Reliable low cost semi-auto

Girson seems good
I have friends who shoot mossberg 900s
Both lower cost yet reliable options.

Look for a Charles Daly semi. The one I had was very nice for what it was. I think it was an import sold as a CD gun, perhaps find out who is currently selling those and find a price.

Beretta A300. US made. Solid gun. Should be available @ $600 for black synthetic 28"

Weatherby SA-08, Turkish made but excellent Weatherby customer service. Solid gun based on an older Beretta design. Black synthetic 28" should be available near $500.

Beretta A300 if you can afford it. I have also had some good luck with the TriStar Viper G2 semi-autos. My G2 .410 was a bargain and hasn't missed a lick, nor my G2Silver 20ga.

Second the SA-08. Good luck finding one.

Weatherby SA-08
Mossberg 930 and SA-20

There are a number of others I’d be comfortable purchasing but I’m having a brain fart right now and can’t think of the names. I own or have owned the ones I mentioned. Just remembered one, TriStar. There are others, enough that the make would not be important to me like fit would.

Good used 1100. I have bought five in the last ten years, none over $450. I have lucky sons.

Beretta A300

The most reliable semi-automatic shotgun, capable of shooting any load soft or hard, is the Beretta 1301. That's a $1200 shotgun though. One step down in reliability would be the Stoeger M3000, which is inertia (not gas) driven. The M3000 is 90% of the Beretta 1301 but costs half as much or less. A lot of people like the Mossberg 930, but those cost nearly as much as the 1301 and are not as reliable as the Beretta.

DocRock said:

Beretta A300. US made. Solid gun. Should be available @ $600 for black synthetic 28"

Weatherby SA-08, Turkish made but excellent Weatherby customer service. Solid gun based on an older Beretta design. Black synthetic 28" should be available near $500.

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I can agree with the SA-08. Mine has been very dependable. About 1,500 rounds through it with no issues.

If you can find one, the Stoeger m3000 is used by a bunch of the guys at the range I belong to. Inertia semi-auto at a reasonable price. I couldn't find one in stock anywhere when I was looking for my first shotgun.

I picked up a used Franchi 612 for $300. pretty good gun.

Another vote for an 1100.

I bought a Mossberg 930, slugster and bought 24'' turkey barrel, before shortages. Have not had any problems with ejecting light loads. It is a great gun if you can find one, easy to clean, fun to shoot. It was the only one I could fine around, so got it , then ordered turkey barrel, last one i could find online. I was looking for the JM model, but do to gun buying from pandemic, figured better get slugster model.

marvin02 said:

I can agree with the SA-08. Mine has been very dependable. About 1,500 rounds through it with no issues.

If you can find one, the Stoeger m3000 is used by a bunch of the guys at the range I belong to. Inertia semi-auto at a reasonable price. I couldn't find one in stock anywhere when I was looking for my first shotgun.

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2nd the Stoeger. Benelli action, I've had a 2000 for years and never had a problem with it. Very reasonably priced.

upptick said:

The most reliable semi-automatic shotgun, capable of shooting any load soft or hard, is the Beretta 1301. That's a $1200 shotgun though. One step down in reliability would be the Stoeger M3000, which is inertia (not gas) driven. The M3000 is 90% of the Beretta 1301 but costs half as much or less. A lot of people like the Mossberg 930, but those cost nearly as much as the 1301 and are not as reliable as the Beretta.

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Depending on the model you can get a 930 for less than half the price of a 1301.

Where are you getting your information that the 1301 is the most reliable shotgun out there for light to heavy loads? There are a number of excellent shotguns that can and do lay claim to that title. I’d say the 1301 is an excellent shotgun along with a number of others that are in the same class.

There are many Stoeger detractors. I’m not one of them when it comes to their semi’s. Stoeger makes decent ones. The statements you made about the M3000 are a big stretch though if comparing it to quite a few other makes and models out there. If the M3000 is 90% of the 1301, many more more would be sold.

Klaatu Barada Nikto said:

2nd the Stoeger. Benelli action, I've had a 2000 for years and never had a problem with it. Very reasonably priced.

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I bought a M2000 when they first came out and with some judicious polishing it even cycled 1 ounce loads which is certainly the exception. The person I gave it to still uses it with no issues. The 2000 overall though did have a host of issues for many owners. I believe the M3000 to be a big improvement over the M2000.

Worth noting that while Benelli have fixed the "click" issue on the SBEIII and Elos, the Franchi and Stoeger guns based on the Benelli action have not been fixed.


https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=523548

My M3020 Stoeger has been an excellent investment. Fits me nicely.

Used Remington 1100 all day long.

Low cost is a relitive term. What is low for on is high for another. We have kinds of budgets, all kinds of thoughts on the subject. I wanted a low cost semi. Just to see how things worked. As a partner to my 870. I went with the Linberta. Inexpensive Benellli clone. It works great, reliable, and soft shooting. If you can use that term with a shotgun. Downsides are going to be “what’s a Linberta” and where are the aftermarket stuff. Like a longer barrel and such.

Otherwise, like others are saying, a used Remington 1100. But even used, you’ll pay more.

Reliable and low cost...
My experiences with guns are very similar to experiences with vehicles. A new, low cost car will probably be reliable for a while, until it ain't. A decent quality used one may actually cost as much as the cheap new one, but could easily outlast the new one.

Knowing a budget would be helpful, but if I'm given $500 to go find the best semi-auto I can get new or used I'm looking for in this exact order:
1) 1100
2)1100
3)1100
4)A5 that the guy is selling cheap for whatever reason

1. Reliable
2. Low cost

You usually have to pick one.

I'm happy with my 2 Mossberg 930's- one "hunting" configuration I use for doves, ducks, and turkey- one JM PRO I used for 3 gun.

Don’t know if $500.00 is considered low cost for a semi-auto shotgun by most people. To me it is. I also believe we are currently in the “Golden Age” of low cost semi’s for lack of a better term. I believe most made today are very reliable.

If looking for a target shotgun an 1100 would be at the top of my list. For hunting it would not. There are more modern designs I prefer for hunting. I’m not denigrating the 1100 and if one were my only choice for hunting I certainly wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. And though I’m pretty sure someone will take up the slack and start making Remington shotguns and rifles again, and there are enough parts in the supply chain to last for a good while-I’m not 100% certain. That gives me pause until the situation shakes out.