What's the best CHEAP semi-auto?

Have a look at the Tristar G2 series. Not expensive and much better quality than their O/U models.

I could say this or that...but there is only one real answer.
No need in skirting the solution.

Here is my circa 1979 model.
If you must have a bargain, go on a gunshop tour and find a nice used one.
1100 12 ga
28" barrel
Full set of Rem chokes.

1100s are good guns. I found one for around $150 on a local shooting forum.

I don't know which one is best for cheap, but it's going to be made in turkey. Probably on an inertia system. I have a viper g2 that I picked up new for $300. Once it broke in it functions all right, but I don't ask much of my shotguns. I prefer the fit of the Benelli m2 and the feel of the remington 1100. But I grew up with the 870 & the 1100.

If you’re going to buy a cheap Turkish shotgun, make it a CZ. Turkish guns are a crapshoot but CZ-USA stands behind them with excellent customer service.

Personally, I’d look for a late 50’s, early 60’s Auto-5.

I have an 1100 that I sent back to Remington to fit a Monte Carlo stock with a roll over comb. I also fitted the gun with an adjustable butt plate. A RemChoke high rib barrel for trap, the original modified choke barrel and a rifled slug barrel makes it an all around shotgun. I also used an inexpensive sheet metal clip that clipped into the receiver ejection port and captured the fired shell for trap shooting. Some flying clays place have a “shell on ground they own it rule”. Youngest son now uses it for upland game. Dates back to the early eighties.

WVGunman

I have an old Mossberg Model 9200 that has been super reliable right out of the box (it's my dedicated turkey gun). But if I were in the market for a decent, relatively inexpensive semi-auto shotgun I would do as others have already suggested and look for a used Remington Model 1100.

I have been in your same shoes, looked for an affordable semi auto that wouldn't break from use or break the bank. I lucked in to a few auctions on Gunbroker and picked up 2 Remington V3 12 gauge shotguns and a Mossberg 930. I am in all three for less than $1000. By far I prefer the Remington, and I am not a huge Remington fan. It has been more reliable and a softer shooter than the Mossberg. I'd take a real hard look at a V3.

Rudolph31 said:

If you’re going to buy a cheap Turkish shotgun, make it a CZ. Turkish guns are a crapshoot but CZ-USA stands behind them with excellent customer service.

Personally, I’d look for a late 50’s, early 60’s Auto-5.

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I own more CZ rifles and pistols than any other brand, I really like them. And while it’s true CZ customer service is great, including on shotguns, I don’t care for CZ shotguns. I’ve owned two semi’s, the fit and finish wasn’t as good as other Turkish shotguns I’m familiar with in the same price range and the triggers were the heaviest I’ve ever used.

OP, I own a Weatherby SA-08 and have owned a Mossberg 930 and recommend both. I haven’t owned a Tristar but would recommend them. For not too much more money than the above mentioned shotguns you can get a Remington V3, which I would have if I didn’t already have more shotguns than I can use.

used 1100-1187,s are hard to beat. my last 50-50 straight was with a 1187 trap shotgun.

they are pretty much the same design, the 1187 has some improvements. it will shoot 2-3/4 or 3" shells with no adjustments , while the 1100 requires a barrel change to shoot 2-3/4 shells in a 3" reciever. the gas system on the 1100 uses one hole in a 3" barrel while the 2-3/4 barrel has two gas holes in the barrel.

I bought a Tristar Viper G2 in .410 this spring to play with at the skeet club. My other semi-automatic shotguns are Berettas, Benelli and Franchi. The little Tristar has performed very well and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one.

I'm looking at getting an A300. I've never shot one, so this is not a recommendation, it's just the direction I'm probably going for an inexpensive autoloader. I believe they're made in the USA.

I also favor the 1100 or slightly heavier 11-87. But I do like the Mossberg semi autos as well. They are based on the old S&W 1000. Another gun I regret selling.

MtnCreek said:

I'm looking at getting an A300. I've never shot one, so this is not a recommendation, it's just the direction I'm probably going for an inexpensive autoloader. I believe they're made in the USA.

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That's another great choice. I found black synthetic models being sold on Gunbroker for $550 this summer and grabbed one. It has been faultless and reliable as my Beretta 390 and 391 at considerably less money.

Very hard to beat a used 1100. If you can find a Valtro made (Italy) Weatherby SAS, predecessor to the SA-08, it shares a design with the Beretta Xtrema gas system, is rugged, solid, runs dirty, and the synthetic stocked versions were cheap. Uses Browning Invector chokes.

But you should really get a Stoeger Outback. You may think you want a semi-auto, but really the best shotgun for virtually anything but Olympic level target shooting is a 20" barrel o/u...

If you can find a used Rem 1100 in serviceable condition for a fair price, that's a fine bet. The 2 3/4" chambered models will generally do better with target loads, 3" models can be fussier about cycling even 1 1/8oz trap loads. Replacement parts are easy to find and install, and they are very good at grinding clays. I shot one to top gun or second place in local trap leagues 5 years running, and numerous meat shoots and local competitions. Mine was a standard field model with fixed full choke. Ran in the neighborhood of 20,000 shells guestimated during the time I had that gun from age 12 to 40, replacing various parts along the way. Passed it on to a youth shooter a few years ago.

If you can't find one, and wish to hunt with it, I've had good luck with a Stoeger M3000 so far. I use it as a spare canoe paddle. It is my dedicated waterfowl gun with occasional use in trap and skeet getting ready for bird season. It has been rock solid for me even when subjected to the worst of abuse which is condition normal on a Minnesota duck hunt. It does not like light 1 oz trap and skeet loads, but runs everything else with aplomb from 1 oz HV bargain shells to heavy 3" non-tox waterfowl loads. Balance and point are reasonably good for a cheap field gun. I've been able to run 100 with it on the trap field, so it must be alright. Felt recoil is mild, weight is "medium." A good general purpose shotgun.

Having just bought 3 new in the box shotguns in the last 3 months I can put my two bits in here......but it does come with a story.

The wife started shooting sporting clays....and really liked it, she at first used our old 1100 but it did not fit her well and was pounding her to death.....and had the chance to get me arrested by the bruises left on her....so to avoid that she bought a new Benelli M2. While shopping she tried several different guns....some she could not push the button to release the bolt....just too stiff, the Benelli felt nice and smooth, the button was easy to push, it fit her....we THOUGHT we had a winner.....she could not load it....too hard to get the shell past the spring and when she did it bit her finger to the point of blood....we tried everything, it even went back to benelli twice for them to try to make it better for her...no luck, she hated it.

So one expensive shotgun down.....so she sells it back to the store she got it from for a loss of $200....not bad, they really did help her out.....

Next on deck is a weatherby sa08, she loves...as in LOVES this shotgun, fits her, she can load it, she thinks it has a less harsh recoil over the M2. She has had it perhaps a month or two now and puts ~ 100 rounds per week through it.....it is much more dirty then the benelli, but has never had an issue in her long sessions with her instructor.

She then also bought a tristar....we really did not need it but figured as we now had a electric thrower at home (amazing the stuff you get after your wife starts to play some of the gun games too) she figured it would be a good "gun to let friends use".....I have shot it a bit, and not had an issue with it as well.....seems to be kissing cousins to the sa08....but who knows....I did not look up who made them. The triggers are not bad on them, but being a gas gun they do get more dirty....not a biggie if I can clean a Remington model 8 I can clean these things.....now if I could get her to clean them.

For the record the balance of the money she got from the gun shop they gave her in a check....never seen them do that and they have earned my business in the future.....great guys.

Rudolph31 said:

If you’re going to buy a cheap Turkish shotgun, make it a CZ. Turkish guns are a crapshoot but CZ-USA stands behind them with excellent customer service.

Personally, I’d look for a late 50’s, early 60’s Auto-5.

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That is a beautiful collection you have.

Thank you. It’s a disease I think, and there are more in the safe.

fpgt72 said:

they do get more dirty....not a biggie if I can clean a Remington model 8 I can clean these things.....now if I could get her to clean them.

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NO!!!... women should NOT be cleaning shotguns! It is beyond their technical expertise and is too dangerous!!!

Tell her this a few times and you will never have to clean a shotgun again... yet they will always be spotless.

I had a similar yearning as the OP.
I’ve had a Rem1187 SP camo which hit the spot when I was waterfowling. Haven’t hunted waterfowl in over a decade now. Mostly deer hunting. Got a cantelever scope barrel for it and killed a few deer with it with slugs. However, I now use a Mossberg M220.... The 1187 is the ever-ready bunny. I have 4-barrels for it...
I’ve digressed.
I desired a lightweight, svelt 20ga auto for easy carry, easy recoil , economical shooting.
I fell in love with the TriStar Raptor Youth model w/24” bbl and choke tubes. I bought one with Max4 camo, and needed an adult stock. I ordered one, and additional Carlson “Mobil-chokes”. Love it. Eats my reloads like candy. Customer support rep was extremely helpful.

Now, after handling a G4 .410 Bronze, I might have to drop the plastic again...!
The Italians did a marvelous job of teaching the Turks how to make a shotgun!!!