Best Pump Shotgun EVER?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

What's your favorite pump action shotgun?

[@CanukWbyFan]

While it's not a hunting gun, I really like my Federation Firearms SPM12 with a detachable magazine.

[@texpatriot8462]

I liked my Winchester SXP. The only reason I sold it - I did not need a slug gun after I moved to Texas.

[@buckwild6587]

After about 10 years of "bumping" around pump actions left and right, savage stevens 320, mossberg 500, beneli nova, remington 870 express super mag, I decided after buying and selling all of them, I hated the 870 for how it acted because I loved it so much. After I sold it, I realized I bought a freedom group 870. Then learned not all of them acted that way (mine jammed like a door stop) and bought a wingmaster from the 60s. Fell in love with the 870 all over again. Recently, after discovering rem arms acquired them from freedom group, decided to bite the bullet and bought a brand new 870 super mag. Amd this one runs as it should. Additionally, after selling my original SM, I discovered the fix for it was super easy. But I was young and dumb and we all know how well that goes. Now I have my 60s wingmaster, my 2024 super magnum, and the receiver for a 90s police magnum I plan on building. Moral to the story, don't be afraid to open up your gun and learn about it. Might save you some money

[@currituck]

Mossberg 500

[@jarnohietala]

Remington 870. And it is my favourite shotgun, not just pump action. Here in Finland it works extremely well. Rain, snow, cold or whatever... It works.

[@RangerVt.802]

Ithaca model 37 is a classic also.

[@randybedker1584]

Ithaca 37 unbeatable. I have owned a 12, 16 and 20 gauge. Accurate and reliable.

[@BrokenBarBox]

The Ithaca model 37 in 16 gauge. So light and handy, it carries like a .22 rifle

[@pjgco]

Ithaca model 37 gets the nod here.

[@RodneyKangas]

Ithaca Model 37 featherlight in 12 gauge is mine. I would like to have one in 20 gauge.

[@saneone100]

I have one too,awesome gun.

[@daleswier8429]

Mossberg Model 500 and its variants are outstanding as well. An article I read earlier this year claimed the Mossberg had sold more units during its run of production that any other model of shotgun. Itr has also been said and written that the Ithaca Model 37 is the Cadillac of pump action shotguns, altho I've never used one. Best part is, we have a lot of great options to choose from.

[@richardphelps5041]

Mossberg 500- Ithaca-37 both popular and big sellers in that time frame

[@John-nx9hx]

Hands down is Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight! Smoothest action, bottom feed/ejection made it ambidextrous, lightest! Rem. 870 was popular due to price and availability [could buy at any local hardware store, CHEEP!]. I'm old enough to have grown up using the old classics and nothing came close to the Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight in 12g for a pump gun, a do everything firearm. Production of Model 37's started in 1937, used in WW2, Korea, Viet Nam and by law enforcement across North America and still in production today. Over time the '37 has been made in close to a dozen different models. The 37's had a unique ability to ''slam fire'' [pre 1975 models I think] and that made laying down fire incredibly fast, maybe why servicemen and police forces liked the gun so much. Remington's, Winchester's, Mossberg's and others were Ok [I've tried pretty much all of them], but the Ithaca Model 37 was the Cadillac of pump guns throughout the mid to late 1900's.

[@genelyda1102]

Just like Browning design 😊 we need to be thankful for his design

[@tcup3946]

Mossberg 500 all day. Now I personally liked the Belgian made Browning BPS sfhotguns. They bottom ejected and the actions were like butter. Ithaca definitely needs to be mentioned. They dominated for decades.

[@tdhawk7284]

For small upland birds (grouse, quail, doves), I dearly loved the Ithaca Model 37. I realize it’s a legacy design, probably more expensive to manufacture, and no longer made. But the light weight, bottom ejection, and if you get a ventilated rib and Raybar front sight…the best upland gun ever made.

[@jman95510]

The 37 is the most underrated shotgun ever made.

[@davidguelette7036]

Smooth, slick, light, and absolutely doesn't fail.

[@leonhitchcox3675]

As a left hand shooter, I would pick the Ithaca 37. It has bottom load and bottom ejection, so by adding a left hand safety it is a true left hand shotgun. Other factors is its light weight and pointability. I particularly like the fact that the 16 gauge is built on the 20 gauge frame making a truly light and responsive shotgun.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Great points! To be fair, however, the Model 12 16 gauges were also built on the 20 gauge frame, and I know left handed shooters who use Model 12s with left handed safeties super well. However, the bottom ejection of the Ithaca is definitely a plus!

[@bikedeefer]

Ithaca 37 featherweight

[@DaveThomspon]

I have a Model 12 in 12 gauge and 16 gauge also an Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge and a BPS 20 gauge. Love them all. The Model 12 14 gauge is on a light frame, lovely to carry. Enjoy your pumps 😊

[@BackcountryApprentice]

For anyone watching right now, I'm sorry that the pixel quality is only 480p during this premier. It should get up to 720 or more in a couple hours.

[@gsnicholas8522]

I'd take an Ithaca 37 featherweight over any other pump shotgun.

[@kearneydillon4803]

I love all my Mossberg 500's. I have 9 from .410, 20, 16, & 12ga. The recievers are aluminum so the gun weighs between 1-2lbs lighter than a Rem 870 so its better for carrying all day. (Dont say recoil is worse as you should go to sub-guages if you cant handle 12ga recoil) Plus the 500 has two extractors versus the 870's single extractor. I had an 870 and it used to fail to extract some cheap low-brass shells and old vintage ammo but the 500 extracts EVERYTHING. Just my reasoning for the 500 over the 870

[@TonyBlougouras]

Former USAF here, we used Rem 870 and it was a good gun. I currently have Mossberg 500, I prefer the tang mounted safety, open loading port, larger trigger guard and dual extractors, whatever you have, know it, practice, love it, you will be well armed.

[@prestonmonaghan499]

Browning BPS

[@codywilliams1506]

110% I have two BPS shotguns (one in 12G & one in 10G) Bottom Eject, Two-Position Tang Safety, The only shotgun to come in all calibers (.410, 28G, 20G, 16G, 12G, 10G), it is the best Pump Shotgun ever made. Sadly, it was just discontinued in Jan. 2024. Though the Mossberg 500 replaced the 870 as the most widely produced shotgun of all time (becoming the “king of the shotgun world”), I have 4 words to say about the BPS: Long Live The King

[@ShawnDietz]

Got 3 all 12ga

[@scottmcclure1196]

agreed...I love my model 12's also, but honestly speaking, when referring to simplicity, ruggedness, hands down reliability, durability etc., the Browning BPS is where its at.

[@chrisgreenaway6696]

A remodeled Ithaca 37 which is far superior to

[@genelyda1102]

@@scottmcclure1196I believe the best pump shotgun is the Browning Pump Shotgun 😊it has the best of all the features by John Browning bottom eject top tag safety, twin action bars, forge machine steel

[@deadhorse1391]

Remington model 31 smoothest action pump action shotgun…no question

[@MichaelRobertson-i8f]

Being 74 years old I was introduced to the Ithaca Md 37 16ga when I was 14 years old. I have to say while I was in California you could use lead shot on everything except waterfowl. The Ithaca 37 had a 2 3/4 inch chamber which was no problem until the current Governor of California ruined the State. I fell in love with the Winchester Md 12 with the 3 inch chamber and bought quite a few of them when I had a Curio and Relics FFL- personally I feel that as far as pump actions go the Ithaca 37 and the Winchester Model 12s were the Finest Pumps ever made. My love for the Double Barrel 20 gauge I bought from a Hardware store was my first shotgun I even owned and has taken many rabbits , quail and chucker in California. Being born, raised and went to school in California and working in California my whole life when I retired I moved to Carson City,Nevada in 2017 and spend the summers in Homer Alaska were my 2nd Home is .

[@jscott4431]

Back in 1975 I was torn between Winchester, Ithaca, and Remington. Luckily, I had several friends who owned all three models. After test shooting many clays, I decided I liked the Remington 870 Wingmaster the best. Silky smooth action, weight and balance just seem to fit me perfectly. It's been fantastic for bird hunting. I still have it, and it's worked flawlessly for almost 50 years. I don't think I would have been disappointed with either the Win or Ithaca, my friends still own them and love them also. Just personnel preference and what you shoot best. Great video!

[@skullsprayer9601]

Win. Model 12, got mine when i was 14, Im 66 now still my #1 rabbit gun, stock is beat up from all the years of briar busting, barrel and chamber showing blueing wear, getting a little silver like me, but this gun has taken a load of rabbits over the years and continues to do so and still operates smooth as butter

[@ThatGuy-kf7fo]

Hasn’t the Mossberg 500 outsold the Remington 870?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Not quite... While the 500 has also been sold in huge numbers, it's still a full million or so behind in sales numbers.

[@capt.america6296]

Only cause it is way cheaper. Period

[@ThatGuy-kf7fo]

@@BackcountryHuntingPodcastSupposedly, the 500 has sold over 12 million vs 11 million for the 870. I actually prefer the 870 but can’t argue the 500 is popular.

[@veteranoutdoorsman9978]

Remington 870 is my favorite by far. As much as it hurts to say the mod 12 is better built but not by much. My win super x pump is excellent as well. Next would be the browning bps.

[@CanPat777]

Mossberg 590 for me.

[@crankygunreviews]

Great video. I love the model 12, I have one from 1925😊

[@aaronwilcox6417]

Yep. The Winchester model 12 in 20ga is where its at.

[@shrek_428]

I've got a Winchester Model 12 in 12ga., serial no. comes back to 1924. It was my great grandfather's gun and has been passed on down. It is the smoothest, most straight shooting gun. It will throw 3 inch groups with foster slugs at 50 yards, and dosen't kick at all, just a nice subtle push. I will never part with it, in fact it's well known in my family that it gets passed down to my brother's oldest when I go. (no kids here)

[@jeffreyvannederynen8342]

I love my 870 bought in 1971 when I was 16. Mine is in 16 Guage improved cylinder bore.

[@gailgentry9629]

I have a 16 ga with mod.barell that I bought in 1968 after I got out of the army,I also have a model 12 I bought in the 70's used I would never get rid of either one .

[@gailgentry9629]

I always hunt with the 16 ga

[@ghostbear9775]

Mossberg 500 field 👍

[@kenharris-v2i]

By comparison between the 870 wingmaster and the 870 express, the wingmaster is awesome and the express is a piece of junk suitable for a trotline weight in an emergency.

[@John-nx9hx]

Exactly! I remember using a friends Wingmaster at a trap shoot in the mid '80s, it was a elegantly made shotgun. Fast forward to the mid 90's and a different friend handed me his Express when we were turkey hunting, what a piece of crap!

[@rediron44]

I bought an Express back in 1991. It's fired thousands of shells properly. Never had an issue. Ever.

[@jamesschneider3828]

I have a Winchester model 1912 and a Remington 870 Wingmaster both in 12 gauge 2 3/4 inch and both full choke. The only reason I own the Remington is because I wore the Winchester out to the point that it needed restoration and I didn’t want to spend money that old shotgun. Both have very similar stock angle and nearly identical shouldering to sight plain.

[@foghornleghorn4173]

(6) 870's and (3) model 12's...I'd hate to pick a favorite

[@barrypascoe989]

Even though we don't actually know ypu and our beliefs are pretty different, I want to express my appreciation for the content you put out for us and I sympathize for your family as it seems to be both our times to have to live through the expiration of our parents generation . I take comfort in the knowledge that almost everyone has to do the same and to live everyday with courage and to do what needs to be done with pride.

[@robbrown3]

Remington model 11 and Ithaca model 37 give both these models strong competition. All great classics though.

[@codywilliams1506]

The Browning BPS outclasses them both

[@CharlesHuyck-cf6yz]

The 870 is rated for steel all the way back to the 1950 ones in a full choke you must use 2 or smaller shot. I have a 1953 Wingmaster 16 gauge and I have fired about 1000 steel shot through it it is rated for it. And it still measures extra full choke. 870 rates a 1950 for steel even a full choke for #2 or smaller.

[@christopherdavis2439]

The winchesters are so slick and lightweight

[@CharlesHuyck-cf6yz]

The model 12 is all steel but it is rough in pumping and loading and the 870 is smooth I have 2 model 12s and 4 870s mostly wingmastersers I do have a 500 mossberg too but 870 rules the shotgun world. It does so because of carry, pointability, reliability and it is smooth and works forever.

[@richardphelps5041]

Remington 1100-semi auto- Remington 870 pump- both really nice

[@robertjudge2015]

Ithaca model 37. Not a debateable issue.

[@savageater57]

I've never seen a Remington Fieldmaster , I have owned two WINGMASTER an older 16 ga one 12ga (I still have)and one Express in 28ga .

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

The Wingmasters were undoubtedly better... The new Fieldmasters produced by the new RemArms are a bridge between the old express workhorse versions and the Wingmasters.

[@nathanzimmerman2252]

Remington 870

[@buckwild6587]

Just istened to your first interview with ron spomer on spotify the other dsy. Felt like when the first avengers movie came out. Cant wait to see more interviews between you teo

[@65panhed39]

Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 3" Magnum for waterfowl Remington 20 870 special field for dove quail and upland game.

[@denisestarr2314]

Remington 870 super exspress

[@kurtjohnson4426]

Stevens 620. Slam fire and take down that joins the barrel with the magazine. Designed by an apprentice of John Moses Browning.

[@stevecooper8121]

My Ithaca 37 featherweight is the most accurate shotgun I've ever had, at 100 yards no problem at 125 yards she will still get her done. Wouldn't sale her for a thousand bucks.

[@CharlesHuyck-cf6yz]

870 is less expensive and still much better than any others it is smooth and effective.

[@dennisschell5543]

M12 is far superior. Best pumpgun ever made... 😎

[@johnswanson3741]

Safety should always be in front of the trigger guard! Winchester is like a quality tool vs. the Remington like a Chinese tool

[@greggerman7908]

Model 31 rem best

[@prestonmonaghan499]

Remington Model 30 competed with the Winchester Model 12. Remington cheapened their pump gun and called it the 870

[@rediron44]

Mine is the good old Remington 870 magnum

[@DonSmith-mn6kw]

870 super mag is my favorite

[@drivingmuffin]

Great video! Thank you :)

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Glad you liked it!

[@GeorgeSemel]

I was stated off with maybe the worst shotgun ever made, the Winchester 1400 in 20 ga. I could not hit anything with it period and it was clunky and heavy and it just didn't fit. I gotten a Remington 870 in 28 ga and it was like night and day, I killed ever pheasant I shot at along with grouse when we still had grouse in my part of CT. and a good number of ducks in the days before Steel shot. If I didn't get that 870 I would have no doubt quit hunting altogether. Now I am more into big game hunting than upland game since deer are very plenaful here. Never the less I do go pheasant hunting never the less.

[@robertboyd3863]

The 870 was $70 or so the 12 almost a $100 Consumer reports rated the 870 best buy and best gun during their test, the terrible takedown put the 12 in 3rd place, they all functioned perfect

[@CharlesHuyck-cf6yz]

The model 12 is much less smooth in pumping and loading than an 870 or 500 Mossberg or 1200 Winchester. Yes the 12 is all steel but it is rough. I use a custom shop 870 from 1971 to compete in trap it is a trap model wingmaster. Both the 12 and 870 are reliable but the 870 is much smoother.

[@EternalClimb]

Still waiting for the SFAR review!

[@veteranoutdoorsman9978]

You should do an autoloader Auto 5 vs 1100

[@erichilgart]

Wing master had a jeweled bolt top of the line in 870! The field master was the ADL vs. BDL. 870 bolt locks up in barrel, Winchester model 1912 locks up in the receiver. Both great shot guns. I like the model 1912 in 16 gauge 2 1/2 inch for Pheasant and my 28 gauge 2 3/4 in model 1912 for grouse. Model 1912 is my favorite shot gun but I think the 870 is a stronger built shot gun.

[@JamieJohnson-q3f]

U know many folks forgot about the jc higgins model 20 and the newhaven model

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Haha, I actually wrote a Shootist column in Shooting Times about a JC Higgins Model 20, and that little pump was awesome!

[@frankbogden5277]

GOOD OLD STEVENS 520 BUILT LIKE A TANK.

[@adamboylan2307]

870 did lots of work in vietnam.

[@lesheath6216]

Anything made by Mossberg

[@shaneash1598]

God bless, John Moses Browning....

[@BrianAbe-p3n]

Winchester 1300

[@TonyBlougouras]

The 1200 $ 1300 were good guns, but everyone talks about 870, 500 series, it's a shame Win. & Rem., Ithica, High Standard are all gone.

[@geradebowden3293]

Wingmaster was a higher grade than field master?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Yup! The new field masters are nice, but the wingmasters were made so finely that it's hard to beat them.

[@texpatriot8462]

RemArms isn't offering any warranty on new production. #nope

[@rickvance8964]

Ithaca Model 37

[@markburrell2778]

Model 12 will be shitting brass when everything else is in the junk pile.

[@herb-w4q]

You guys are too young to really know what the best pump is. I have a model 12, an 870, an ithica 37 and others but buy far the smoothest and best pump ever made is the High Standard Flight King Deluxe 12 ga. The 16 gauge is equally smooth but they are hard to come by

[@kcstott]

Well you made one big mistake. Shooting steel in old guns. It’s fine. As long as you do two things first. 1. The choke can not be tighter than modified 2. The shot size can not be larger than a #4 shot. That’s it. The guns will shoot and handle steel shot just fine. The English have been doing it with folded steel barrels for decades. They figured it out. Steel shot in old guns kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnLGY6ikd7aYobc

[@BrokenBarBox]

You should check out some of the videos by New Hunters Guide, he routinely shoots steel out of full and extra full chokes

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to check it out...

[@mikeplacey9052]

Best pump action shotgun is mossberg 500

[@brianpencall4882]

The Winchester Model 12 was never a strong shotgun.

[@BackcountryApprentice]

Why do you say that?

[@bryanfox2735]

Nah! Mossy 500!

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

The 870 Wingmaster was an up-scaled version of the Fieldmastlet with fancier wood and better metal finish. I've shot trap with both guns and found the Model 12, for me, kkhad sliglhtly better b

[@bryanfox2735]

Only 870 worth a sh.. is a wing master! PERIOD!