good upland hunting semi auto under $400?

Take a look at Franchi. I have the 612 VS model. I got in NIB about 3 or 4 years ago for I think $450.00. Synthetic camo stock. It has functioned very well. During this year's early dove season I had 2 shells fail to fully extract. That was probably due to me not cleaning it from the prior 400 rounds I put through it.

Find a used remington or beretta

I hear the Stoeger B2000's share the benelli operating system. I've been told that they are light and fast. They go locally for about $370

--usp_fan

All 3 Winchester 59s I've bought were 350 or less. If you can find one of those it'd work good for you I think.

It will be nearly impossible to find upper end autos such as Benelli, Beretta, Franchi, and possibly Winchester in new or used condition for under $400. However, I you can easily find Remington 11-87s for that price, but they will probably be used. It is my belief that Benelli and Beretta shotguns are in a totally different league than Remington. However, the 11-87 and the rest of Remington's line of shotguns are exceptional pieces of craftmanship that will serve your purpose just fine... and save you a few bucks. That is your best bet.

I have never shot any of the intertia system guns in the Benelli family (benelli, franchi, stoeger), but I heard the stoeger autos kick real bad because they use the intertia system and don't have the more advanced recoil reduction system that benelli and franchi have. I am just repeating what I was told and it momentarily has stopped me from buying a stoeger auto. I asked the salesman if it would kick worse than my pump 870, and he said yes. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Mossberg 930, great reliability, low recoil, easy to clean.....MADE IN THE USA.

Do a search......nobody has any problems with these guns.

Smitty

The Stoeger 2000 is not a fun gun to shoot. By the time you buy a Limbsaver (forget the mercury recoil sytem, it just adds weight) you will have more in it than you would have in a good used gas operated gun. I bought one and immediately traded it. It is brutal to shoot out of the box. Get a used gas gun like an 1100 or a 390,is my advice. Stay away from those inertia operated systems until they get more of the bugs worked out. Such as most of them have to be broken in with the use of heay loads before they will reliably cycle light loads. There are exceptions to this, but if you read reviews on inertia guns you will notice that most complaints about inertia systems is that they take a rather lengthy breaking-in period before they are reliable with 7/8 and 1 oz. loads. IMO, these guns should be broke in by the factory before they are shipped. Quality operation should be engineered in before the customer gets the gun.

I can't say enough good things about a Beretta 390. If you can add a few bucks into your budget, you can buy a new 390 for around $500 at Walmart. The Mossberg 930 will also make your cut. Good gun new at your budget.