I want a good semi auto shotgun , for home defense and maybe 3 gun? any suggetions?

[datruth]

I have a maverick 88 but I want something semi auto and a little nicer. I have considered a 1100 tac 2 from Remington, I love the design . I would like to use it for home defense and maybe 3 gun competition. It has to be durable, reliable above all else, is it possible to get one that could fill both roles and under 800 dollars?

 

[RNB65]

FN SLP

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/family.asp?fid=FNF005&gid=FNG002
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[Sir Aardvark]

When I took my Shotgun class the instructor specifically warned us away from the Remington 1100 as a self-defense shotgun.
His reason was that the 1100 had little rubber O-rings that tended to dissolve with age and prolonged use. If the O-rings go, then the shotgun will not work.

The Instructor's name is Bill (William) Murphy, and he runs the Shotgun Class at Gunsite. He is also a SWAT officer with the Huntington Beach Police Dept., so I think there would be a good argument if favor of him knowing what he is talking about when he speaks from his years of experience.

http://www.gunsite.com/info/Instructor.html

Here's his website:

http://www.ftatv.com/page/home

His recommendation for a self-defense/tactical shotgun, and the one he uses on the job, is a pump shotgun, because it always works (his is a Remington 870). He states he has never been in a situation where he has had to fire his shotgun more than 3 times.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Take a look at the Mossberg 930SPX, you should be able to find them one for around $550 or so. They are extremely reliable and are getting great reviews. And, no o-rings

I've got over 5,700 rounds through mine with no malfunctions, whatsoever.





If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[theken206]

saiga-12??

 

[BozemanMT]

Benelli

Might go a little over your budget (not much), but very nice, very fast and doesn't care about clean.

 

[VARifleman]

The 3-gunners that use 1100s buy the o-rings in bulk from mcmaster.com 15/16 ID, 1-1/16 OD. Hard, 50 pack for 7.20 + shipping. Run it wet with 5w20.

Or you could go for one of the other semis, but that's how to make an 1100 run for sure, although my 1100 runs better than my 870...

 

[GTSteve03]

It has to be durable, reliable above all else, is it possible to get one that could fill both roles and under 800 dollars?

A stock Saiga 12 is $500, and that gets you the legendary Kalashnikov reliability, except in the 12ga flavor.

You can put a pistol grip and folding stock on it for extra evilness and still come in under $800.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Use of a Saiga usually bumps you into the "open" category...

I'm not that "hardcore", I just want to have fun, if I do well, all the better, but some of the folks in the "open" division (at least around here) are a little too "intense" for my tastes...

 

[mgregg85]

For defense i'd always use a pump shotgun unless someone wants to buy me a super 90.

I do like my beretta AL391 though, never had a single problem with it, best feeling shotgun i've ever held.

I guess i'd feel alright depending on the beretta but I like how easy it is to change ammo types with the pump gun, though its not really much harder with an auto.

 

[1911user]

Do you want a hardcore, competitive 3-gun shotgun or a general purpose defense shotgun? They aren't the same animal. It's like people asking for a shotgun that's great for both skeet AND trap without an understanding of either sport. The hardcore 3-gun shotgun has a 22-23" barrel with an 8 round mag capacity (plus 1 in the chamber). It will also be choked somehow; typically with screw-in chokes or possibly fixed IC or Mod. Knocking down steel plates at 30 yards requires some choke when slugs are not an option.

The typical defense shotgun will have an 18-20 inch barrel with up to 6 or 7 round capacity (plus 1 in the chamber). Choke is very optional especially if you use Federal Tru-flight buckshot and normal slugs.

If you really want to play at 3-gun, then you're talking about a specialized shotgun to be competitive at the national level. For the occasional local match, pretty much anything goes unless you absolutely have to win. If you really want to be good and win, the cost of practice ammo will cost more than the shotgun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i'm a FN SLP fan too. it blows the 1100 out of the water with all the speed of the benelli and a lot less recoil

 

[REOIV]

Saiga 12 all the way.

Thing is mean as reliable as an AK and cheaper than a Remington 1100 if you can find one.

 

[JNewell]

a lot less recoil

Ain't that the truth - the Benelli recoil-operated guns only seem an improvement compared to standing breech guns, and even that's a slim improvement in my opinion - though I've never tried the new "comfort tech" guns. (Call me an aging whimp.)

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'd get a Mossy 930 SPX or a Saiga-12, for value.
But Rem, Win, FNH, Brwng, all good.

 

[Halo is for Kids]

For 3 gun I'd stay away from the saiga, it bumps you into open class due to the detachable magazine.

10 round mags are $45+ and the stock 5 rounders are $30+.

It's a fun gun though. If you can find one get it while you can:
Fellow shooter at the range said "it should be illegal to do that to a target" (10 rounds of rapid fire birdshot into a cardboard silhouette at 7 yards) Just a little more news coverage and it will be.

 

[Girodin]

Benelli

Might go a little over your budget (not much), but very nice, very fast and doesn't care about clean.

The saiga fits your budget is very fast, doesn't care about clean. I suppose being pushed into the opne class in three gun mey be a draw back but for HD I really like the S12. After buying a few saigas I sold both my brother and father on them as well. I typicaly would shy away from an auto loader for HD but my saigas have yet to have a hicup.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Over here in this other thread is a pic of my Saiga-12:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211662&page=4

in the top post on that page. So what if it puts you in open class? It puts you in open class because it rocks. Who cares what your score is - practice like you play -compete with the same equipment that is most likely to keep you alive if the SHTF, regardless of what your score is.

Did someone say the Saiga is FAST?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUe4NWiOq5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaz9VPwKOEA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K-heFRwuWs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcklWXKZEs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7rBPgBKCyE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-eGP62sdds&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwIITTwh1DY&feature=related

 

[kimberfan]

i love my 930SPX

 

[mtgale00]

i'm a FN SLP fan too. it blows the 1100 out of the water with all the speed of the benelli and a lot less recoil

The FN SLP/Winchester Super X2 is hands-down the quickest fouling shotgun you could ever own. The operating system uses a gas regulator which seals against the OD of the magazine tube. The shotgun includes two gas regulators, one for 1 1/4 oz. and less loads and one for over 1 1/4 oz. loads. Picking the right regulator for the right situation isn't critical if you are just plinking, but if you are competing or using it for SD, there are definitely better choices out there.

By the way, anyone who is concerned about shotgun recoil doesn't know how to shoot one. You may want to see if you can track down a copy of Matt Burkett's Shotgun Mastery video. It is probably not worth $40 overall, but the portion of the video on how to mount/shoot a shotgun is spot on. You can get a copy at here if you want to order it.

 

[JNewell]

if you are competing or using it for SD, there are definitely better choices out there.

In either case, you know what you're shooting and you use the appropriate piston, so it should be a non-issue in those cases. The guys who are going to have trouble with the SX2/Gold/FN arrangement are the guys who want to shoot quail, put the gun in the closet, then bring it out for geese without changing the piston.

 

[Smitty in CT]

The Beretta & Mossberg have a self adjusting gas system, so you don't have to worry about which piston is for which load....

 

[JNewell]

That's correct, and I love the Beretta gas guns (have 3, used to have 4). The 11-87, IIRC, has different settings for the rings, depending on load? I may be mis-remembering. The A5 family has different settings for the friction rings, depending on load (but that's not a gas gun). Bottom line remains, though: if your ammo need is pretty stable (for example, a gun used for defensive use, or issued by an LEA), the alternative piston is really not a big deal. If it is, don't buy the gun!

 

[Jette]

Pump vs. Auto

I think you should go with a pump for home defense. You aren't likely to need very many shots, and there is nothing more frightening than hearing a 12 gauge pump rack one in while lurking in the dark. "freeze! ca-shunk!"
mdoncall.blogspot.com

 

[Rustynuts]

You get the very same sound by racking a Saiga if you don't keep one in the chamber. If you're worried about pressure on the first round in the mag, then use the bolt hold open and rack from there.