What's so odd about shooting inertia guns and liking it? All four of my go-to shotguns are inertia operated, both for hunting and range duty. By choice, over all the gas, O/U and SxS shotguns in my safe, unless details like dress code call for tweed, brogues, waistcoat and a sidelock.
Semi-Auto selection
- Thread starter chsFISH
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I probably wouldn't either but rubbing shoulders with existing and potential business associates in invitational hunts has its perks. Not to mention all the excitement and frustration of trying to remember that some shotguns have a second trigger for that follow-up shot.I try not to spend too much time around that crowd.
I just bought a Beretta A300 and it seems to shoot quite well and the recoil is insignificant. I've owned a number of semi-auto shotguns: Beretta, Benelli, Remington, and like them all, but had the most trouble with the Rem. 1100. The Benelli shotguns both 20ga and 12ga would exceed your budget these days. The Beretta I bought from Reed's for $743 is well within your budget. Took it out this afternoon, in fact, and it cycled everything I put thru it. Think I'm going to like it a lot. Again, the recoil was soft
I've also owed many pumps, O/U, and SxS. I'm really liking the semi-auto these days.
I've also owed many pumps, O/U, and SxS. I'm really liking the semi-auto these days.
I agree! Also,my main duck and pheasant hunting partner bought a Beretta a300 a couple years ago and loves the thing. Hasn't missed a beat! If I had to replace my beloved Beretta 390, it'd be with an a300. My wife loves her sx3 20 ga, and I like it as well, minus the safety behind the trigger! Go to your local gun store and shoulder a few, you may have a shotgun that just"feels" right as well!
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Now that the very important "feels" right aspect has been brought up, there's a trick to get everything else close to optimal right off the bat, with no custom stock work. Have yourself measured and your wingshooting style assessed by a professional and the correct stock measurements calculated for you.
Mine are 14 3/8" - 14 7/8" pull length (heavy/light jacket), 1 5/8 drop at the comb, 2 5/8" drop at the heel, 1/2" right hand cast.
Regardless of which shotgun I come across I only need a minute with a tape measure and a glance at the barrel/rail type and angles to know whether it fits or not. Some stocks can be adjusted with shims, some even have adjustable cheek pieces and pull length can be fine-tuned with recoil pads so "close enough" is already a good sign when everything else seems to fit the bill.
Mine are 14 3/8" - 14 7/8" pull length (heavy/light jacket), 1 5/8 drop at the comb, 2 5/8" drop at the heel, 1/2" right hand cast.
Regardless of which shotgun I come across I only need a minute with a tape measure and a glance at the barrel/rail type and angles to know whether it fits or not. Some stocks can be adjusted with shims, some even have adjustable cheek pieces and pull length can be fine-tuned with recoil pads so "close enough" is already a good sign when everything else seems to fit the bill.
Armored farmer
Member
My target gun is an 1100 competition. I have sung its praises here many times, i cant say enough good about it.
My boys have Girson automatics for waterfowl. They are imported by (i believe) EAA. Made on Beretta tooling, they are a Beretta clone. I have not personally fired one, but have seen they boys bust some informal clays in the back yard.
Worth a look!
My boys have Girson automatics for waterfowl. They are imported by (i believe) EAA. Made on Beretta tooling, they are a Beretta clone. I have not personally fired one, but have seen they boys bust some informal clays in the back yard.
Worth a look!
cdb1
Member
Yep, I wasted a fair amount of money over the years before finding the dimensions I need.
14.25” LOP, 1.5” DAC, 2.25” DAH, and .25” cast off.
Shims are great but even then they aren’t the end all be all. I wasn’t able to shim the two Berettas I owned enough to fit so even though I like them I stay away from them.
lckdnldd
Member
I have owned a few shotguns in my life. For a long time a Rem. 870 was my preferred choice. A few months back I purchased a Beretta 1st gen. 1301 Tactical. I picked it up new for less than ($800.00). I am well satisfied with it. I have never been into tacticool but I must say everything on this shotgun for my defensive purposes has a well needed function including the sights. Perfect for a close contact defensive shotgun. Short, fairly light and blazing fast. I can empty the 7 shot magazine accurately in just a few seconds. It is supposedly the fastest semi auto shotgun on the market. I do not know about that but it fires as fast as I can pull the trigger and it hits what I am aiming at. I have put about five hundred rounds through it with various brands and sizes of ammunition without a hiccup. My Rem. 1100 is a nice shotgun. I have owned it since the seventies and I cannot sell it short but the 1301 is a completely different animal. Worth a look for sure.
bassjam
Member
I picked up a used 12 ga Benelli Montefeltro last week. She's purdy! Most people say they kick pretty bad, I've only put a box of 25 through it in the side yard but I didn't really notice it being bad, seemed comparable to my heavier 870. Anyway I'm happy so far, new they appear to be a $1,000-1,200 gun.
crestoncowboy
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Just avoid the 140/1400 winchester or the atis/kassnar. Both junk. Most others that ive seen are at least a little serviceable. I sometimes still use a High standard supermatic or an 11-48.......nostalgia I suppose. Someday ill get a versamax. Always wanted one. If Brett Favre couldn't screw one up then it can't be done. Lol
I prefer an O/U or pump.
I prefer an O/U or pump.
I have 2 Tri Star Vipers a.410 bore and a 20ga both work well and come with shim kits for stock adjustments, I know they are not popular but they do work well, and handle any ammunition put in them. Break them in with a box of heavy loads clean it and go have fun.
JW
JW
RSVP2RIP
Member
Bought a Benelli Montefeltro used on a whim for $725. Now I own two, both in 12ga. One walnut for the uplands and one synthetic for the duck blind. Trying to figure a way to get the wife to agree to a third in 20 gauge. I use them more than any other shotgun I own now. Super light and slim, which is something that gas autos can't do well. Recoil is more dependent on gun weight than anything else, imo.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
For me, recoil depends on stock fit---2 of my O/Us (12ga) don't even have recoil pads, just butt plates but the stocks fit very well and I don't even notice the recoil----the only semi-auto I own is an M2(12ga) that I bought the smallest pad they make to get the stock to fit and recoil is nothing with that one too.
wst38tx
Member
Question:
I'm interested in seeing what you have found for a Remington 1100 20ga. I'm trying to get an idea of value of one I have, it's an 18' Improved choke. The man I bought it from said he hadn't shot it much, bought for wife to go shooting with him, which didn't work out. (same here) The interesting thing is when I cleaned it, I found the original little foil sticker on the piston, indicating assembly orientation. I learned from Remington, based on SN, that it was manufactured in 1967. No rust or obvious wear. I shot skeet with it a few times, and it's great shooter.
cdb1
Member
What you have is a mini punt gun. Have 16 feet of barrel cut off and it will be much easier to maneuver on the skeet field.
wst38tx
Member
LOL, ok so I pounded the wrong chicklet. But if I had an 18-foot barrel, I could hold the muzzle right where the bird launches. Is there a rule that says you can't whack it with the barrel to break it?
cdb1
Member
Not that I know of.
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