Best semi auto shotgun out there....
- Thread starter Greg_Meyer
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GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: belgiboy+1 for the Browning Gold. It's a bit on the heavy side but dead reliable.
My son-in-law had one that jammed frequently. I know it was well maintained, just always had that odd occasional malfunction here and there. He has a Maxus now and so far so good but it hasn't really been wrung out thoroughly yet.
My son-in-law had one that jammed frequently. I know it was well maintained, just always had that odd occasional malfunction here and there. He has a Maxus now and so far so good but it hasn't really been wrung out thoroughly yet.
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
willy1947
Active member
Originally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
I carried an A-5 for two years in Vietnam in the rain and heat.
I did not have people follow me around with bus load of gun parts.
I carried an A-5 for two years in Vietnam in the rain and heat.
I did not have people follow me around with bus load of gun parts.
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: willy1947Originally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
I carried an A-5 for two years in Vietnam in the rain and heat.
I did not have people follow me around with bus load of gun parts.
Neither did Tom Knapp and exactly why the Benelli has been selected as the semi-auto combat shotgun of elite military and law enforcement units around the world. I have a sentimental attachment to the A5 and value it highly, but it isn't without flaws. It simply has been surpassed by today's shotguns performance wise.
I carried an A-5 for two years in Vietnam in the rain and heat.
I did not have people follow me around with bus load of gun parts.
Neither did Tom Knapp and exactly why the Benelli has been selected as the semi-auto combat shotgun of elite military and law enforcement units around the world. I have a sentimental attachment to the A5 and value it highly, but it isn't without flaws. It simply has been surpassed by today's shotguns performance wise.
CrossHare
New member
I have owned the following Benelli's just for GP including m2 20 ga, SBE 1 and 2 and even the Super Vinci and after all that was said and done guess what I discovered, the Benelli's did nothing that John M Brownings design couldn't do. I'm not saying the benelli's won't shoot repeatedly but how many times have they been updated? How old is the A5 design again? I guess to each his own.
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
1100 Remington Man
Member
Take a Guess.
Crimson Raptor
New member
Originally Posted By: 1100 Remington Man Take a Guess.
Ummmm...........okay, I give up.
Seriously, nice collection you got there. The 11-87s are American icons as they should be and I've not heard too many complaints from Remington shotgun owners.
Ummmm...........okay, I give up.
Seriously, nice collection you got there. The 11-87s are American icons as they should be and I've not heard too many complaints from Remington shotgun owners.
Crimson Raptor
New member
Originally Posted By: GCTom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance.
One other bit of little known Benelli trivia for dependability - when I was a young pup working years ago for H&K/Benelli USA prior to Benelli going back under the Beretta umbrella - we would take the service calls for warranty service/repairs. I personally spoke to 2 separate ADC helicopter shooters who were running 40,000 rounds a year through their Benellis on coyotes. They would send them in for a quick refurbish and check annually and we'd ship them back into the field. And they were using 20Ga Benelli Montefeltros.
Then you'd have the tourist dove hunters down in Central and South America who would shoot a couple of thousand rounds a week who would only use Benellis because they couldn't break them with all day continuous use and a reloading boy. Only their shoulders would call it a day. If you've never seen a man standing next to thigh-high piles of empty shotgun shells and an equally high pile of doves, it's pretty impressive.
(As a side note, had the opportunity to share a drink and a cigar with Tom Knapp one evening after an HK/Benelli-sponsored gun show. He was a wonderful guy who knew how to draw a crowd and his booming voice and laugh were something to behold. Tom Knapp could hold the attention of a dozen grown men with his stories over a glass of his favorite single malt scotch and a cloud of stogie smoke like no one else.)
True stories.
One other bit of little known Benelli trivia for dependability - when I was a young pup working years ago for H&K/Benelli USA prior to Benelli going back under the Beretta umbrella - we would take the service calls for warranty service/repairs. I personally spoke to 2 separate ADC helicopter shooters who were running 40,000 rounds a year through their Benellis on coyotes. They would send them in for a quick refurbish and check annually and we'd ship them back into the field. And they were using 20Ga Benelli Montefeltros.
Then you'd have the tourist dove hunters down in Central and South America who would shoot a couple of thousand rounds a week who would only use Benellis because they couldn't break them with all day continuous use and a reloading boy. Only their shoulders would call it a day. If you've never seen a man standing next to thigh-high piles of empty shotgun shells and an equally high pile of doves, it's pretty impressive.
(As a side note, had the opportunity to share a drink and a cigar with Tom Knapp one evening after an HK/Benelli-sponsored gun show. He was a wonderful guy who knew how to draw a crowd and his booming voice and laugh were something to behold. Tom Knapp could hold the attention of a dozen grown men with his stories over a glass of his favorite single malt scotch and a cloud of stogie smoke like no one else.)
True stories.
Yoteless in Ohio
New member
Originally Posted By: C.JayEvery manufacturer has the occasional lemon, every manufacturer has a jewel. Now, having said that, my experience:
My 1100 runs like a top, eats everything I feed it. My M4 super was a jam-o-matic even after two trips to Benelli. Sold it, 1100 is in the safe.
CJ, did you get the note that I got after sending my benelli back twice for the same issue "if this gun comes back for this issue again there will be a $80 service fee required before it's return"?
My lgs owner was so appalled he issued me a cash refund for the defective gun!
My 1100 runs like a top, eats everything I feed it. My M4 super was a jam-o-matic even after two trips to Benelli. Sold it, 1100 is in the safe.
CJ, did you get the note that I got after sending my benelli back twice for the same issue "if this gun comes back for this issue again there will be a $80 service fee required before it's return"?
My lgs owner was so appalled he issued me a cash refund for the defective gun!
The Famous Grouse
New member
We're fortunate to live in an era where there are a LOT of good shotgun choices. Both "vintage" and modern.
I don't put too much stock in how many rounds a gun can fire for a competition shooter. First because when a shooter is being paid to use a product, what are the chances he's going to be especially forthcoming when it comes to that product's faults?
Hunting and comp shooting are completely different, IMO, as it relates to how they wear a gun. It's the exact reverse of the old maxim: It's not the mileage, it's the age.
Shooting 50,000 rounds in one year is a VERY different thing compared to shooting 50,000 rounds over 25 years. The reason is that there's more things that cause wear and tear than just how many rounds go out the barrel.
It's all well and good for a competition shooter or a high-volume dove outfitter to run 100k rounds thorough a gun, but that has limited meaning when it comes to the average hunter who puts far more "field wear" on a gun. Firing a gun produces one kind of wear. Carrying it in the dust, dirt, grit, wet, etc produces a totally different kind of wear that impacts a gun differently over time.
There are a lot of shotguns that can handle thousands or tens of thousands of rounds reliably and under hunting conditions. The 1100 has certainly proved its worth as has the Browning A5 and Remington Model 11.
The Benelli, Beretta, and related companies all have excellent designs and the big breakthrough that hasn't been mentioned is that compared to older designs they weigh significantly less. Again, not of much consequence or even a disadvantage to a comp shooter, but very important to your average hunter.
As with most things, I don't think anyone's mind is going to be changed, even if the facts were available that proved that change would benefit them. Shotgun choice is like choosing a woman. Everybody's got their own reasons and objective criteria only go so far.
Grouse
I don't put too much stock in how many rounds a gun can fire for a competition shooter. First because when a shooter is being paid to use a product, what are the chances he's going to be especially forthcoming when it comes to that product's faults?
Hunting and comp shooting are completely different, IMO, as it relates to how they wear a gun. It's the exact reverse of the old maxim: It's not the mileage, it's the age.
Shooting 50,000 rounds in one year is a VERY different thing compared to shooting 50,000 rounds over 25 years. The reason is that there's more things that cause wear and tear than just how many rounds go out the barrel.
It's all well and good for a competition shooter or a high-volume dove outfitter to run 100k rounds thorough a gun, but that has limited meaning when it comes to the average hunter who puts far more "field wear" on a gun. Firing a gun produces one kind of wear. Carrying it in the dust, dirt, grit, wet, etc produces a totally different kind of wear that impacts a gun differently over time.
There are a lot of shotguns that can handle thousands or tens of thousands of rounds reliably and under hunting conditions. The 1100 has certainly proved its worth as has the Browning A5 and Remington Model 11.
The Benelli, Beretta, and related companies all have excellent designs and the big breakthrough that hasn't been mentioned is that compared to older designs they weigh significantly less. Again, not of much consequence or even a disadvantage to a comp shooter, but very important to your average hunter.
As with most things, I don't think anyone's mind is going to be changed, even if the facts were available that proved that change would benefit them. Shotgun choice is like choosing a woman. Everybody's got their own reasons and objective criteria only go so far.
Grouse
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Crimson Raptor
New member
Great post. You nailed it, Grouse.
C.Jay
New member
Originally Posted By: Yoteless in OhioCJ, did you get the note that I got after sending my benelli back twice for the same issue "if this gun comes back for this issue again there will be a $80 service fee required before it's return"?
My lgs owner was so appalled he issued me a cash refund for the defective gun!
Yeah, I remember something about a service charge, but cannot remember the amount. Its gone now, so no worries.
My lgs owner was so appalled he issued me a cash refund for the defective gun!
Yeah, I remember something about a service charge, but cannot remember the amount. Its gone now, so no worries.
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: CrossHareI have owned the following Benelli's just for GP including m2 20 ga, SBE 1 and 2 and even the Super Vinci and after all that was said and done guess what I discovered, the Benelli's did nothing that John M Brownings design couldn't do. I'm not saying the benelli's won't shoot repeatedly but how many times have they been updated? How old is the A5 design again? I guess to each his own.
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
I dunno, my A5 weighs about a pound more than my M1 does. And that pound counts to me when I am walking five miles over rough steep rocky timbered terrain in the Ozark mountains chasing gobblers and calling predators. I also don't have to worry about having the friction rings oriented properly or just the right lube on the magazine tube in sub freezing temperatures. You like your A5, I prefer my M1S90 to my own A5. Different strokes and all that...
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: CrossHareThere is no scattergun that will ever hold a candle to the legendary Browning A-5. The A-5 will be functioning when the pop metal Benelli's are but a memory.
Tom Knapp shot his Benelli M1S90 over 450,000 registered shots in shooting demo's around the country when he was representing Benelli with no parts breakages and very little maintenance. When you do that with your A5 get back with us for a detailed report. Waiting...
I dunno, my A5 weighs about a pound more than my M1 does. And that pound counts to me when I am walking five miles over rough steep rocky timbered terrain in the Ozark mountains chasing gobblers and calling predators. I also don't have to worry about having the friction rings oriented properly or just the right lube on the magazine tube in sub freezing temperatures. You like your A5, I prefer my M1S90 to my own A5. Different strokes and all that...
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
For a ADC shooter to shoot 40,000 shots at coyotes in one year that just doesn't sound possible to me.
If he shot 3 shots at 13,333 coyotes that would be 40,000 shots.
That shooter would have to shoot three shots at 36.5 coyotes per day for 365 days in a row to shoot 40,000 shots at coyotes in one year.
A target shooter would have to shoot at 769 targets per week to shoot 40,000 shots in one year.
If he shot 3 shots at 13,333 coyotes that would be 40,000 shots.
That shooter would have to shoot three shots at 36.5 coyotes per day for 365 days in a row to shoot 40,000 shots at coyotes in one year.
A target shooter would have to shoot at 769 targets per week to shoot 40,000 shots in one year.