First semi-auto for clays

[snake_plisskin]

A couple friends and I are planning on joining a clay pigeon league this spring. Right now I have a Remington 870 but I'm thinking about getting a semi-auto. For a budget I'd like to stay under $700. Generally I like to buy US made firearms so initially I'm thinking about a remington 1187 or a mossberg 930. Another possibility might be a beretta 3901.

Any thoughts on what would be the better buy? Are there any other good options I'm missing?

Also are there any thoughts on new vs used? I'm open to either......

 

[returningfire]

Benelli

I know it's Italian, but so are Berettas, but you can probably find a good used Benelli Super 90 ,Monetefeltro for around $700. If you ever have a chance to shoot one, you probably won't want anything else (unless you want to spend mega bucks) that would be my pick in that price range.

 

[Rusty Luck]

I have a Lanber Semi Auto, you could pick one up for about your price range. It shoots great, has never jammed and has eaten everything I have put through it. A friend of mine has a Yildez Semi Auto (the ones from Academy) and he prefers it over his Rem 1187 and a Beretta Semi. That one is $500 new.

 

[OneWound]

Why do you want to get a semi-auto shotgun for trap shooting?

 

[Hunterdad]

What clay game are you looking to get into? Trap? Skeet? Sporting Clays?

 

[browningguy]

Both the 11-87 and 590 are decent semi autos, for clays I'd probably go with one of the 11-87 Sporting models. Personally I use a Bernadelli for sporting clays and Benelli for everything else but the 11-87 won't let you down.

 

[snake_plisskin]

what clay game are you looking to get into?

We're planning on trap mainly but probably some sporting clays as well.

you could probably find a good used Benelli Super 90, Monetefeltro for around $700

Interesting you mentioned that. I just got back from my lgs and they had one with a 26" barrel for $699 and one with a few more dings in the wood for $599. What do you guys think of those deals? Would a 26" barrel be alright or is a 28" better?

Those guns sure felt nice and the action seemed pretty slick. I try to buy american guns but if a foreign gun is a much better deal I'm fine with that too.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I would buy something with a 28'' barrel or longer. And preferably a gas operated gun. Beretta Just came out with a new entry level semi and for the life of me, I can't think of the model number. it's about $600 or 700.

Don't get hung up on where it's made, unless it's China. I have 8 shotguns and only one was made here. {and that one is 70yrs old}

 

[browningguy]

I'd get at least a 28" for sporting clays, and for trap I'd stay with a 30-32". But I use the same gun for sporting clays and trap so I went with a 30".

I'd also check cdnninvestments.com and look through their gun cat that comes out every quarter (on-line) they usually have some excellent shotgun deals.

 

[Virginian]

You can shoot trap with a Sporting or field gun a lot easier than the other way around. Trap guns are specialized to shoot high. Now someone may come along and say they do it all the time, and do well, but you may not be one of those people.

 

[Esoxchaser]

I shoot sporting clays, trap and skeet all with the same two guns I use for most of my scattergun hunting..... a 20 ga Beretta 3901 with 26" barrel and a 12 ga Remmy 1100 with a 26" barrel. My competitors with their $2.5K+ specialized tools often walk away shaking their heads.

 

[KDS]

I just bought a Winchester Super X3. I highly recommend you give one a look. Bought mine new for just over $800.

 

[maxyedor]

I keep seeing Browning Gold sporting models for under $500, some even under $400. Not sure if it's a local thing, or if that's really where the market is, but it's a crazy good price for the gun. I really, really don't need one, but i feel like I have to buy one at that price.

Beretta a303s are also dirt cheap. I have one, and have been quite happy with it. I have both a 32" trap, and a 28" magnum barrel, quick barrel swap and it's ready for anything.

As far as American made guns. Remington 1100 is my choice. Great S/As and fairly inexpensive too. A used 1100 sporting should be about $550 in great shape.

 

[oneounceload]

You might also want to consider a used Beretta from the 303, 390, or 391 series. These are some of the best semis ever made

 

[batex]

You should seriously consider the Baretta 390 version sold at Walmart. This is an entry-level Beretta and is made in the US. As opposed to Italy. I have one and 12 gauge and 20 gauge and they are absolutely reliable fantastic, soft shooting guns. You will love it. Should be under $500. Even though it has a black plastic stock instead of wood, you will love it.

 

[tuj]

I just bought a Remington 1100 and it's been great. You can find them very reasonably priced and parts are plentiful and cheap. So far it's eaten every brand of shell I've thrown at it without any problems.

 

[dbarky]

Trap

I have a 1100 trap...beautiful gun and very reliable. A negative for using a semi is that they throw the hulls...the guy on your right objects to hulls bouncing off of him and if you get into reloading, gathering your hulls is a pain. I have a shell catcher that fits in the operating handle receptacle and it works like a charm on singles. It was supposed to catch doubles but doesn't very well. I've had the catcher for so long that I have no idea where I got it or what it cost. Googling might find them.

 

[Deer_Freak]

Really for what a nice semi auto costs you can buy a Citori. Once you shoot enough with a double barrel to see the advantage of two chokes you won't want to go back to a pump or semi auto. I would wait or put the gun I want on law away before I settled due to a strict budget. Shooting sporting clays or any shotgun sport is not a cheap proposition. The nicer clay courses charge a $100 range fee if you are not a member. You can't be a member of every club if you have a strict budget on the gun purchase.

 

[UniversalFrost]

i use my 11-87 premier with a 28" barrel (light profile) as my backup gun for trap.

my go to trap gun is a 1978 Citori trap model (speciafically made for trap with the ultra high comb and rib and the 32" barrels)....

check out the 11-87 or some of the older browning and berretta's that can be had for under 600ish used.

the 1100's (i own 3) are good as well, but with their gas systems you are in a world of suck if you get a 3 or 3.5" chamber (i have to shoot the high speed dove and target loads in 2 of my 3" chambered guns so that it will reliably cycle with these light loads)... my 2 3/4" chambered 1100 does not have this problem but i would not want to shoot a lot of heavy loads through that one since it gets battered to heck when cycling heavy loads and i relegate it to light dove and target loads only..

 

[Virginian]

If you have a 2-3/4" Model 1100 that is getting battered by heavy loads, something is wrong with it. For over 20 years mine was my main duck gun - before steel - and it is my 12 gauge clays gun now. It ate so many 2-3/4" heavy loads I couldn't begin to count them. The only issue it has ever had in 50 years was a broken extractor in 1982. The 3" chambered guns were designed to shoot 3" and 2-3/4" Magnum loads, and they do that quite well. They were never intended for lighter stuff. That's why they designed the 11-87, for more flexibility.

 

[UniversalFrost]

you ever check the wear on your recevier and bolt on your 2 3/4 1100....??? if you shot turkey and duck loads with it then it is getting beat up (or you have leaky seals and that is helping to dampen it some)...

love my 1100's, just love the versatility of the 1187 more..

 

[Virginian]

I have checked everything on mine quite regularly for all 50 years. Replaced the buffer about 1966 or so, and the second one quickly looked exactly like the first one, and the second one looks exactly the same today, 47 years later. The plastic buffer is designed to take the hit to prevent the metal to metal battering in the event that the bolt does go all the way to the rear beyond what is required to cycle, and it works, as long as it is in decent shape. Remington has employed several different compounds over the years, and they were not all equal.
The 1100 gas system is designed to function with all 2-3/4" loads, and the gas cylinder is designed to bleed off excess gasses through the two slots on top. The dynamics of what happens with a full 3" load are slightly different, and that's why the 1100 Magnum was different, and why the 11-87 redesign was necessary to allow it to function with the full range of loads.