I got so many questions.
Firstly, I hear the Benelli M4 is one of the most reliable semi auto shotguns out there. With that being said, would it function with all shotgun shells? I hear semi autos don't usually handle bird shot/light loads very well.
After some thinking about it, I was thinking, maybe I should just go with the Benelli M3 because it's got semi and pump action capabilities. Is the M3 more reliable than the M4 because it can manually pump. So like if it doesn't cycle on semi auto mode, can you basically just switch to pump action to remedy the malfunction?
Then there is the question of... are mag fed shotguns better? On first hand, it seems like it, you can buy a lot of mags, then preload them.
BUT..... I hear that shotgun shell plastic can deform when sitting in a mag too long. So it seems like mag fed shotguns are great if you're going to be in a situation that requires a ton of ammo usage.
Although, with the ammo capacity. Some tube fed shotguns have speed loaders which are almost like tube magazine or maybe more accurately clips than you can just push 4 or 5 rounds into the tube. They're bulky but would do the job. However are they more prone to getting jammed when reloading than mags? How come the military/police don't use speed loaders to reload their tube fed shotguns? Seems like there is a reason you dont see that too much. Idk. Maybe it's just a lot harder to do. There are aftermarket feed ramps I've seen on some competition tube fed shotguns that assist with speed loading them.
So Idk which is the best for general all round use. I want primarily home defense reliability, but also SHTF/combat capabilities.
Someone mentioned keltec if I'm concerned about mag capacity limits, although the one showed looked like a pain to reload. A bullpup like design? Idk. I do like how it looks shorter for more moving around a home situation.
My take on the
bold text in the OP:
Nothing I know beats a Benelli semiautomatic shotgun for reliability, including many pump action guns. But there are others that are just as reliable. My Beretta and CZ semiautomatic shotguns shoot everything I feed them, mostly clay target loads, flawlessly until I get to a couple cases through them and they start to gum up. But shooting 500 rounds through any shotgun without some level of cleaning will make them all get sluggish and start to fail. After that many rounds, I have just sprayed them liberally with CLP and pressed on, but the eventual cleaning just gets more messy.
My CZ712 did have some issues with light target loads when brand new. Some oil and a couple boxes of high brass #6 shot and never had a problem after that.
Military rarely use shotguns except as breaching tool for doors. Cops use M4’s and AR’s more than shotguns these days from what I see. But shotguns with buckshot generally put the threat down with a single solid hit. And regarding speed loaders, they take a bit of training to get good and fast with.
My primary long gun for home defense is an AR because 30 > 5-8. Military and SWAT entering combat type situations carry semi or select fire rifles. But I have a loaded shotgun at the ready too.
I used to be a “pump is more reliable” kind of guy, but every other gun I own for defensive reasons is a semiautomatic. I totally trust my CZ and Beretta not to fail me. I’d trust my 50 year old Remy 1100 20 gauge too. I’d definitely trust any Benelli, and with proper vetting, probably any Browning or Winchester auto.
I have clay pigeon buddies who bought several Mossy 920’s and two had hard fails…my Mossy 500 guns fine, but I’m focused on autos in this rant.
I’ll tell you what I told my friend looking for a HD shotgun…just buy this one:
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...cz-712-utility-g2-semi-auto-shotgun/p/1477216
It is 4+1 rounds. If you want more capacity, it is easy to modify:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005267676?pid=981689
You may need to run a few boxes of high brass loads through it first, but once it gets 50 rounds and some lube, I bet it will run great. I know three folks who have these and all run flawlessly.
YMMV