Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns What's the best American pump shotgun ever made?

IMO its all junk excetp the M-12, 870, older 37's and 31's

Karl Feltkamp, Kampfeild customs Karl, told me his father liked the Rem 31 the best of them all and I reall think there is something to that......

870

I've had a 31, an Ithaca 37, some 870s and some 12s. I still have two 870s and five 12s. I shoot the M12 and 870 interchangablyI have kept a fifties vintage 7 diamond forend 870 and 1915 solid rib M12 because they shoot better than anything.I don't think it gets any better though than a full dress M12 with high grade walnut and a nice blue job. You can't touch the function or the looks.

i'd say the win model 12 (i had a few and still have a model 42 410 ga.). i previously owned a couple model 37's. however, if one uses sales figures/units manufactured as the determining factor for "best", it would be the rem 870. last i read there were over twice as many 870's sold than their nearest rival. and the trend continues.

The Ithaca 37 has always been popular around here as the City of Ithaca, NY was something like 60-70 miles or so from here. Of course the Remingtons were popular also as the City of Illion, NY (where the Remington factory is) wasn't a whole lot further.

The days of "perfect workmanship" "personal pride" and "Company integrity" is a thing of the past. It is too bad, but it is fact. Quality costs money and today everyone wants the best quality for the cheapest price. That doesn't compute. Pick ONE, you can't get both cheaply.
Remingtons quality level has fallen off and it is likely it will not improve a whole lot, nevertheless, the 870 Wingmaster's I have seen,shot and own worked just fine. Personally I don't care for the Express models and again, personally, I wouldn't buy one.
Ithaca's quality took a nose dive soon after they moved to King Ferry, NY. Additionally, the King Ferry plant was using machines that were belt driven in some cases and far older than I am. They just couldn't hold the tolerances as well as newer machines can. I do have a NIB Ithaca Deerslayer II that does exhibit some quality and generally good finishes all over.
I have been to both Remington plants and Ithaca plants many times so I got to actually SEE the tooling and machines.
Now as far as the NEW Ithaca, I have only seen 1 new gun and it was a work of art damn near. Flawless machine work, smooth operating and great wood and woodwork. Of course, this kind of quality goes back to what I said. Quality just ain't cheap. The NEW Ithaca's cost much more than ther models from NY did, but then again, you are getting quality workmanship at a "reasonable" price. Not "cheap" but certainly no ripoff.

I love the winchester 1200 I got from my dad, truth be told, I rather shoot that then my winchester model 12 or my 120 or my rem 870. However I still like my browning side by side best of all.

I haven't seen the NEW Ithaca yet. That is the ones made in Ohio. It looks pretty good on their web site. I hope some of the quality of the old 37 is coming back.

I haven't seen the NEW Ithaca yet. That is the ones made in Ohio. It looks pretty good on their web site. I hope some of the quality of the old 37 is coming back.

870

Marlin 120 magnum

A pump is such a simple design that most of them just usually work.The rest is how they look. I had an 870 wingmaster for many years. Went bang every time. What more can you ask for. For that matter as we weren't a rich family my brothers all has cheap pump mossbergs and they worked too.

All the guns you mention are top notch, BUT the Remington model 31 is, for me, the best of the best! The Winchester model 12 certainly has a wonderful astetic appeal as well, but for balance and "SLICK" flawless function the Remington 31 is slickest of all.

I havent been to the new Ithaca factory in Sandusky Ohio but I know they give free tours, they are using a cnc router that my company built to cut their gun stocks. Before they accepeted the machine they ran (2) walnut stocks at our plant and its pretty impressive, only takes about 20 minutes, maybe even faster now that their in full production. But I guess the point is they are using the right equipment and the guy left behind (2) walnut blanks that were pretty nice. I wanted to get one but one of the other guys beat me to it, I am sure that they will be building a quality product unless they are using cheep steel but I cant believe they would spend that much money on equipment and buy cheep material.

Q. What's the best American pump shotgun ever made?
A. Model 12 Winchester.

After all is said and done and the melancholy fades, I think this is the bottmom line.

IMO

1. Winchester Model 12
2. Ithaca Model 37
3. Remington 870

The Mossturd need not apply IMO.

Was the Browning BPS ever made in the U.S.A.?

I haven't had even one example of even half of the American made pump shotguns, so I'm taking a big leap to make any judgement on which is, was, or will someday be best. To name a few I've never had a Win. 93, 97 or 1917, any Mossberg pump, Rem. 31 or 17, Marlin, High Standard, Savage, Stevens, H&R, or any US made Beretta or Benelli.

My favorite was an OLD Wingmaster. Tight enough to shoot well but loose enough to shoot all day in the mud. Fairly easy to fix and lots of aftermarket parts. I've heard knocks on the newer ones, but don't recall any complaints about mine and don't recall that it ever failed me. Theives got it.

The M37 (i.e., Rem. M17) was of course (partly) a John Browning design. That itself should give it a headstart on the others. I have an OLD M37 that's OK, but I'd rather have dual action bars and not have bottom ejection. It's the sloppiest action I've ever had on any gun and I can never tell when its loaded or not. I have a newer one with a 3" chamber and choke tubes that I got at a yard sale for $25. It seems to be about the same quality as the old one.

I never had a M31, but I'm told they were tough to take apart and since most parts were hand-fitted getting them repaired was a gunsmith job. Not something I think would want in a pump shotgun. Of course if no parts ever break fixing the gun isn't a problem.

Believe it or not I also like my Winchester M1300. I don't use it much anymore since I picked up my first Beretta SA. My favorite feature on the 1300 was the "pump assist" that helped open the bolt after it was fired. Unlike the 2 1200s I had the 1300 has never really failed me. Can't figure why because the parts are mostly interchangeable.

1st - Winchester Model 12
2nd- Remington 870 Wingmaster

I would also add the strongest lock up ever made(and probably went through 4 or more wars)the Winchester model 1897.

Bob