[peck1234]

In terms of reliability ONLY which type of shotgun is better...



Also, if anyone has any links or personal information that could further explain their decision it would be greatly appreciated...

[f4t9r]

Most likely people will say pump and that would be hard to argue.
I have never had a problem with a semi auto shotgun either.
A good quality gun will work a high percentage of the time.

[VegasOPM]

Pumps are less finicky about ammo selection, cleanliness and shoulder mount. Semis shoot a bit softer and a lot faster for most folks (Tom Knapp not included).

[BP44]

I voted pump because if the operator does their part they are bullet proof, on the other hand my benelli SBEII has never,ever,ever let me down "nock on wood:uhoh:" even with tons of walmart bulk 2 3/4'' low brass.

[JImbothefiveth]

A pump can actually be easy to jam if you don't practice enough. If you're going to practice, they will probably be more reliable.

[mljdeckard]

Line up any autoloader, next to a Mossberg or Remington pump, with let's say five cases EACH of S&B birdshot, and just burn through it. I'm going to say the pumps will come out better.

Yes it's possible to short-stroke a pump, but it's also possible to short-charge or ride the bolt forward on an autoloader.

[meatmachineman]

Eliminating the human factor, the pump comes out on top hands down... in general. A quality auto with proper attention will function to a degree of reliability satisfactory for most folks. My M2 has been awesome. My 1100 has given me fits from time time, but it usually winds up being some sort of lack of attention on my part that causes it. For the purpose of the thread, though... pump.

[John Peddie]

I've never owned a semi, but my hunting buddies all shoot 1100 s. They all get turned into expensive single shots at least once a season, generally due to O rings or failure to clean gas ports properly.

Me?

Grab my Ithaca 37 or BPS pump on opening day, and I'm good to go for the season, just wipe down. Even though I have short arms I transitioned easily from a double (which is really a 2 shot, super reliable semi) to the pumps and have never short shucked-but I rack them hard. I can see a pump jamming if you're too gentle or don't rack it all the way back.

You won't hurt it.

[MCgunner]

The secret to a gas gun is keeping it clean and feeding it what it likes in power level. If you're so danged lazy that you can't pick up a rag and a bottle of powder solvent, then you get what you deserve. :rolleyes: Most autos don't have the O ring thing going for them, just don't use an 1100 and you're gold on that one. It'll be as reliable as anything if you clean it after the hunt. I've had pumps jam, fail to extract, and such. Of course, the only pumps I've owned were Remingtons and Mossbergs, both sort of budget guns although the Remington was a wingmaster. My 500 had a problem with failures to extract last couple of years. I'd changed to Winchester high velocity (1550 fps) 2 3/4" 3 steel and 3" 2 steel Xperts and thought the ammo was at fault, but I polished the chamber with some steel wool and it didn't have the problem this season, so I guess it has some corrosion or something in the chamber that was causing the problem. You have to clean a pump or even a pump will start giving you problems. Hell, one year I went out opening day of Teal season, the gun had been sitting in the safe all summer. I went to pull the trigger on the first bird and the sear was rusted together. Had to use what felt like 40 lbs on the trigger to break it. Yeah, I hunt in a salt marsh, corrosive environment, with a bay trip now and then. I pull the trigger group out at the end of the season now for a good lubing.

I notice you didn't add SxS or O/U. There's your reliable shotguns. Oh, they can screw up, anything mechanical can screw up, but I've never had one jam. :D

[Fred Fuller]

Given proper maintenance and good ammunition, they're about equally reliable. Pumps can handle a wider variety of ammunition, semis often recoil less, and can be more easily run with one hand if necessary. Everything in life is a tradeoff...

lpl (with another High Standard 10A here finally, only waiting for new springs to get here so I can feel OK about shooting it, and this one will NEVER be for sale)

[guide1]

I have only had the pleasure of owning one auto (1100) and never had a single problem. However, at the last 3-gun match, I observed two shooters have identical problems on the same firing position. Every single round would fail to eject. One was an 1100, the other a Benelli. The problem? They were both shooting around the left side of a barricade and the bolt handle was striking the side of said barricade with every shot. Neither shooter knew what was going wrong until they finished the course (frustrated and red-faced I might add) and somebody pointed it out to them. This was obviously operator error, but I had never considered the possibilty until I witnesses it first hand. Something to keep in mind when practicing with your auto.

[GTSteve03]

Eliminating the human factor, the pump comes out on top hands down
The problem is, no gun is operated in a vacuum. Considering the need of having to pump after every shot and leaving one open to short-stroking or having to shoot one-handed makes me pick the semi. Especially one like the Saiga 12, built around the most reliable automatic rifle ever built, the AK.

[throdgrain]

I voted auto.


































By accident. I meant pump, dammit :( :)

[CWL]

I own both. While I may lean towards pumps as probably more reliable, I doubt either will fail if well maintained.

My HD shotgun is a semi-auto.

[KC0QGL]

I had to vote pump. The only thing more reliable is a bolt or single shot gun IMHO.

[SoCalShooter]

The semi's I have used only one has given me trouble.

1. browning A5 older absolutely flawless
2.remmy 1100 feed jam issue

[MCgunner]

I voted auto because I knew everyone else would go pump and I'm just that kinda guy. :neener:

[Hollywood Marine]

I have short stroked my model 12 on occasion, but I have never had a failure other than that or a mis-fire. On the other hand I have never had a malfunction with my Super X 1 either, but I've had the twelve a lot longer.

[inSight-NEO]

Its kinda like comparing revolvers to semi-automatic handguns.

[Three Man]

Get yourself a Bennelli M3 and you'll have both in one package.