What Autoloading 12 guage Shotgun?

Originally Posted By: goose_boyWell I feel the Benelli semis are some of the best out there, but if your wife and daughter are recoil shy or might be, then the Benelli is not the choice IMO. Since it's recoil operated, it does have a bit more felt recoil than a gas operated unit. I would look for a gas op. model, and I have to agree the sx3 or even a little older used Browning gold. The Remingtons are also a solid choice, I have had experience with all three of these. I won't comment on the Mossbergs since I personally don't have experience with them so I don't feel I'm qualified to help there. I think your absolute best bet though, is to try to find 2 different shotguns, a 12ga for you and a smaller guage for your wife and daughter. I have a question to ask you though, why is it you are set on 12ga? The 20ga is very capable in most situations, and even if you can't afford 2 shotguns at first the 20 will suit most hunting situations very well and keep your wife and daughter interested in pursuing the sport. There are many times when I would much rather have my trusty 20 in my hands than my 12ga! Pretty much the only time I use the 12 is late season waterfowling for geese, and I'm pretty sure the 20 would be fine there too.


One of the reasons I am soo set on the 12gauge is because I have about 4k rounds in ammo that were gifted to me.. all sorts from winchester, fiochi, mickey mouse brands and reloads.. It's another reason I am looking for the lee load all II to reload such ammo.


I think you are giving good advise I do hear very nice things about the 20gauge..
 
What goose boy said.
I've have/had 3 Benellies and I loved them all. They are light, the action is slick, and they require almost zero maintenance. I would easily trust them to self defense as I can only recall one failure ever, and I've short stroked alot more than that with pump guns. I also have had several Remingtons, currently an 1187 which I like also. The Remy has alot less recoil due to the weight and gas operation, but it is also ALOT heavier which might not be a good thing for a 16 year old or a female. They are also harder to clean and occasionally burn out O-rings (which are cheap, if you have them when needed).
When my kids get to the shotgun stage I'll probably be looking for a gas operated 20 gauge. I've never tried the Mossbergs though.
 
When it comes to auto 12's I always say the three B's first. Browning, Benelli, & Beretta. My Browning gold has been a performer with few parts that clean easily.
I didn't especially dislike my rem, win or moss, but they each had something that fell short and the resale wasn't as easy either. Resale is always a big indicator for me.
 
I've shot 1100's most of my life, and they are first class semi auto's.
But, I would look close at the Benelli's if I was buying today. Don't know much about the new Remington semi auto, but would look at it too before buying.
 
I had the Mossberg autoloader model that was made before the 935, and although I killed several turkeys with it, I wasn't particularly impressed. They are just not made as well as other brands. Personally, I don't think you can beat a Remington 11-87, although mine in 20 guage doesn't want to cycle the cheap light loads that Walmart sells. If you want to buy a shotgun that will give you years of use, buy a Benelli SBE and don't look back. You will have a gun that you can pretty much use for anything, and they are about as trouble free as any firearm ever made.
 
Originally Posted By: Juanjoautoloading shotgun for doves, waterfowl, and varmint,
Juan

No 3 & 1/2" gun out there will reliably cycle light 1oz loads. Really they will only cycle "mag" 2 3/4 shells (1 1/4oz load or more) & some of the better ones (Berreta Extrema & Benelli SBE) will cycle most 1 1/8 loads, again RELIABLY. For what you have described you can certainly get through with a standard 3" gun (This deletes at least a 1/4 of the guns "recommended").


I can't believe they haven’t been recommended more, I have barely seen the word Berreta. For what you described, absolutely Beretta 391. If you don't believe me, go to ANY large NSCA sporting clays shoot or NSSA skeet shoot. (Although I don't shoot trap I'd be willing to bet you'd see the same thing @ trap tournaments also.) Of the autoloaders; Beretta will win easily 9/10 shotguns there. There is a reason! When your talking winning money, competitors want the best equipment. Also, some sporting shoots (if you include FITASC & the prelim) your talking about 400 shots in a weekend through just the 12 ga (anyone has to think recoil).

Nothing at all wrong with Benelli they are very reliable & very nice guns. However, if you are worried about recoil the Berreta wins hands down. I am certain felt recoil is the reason you don’t see more Benelli's at shoots. They certainly have there place in a duck pond though.

The SX3 is the same gun as the Browning Gold. It is a nice gun also but you will find certain shells will give you hit & miss problems with poor feeding.


1100's & 11-87 are good guns too & reliable when clean (they gum up very quick however) but not in the same class as other guns motioned.

If your planning on shooting 1oz loads, don't even glance at the 935.

I have been playing with clays for several years & have owned, shot (talking about thousands of shells), & watched EVERY high end auto loader out there. I now shoot a Browning 525 but still own a tricked out 391 sport gun. The other auto "sport-guns" I bought, played with & shot are long gone.

However, I still have & hunt occasionally with Brownings (gold & A-5), Benneli (SBE), & even Remington (1100 & 870), shotguns in 12ga. I am not recommending a shotgun because it's what I own, or I seen one at GM last weekend & liked it. I speak truly from personal experience. If you are going to own a single shotgun & you are any bit concerned about recoil. Please give a 391 a hard look.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: bamayote23remington 1100! GREAT GUN!

Oh yeah!

If you can find you a nice clean Rem 1100 with a modified choke and a ventilated rib you got yourself a shotgun!

I love my 870 Wingmaster, but would gladly swap it and a bit of coin for a fine 1100. One of the best autoloaders that Remington, or anyone else for that matter, has ever made.



I had a Remington 1100 until my Son age 11 starting shooting Doves. I was forced to go find another. Remington 1100 with Modified or improved Cyl is the way to go. You do have to keep them clean though. At least every 100 rounds or so.
 

I have to second the Beretta 391 advice. Actually I
purchased a Beretta 3901, which is an economy version
of the 391, in 20 ga. I have had, or still own a number
of Remingtons(1100s, and 11-87s), and Browning Golds.
I would not hesitate to recommend them, as they all
are soft recoiling gas operated shotguns. My Browning
Gold 10 gauge is particularly easy on the shoulder for
a cannon. BUT, this Beretta is quite impressive. It is
exceptionally soft shooting, and the gas mechanism is
designed to keep the gun shooting by containing all of
the fouling in far front of the fore arm, and not in the
chamber/trigger group. This thing will run reliably
for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of rounds before
cleaning. The comb is a little straighter than the
Remingtons, and the Brownings, which is typical of
Italian shotguns, but once I got comfortable with that,
the gun and I have become one. At a recent event, I
put on a Tom Knapp's like shooting exhibition with it,
powdering numerous multiple hand thrown clay disks. More
than one shooter came up to me after wards and wanted to
talk about this shotgun. So give the Beretta 391, or if
you are on a budget, the 3901, a hard look if you are looking
for a reliable soft shooting shotgun.

Squeeze
 
Originally Posted By: coleridgeOriginally Posted By: Juanjoautoloading shotgun for doves, waterfowl, and varmint,
Juan

No 3 & 1/2" gun out there will reliably cycle light 1oz loads. Really they will only cycle "mag" 2 3/4 shells (1 1/4oz load or more) & some of the better ones (Berreta Extrema & Benelli SBE) will cycle most 1 1/8 loads, again RELIABLY. For what you have described you can certainly get through with a standard 3" gun (This deletes at least a 1/4 of the guns "recommended").


I can't believe they haven’t been recommended more, I have barely seen the word Berreta. For what you described, absolutely Beretta 391. If you don't believe me, go to ANY large NSCA sporting clays shoot or NSSA skeet shoot. (Although I don't shoot trap I'd be willing to bet you'd see the same thing @ trap tournaments also.) Of the autoloaders; Beretta will win easily 9/10 shotguns there. There is a reason! When your talking winning money, competitors want the best equipment. Also, some sporting shoots (if you include FITASC & the prelim) your talking about 400 shots in a weekend through just the 12 ga (anyone has to think recoil).

Nothing at all wrong with Benelli they are very reliable & very nice guns. However, if you are worried about recoil the Berreta wins hands down. I am certain felt recoil is the reason you don’t see more Benelli's at shoots. They certainly have there place in a duck pond though.

The SX3 is the same gun as the Browning Gold. It is a nice gun also but you will find certain shells will give you hit & miss problems with poor feeding.


1100's & 11-87 are good guns too & reliable when clean (they gum up very quick however) but not in the same class as other guns motioned.

If your planning on shooting 1oz loads, don't even glance at the 935.

I have been playing with clays for several years & have owned, shot (talking about thousands of shells), & watched EVERY high end auto loader out there. I now shoot a Browning 525 but still own a tricked out 391 sport gun. The other auto "sport-guns" I bought, played with & shot are long gone.

However, I still have & hunt occasionally with Brownings (gold & A-5), Benneli (SBE), & even Remington (1100 & 870), shotguns in 12ga. I am not recommending a shotgun because it's what I own, or I seen one at GM last weekend & liked it. I speak truly from personal experience. If you are going to own a single shotgun & you are any bit concerned about recoil. Please give a 391 a hard look.



I will go look at them today, Academy has them.. the reason I mention academy a lot it's cause it's the only "major" hunting outfit we have here.. I certainly enjoyed your post, lost of information for a more buying confidence.


Juan
 
Originally Posted By: Squeeze
I have to second the Beretta 391 advice. Actually I
purchased a Beretta 3901, which is an economy version
of the 391, in 20 ga. I have had, or still own a number
of Remingtons(1100s, and 11-87s), and Browning Golds.
I would not hesitate to recommend them, as they all
are soft recoiling gas operated shotguns. My Browning
Gold 10 gauge is particularly easy on the shoulder for
a cannon. BUT, this Beretta is quite impressive. It is
exceptionally soft shooting, and the gas mechanism is
designed to keep the gun shooting by containing all of
the fouling in far front of the fore arm, and not in the
chamber/trigger group. This thing will run reliably
for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of rounds before
cleaning. The comb is a little straighter than the
Remingtons, and the Brownings, which is typical of
Italian shotguns, but once I got comfortable with that,
the gun and I have become one. At a recent event, I
put on a Tom Knapp's like shooting exhibition with it,
powdering numerous multiple hand thrown clay disks. More
than one shooter came up to me after wards and wanted to
talk about this shotgun. So give the Beretta 391, or if
you are on a budget, the 3901, a hard look if you are looking
for a reliable soft shooting shotgun.

Squeeze


I will definitely give them a hard look. If I am not mistaken the Urika is sold here.. going to go this pm..
smile.gif
may bring that baby home!

Juan
 
I dont think the Remington spr453 should be over looked.I have one and over the last 2 yrs it has been well used.My wife is kind of small and she likes it more with 7/8 once loads better than my 1187 20 ga.I have carried it in rain snow and NEVER has it failed me.to me they are great....oh yea good price too
 
I don't shoot my Beretta 390 that much anymore, but I won't ever sell it. It has reliably cycled everything I've put through it, even some crappy shells put together when I was learning to use the Lee Load-All you mentioned. Wally World sells a black synthetic version that has a good price point. The Benellis are excellent guns, I just prefer the lower recoil of the Beretta. And as far as reliability, I've intentionally not cleaned it at times to see if it would fail,hasn't happened yet.
 


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