I have a buddy who started duck hunting with me and is addicted. He wants a cheap started shotgun as we are pretty hard on them. I've seen plenty of new duck hunters start with a Benneli SBE which I think is silly. 10 years ago I would have told him to go to Walmart or Academy and buy an 870 for $200. Now, Walmart doesn't sell guns in Jacksonville and Academy doesn't have any guns.
What do you all think is a readily available starter shotgun at a cheap price price?

Here's my opinion: I don't believe in "starter" guns unless they are scaled or intended for a kid. He should buy the best he can afford, learn to shoot it, and especially learn to care for it. On the inexpensive side, I'd look at the Browning BPS (pump) line. If the BPS is too much, then the Benelli SuperNova is a great gun (they're about $100 less than the BPS). If he can afford more, one of Browning's, Winchester's, Beretta's or Benelli's semi-auto would be fine. I see no sense in buying a "cheap" gun unless it's going to get stored behind the seat in some pickup or stowed in some boat for occassional, incidental use.


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Of course, he can spend more. But these are relatively inexpensive, but very servicable and reliable guns.

I've owned a number of Remington 870s in the past, and while they functioned fine, some of the blued one tended to rust somewhat quickly after a day or wet, cold hunting. More so that any BPS or Benelli I've ever had. I don't know why but it was hard not to notice.

The day that I left Vietnam back in 1970, I ordered my first shotgun, a Miroku O/U with fixed Mod and Full chokes. When I got home I joined a local Trap club to learn how to shoot it, and I quickly became an avid duck and upland bird hunter. As my Trap and later Skeet shooting progressed into serious competitions, I bought more shotguns just for my competition shooting, but I kept the Miroku for bird hunting.

Then in the early '90s I saw a black Rem 870 on sale and bought it along with an extra skeet choke. Although I still like to walk cornfields pheasant hunting with my O/U, that 870 became my primary field gun.

Since the early '80s I've shot Trap or Skeet at our local range at least one day a week, every week that I'm home. Especially just before hunting season I see a lot of "once a year" shooters at our range. We only sell Target Load shells at our Skeet range, and I often see these "occasional" shooters having problems with their semi-auto guns, especially with light target loads. It could be due to a lack of cleaning.

As a long time O/U shooter my biggest problem with my 870 is to remember to pump it for the second bird in doubles. Otherwise I think that an 870 (or a good condition used Model 12 Win) makes a great inexpensive first shotgun, and not a bad choice for veteran shooters.

I see no reason to start with a cheap gun that might fail and give trouble and disappoint a new hunter.

I have a flock of shotguns, but for waterfowl shooting, I have a Benelli Nova in camo finish. It's reliable and economical - I don't worry about the weather.
Help your friend to try shotguns until he has one that fits him.

You can stick stuff like shell box flaps between stock and receiver and tape on some foam to any shotgun. I did that with my old Mossberg I could never hit much with. It works. I'd have him try different ones including used in his budget and finish the fitting with the box flap pipe insulation method.

And 10 years later, you can buy an 870 off one of the gun sites for $495-$595. Same shotgun, few starters will be it's equal at that price.

Remington or Mossberg.... 870 etc. Both will outlast you or him

Go with the 870. Talk to any hardcore waterfowler and they all have one in the safe as a "backup" for when things go wrong with their most recent favorite or as a loaner gun.

870 is hard to beat but, you might find a 1100 for about the same money (used of course)

Benelli Nova Pump would work