Preacherman
Member
Hi, scattergunning friends. I'd like to get your opinion on the reliability of semi-auto shotguns, in any field (hunting, clays, etc. included) but particularly in a self-defence scenario.
My take on them, based on many years in a civil war environment and considerable training here in the USA, is that I simply don't trust them to bet my life on. For example, here's a review I did of Massad Ayoob's LFI-2 and LFI-3 courses (see this thread on The Firing Line):
What say you, shooting buddies? Am I being too dogmatic in not trusting semi-auto's?
My take on them, based on many years in a civil war environment and considerable training here in the USA, is that I simply don't trust them to bet my life on. For example, here's a review I did of Massad Ayoob's LFI-2 and LFI-3 courses (see this thread on The Firing Line):
The shotgun work was also very interesting, particularly comparing pump-action to semi-auto for defensive use. I had always preferred pump-actions for reliability, although conceding that semi-auto's were faster in operation. This was amply borne out on both LFI-2 and LFI-3, especially the higher-speed runs in the latter course. Literally every semi-auto shotgun on the course (ranging from Benellis, Remingtons and Mossbergs to a magazine-fed Saiga AK clone) suffered one or more malfunctions, taking the weapon down during a course of fire. My reservations about their reliability were amply confirmed! (The sandy shooting range was a real problem in this regard, with dirt getting in the actions.) Pump guns were far more reliable, PROVIDED THAT the operators didn't short-stroke them under the stress of high-speed drills. This particular failure was very common. Mas observes that a competent shotgunner with a semi-auto weapon should be able to get five rounds of buckshot into a standard target at 7 yards in one second or less, and a competent pump-gunner should do the same in 2 seconds or less. On LFI-3, we were challenged to meet this standard. The fastest semi-auto shooter managed it in 1.67 seconds, and the fastest pump-gunner (yes, it was me!) managed 2.03 seconds with an 870. Fun stuff!
What say you, shooting buddies? Am I being too dogmatic in not trusting semi-auto's?