I've had most of my life...

Autos are nice, I just cain't afford one..

RE: Pump or Auto

stephens07 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:42:51 GMT

i love my benelli auto...wouldnt get rid of it for anything

RE: Pump or Auto

Tedicast — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:00:01 GMT

[quote]Scottyluck (12/15/2007)

Single shot, baby!!

My trusty Encore does it all![/quote]

I second that!!!!!

RE: Pump or Auto

Scottyluck — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 21:24:12 GMT

Single shot, baby!!

My trusty Encore does it all!

RE: Pump or Auto

RiverRat — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:13:24 GMT

Don't matter - I like 'em all.
unless they need a lotta maintenance...

Just like womenses....

RE: Pump or Auto

xOZx — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:29:17 GMT

Why I gotta be the only hand up in here rollin' an auto?

Don't hate fellas, go get ya one, they don't bite!

Maybe I just lazy?

RE: Pump or Auto

pabowhunter — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:43:55 GMT

I don't have an auto shotgun.

RE: Pump or Auto

Paul — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:37:59 GMT

Pump , for anything.
O/U for birds .
Mossberg 695 bolt action slug gun for deer
Remington 700 BDL for deer when I go up North.