12 gauge Auto Loader??

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I'm looking to buy a 12 gauge autoloader. Skeet and trap use, mostly.
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If you want a simple and reliable shotgun, get a Saiga 12.
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He wants an auto for Skeet and Trap. I have and love my S12. It is a fighting gun not a skeet gun. I do not reach for my S12 if I have serious wing shooting in mind. There are much better choices for that task.
 
Good advice here, thanks.... now I'm more confused than ever (kidding). For me, it's between the Beretta and the VersaMax.... I think?? I'll have fun doing a bit more homework, then I'll pull-the-trigger.
 
Just get a new black synthetic Beretta 390 from Walmart for less than $600 bucks! It'll put a smile on your face... :)
 
If you plan on really getting into competitive trap/skeet, I'd try to stick with a wood stock. Its much easier to modify wood stocks to include an adjustable comb, length of pull, adjustable butt plate etc. Synthetic stocks are much harder to work with. The weight of the wood could also help with recoil.
 
Franchi AL48

I have been very happy with mine. I got it used and if you keep it clean, it runs great. They aren't too expensive used either.
 
I bought a brand new Beretta AL391 for less than $1,000. A few days later, walked into Sports Authority and they had the very same one for under $800. :banghead:

I missed a better deal, but I absolutely love that gun!
 
Get a lanber sporting or sporting lux (they are really the same with exception of some minor decorations/finishing). They are very popular in Spain, UK, Portugal, Australia,etc... and started to have a huge following in the US with some sporting clays crews. In the gun club I shoot we have about 14 people with them all very happy and some scoring very high in competition. It rivals anything out there for a fraction of the cost....

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http://www.lanber.net/ingles.html
http://www.lanberusa.com/models.htm#comp

These guys have been doing shotguns as long or longer than anybody else and you can keep your buy well below $1000 with 5 chokes.
My brother leaves his Beretta at home and shoots with this one all the time. He has won many competitions with it.

Cheers.
E.
 
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You surely don't need a 3-1/2" chambered camo semi for skeet, trap, or clays. I haven't met the clay pigeon that needed more than a 2-3/4" loading of #8s for heaven's sake. I'd go with either a used or new Remington or Beretta that looks pretty too, depending on which felt best to me. Arguing about "O" rings that don't move in service and only get damaged during dis-assembly and assembly by ham handed people, or who buy the wrong material 'O' rings, or how hard gas valves are to clean if and when they need cleaning wouldn't impact me one iota. What matters is how it shoots, and both the R and B gas guns work extremely well, they and don't beat your body to death in the process, even without benefit of the two piece stocks and hydraulic pistons that look like the devil to me.
I love the feel of the Remingtons, and I have not had an 'O' ring fail in 47 years on 9 different models, and yes I still have the 1963 one. And I only had to completely disassemble the gas valve once in forever on the Beretta, and it didn't really need it then, I just couldn't stand it anymore and took it apart to see how dirty it was.
 
1100 - yesssss!

I have a life-long love affair with the 1100. Grew up hunting with my Dad's, and finally could afford one of my own two years ago.

Bought one that has just about as much wear on it as I would put on it putting it in and out of the safe to get to other guns, paid $365 - minty, vent rib 28" bbl, walnut stock, beeeeyoutiful!:)

I have seen deluxe grades for sale out here (Oregon) for under $500.

And they shoot soft - or I wouldn't have been using it as a youngster back in the day.
 
I have also the Remington 1100 Premier and it is a very solid shotgun.
Also great for starters as it tames the recoil pretty well. I also hunt with it.
I believe of all the American made shotguns this is one of the best shotguns ever already in the history books.
Check the Lanbers though. You will be surprised too.
Benellis M2 field (plain) are also nice and around $800. The thing is there are so many good choices that it is so hard so I tend to stay with the classic designs/actions and avoid the new actions and brand new designs, unless is just cosmetic/dressing.
Cheers,
E.
 
If you want a simple and reliable shotgun, get a Saiga 12...Lots of people love them for competition because of their simplicity, reliability, low recoil, and customizability.
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Odd, I shoot trap and skeet all over a 4 state area as well as nationally and I can't recall a singe Saiga on the line.

Everything suggested (with one exception) will do fine. I have used an 1100 for years as well as using SXSs and O/Us. Even used a Montefeltro and a Franchi 48 for a while. One thing to remember about the semi auto however, most trap clubs believe in the "if it hits the ground it belongs to us" rule when it comes to hulls. If you use a semi auto normally you will not get your hulls back for reloading. This isn't done out of greed (well not much) but because they do not have the time for you to hunt down your hulls while the next relay waits for you.
 
451 Detonics,
Maybe they mean at a skeet&trap summer party. I compete too and I have a few Saigas and occasionally at training we shoot it at skeet and all the buddies get a quick of someone shooting a tactical/bush gun and that's it. Nowhere in competition I have seen a saiga. Good shotguns for what they are though.

Imagine at the Olympics.... Perazzi vs. Saiga? lol!

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Since you don't need 3 1/2 or camo you can get Browning Maxus for around $1k new.

Or go used and build a Winchester SX-1. Best semi auto.

Or go with a long barrelled street sweeper. May cost a little more but the looks on your fellow competitors faces will be priceless.


Va herder
 
Saiga 12...Lots of people love them for competition because of their simplicity, reliability, low recoil, and customizability.
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Odd, I shoot trap and skeet all over a 4 state area as well as nationally and I can't recall a singe Saiga on the line.
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People shoot them in competition just not skeet and trap. They can make a pretty good 3 gun shotgun. If he was referring to 3 gun IDK why he brought it up here, but as much as I love saigas I'm not sure why it was brought up.
 
The best deal is the Beretta 390/3901 or 391. Don't worry about the complexity of disassembling the gas system. You could probably go 5,000 shells before having to do it.
 
Hard to beat the old tried and true Remington 1100. You can pick up a very nice used one for under $400 then get a custom skeet/trap barrel for it. You'll still come in under your budget and it'll last forever. I love mine and have no plans of ever getting rid of it.
 
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