TruthTellers said:
I use to see the appeal of mag fed shotguns, but with their limitations, I now think pump guns are better, cheaper, stronger, simpler, and tactical. About the only time I could see mag fed shotguns as great choices, is if they were used on shotguns with 12 inch or shorter barrels.
What limitations? It all depends on your point of use and training.
While I agree that most pump shotguns are cheap, simple to use, and mostly reliable, it does not mean they do not have their limits or downsides just the same. Short-stroking, limited capacity, and slower shots and reloads just name a few.
I've owned and shot a variety of shotguns including a Saiga12, Mossberg500, Rem870, Keltec KSG, along with some single-shot and double-barrel shotguns. There's nothing wrong with a semiauto Shotgun like the Saiga12 or VEPR12. They're just as strong and reliable as your typical pump action shotgun.
Box magazines are $40-50 depending where you buy; that is about the same price as a pistol magazine. Drum mags are more expensive for obvious reasons, but that goes for other drum mags for pistols and rifles.
My Saiga12 with a few modifications, 18" barrel, 10 and 12rd mags, and a folding stock is very reliable and easy to use. If you know how to operate a semiauto rifle (AK47 or AR15), they function just the same. With the folding stock and a red dot, it is compact and quite easy to manipulate/shoot.
For anyone looking for a semiauto Shotgun, the Saiga12 is a good option. The only real limitation I can see is they are not as common or available like your average Mossberg or Remington.