Bird Gun Advice

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bayouguy

bayouguy

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Joined
Dec 29, 2011
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11
Location
Southwest MI
I am in the market for a bird gun, mainly ducks, chukar and the like.
I already have an 870 set up for deer and like that gun.

Looking for a synthetic semi auto 12ga and don't want to break the bank so would like to stay under $800.

I have looked at:
  • CZ 712 G2--seemed like a comfortable gun and the price is certainly right ~500 but I don't see much feedback on them.
  • Remington 1187--seems like a goto on the older models but not much love for the newer ones and I can get one of those for ~600
I haven't handled many more but have also been told to check out Stoeger / Beretta / Mossberg / Franchi.

I did a search but it seems that most of the posts are pretty old so I was hoping for feed back / newer experience / advice on other brands I left out.

Thank you in advance.
 
The Berretta A300 is the one I have been considering. The range that I go too rents a lot of Berretta A300's. The guys that work there all agree the A300's hold up well to the rigors of being rented out. Like you, I have a pump Mossberg, but a semiauto is on my want list. Let us know what you finally end up with.
 
I would look at the Weatherby SA-08 , I think it is similar to the Tristar . They are made in Turkey and run around $450 for the synthetic Weatherby and less for the Tristar . I just like Weatherby's customer service . They are very light shotguns . I had a 12 ga. SA-08 and even with it being lightweight , it had a very soft recoil . I have the 20 ga. Deluxe model now that I use for rabbit hunting . I would also look at the Beretta 300 , they run around $650 and have a good reputation .
 
All guns mentioned are worthy candidates. Personally, I'll take the Beretta a300 over anything else for OPS purpose.

They tend to fit funny in the store because some guy on the assembly line must be left handed. I've never seen one off the shelf, mine included, that wasn't set up for a left hander. No matter, that's easily corrected, this is the best fitting gun I own. No kidding.

Mine has had 2 malfunctions in 3300 rounds that I recall. 1 of which was shooter error. One I a tribute to ammo. Not bad.
1 oz loads at 1145 fps are no problem. In fact, those shells will land within inches or one another with good ejection. You'll need to clean it about every 5-700 rounds though. At the very least youll need the clean out the factory shipping grease. Sorry about that. Take Solis and know that there is no O ring to fidget with.

The synthetic version has better balance IMO than the equivalent weatherby and mossberg though they are very light guns. The stoeger is nice and light but do yourself a favor and avoid the gun. The one example I have experience with is a turd of monumental proportion.

No experience with a franchi sadly. I'm sure they are nice.
 
Get a bird barrel for your 870. If you have a saddle mount or drilled and tapped receiver, get a cantilever rifled barrel and a bird barrel. You can change from deer to duck as fast as you can slip the barrel off and other one on and drop a plug down it.
 
entropy said:
Get a bird barrel for your 870. If you have a saddle mount or drilled and tapped receiver, get a cantilever rifled barrel and a bird barrel. You can change from deer to duck as fast as you can slip the barrel off and other one on and drop a plug down it.
Click to expand...

My 870 is currently scoped and mounted directly to the receiver and I really don't want to mess with that.
Besides if I did that I wouldn't have a reason to buy a new gun;)
 
Congratulations on your new 1187 , you really didn't waste any time , I like that . It sounds like you are ready to go bird hunting soon .
 
I bought a Remington 1100 when I was in High School and it shoots just as good
as ever. I must have a closet full of barrels by now.

Zeke
 
thanks everyone
price and overall reputation certainly played roll in my quick decision.
now to get it thoroughly cleaned and broken in.

but...Its kind of cold in lower MI right now.
 
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