Inertia or gas Auto shotgun

[Fishbed77]

I've shot my gas-operated Remington 11-87 Premiere for twenty years now, and I can not recall a single failure. It shoots soft, hits what I point at, and goes bang every time.

By comparison, my uncle's inertia-operated Benelli Black Eagle shoots no better, costs three times as much new, and can be punishing on the shoulder after a surprisingly short time.

 

[MagnunJoe]

Just wondering, is a Beretta a300 Outlander gas or inertia?

 

[pps]

The softest shooting 3 1/2" magnum shotgun I have is the SX3 Winchester. Kind of a gas-inertia combo. It's super light, but in spite of this, it's kick is very tame.

Can't tell you much about durability, as I've only had it for a few months...but it points and shoots like a dream.

 

[Fishbed77]

Just wondering, is a Beretta a300 Outlander gas or inertia?

It's a gas-operated gun.

My brother has one - it's a nice shotgun. It recoils a little harder than some other gas-operated guns like the Remington 1100 or 11-87, and it's a little less simple to operate - I'm not a fan of the tiny bolt-hold open button or the very stiff bolt release (but I am so accustomed to the Remington platforms). It's reliable though. It shoots well, and its easier to clean than the Remingtons.

 

[mach1.3]

I have shot many shotguns both inertia, recoil operated and gas guns. I own
an SX3, Browning Gold Hunter and Silver Hunter, Weatherby SA-8, Beretta 390 and a Winchester SX-1 and a M59 etc. I prefer gas guns when kept clean. I grew up in Kansas and have shot many doves, quail and pheasant with 2.75" and never shot even a 3" shotshell until the 90's. Never heard of a 3" shell then and certainly not a 3.5". Why anyone would need a 3.5" is beyond me---the recoil must be very harsh. BTW: I have shot the Browning Gold Hunter chambered in 10ga. and it's quite stout as well. My grandfather had an old 10ga. SxS with the external hammers----now that was HD HARSH on the recoil.

 

[rbernie]

Actually, I prefer long-recoil actions above all else. If I can't get that in a modern well-supported platform, I'll settle for inertial.

 

[45crittergitter]

I would only get a gas gun if recoil is the biggest issue. My 11-87 was utterly and completely unreliable. My inertia recoil guns are utterly reliable, lighter, and cleaner, but kick more.

 

[hq]

Having had quite a few semiauto shotguns over the years, my go-to guns for the last ten or so have been Benelli M3 and Centro Supersport. There's a slight disadvantage as far as felt recoil is concerned, but I've found these inertia guns to be utterly reliable, easy to keep clean and they pattern very well with high velocity hunting ammo.

As far as hunting shotguns are concerned, recoil doesn't seem to be a major issue because you're so concentrated in downing game that you don't really notice it, and at shotgun range you shoot light recoiling skeet/trap loads anyway.

It all boils down to personal preference. I don't mind using gas guns at all, I have a few of them as well and they just don't see as much use as they used to.

 

[MagnunJoe]

According to Beretta, the A300 outlander has less recoil and is self cleaning? So why is it filthy after I shoot her.

 

[oneounceload]

Are you shooting crappy ammo? The gas system is self-cleaning, but that does not mean you will not have to clean it now and again

 

[IdahoSkies]

+1 on gas. Unless you are in some nasty stuff. I hunted with one guy who slogged through mud to and from his blind, and then sat in it on a stool in his blind. I'll never do that a gun. But he only used the inertia driven guns. I can see why he needed them. I love my 1187. My next gun will be a Versamax. With a 3 1/2 shell, you will want a two piece stock and a gas gun. that said, 3 1/2 inch shells are really overkill these days.

 

[MagnunJoe]

Just your typical Federal or Winchester trap ammo.

 

[oneounceload]

Just your typical Federal or Winchester trap ammo

Well, there's the general purpose promo crap from wally world from both companies........OR, there are the Federal Gold Medal and Winchester AA load which ARE target ammo and much better made.

 

[Fishbed77]

According to Beretta, the A300 outlander has less recoil and is self cleaning? So why is it filthy after I shoot her

Less recoil than what? Most inertia guns? Yes. A Remington 1100/11-87? Definitely not. I've shot both back-to-back.

A300s definitely need cleaning. But they are certainly easier to clean than the Remingtons.

 

[MagnunJoe]

Ok, yes, I shoot the cheap kind... That's why I have to clean her every time.

 

[Potatohead]

Is their a way to tell gas from inertia, by looking at the outside of the gun, or do you just have to ask your (un)friendly gun counter guy?

 

[Fishbed77]

Is their a way to tell gas from inertia, by looking at the outside of the gun, or do you just have to ask your (un)friendly gun counter guy?

It's called Google.

In this day and age, there is no reason to be so uninformed as to have to depend on the gun counter guy to do anything other than fetch your guns of choice and ring up your sales.

 

[Potatohead]

Hey what are you saying about the gun counter guy
I was kidding about talking w the counter fella.

I would obviously research it before buying something but was wondering if their were a way to tell by looking at all of them on the racks behind the counter at my Gander for instance. You cant really see the names/brands and such from 15' away. Or at least my eyes cant. I know nothing about shotguns, obviously.

 

[oneounceload]

There aren't that many inertia brands of guns, and Benelli is at the top of the heap - start there and work your way down. The Beretta Group also has a few other brands as well.

 

[Armored farmer]

Oneounce nailed it.
As usual.... +1

 

[orphanedcowboy]

According to Beretta, the A300 outlander has less recoil and is self cleaning? So why is it filthy after I shoot her.

There is no such thing as a self cleaning shotgun, if there was, every waterfowler would own one.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Is their a way to tell gas from inertia, by looking at the outside of the gun, or do you just have to ask your (un)friendly gun counter guy?

Long Recoil:

Browning Auto-5
Remington 11 & 11-48
Franchi AL48

Inertia:

Benelli most models with exception of the M4
Franchi Affinity, Intensity and I-12
Beretta Pintail ES100 & 1200/1201
Stoeger M2000, 3000 & 3500

Gas:
Pretty much everything else

There are more of each version, these are just some of the most popular models.

 

[Potatohead]

Hey thanks for the info guys.

 

[RUT]

It boils down to a matter of personal preference. I choose inertia guns due to their simplicity, lack of moving parts, and overall cleanliness. Since I'm not recoil sensitive I can think of no advantage to having a gas gun over my Benelli autos. But that's just me....

 

[Potatohead]

How hard are the gas guns to clean? I mean, whats involved? Is it as annoying as an ar15? I havent been shooting and cleaning long but my AR cleaning directions are about 20 pages long.