Review Archives – TopGunReview

Harrington & Richardson Pump Review

One of our honorable mentions is the Harrington & Richardson (H&R) pump action shotgun. This is a very basic, entry-level machine for tossing shells and a great starter for youth shooters or those who are grossly uninformed about shotgunning.

We’ve used several H&R slug guns and couldn’t be happier with them, so it seems like the company knows what they’re doing when it comes to firearms. When you head to the gun shop to test out this beauty, keep in mind the old saying: You get what you pay for.

The H&R pump comes with some pretty standard features that you would expect from any shotgun, only a little less of it. We understand that accessories for the H&R can be hard to come by, but keep in mind that some of the Browning bits and pieces will fit it (just make sure you check carefully before buying anything).

If you’re buying for a youth, then definitely go with the 20 gauge and you may want to consider replacing the recoil pad with one that possesses a little more cushion to it. This is a good gun to “grow into” for any young person, but do take those extra steps to manage the recoil. A compact version is also available with a shorter barrel and length of pull to accommodate young people or smaller framed men and women.

The Harrington & Richardson Pump is available in several different configurations including a turkey gun, trap gun, synthetic “protector” (which would be great for home defense at that price point) and a compact gun.

Honorable Mention in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Maverick 88 Review

We promise to resist the urge and call the “more-plastic-than-I-am-comfortable-with” Maverick, Mexico’s answer to the polymer pistol. So sit down and keep on reading.

What we will say, in the hopes of reassuring you, is that many of the parts are only made in Mexico, and the gun is actually assembled in Texas. Assembled by none other than Mossberg, despite the fact that the shotgun is rarely advertised as such.

While the Maverick 88 isn’t necessarily the gun you would feel most assured taking into the field with you on a hunt, it is something that you should probably consider when it comes to home defense. Nothing like the sound of the “Ka-CLACK” from a pump-action shotgun to put things into perspective for a would-be burglar or home invader.

Can it be relied on to fire? Yes. It comes with all the basics that you need, front bead sight, 6 round/5 round capacity for 2-3/4”/3” shells, dual extractors, easy to field strip and one of the best features is that the gun is fully interchangeable with Mossberg 500 barrels and choke tubes. It is rumored that some of the plastic internal parts are also interchangeable with MB 500 parts, but why bother spending the cash to do so when you could have just bought a MB 500?

The Maverick 88 is an inexpensive shotgun, so don’t wrinkle your nose when you consider the home defense implications for under $200. Why spend 3x that amount for a gun that’s going to just sit in your gun safe in the closet forever? You can outfit the 88 with a pistol grip and a holographic red dot or a mounted flashlight and a laser combo and then it becomes one sweet little “opinionated purpose gun”.

Honorable Mention in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Weatherby PA-08 Review

The Weatherby PA-08 presents beautifully and has a great feel to the gun. The walnut forend and stock is pretty top notch, lending a much higher-end display that one would see on a shotgun at twice the price range.

We didn’t have very high hopes for this Turkish gun, but it shot every shell reliably, which was enough to help us consider the fact that it could be on par with manufacturers more known for their high-quality shotguns.

The Weatherby PA-08 is definitely on the lighter side of the scale, making it an option for young or female shooters. But on the other hand, the PA-08 is also good for more experience shooters when you consider the recoil you’ll feel from such a light gun. Our shooting tests were somewhat problematic in that we were surprised by how poorly the firearm performed at targets.

After a couple rounds of clay birds that laughably escaped their intended destruction, and the assumption that we was having an “off day” or that the noticeably heavy trigger was “messing” with us, we brought the gun over to one of our outdoor patterning lanes. The result, despite trying three different kinds of 2-3/4 shells from different manufacturers, offered poor results all around. Now is it possible that the shotgun was defective and in a state of disrepair? Sure. There are endless Weatherby PA-08 reviews that never mention any issues of accuracy. It is even more than possible that the issues were due to a broken choke tube.

However, others who own and use the shotgun for everything from pheasant and chukar hunting to filling deer tags, have only good things to say, the Weatherby PA-08 is definitely worth the consideration of comparison and purchase.

Available in 12 gauge, synthetic stock or walnut stock and standard chokes.

Honorable Mention in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Benelli Nova Review

Always wanted a Benelli but thought you could never afford one? Too many Benelli’s to choose from? Got a thing for Italians?

While the selection of Benelli models and configurations does seem endless, the options for the Italian shotgun that gets all the hoopla comes in an affordable, simpler package – the Benelli Nova.

At a sticker price of around $550-$570, you really can’t go wrong with this high-quality Benelli Nova shotgun. Available in 12 or 20 gauge and also a “youth” 20 gauge with a shorter length of pull. The real differences are in the barrel length and overall weight of the gun. The fact that you can shoot any size shell through the 12 gauge models with no need to change barrels is really impressive. Yes, you read that right: you can shoot anything from target loads up to 3.5” magnum shells through this baby with nothing to do other than pull the trigger.

A magazine capacity of 4+1 rounds is pretty standard (unless you hunt in New Jersey where you are limited to three) and all shells are ejected out through the bottom of the shotgun. The Benelli Nova comes standard with a red bar front sight and a bead mid sight. Available accessories are limited, but you can get IC, M and F chokes for the Nova.

One of the very few drawbacks of the Benelli is the fact that it is only available with a polymer stock (which is also be weather resistant, so it could be considered a plus as well) and features grooves instead of checkering in the grip and forend. We trust Benelli to get it right, but a wet gun is still a wet gun and we’re a little on the fence about it. The current available finishes are Realtree APG, Realtree Max-4 and black synthetic.

Another great feature of the Nova is the shell stop button on the bottom of the gun. This button allows a chambered shell to be removed without having to release any rounds from the magazine, which is a very useful and innovative feature.

Overall, Benelli continues to impress, and at this price point, how can you not want one?

Ranked #2 of 7 in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Stevens 200 Review

The Stevens 200 is intriguing, not because it is different from existing products, but because it is the same. The 200 is basically a repackaging of Savage’s tried and true 110. The 110 in its various incarnations has never been a pretty gun or particularly smooth, but that is not what people buy them for. Savage rifles shoot wonderful little groups over and over again, a performance is made all the sweeter knowing what you shelled out for such a great-shooting gun. There is nothing more satisfying than having a rifle that shoots better, but costs less, than the rifle one bench down. With an MSRP of $420 (in the real world you’ll probably get one for around $350), the Stevens 200 will have a lot of people eating crow.

The 200 has everything that makes a Savage shoot well. The barrel is free floated and the floating bolt head allows for better accuracy and less factory fitting. The only thing missing is Savage’s AccuTrigger, but Savage owners got by without it for a long time and one can be installed aftermarket if the 200 owner wants it. The 200 probably has all the little foibles of its Savage ancestors, but it also has their attributes. The areas in which we deducted points from the Stevens shouldn’t come as a surprise, with the floating bolt head being a bit of a double-edged sword. While the bolt design resulted in an excellent score for accuracy, more parts means more points of failure and ultimately lower overall reliability and durability.

Ranked #6 of 7 in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison