Owning one of each is obviously preferable, but if that isn’t an option – which way should you go and why!
Enjoy
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49 Comments
I bought a mossberg 590 as a play thing, I thought it might be something I regret buying and never used but I bring it out somewhat regular and don’t regret a thing!, just looks and feels soo cool to shoot. We shot today keeping scores and for the one rabbit stand we all agreed to use the mossberg! Everyone enjoyed it and it’s good to mix it up
I have two semi autos, an older Beretta A301 that does struggle with anything less than 28g and a newer Beretta A400 lite which will cycle most 24g cartridges, but given that the main reason I would be shooting 24g is for reduced recoil, the point is a bit moot with a semi auto which has significantly reduced recoil anyway*.
As for rough shooting where you have a 6 in the barrel and something else in the magazine, I can simply pull the charge handle and cycle out the 6 in much the same way as a pump would, or if it's necessary/quicker, just pull the trigger twice, something uou can't do with a pump action.
*the last shot on a semi auto action has more recoil as the slide locks back rather than feeding the next cartridge forward, so if you have something like a 36g in the final shot you definitely notice the recoil 😂
Another great video Jonny. I have a Sauer SL5 semi-auto and a Winchester SXP Wildfowl. I believe Winchester claim 3 shots in half a second! How is this possible? The gun is semi-inertia. The feature that differentiates the SXP from most other pumps is its inertia bolt that provides the initial rearward movement of the slide.This means that on firing, the inertia pushes the slide backwards to the point of cartridge ejection. Consequently, I only really need to push the slide forwards. The other benefit of the inertia action is that recoil is reduced, just like on my SL5.
👍
About half my friends growing up had Remington 870 pumps. They did some great work with them. Never noticed any difference when hunting pheasant over dogs. Same with picking off doves as they passed overhead. Trap shooting they were pretty ideal and where very common with some being amazingly high quality with custom stocks and engraving. Seen a few operating problems with them duck hunting when you are half frozen and the stock is now a little to long due to all the clothes but to be fair, guys with A5’s had their share of issues as well due to rings being set wrong or no or now gummy lubrication do to the cold. Skeet you were going to have a long day and most either gave it up or the lucky ones had the means to pick up a 20 gauge 1100 which would have quickly became you main gun except duck hunting and trap. Very few doubles around in the late 60’s thru the later 80’s when Berettas started showing up and soon after Ruger red labels. A few real of the better off old timers shot trap with 101’s and Superposed but they were uncommon as hunting was the thing to do in my area. Trap and Skeet were what you did to get in shape for bird season, although late winter trap league was pretty popular once duck season was over. Still some live pigeon going on in Nevada but was kept pretty quiet and was invitation only. 👍🏼
Pumps go BOOM; semis go BOOM. Variety is the spice of life so long as the end result is BOOM. Go own both types…in multiples…and go BOOM!
A small but nice thing with slide actions is you can choose when and how to eject a single or last shot. Do it slow and pick the hull out of the port or aim it into the bin for some style points.
I have two of each and very rarely use a pump. The differences in feel of the semis is certainly true. I used them mostly for waterfowl. But in the field for upland game, it's always a double for me, preferably 20 ga.
Jonny, one of your trips across the pond should include doing a pump gun comparison. Throw all the contenders in it: Winchester (97, 12, 1200), Remington (31, 870), Ithaca 37, Browning BPS, High Standard/Higgins, Mossberg 500, etc.
I'm sure your American friends could set you up.
As an American that thinks a shotgun is the best means of self defense in the home a pump is it. Everyone knows and understands the sound of the pump. Simple action simple sound. Do you want to stay somewhere you are not wanted after you hear the sound.
going to blow their minds when you show em the spas12 which is both an auto and a pump ….
I had a Remington 870 pump for many years; now I have a Mossberg semi-auto. Both were/are reliable. To be frank, I miss the old pump gun, just as I miss my old manual-transmission car. In both cases, I prefer the flexibility of sorting out the operation of the device by my own hands. Others take the opposite view–and that's OK, so long as both types are available.
One important thing, though; I cleaned them after every day's shooting or hunting, and will always do so. The very idea of waiting until many hundreds or even thousands (!) of shells is beyond any consideration, at least for me. So, I have no idea of how reliable either gun would be after so many shells uncleaned–and I have no intention of finding out.
You’re right about the nostalgia, and at the same time they are still effective. It’s not like wanting to ride around in a horse and buggy because gramps did it when he was young. I shot my grandfathers Winchester Model 12 16 gauge when young, and one of my cousins still has it and let’s me shoot it from time to time (the advantages of inheritances coming down the male side of the line). It’s a wonderful old gun and still very effective.
Dug the 870 out of the safe for the NE Regional. Shot it for the first time in over 10 years. They have a pump division at some of the shoots in the USA. The shells were flyin'. Got some comments on how adept I was. 😂
Love the 870. They don’t wear out they get smoother. There is a culture difference between America and the UK when I’ll admit.
Pump actions are just so cool 👍
Pumps also load when you want them to, so safer for a newbie to learn with.
3:07 "Pumping that thing back and forth in a straight line" has always worked for me…😉
The simple European mind can not comprehend owning multiple of each for hunting, defense, and sport
I have a Benelli M3, 50cm slug barrel and 66cm sport barrel, it can pump and do semi at the flick of the little twitch.
Awesome video thanks
I have 2 single shot break action that were my grandfather's and 2 pump actions that I purchased for myself and love them
I've got an a300 and a mod 37 both are great shotguns for birds thanks for what you do
Racking a pump never fails to raise a smile 😊
The pump action is basically One of the bush pilots' guns. You can shoot the buckshot, flares, Bear slugs, deer slugs, sound shells, anything. Best survival gun.
Great topic! In the US, a lot of preference is also attached to military usage. Thus, Win 97, Ithica 37, Rem 870 & Mossberg 590 pumps. Me, I like them all.
Remington 870 Wingmaster, best pump shotgun ever!
My father had a Remington 870 wing master pump action shotgun I want one for that reason
I grew up with an Ithaca Model 37. Used pumps all my life until I started shooting clays.
Pump Action Shotguns in the US. You have the standard 28in barrel for bird but It's easy to find a second barrel for home defense like 18.5in Cydinder Bore or a 24in rifle barrel for Deer hunting in some state because laws.
Racking my Hatsan 20 gauge pumper gives me a big smile, cocking my 16 gauge EM Reilly hammer gun does the same. Pumper is not cartridge fussy unlike the semi auto I had. Love them both.
I think the sound of racking pumps being enjoyable(?) came from their use by the US beginning in WWI. There were many stories of enemy soldiers surrendering once they'd heard the sound. You'd also better stop jacking that Winchester like that… people are going to start to talk! 🤣
About 90% of my shooting is with one of my pumps, I have them in 4 gauges and 3 makes. Now and then the O/U may get used. That’s been the way for me for the last 25 years or so. I do have a gas and inertia semi, but the gas one is more needy for cleaning. My favourite is a Browning BPS Hunter in 12 gauge, followed by my Remington 870 Wingmaster in 28 gauge. Both of these have had 000s of rounds through them as I have owned them both over 20 years. The latter I shot today in a 3 shot sporting clays shoot and I still enjoy using it. The one downside is that some other shooters seem to disapprove of pumps, especially if you beat them with a better score. 🤔
As a shotgun fanatic, who lives in Canada, I prefer a pump action. If I were competing, then yes, Semi-Auto all the way. However, when it comes to reliability, survival, and the gun to rule them all, PUMP ACTION ALL DAY LONG.
I own Mossberg, Winchester, and Ithaca pump action shotguns, and I can tell you this, they have given me less grief then all shotguns outside of break action. They just arent the greatest for speed, but at the same time they master your abilities. If you practice with a pump action and use a semi-auto, yeah, you'll destroy your competition. I learned I like a challenge, and too easy is no fun, unless reputation and/or money are on the line. I mastered a single shot to master the repeater or double shotgun, to master the semi-auto. Slow is fast, fast is smooth. Less is also more, and these all ring true in the shotgun world.
In a survival scenario, pump action bromigo. Semi-autos get dirty and suck or are ammo picky in said times nearly always. Even modern semi-autos aren't all they are cracked up to be, unless you invest in a Benelli, Beretta, or Mossberg 940 Pro, just being brutally honest. They will not stand up to what a pump action can, and still to this day, the ONLY shotgun to do the US Military shotgun torture test is the Mossberg 590. Guarantee the Ithaca would easily too, but hey, they never did the improvements. But the Browning BPS did most of said changes, but has a terrible slide lock release position.
You are probably the one guy on here I could talk endlessly about shotguns, no joke. Also why 16 gauge is the best gauge. 😂
Switching from my over & under to my 870 pump makes me realize how much time there is to get on target.
Here’s a fact to consider. Matt Dryke, 1984 Skeet Gold Medalist, used a pump gun for his exhibition shooting because the semi-auto was too slow. Check it out as it’s on YouTube! I was there when they recorded it…
As an American I am on the fence about this, and it is the reverse of your scenario. I shoot a Remington model 11 Auto that was owned by my grandfather and a Winchester model 50 auto that was owned by my dad. That said, my go-to shotguns are are Remington 870 and Mossberg pumps.
I feel both have their place, just like chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Nice video about them. Thanks for sharing
The Winchester 1200-1300, 120, and SXP are speed pumps. They work almost like a Benelli. I love them, very fast.
I own a Remington 1100 … since 1987 I've had very little problems with it…
No gun cabinet is complete without both!
One of the most stupid gun rules in New Zealand is that the NZCTA does not allow the use of pump guns for clay shooting, semi autos are OK. Where is the logic in that I hear you cry?
Pump is just so reliable. I've never had a shell jam, it just works and is dependable.
Nothing says "git off ma propurty" like a pump action shotgun
SxS when I want to be nostalgic
O/U for clay games
Semi auto for hunting
Pump when it absolutely must work
Earnest Hemingway was a serious shot gunner, live bird shooter, and out shot all the upper tier of society with a Winchester Model 12.
Now, one might say he would shoot as well or better w other guns. That is true.
What is also true is that gun was burnt up in a fire twice and was still killing ducks in 80s rough as the condemned underworld and still working.
You just said it, because you're not an American! 😂
Way back in the 80's my boss from my first job out of college was a competitive skeet shooter and he shot a Rem 870, he told me that was better for him than the semi autos for doubles in skeet shooting because it slowed him down. Later as he got older he switched to a Rem 11-87 because of the recoil.
I am American we all know you need both!
I've got two Mossberg hushpowers in two calibres,,i use them around the farm and spent carts are risky if they end up lost in feed or troughs,,something which hasn't been mentioned is with my pump(as opposed to my auto's) i can control where I eject the cartridge ,,you gotta keep the farmers happy