Best Sub $300 Shotgun

[Moped]

My wife and I just recently bought a travel trailer and started camping that way.  I've been taking a little Hi-Point 995TS 9mm carbine with us on our trips, but was thinking about transistioning to 12ga shotgun.  I have a Mossberg 590, but I really don't want to take it.  It's big, beefy and expensive to replace if it gets stolen. 

All that being said, I walked into Point Blank yesterday and looked at their shotguns.  They had a very nice Charles Daly 601HD Semi-Auto that's a clone of the Benelli, without the price that had a 18.5" barrel.  It was $279.  They also had a Mossberg Maverick with a bead sight and a 18.5" barrel for $248 and another Marverick with rifle sights and a 22" barrel for $239. All three were 5+1 and all three were in my price range of sub $300.  

Any thoughts on other shotguns you might recommend in that price range?

  

[eRay]

Academy Sports has been having the Mossberg 88 Security lately for $199. That is the best buy in a defense shotgun that I have seen. I have a Mossberg 590 and a Remington 870 both but bought a Maverick anyway at that price.

[Moped]

38 minutes ago, Eray said:

Academy Sports has been having the Mossberg 88 Security lately for $199. That is the best buy in a defense shotgun that I have seen. I have a Mossberg 590 and a Remington 870 both but bought a Maverick anyway at that price.

Hmmm... I will check that out!  That's a great price, if they have one in Knoxville.

[eRay]

55 minutes ago, Moped said:

Hmmm... I will check that out!  That's a great price, if they have one in Knoxville.

I got mine in Knoxville. If they don't have one in Knoxville, you can buy it online and they will ship it to the Knoxville store free.

 

[eRay]

I just checked their website and it shows them out of stock right now, but keep checking, they have been getting them back in every few days.

[Ronald_55]

Academy also has the Savage Stephens 320 for $229 that has a pistol grip stock if that is better for you. Shows in Stock in Johnson City.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/savage-stevens-320-12-gauge-pump-action-shotgun?sku=right-12-gauge-18-5

 

 

[Murgatroy]

I got a Churchhill 612 for like $250, pistol grip, rail, sights. I put a light on it, extended magazine and a sidesaddle. I was under $400 for everything and it eats whatever I feed it.

 

[Quavodus]

4 hours ago, Ronald_55 said:

Academy also has the Savage Stephens 320 for $229 that has a pistol grip stock if that is better for you. Shows in Stock in Johnson City.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/savage-stevens-320-12-gauge-pump-action-shotgun?sku=right-12-gauge-18-5

 

 

The Stevens 320 is the old Winchester 1300 design. Good solid design.

[Erik88]

Could you find an old 870 police trade in? That's what I did. It was a little beat up on the outside, and you could tell it had been in the sun a lot but it functions perfectly. I got mine at Craig's on Chapman Hwy.  I think I paid $350 though. 

[Moped]

Thanks for everyone's input! 

After work, I ran to the grocery store for things to make BLTs for dinner.  On the way I stopped at my LGS and checked out their selection.  I found a like new Mossberg Maverick with a FDE colored stock set and the 7 shot extended tube magazine for $200.  It's in lay-a-way for the next couple of weeks, then it will come out. 

I swear I don't think it's been fired. No scratches on it or anything! They said an ex-employee came in and traded it in.  He'd had it at a cabin and never used it.  It does have the bead front sight, and not a rifle blade, but I've shot them before and I'm comfortable with it.  I think it's a bargain!

Think I will still look at picking up one of those Benelli clones in the future though.

[Murgatroy]

That is a good deal for $200.

I can almost never say no to a sub$200 gun.

 

[Moped]

1 hour ago, Murgatroy said:

That is a good deal for $200.

I can almost never say no to a sub$200 gun.

 

This is the one I put in lay-a-way. 
 

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/49307/maverick+arms+31048+88+security+pump+12+ga+20+3+7%2b1+synthetic+flat+dark+ea

[Ronald_55]

7 hours ago, Erik88 said:

Could you find an old 870 police trade in? That's what I did. It was a little beat up on the outside, and you could tell it had been in the sun a lot but it functions perfectly. I got mine at Craig's on Chapman Hwy.  I think I paid $350 though. 

Not to derail, but man I remember Craig's. I should have hung out there more back in the early 90's.

@Moped Nicely done. The 7 round tube is a good option. I don't like FDE guns, but I always figure shotgun furniture is easy and cheap to swap most of the time. 

I have an 870 Tactical that I bought a bit beat up and missing parts. A few bucks later, it is good to go. Only thing I did not replace was the missing rear ghost sight. It was crazy ecpensive, so I just put a rail on it and a red dit.

I like cheap guns, but I have to be mindful that sonetimes cheap just means it is crap. A $75 gun that you can't gett parts for is useless.

 

 

[Protongunner]

7 hours ago, Moped said:

This is the one I put in lay-a-way. 
 

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/49307/maverick+arms+31048+88+security+pump+12+ga+20+3+7%2b1+synthetic+flat+dark+ea

That is very similar to one I picked up recently. I stuck a hogue pistol grip on and put in an op sol mini clip so I can load it up with the 1.75 inch mini buckshot shells. So far so good.