Help with choosing a light weight semi-auto

[buckeyebuckhntr]

I currently use a Remington 11-87 premier slug gun and an 11-87 sportsman for a field gun, both in 12 gauge.

I am wanting to possibly move onto a different gun that is a bit lighter to carry, but do not want a light weight gun that kicks like a mule. Looking for the perfect blend of light weight and light recoil....

None of the local shops really have much of a selection to handle very many of semiautos. I will have to travel a bit to get to a shop that carries a larger assortment of of semiautos to handle, and I would like to have done my research before I get there.

Thanks for any help / opinions to look into.

 

[oneounceload]

Franchi al48 in 20 gauge
Or a Benelli in 20 or 28

 

[superfinehelios]

Benelli montefeltro 20ga

I went with the Benelli. It weighs in around 5.3 lbs, with 24" barrels and short stock. It can shoot 3" and 2 3/4. It's very light.

 

[DaleCooper51]

Light weight and low recoil normally don't go so well together.

I had a 20ga Franchi 48 for a while and it wasn't pleasant for me to shoot. It was great to carry, but I didn't like the handling characteristics and the heavy recoil that comes with a ~5lb gun.

I am not sure what you consider lightweight, but Beretta A400 is right around 7lbs and I have heard good things about it.

 

[kb58]

See if you can shoot a Browning Maxus. Fairly light - 6.9 lbs - and has well-damped recoil due to its recoil mechanism design.

 

[jmr40]

Benelli M-2 will be among the lightest, but are inertia operated and will have a LITTLE more recoil with heavy loads. The Beretta 391, will weigh a little more than a Benelli, but a lot less than the 11-87. Since it is gas operated it will recoil less and is probably what you are looking for.

I've owned all 3. Either the Beretta or Benelli are much better than the 11-87, although the 11-87 would be my 3rd choice.

There is a lot of debate between the inertia operarted Benelli and gas operated Beretta. Having owned both I'll say both are top notch guns and it really depends on which features are more important to you.

If you are less tolerant of recoil, or shoot a lot of clays the Beretta is a better choice.

If you are like me and are primarily a hunter you may like the Benelli better. It is a lot lighter which makes carrying it all day a lot easier. It does recoil a bit more, but for a few rounds at a time in a hunting situation or occasional clay shooting I don't notice it being a problem. If you shoot thousands of rounds a year at clays the recoil will add up after a while.

Both designs are very reliable and dependable, but the simpler design of the Benelli is likely to work after more abuse and dirt encountered while hunting. They are also much simpler to take apart and clean. But given just a little more attention the Beretta will stay right with the Benelli.

 

[SwampWolf]

Look for a nice used (it hasn't been made for some time) Browning Double-Auto. It's one of the best handling semi-auto 12 gauge shotguns ever made, imo, and a nice one can still be found for not much over $500.00 or so.

 

[Hotshot10]

As a few others have said, Benelli makes some really light semiautos. They're not cheap, but the guys I know who own them shoot them well and like them.

 

[COK]

A few years ago I bought a Benelli Montefeltro 20ga for a light weight field gun and have been pleased with it.

 

[45crittergitter]

+1 for the Monte. I wouldn't take a gold monkey for mine.

 

[bubba in ca]

My 11-87 20 ga with # 2 and #3 buckshot doesn't kick at all.

 

[MagDad]

Even the Montefeltro 12 guage is not a heavy gun. I shoot 6-10 boxes of 3 inch duck loads thru it a year and the recoil is not a problem. Easy to clean too.