I've fired countless rounds of cheap walmart field/target loads through my Beretta al3901 Citizen without a hiccup. I've sometimes gone up to 1500 rds without cleaning it just to see if it would jam or malfunction. No such luck. The gas system uses a self cleaning piston and the gun is easy on the shoulder. This is my designated "Go to" gun when I'm not shooting my browning over/under.
Best Low Price Semi-Auto?
- Thread starter Rhyno37
- Start date
- Status
rbernie
Contributing Member
I'm not much of a gun snob, but I have learned through bitter experience that 'inexpensive' and 'semi-auto' or 'O/U' usually results in a less-than-stellar experience. Besides - you really need to find a shotgun that fits and points well for you, and that may or may not be the least expensive option available or the one most recommended.
Having said that, I would rather have a used Browning Auto5 Light12 (selling locally for under five bills) than most any other NIB semiauto in the same price range. The Beretta 3901 is reported to be a superb piece for the money (if it fits you) but I can never find anyone local to me that stocks them.
Having said that, I would rather have a used Browning Auto5 Light12 (selling locally for under five bills) than most any other NIB semiauto in the same price range. The Beretta 3901 is reported to be a superb piece for the money (if it fits you) but I can never find anyone local to me that stocks them.
Snarlingiron
Member
The 3901's stock can be adjusted to fit most shooters. I bought mine at Bass Pro in Grapevine. Well, actually mine is a 390, but the only real difference is the addition of the 1. One of mine was bought 3 years ago, so I don't know the current stock situation. The other one was bought used at Gunmasters in Plano for $450.00. I have seen them at Academy also, but not lately. In fact I have made it a point to not shop guns lately. I have so many my wife is beginning to question my sanity.
I suspect most retailers would much rather sell a 391 for $1500.00 than a 390 for $560.00. I often see the 3901 Citizen featured at the big stores around Christmas. They seem plentiful on Gunbroker.
I recently visited the gunshop that I bought my beretta 3901 from a few years ago. They've stopped selling beretta shotguns. It's got nothing to do with quality control or mechanical reliability problems. Beretta has started implementing policy's similar to the Harley Davidson motorcycle company where they won't ship guns to a dealer unless they sell Beretta clothing and other Beretta trademarked accessories. Since most gunshops really don't desire to go into the clothing business due to space limitations you will probably start finding fewer gunshops that sell beretta shotguns. The ones that do will probably be the large chain stores like bass pro shops, etc. that have the extra space for this stuff.
MCgunner
Member
Mmm, well, I don't own "gun clothing" and I doubt it'd pay a shop to keep such just to sell Beretta shotguns. 
Kinda dum to require this IMHO.
I don't know about that. I bought my Winchester 1400 ranger for $255 20 years ago and still like it. It's very easy on the shoulder, fits me perfectly without shimming, and shoots great. Don't care much for crossbolt safeties, but at least I was able to convert it with a left hand safety. It only fires 2 3/4", but with the advent of fasteel, that's plenty for ducks. I primarily use it on high flying doves, though. I don't like subjecting it to the salt marsh even though it's just birch stock and the bluing is MUCH nicer and more rust resistant than 870 expresses. I'd rather use my camo Mossberg 500 in salt marshes.
For use on clays/doves I'd go with a Mossberg 930, though if I buy one, it'll be the 935. Lots of folks say when they break in, they'll work with 2 3/4" hot loads. I don't need it for dove loads, got other guns. I can always feed it 3" if 2 3/4 don't feed, but 2 3/4" works great and is a little more affordable in steel shot. That's not a concern of the OP, though, so for that, the 930 would get my nod.
I voted for the Mossberg. I figure it'd make a fantastic affordable waterfowl gun. I've heard lots of satisfied owners for the gun. Now, I know the skeet shooters probably wouldn't like it, but I'm a hunter and primarily a waterfowler when it comes to shotguns. Sorta depends on the use of the gun, I guess, whether you'll like this or that model.
The Biakal 153 AKA Spartan 453 was touted when it was available. Might be a few of those floating around, though I'd prefer the Mossy, I think, just on the ergos for a left handed shooter. My Winche3ster is out of production, but there's lots of used ones around DIRT cheap and they're good hunting guns, if not lauded by the clay shooters.
Kinda dum to require this IMHO.I don't know about that. I bought my Winchester 1400 ranger for $255 20 years ago and still like it. It's very easy on the shoulder, fits me perfectly without shimming, and shoots great. Don't care much for crossbolt safeties, but at least I was able to convert it with a left hand safety.
It only fires 2 3/4", but with the advent of fasteel, that's plenty for ducks. I primarily use it on high flying doves, though. I don't like subjecting it to the salt marsh even though it's just birch stock and the bluing is MUCH nicer and more rust resistant than 870 expresses. I'd rather use my camo Mossberg 500 in salt marshes. For use on clays/doves I'd go with a Mossberg 930, though if I buy one, it'll be the 935. Lots of folks say when they break in, they'll work with 2 3/4" hot loads. I don't need it for dove loads, got other guns. I can always feed it 3" if 2 3/4 don't feed, but 2 3/4" works great and is a little more affordable in steel shot. That's not a concern of the OP, though, so for that, the 930 would get my nod.
I voted for the Mossberg. I figure it'd make a fantastic affordable waterfowl gun. I've heard lots of satisfied owners for the gun. Now, I know the skeet shooters probably wouldn't like it, but I'm a hunter and primarily a waterfowler when it comes to shotguns. Sorta depends on the use of the gun, I guess, whether you'll like this or that model.
The Biakal 153 AKA Spartan 453 was touted when it was available. Might be a few of those floating around, though I'd prefer the Mossy, I think, just on the ergos for a left handed shooter. My Winche3ster is out of production, but there's lots of used ones around DIRT cheap and they're good hunting guns, if not lauded by the clay shooters.
Last edited:
FIVETWOSEVEN
Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
- Messages
- 5,146
My 1100 was $325 lightly used at a large gunshop and it works great.
I didn't vote because I think there are several good answers to this question, most of which have been mentioned here.
I have personal experience with the 930 and 1100. Both have been great. I own the 930 and a good friend the 1100. I can't think of issues had from either shotgun. Not that a sample of one from each is meaningful, but I've seen both go through a lot and work just fine. The 930 took one factory shim to fit very well. I'm extremely happy with how that gun shoulders and points. I seem to do pretty well with it and I think most of that comes down to how it fits. My friend shoots very well with his 1100.
That said, I'm not sure I've heard of an unhappy 390/3901 owner. Not many unhappy Beretta/Stoeger owners either.
Most shotguns made today are fairly well built and shoot fairly well. The big names have been making good shotguns for a while and picking up a used model can be a good buy. If I were to go back to the day I bought my 930 I still would buy it, but I got a very good "employee pricing" deal on it lightly used. I wouldn't feel bad picking up most of anything previously listed in this thread and would look more for which one fit best (or could be easily/cheaply adjusted) and go from there. If you are using one of the models listed so far you probably are picking up a good shotgun.
I have personal experience with the 930 and 1100. Both have been great. I own the 930 and a good friend the 1100. I can't think of issues had from either shotgun. Not that a sample of one from each is meaningful, but I've seen both go through a lot and work just fine. The 930 took one factory shim to fit very well. I'm extremely happy with how that gun shoulders and points. I seem to do pretty well with it and I think most of that comes down to how it fits. My friend shoots very well with his 1100.
That said, I'm not sure I've heard of an unhappy 390/3901 owner. Not many unhappy Beretta/Stoeger owners either.
Most shotguns made today are fairly well built and shoot fairly well. The big names have been making good shotguns for a while and picking up a used model can be a good buy. If I were to go back to the day I bought my 930 I still would buy it, but I got a very good "employee pricing" deal on it lightly used. I wouldn't feel bad picking up most of anything previously listed in this thread and would look more for which one fit best (or could be easily/cheaply adjusted) and go from there. If you are using one of the models listed so far you probably are picking up a good shotgun.
Snarlingiron
Member
I realize that this thread is pretty much dead, but an update. A friend of mine went shopping at Cabela's in Allen, Tx. yesterday and found the Beretta 3901 Citizen (synthetic stock) there for $599.00. I'm betting that it will be featured for $569.00 just prior to Christmas.
Virginian
Member
You can get a USED name brand good gun for as much or less than a new cheap gun, in most cases. For years I ran thru guns like popcorn, and a lot of people are the same way. They just like to get guns all the time, and sell them off to finance more purchases or the safe got full. There is not a thing wrong with most of them. AND, if you get one you don't like, if you don't dog it, you shouldn't lose a dime on the resale.
rbernie
Contributing Member
That's......tempting. If I had to buy a new production semiauto shotgun and had less than six bills, this would be the one to try.
Not to be contrarian or anything but I cannot warm up to the 930/935 offerings - they feel oddly balanced and not natural, to me. I'm sure that they are mechnically OK (with the occasional lemon, much like any other offering) but their handling doesn't seem well suited to me. YMMV.
ISO1600
Member
i only have experience with my wife's 20ga 11-87 which sucks. Only feeds the heaviest loads. Has a good enough balance and feel, but the nastiest action and just isn't reliable.
remingtons are popular and the 1100 and 11-87 has been around a long time and usually pretty reliable with some maintence but they are long overdue for a new design thats lighter and even more reliable, there versamax and sp10 may be ok for waterfowl and turkey hunters.
- Status
