auto , semi or pump ?

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As there are damned few legal full auto shotguns around, I suspect you'll not be getting too many "auto" picks. Besides, FA shotguns kick like a bear.

For me, I like a good smooth pump for any serious work.

For giggles and grins I own a Saiga 12 with 20 round drums.
 
Back in the day, when I did a lot of clay target shooting, and dove hunting, I prefered Remington 1100's. The gas operation gave a softer recoil. But as interest in those things faded I switched to pumps because they're less expensive.

I actually PREFER side by side doubles.
 
fair enough , I forgot the side by side and over and under which are great for sport.

I must probably state that I have recently bought a semi-auto (old atis , browning copy), felt that the four round magazine was not to my taste and have now sent it to a gunsmith to have the mag capacity increased to 8 , then I believe it would be ideal and serve me well for a long time in all mannner of situations.

It does however seem that most people prefer pump actions and I am wondering if there is something I am overlooking
 
I like a good SXS, but cannot justify the money for a good one and all of the cheap ones have left me unimpressed. Over Unders just don't do a thing for me even though they are the prefered gun of serious target shooters. I respect pumps, own a couple of 870's.

They will stand up to abuse and shoot crappy ammo better than any other type. You also get more gun for the money with a pump. For someone with a budget of under $1,000 they are the only real option. In fact you can get 2-3 good pumps for under $1,000. A pump would be my choice for a survival gun that had to work even after years of neglect or abuse.

But for all around use I prefer a good semi. Kept reasonably clean they are very reliable. In fact as long as you buy a quality gun, they are reasonably clean and half way decent ammo is used they are more reliable than pumps. Pumps most often malfunction from operator error, (short stoking) that doesn't happen with a semi.
 
Over Unders rule the target world with gas semis coming in a distant second. In the uplands - all types are used, but I prefer a good SxS as they tend to be the lightest and nicest to use from a swing dynamics perspective.
I do not like pumps or semis in the uplands when hunting with others only because it is difficult to tell if their bolt is open or closed (safety)

They will stand up to abuse and shoot crappy ammo better than any other type.

I guess I just don't get this mentality about abusing your guns and using crappy ammo. I do not abuse mine at all - they get used, and sometimes they pick up a stock ding, and when are going after a quarry, I want to use the best ammo for the best results. And no, they do NOT handle crappy ammo better than anything else - all one has to do is search for the million threads about pump guns not extracting certain brands of ammo - an O/U or SxS, or even a single shot will do that aspect better
 
My own personal preference is the pump shotgun, for several reasons, although I own every type of shotgun there is (except lever action). If one is in a hunting situation and has to cross a fence, it's easier to simply slide back the slide handle, pick up the ejected shell, cross the fence, then drop the shotshell in the barrel and (with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, pump the handle forward to chamber the shell and keep hunting.
If you accidentally drop a shotgun in a creek, a pump is easier to clean out than a semi-auto. They're also usually lighter. Also, there are no recoil springs to maintain, no gas ports to clean, simple maintenance.
Semi-autos do seem to kick less and avail the shooter quicker follow ups, though. When I hunt with a semi-auto, I find that I'm more likely to waste ammunition. With a pump, I'm more likely to take my time and take better shots.
I've never really mastered the over/under....or the double. I guess I'm a pump guy. I like 870s and 500s and I think I shoot them better than anything else, all things considered.
 
Pump: I like it better for skeet shooting and defense. My Winchester 1200 is a little long to use in the narrow hallways in my house and around tight corners, but the noise it makes when you rack that first shell in is loud enough to make any burglar turn around post haste.

I'd love to save up some money and get a nice over under at some point, maybe a CZ, but I just got an AR15 so it's a ways out.
 
I guess I'm a pump guy.

Showman,

Have you *tried* an 1887 or clone thereof?

I've only been shooting a few years but thought that I'd be *buried* holding an M37. However, I've had my Chiappa for a year or so and just keep reaching for it first when I go shooting.

If I was *serious* about shootin', I suppose I'd use a pump but for sheer *fun*, it's lever-action every time. :)

Regards,

Mark.
 
I guess I just don't get this mentality about abusing your guns and using crappy ammo. I do not abuse mine at all

I take care of mine as well. But if were talking about a TEOTWAWKI situation where picking up dirty abused guns and filthy ammo off the ground is a possibity a pump is going to function when nothing else will.

Not that I'm really worried about such things, but some do. I still prefer to use my semi's and keep them reasonably clean.
 
Again, a SxS, O/U, or single shot will function better - pumps DO malfunction, they DO jam when dirty - no more or less maybe, but a break open of any type if dropped can also be easily washed off and used with less aggravation......IMO.
 
About having ever tried a lever action shotgun, no I haven't. I am sure that shooting a lever shotgun would be really fun. I am a fan of Westerns so I have always liked the "cowboy" aspect. I always thought that big 10 gauge lever action gun that Schwartzeneggar used in was fun to see, I'll bet it'd be a hoot to shoot.
Another gun I've always liked has been Winchester's 9410 shotgun. It's a dead ringer for the classic M1984 deer rifle, only it's a .410 shotgun.
Anyway, thanks for replying to my post.
 
We had a guy bring his 410 lever to the gun club one day and went to shoot skeet. The poor trapper kid thought he was going to be shooting a 30-30, and of course, the guy played it up like that for a few minutes.....that poor trap kid went white..... :D
 
Which

Another county heard from...
Which do I prefer? For what purpose?
I do own a number of semis and pump guns.
The guns that I use the most - far and away the most - are a single shot 12 ga. for trap, a muzzleloader (a 16 ga. Flintlock fowler) for Upland hunting or, also for the Upland...one of a few old 12 ga. SXS.
All that being said....I recently picked up a Franchi AL48.....at less than six pounds, it is definitely on my try it out list.
Pete
 
I currently use semis for everything, my upland gun is a Benelli Montefeltro Silver 20 ga., my sporting clays/trap gun is a Bernadelli 12 ga., home defense gun is a Benelli M2 with +4 Nordic extension tube, and for 3 gun I use a Mossberg Rhythm with a 12 round magazine tube.

I used to use all manner of over/unders but as I got older started appreciating the softer recoil of the semi's.
 
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