Most Reliable Semi Auto Shotgun?

[BluedRevolver]

I know this has been asked before, and I've read several threads discussing it, but I still seek some fresh input.



I want the most reliable, long lasting, well proven semi auto shotgun around. What is the most popular among frequent clay shooters and tournament participants?

Are there any that are practical for both home defense and hunting?


But my primary question is what the most reliable, long lasting, and durable semi auto shotgun is.

 

[spotch]

/watching from the sidelines, hoping for an honorable mention for the mossberg 930

 

[creeper1956]

What is the most popular semi auto shotgun among tournament participants?

If you're talking 3-gun tournaments, that would be the Benelli M1/M2, FN SLP & Remington 1100/11-87/VersaMax... the first being the 1st, the latter two I'm afraid I don't know which is 2nd and 3rd at present... flip a coin perhaps? The Mossberg 930, in particular the JM Pro, due to it's relatively low price, is making inroads... so there ya' go spotch.
And guess what? They all break down occasionally. Why? Because they get heavily modified to load and cycle faster... you push anything to the edge, they tend to trip and fall now and again.

The Saiga and more recent Akdal MKA have their proponents as well.

Are there any that are practical for both home defense and hunting?

As to HD... any of the guns with a 18.5" ~ 24" barrel would be fine. Many prefer a rib to GR or rifle sights for HD, so a 24" gun, like a Benelli M2 24" Field for example would make an excellent all arounder. If the LOP is too long, there are a number of short and tactical LOP stock makers... easy to find in a search.

As to hunting... define "hunting". An 18.5" might be a bit too short for some needs. Personally, although I have dedicated HD, competition and hunting Benellis, a 22" or 24" gun would be about perfect for all my needs.

Happy New Year!
C

 

[browningguy]

Of current production probably the Benelli M2 for proven reliability and longevity? And yes they make models that could be used for hunting and clays.

You also see a lot of Remington 1100 and Beretta Semi autos in sporting clays. I love my new 930 Rythym by the way and think it is going to be a fine shotgun for 3 gun, but so far the JM model is getting used in 3 gun, and you don't see the 930 among any of the top auto shooters in Sporting.

 

[Virginian]

The one that is owned by someone who understand his gun, and what is needed to keep it running like a typewriter. I have owned and shot Remington 1100s for 49 years - coming 50 soon now - and they are dead reliable - for me. I have seen way too many others with issues to know who I would, and would not, recommend one to.
I went shooting with a couple of friends not too long ago. By station seven both guns were jamming. A Beretta and a Browning Gold - not exactly junkers. Wasn't busy, so we stepped aside and pulled them apart. Both looked like they had been meticulously lubricated with tar. We borrowed a dirty rag from a groundskeeper and with a little bottle of RemOil or CLP did a quick wipedown and both were fine the rest of the way.
The biggest enemy of any semi is the nut on the back of the stock. There have been some BAD designs - the High Standard Supermatic comes to mind, but most semis will work, especially the ones built today.

 

[jmr40]

Kept reasonably clean one of the Beretta's will be the favorite choice among those that shoot clay games. The older Remington 1100 is not a bad choice either, but has been surpassed by newer designs. I have no personal experiece, but hear too many good things about the Winchester and Browning to rule them out. They are not as popular, but may well be as good as the Beretta.

For a hunting semi that can handle a little more abuse and likely keep working when dirty the Benelli's have a big advantage with their much simpler design. I don't think they would be the best choice for guys who shoot thousands of rounds at clays each year because of the increased recoil. I've owned Beretta, Remington, and Mossberg 9200. The Benelli is my choice, for my style of shooting.

watching from the sidelines, hoping for an honorable mention for the mossberg 930

The 930 gets a lot of interest on the internet. I'm not convinced yet. There are lots of guns that get high praise on the net that have proven to be pretty bad guns in my experience. Mossberg has had several major league flops with semi's in the past. Maybe they have finally figured out how to make one. No personal experience with the 930, but from what I'm reading it looks promising.

 

[rodinal220]

Benelli M1/M2/M4.

 

[GCBurner]

My stepdad's old Browning Auto still works perfectly, after about 60 years. I hope my new Mossberg 930 is still working as well after that length of time; so far I'm happy with its performance, but it's not a Browning.

 

[eastbank]

i have been running rem 1100,s and the newer 1187 for all the clay games and only shoot two loads in them and clean them at around 600 rounds, a complete take down cleaning once a year and replace the o-ring them. a new recoil spring every 2-3 years(sooner if needed), i have no jams due to dirt, a few due to my dumbness.i run other shotguns to but they are pumps,o/u and double barrles. eastbank.

 

[rbernie]

Benelli Inertial or Beretta 390 progeny.

 

[BigJimP]

For clays and hunting...if I wanted to shoot a semi-auto, I prefer the Benelli ...my favorite model is the Super Sport..( synthetic stock, comfort tech system in it, in 12ga or 20ga). They shoot clean...but I still completely strip them down after every range trip ....but its so easy to do, why not ...??

Maintenance is the biggest deal on gas operated semi-autos...if you don't maintain them ...none of them are reliable. If you do maintain them ...most all of the big names are very good guns ( Remington, Beretta, Browning, etc)

If I wanted a tactical shotgun ...it would be the Benelli M-4 a gas operated semi-auto. Nice guns - and very reliable.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Benelli M2

 

[wgp]

My Browning A5s and Benelli M2 and Montefeltro have proven to be as close to 100% as I suspect you can get. People I respect have given good reviews to Mossbergs.

I have watched my hunting partners have continued failure issues with 1100s and Berettas. Just my observation.

 

[farscott]

I like the old Remington 11-48 in 28-gauge and .410, but other than the Browning Auto-5 those are the only semi-autos I have used extensively. I am sticking with the platform as I understand how to maintain and use it.

 

[Mikey Idaho]

Not a competition shooter by any means but for the price my Mossberg 930 SPX has been flawless for me and will run the lightest target loads. I have polished the chamber and inside of the piston tube with my dremel btw.

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S III using Tapatalk 2

 

[tarosean]

I want the most reliable, long lasting, well proven semi auto shotgun around.

Stay with the big names in shotguns like Beretta, Remington, Browning, etc. etc. IMO look at their mid-tiers

What is the most popular among frequent clay shooters and tournament participants?

Kolar, Krieghoff or Perazzi

 

[eastbank]

in three life times i might get good enought to need one of those high fuletten big dollar guns,but untill than i,ll use my rems. and all guns will mulfuction if not maintained, right along with good ammo. i,ed say 90 percent of jams i have seen were due to poor maintaince and 10 percent due to bad reloads. with my 1100-1187,s i shot 200 rounds and then cleaned them,then delayed cleaning untill 400 rounds and when they went 600 rounds thats when they get a good cleaning,i do give the action a small spray mist of a good lubricate during the 600 rounds. eastbank.

 

[Simmy952]

My Remington 1100 and the Beretta 1201FP have been reliable since the day I owned them. A little oil now and then and a good wipe down and they are good to go. Have used shot, slugs, and buckshot through each one and have not had any issues.

 

[oneounceload]

What is the most popular among frequent clay shooters and tournament participants?

In this area, Beretta wins, hands down, no one is even close. For sporting clays, approximately 30% shoot a semi; of those folks, 99.5% shoot one of the Beretta models - either the 390, 391, or the newer A400

 

[Mencius]

I realize it is out of production, for a while now, but I have a Browning B80 I have been shooting in dove fields and duck ponds for ~25 years now. I even dropped it in a pond once. I am not one of those clay guys who shoots thousands of rounds a year, but I get out a fair bit. I don't clean it nearly like I should. However, I bet I could count the number of failures on one hand.

*shrug*

 

[Silverado6x6]

I have a 1933 built Remington Model 11 built almost identical to the Browning A5, the 11 has a recoiling barrel. Its a 2 3/4" shell only. I have never had a problem with it from birdshot to slugs, its been cut down to about 20' of barrel and I can empty it as fast as it takes to fire a single round of an 870 when I back off the spring coil tension nut, I have had friends tell ne it sounded like it was fully auto when I fired it as fast as I could.

Its an archaic design plus they are getting kind of rare. But I hear the Benelli is the best.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Benelli M4, gas piston operated, eats light and heavy loads. Some of the inertia driven Benelli may have trouble with light loads, but I have not had a problem with my SBE II.

 

[Master Blaster]

1187, 1100's, and the Beretta 391, are all good durrable and reliable guns. One thing to keep in mind with gas guns is that they do not like to be wet with oil. My 1100 and 1187 I just wipe them with a very lightly oily rag. Slathering oil on them will create mud and will cause them to jam. The Beretta can tollerate a little more oil, but it is not needed. The boyscout camp I volunteer at has 1100's that are 20 years old, and continue to operate reliably summer after summer with target loads, and rough treatment, and little cleaning durring busy camp months. Many scouts have earned their shotgun merit badge using these guns, and for most it is their first time shooting a shotgun.

Funny thing is that even though I have a fancy Beretta 391 gold sport model, my son and I both shoot trap better with the 1100, and the plain jane 1187. The 1187 feels like a toy after shooting the Beretta, but it sure does break those clays on the days when I am missing with the 391.

 

[brnmw]

Benelli M1/M2/M4.

Yup!

 

[Hit_Factor]

Remington's have a fragile gas o-ring. For that reason alone they should not be considered.