Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Favorite pump shotgun and why ?

I have several 'favorites' and rotate shooting clay targets with several of them.

Of course the 'Big Three' (870, 37, and M 12) are great shotguns. There is a reason that they sold 10 million + of them.

But there are also a couple others that I shoot often that are really good. They lived in the shadows of the Big Three and for various reasons didn't survive: Stevens 620/621, High Standard Flight King, and Model 25 Winchester. I've put thousands of rounds through them and not had any issues. I shot some of my best 5-Stand scores with the Flight King (plain barrel, 26" IC) as me and it are on the same page. The 621 is well suited for trap shooting kind of like a Model 12. And the Model 25 is a well balanced shotgun.

The 12 gauge Stevens 621 I have was IMHO the epitome of that 40 year run of that John Browning design. Stevens built a boatload of them (various 520/620 versions) for Sears/M.Ward back when they were the biggest gun retailers in the country.

Back to the thread topic: Which is my favorite? I don't know, I can't narrow it down.

You should really sell me that..

Sorry Passport, my youngest daughter has dibs on it.

Ithaca 37.

First gun, bottom ejector.

I'm a lefty so that mattered a lot to my Dad at the time.

Very nice Model 12

That would be a Marlin 120 magnum. Brought it new in 72, killed deer, rabbits, pheasants, "when we had some" and grouse. It is still my favorite shotgun. I going to have to give it to my son before long.

Have to agree they are more than a little proud of the product. I suspect part of the reason being is they don't seem to sell many, along with the fact most places don't stock them.

I didn't get any deal on the 28ga, but I think it is a great pump shotgun when it comes to carrying and balance. Did look at a 16 at Field and Stream and they were willing to deal. Long barrel and didn't balance all that well and they wanted to move it. Well made, but not anything like their old classic Featherlite.

If I wanted another, then used would be the best way to go. However, it is nice they are there to service any issues. Old or new.

For me it's the 12 ga. High Standard Flite King. Mine's the very first gun I ever purchased brand new back in Nov. 1968. Still got it and that pump action still works like it's running on ball bearings. But then my circa 1987 12 ga. 870 SPECIAL PURPOSE DEER is also on my favorite list. Lost track of the amount of venison that thing has harvested since 1987 not only by me but by a brother-in-law and a nephew too. Been running a fully rifled barrel since 2001, been drilled and tapped for scope since mid-90's and got a trigger job a couple years ago. But there's another favorite that I never had. An Ithaca mod. 37 Deerslayer; back in the smoothbore slug gun days I wanted one so badly but couldn't swing it back then. Now I'm kicking myself for walking past two nice looking ones on the same table recently at a gun show. Maybe I'll get one next time if the condition & price are both nice. So what if I get one 40-something years after I first started drooling over them; better late than never.

Agree....I'm glad to see any old firearms manufacturer that's withstood the over regulation storm and still resisting the cheap plastic gun carrot...
Plus...I haven't bought a new gun in years so that's probably a fair price for a quality Blue Steel and Walnut pump gun these days....
What do I know...ha

I like the model 12 for the cool factor of how it comes apart.
I like the 870 Wingmaster for its everything eles, so give me an 870.

You nailed it. They are using modern machinery, but still making the same shotgun. Changed the grip some and I wish they would have kept the old straighter with less curve Other than that nothing seems to have changed.

Ran into some Ohio guys while hunting Grouse up in Mich. They liked the 28 a lot, but didn't have a clue it was now being made in their home state.

For upland hunting, an Ithaca M37, without a doubt.

A recently acquired, all original, high condition, 16GA. A time travel machine to 1953.

I prefer doubles or autos but a M37 would be my pick when slumming sliders.

M37 for birds and deer, Love that bottom eject and smooth action!

20 gauge Remington Youth for Turkeys. Flat out deadly and a joy to carry.

My 870 Wingmaster 20ga[1975]. Slickest and best fitting[for me] pump ever. Upland birds don't like it tho.

I like a M12 16ga. Easy to carry and comes up nice for me.

Wow !
That's a beauty.

I see a lot of 37 fans here , friend of mine has a few . In the times i tried I couldn't get used to the bottom eject , same with the BPS i tried . May have to give them another chance . Though it would be tough to beat a Model 12 or early Wingmaster for me.

The BPS is an awful nice pump gun... heavy, but that is not a problem under lots of different conditions. The tang safety is the best. Why they stopped the magazine cut-off I will never understand. I have three in 12 with a big bunch of barrels. A LGS had a bunch of assorted shotgun barrels and I got quite a few for different guns, dirt cheap!

870s are the epitome of reliable...

This 16 gauge Winchester Model 12. Why? Well, I just like it.