Best semi-auto for home-d and casual games

[shooter429]

I have been shooting doubles and pump guns of various types brands like 870s and 500s for decades and have been just fine with them for both defense and sport. Recently, however, I have noticed I don't enjoy the magnum recoil of BS or slugs like I used to and have also slowed down a bit (and gotten lazier) with age. Now I can shoot singles and doubles just fine, or so I thought.

Then I saw a demo on TV by a Benelli tem member named Tom Knapp. The guy was extremely fast, accurate and claimed to have no problems with the recoil. THis led me to a new question: Perhaps I would be better served by a good 12 Ga. Auto. The Benellis are a bit pricey, and I have yet to see an 1100 tactical in the flesh. Mossberg has a 930 special purpose extreme, which looks nice on paper. In short, I want to know the positives and drawbacks to each, and i would love to be able to get a good, reliable, gun to serve double duty shooting buck, bird and slugs. 2 3/4 chambers are fine as long as the gun is omnivorous and totally dependable.

Please give detailed first-hand accounts of your experiences and tell me what is best, why, and rate them on a "bang for the buck"scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best. I would love to go less than $750 if I can.

Thanks to all in advance

Shooter429

 

[Milkmaster]

While I still prefer the pump gun for defense, my semi-auto choice would be the 1100 provided your primary reason is reduced recoil.
My reasons...
1. The 1100 is a proven model over the last 30 years.
2. Plenty of parts are available should you ever need them.
3. Plenty of modification parts available if you are into that sort of thing.
3. As reliable as any other gas operated semi-auto.
4. The price is in line with what you are wanting to spend.
5. Plenty of new or used models to choose from when buying.

I hope you find what you are looking for in a shotgun.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I picked up a Benelli M1-Super 90 for about $650 like new a couple years ago. Besides two light primer strikes I have had no problems.

The two light strikes were before I cleaned the inside of the bolt after buying it though.

 

[MikePGS]

While i have never personally owned one (yet) you might want to look into Saiga's. They use a box magazine, aren't that expensive and are based on the AK action (they're manufactured by the same people that civillian model AK's are in russia). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiga-12

 

[Smitty in CT]

I have a Mossberg 930, I have been very happy with it.

Mossberg also sells the following combo:

It comes with an 18.5" barrel for HD use and a 28" barrel for when you want to play clay games....

R & R Arms sells them for $425.17:

http://www.223cal.com/catalog.php?prod=G85325

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've little experience with autos and hesitate to recommend anything.

The Beretta 391 is possibly the best sporter, with the 1100 in second.

The Browning Gold/Winchester X2 platform is very good also by report.

Get the one of these that feels best is my advice....

 

[Fish Springs]

1100 Remington

Winchester Super X2

Either will work well. I believe the 1100 to be more flexible and more adaptable if you want to accessorize.

 

[ravencon]

In my area I rarely see used M series Benellis. I think finding an M1 or M2 at $750 would require good luck or having to settle for one that has seen a lot of mileage.

I'd stick with a basic pump until I could afford what I really wanted. Which would be a new or pristine used Benelli.

The 1100s aren't for me. Obviously, others love them. Try before you buy.

 

[Agouti]

My dad has, I believe, 3 of those 1100s. Never really considered it, but they've never jammed on me, not once. However, I've only used them for pheasant hunting. I suppose with a shorter barrel and 00, it'd make a decent home def gun.

However, I'd really want a Saiga 12.

 

[Chris Rhines]

The Remington 1100 is a proven design, all right - proven to be unreliable and prone to parts breakage in hard use. I would not recommend one for a defensive role, or for serious competition.

The two semi-auto shotguns I can recommend are the Benelli M1/M2 21", and the FN/Winchester SLP Mk2 in 21" or 18.5". The Benelli is a bit more reliable when running hot/dirty, the FN is a bit softer on the shoulder. Both run around $1000 new, but you might find a used one for $750 or less.

- Chris

 

[valor1]

Considering that the shotgun is a keeper and for all around use, the Benelli fits the bill perfectly. The reliability and durability is topnotch. There really is nothing more to change or modify except for lots of shotgun ammo.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

The Beretta 391 is possibly the best sporter

2 out of the 4-5 Berettas that people I know own have functioned poorly. On one of them, the shell catches on the part of the receiver between the magazine and barrel feed ramp thingy(where it would be if it had one ). Plus it got dirty real fast at a pheasant shoot and start jamming(stopped halfway back...)

The other one was owned by some guy who has a new gun each week. Actually, he got two 391's. One was his "trap" gun and the other was his "field gun" with the only difference was about 2" of barrel length and the stock was nicer on the "field" gun. Sometimes it would close only halfway, for no reason at all. Also, the gun that jammed functioned flawlessly the week before.

 

[boomstik45]

That unreliable, Chris? I've known serious gunners who say differently about the 1100. And they have no reason at all to lie. I guess it's just personal experiences. Some of them are or have been Benelli owners, too. But whatever...

 

[shooter429]

Well, Remington seems to be pulling ahead in sheer numbers

I looked at this http://www.remington.com/tactical/tactical_shotguns.asp and think the 22" without the pg might fit the bill. I ddo wonder if having the ghost ring sights is worthwhile with 95% of shots being bird and buckshot. Hmmmm. I went and looked at Benellis. The field models had short mags, limiting the H-D role. The M-4 seemed pretty nice and was only a couple hundred more than my budget and it has the comfort tech stock ( for whatever that is worth). I Still can't find the Mossberg, which I am afraid might be kinda rough anyway, based on price point and experience with their pump combos. Though at $500 it is something my pocketbook likes. Still, I do like a bit more tube than 18 1/2 for all around use. Some Mossbergs come with 2 bbls, which sounds neat, but I really like the idea of mastering one gun in one configuration and having it run perfectly more than changing bbls all the time, which I do on the pump, but remember my "older and lazier" qualifier.
LOL

Anyone else got any ideas. Anyone have that 22" Rem 1100 tactical? Anyone here do exhibition? Very cool.

Thnks

Shooter429

 

[Fred Fuller]

Given your new-found aversion to recoil, I'd recommend a gas gun. And of gas guns, the one I have the most experience with is the Remington 1100.

Stick to a factory barrel of whatever length and configuration you are willing to settle for. That means as short a barrel as you are likely to get is 21" or so, and most of them that length are going to be slug barrels. Look at the offerings at the Barrel Exchange ( http://www.barrelexchange.com/srch_1.cfm?manuf=Remington&ga=12+ga.&Submit=Search ) to get an idea of the sort of options available.

I say stick to a factory barrel because i have seen lots of folks decide they wanted an 1100 for 3-gun fun. Whacking off a perfectly good field length barrel always seems like the easiest approach to people in a hurry. T'ain't necessarily so. Gas guns can be picky about how much tube they want in front of the gas ports that run the gun. The factory has it all worked out. Unless you want to take a chance on embarking on a significant research program dealing with diameters of gas ports, numbers of gas ports, and shotgun loads the gun will run reliably, stick with a factory barrel.

I ran an 1100 back when I shot 3-gun, and mine has a 21" factory smoothbore barrel with RemChokes and rifle sights. I never had any problems with it.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well, the Remington 870 is the best "defence" shotgun (imho). If you have an ammunition failure, I prefer the manual pump to the auto-loader. For "defence and games" (skeet, trap, five stand, sporting clays) I think the 1100 is reliable and affordable, so it's the best choice. When going "offenisive" which would be either going into a situation where a shotgun will be needed (a raid, military combat), or doing a simulation of such (IPSC & etc) the Bennelli would be the best choice (IMHO).

LD

 

[Chuck R.]

2 out of the 4-5 Berettas that people I know own have functioned poorly. On one of them, the shell catches on the part of the receiver between the magazine and barrel feed ramp thingy(where it would be if it had one ). Plus it got dirty real fast at a pheasant shoot and start jamming(stopped halfway back...)

I don’t own one, but a couple of my friends do and they like them. On the other hand, Mike the guy that runs our post skeet club has some that they use as rentals. He told me a couple weeks ago that he can’t stand the things. I was up picking up a gun and he had 5 of them broken down for cleaning, completely broken down. He even had a neat factory cleaning kit to do it. His comment was that they can’t make it through 4 rounds without cleaning. He wishes they had their old Remington 1100s back.

Go figure,

Chuck

 

[Nil]

I have a Mossberg 930, I have been very happy with it.

Can you put a mag tube extension on that?

 

[Smitty in CT]

Can you put a mag tube extension on that?

If your looking for an extended mag, they also sell the 930SPX:

I have one on order...supposed to be here in 2 - 3 weeks....so, yes you can put a mag extention on them...

Then you can buy a longer barrel for clay shooting.....

Choate makes the mag tube extentions....

 

[Nil]

If your looking for an extended mag, they also sell the 930SPX:


I have one on order...supposed to be here in 2 - 3 weeks....so, yes you can put a mag extention on them...

Then you can buy a longer barrel for clay shooting.....

Choate makes the mag tube extentions....

I was actually looking at the combination model that comes with 28" and 18.5" barrels since I don't feel the need for rails or different sights.

I looked at Choate's website but they don't list any mag extensions specifically for the 930. Is it compatible with a different model?

 

[Smitty in CT]

The mag tube for the 9200 uses the same thread. You just have to "open" up the end of the mag tube where it is rolled over to hold the spring.

 

[Nil]

How easy of a process is the "opening" of the mag tube?

 

[Smitty in CT]

It sounds like it's a PITA, that's why I odered a 930SPX.....LOL

The guy at Choate explained it to me this way, you have to get a metal rod and insert it into the mag tube the usung pressure and rolling the rod you have to press out the rolled edge on the top of the mag tub. I didn't want to screw it up, so I didn't even try....

 

[bkjeffrey]

To open a 9200 mag tube all you need is a pair of needle nose pliers and about 2 seconds of your time. I own a 9200 with 2 shot extension. Had to "open up" the mag tube myself.

 

[bkjeffrey]

my 9200 w/ extension and knoxx specops stock