Just suppose a friend was wanting to buy a shotgun for clays...

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So, you really aren't gonna do much other than toss a few targets every now and then for fun and might prop it up in the corner for HD the rest of the time?.....Sounds like a two barrel Maverick 88 combo is right up your alley....You would be set up for both jobs for under 250 bucks.
I see your point, but have been advised against pump for the clays. Sure it wouldn’t make any difference, but I can afford a bit more and think I would like the autoloader.
 
I see your point, but have been advised against pump for the clays. Sure it wouldn’t make any difference, but I can afford a bit more and think I would like the autoloader.
I believe that advise was given when we thought you were talking about serious clay games. A pump might be a handicap in skeet or trap doubles, but not for a crowd using a hand tosser.

It sounds like you just want a general purpose shotgun. Just pick an auto with screw in chokes and have fun.
 
I believe that advise was given when we thought you were talking about serious clay games. A pump might be a handicap in skeet or trap doubles, but not for a crowd using a hand tosser.

It sounds like you just want a general purpose shotgun. Just pick an auto with screw in chokes and have fun.
Given what you intend to do with it, get an auto, or a nice Rem 870,/ Mossberg 500 pump gun with maybe a second barrel for HD.
 
Based on the advice so far it seems to me that my preferences and the basic requirements for what I want to do meet up with the principal autoloader offerings from any of the main manufacturers. If I stick with a synthetic stock I can buy new within my budget from Mossberg, Weatherby, Remington, etc. Maybe also Beretta or other Italian makers, but it appears those choices would cost more. That could possibly be fixed by buying used.

So maybe what I will do is scout the used market first to see what I can turn up. If no luck there, I can always fall back on the new offerings within my budget.

Thanks to all.
 
Seeing now how you have framed your parameters, a lightly used Remington 1100 is an option, as is a Browning semi, and possibly a nice Beretta 303, 390 or 391. Any of those will last a long time AND have parts readily available if need be3. I would take any of those over any new sub-$1k over under
 
My friend who hosted me at the range yesterday is fairly adamant that I shouldn’t settle for a right handed gun. Well, if that is the case, my options are very limited. I can get a new LH Remington Versa Max for under a $1,000 right now. But I dunno, that is still a little pricey. Possible, but not without buy-in from the MOF. I’m going to a store in the next couple of days that specializes In used shotguns. We’ll see if left handed is an option on the used market.
 
Sorry, I disagree with your friend - I am LH, have shot many RH semis over the years - and still own a few - and they work just fine
That's good to hear. Thanks.

The Remington Versa Max comes LH and is really value priced right now at least one place, low $900s. But it is still a few hundred more than the V3. That V3 really appeals to me for its light weight and soft recoil...as advertised of course.
 
That's good to hear. Thanks.

The Remington Versa Max comes LH and is really value priced right now at least one place, low $900s. But it is still a few hundred more than the V3. That V3 really appeals to me for its light weight and soft recoil...as advertised of course.

If you have never had a semi auto shotgun, you would probably like a lefty. I'm used to right handed pumps an autos, shoot left handed load with right hand it is kind of an advantage too me.
 
>>I like the V3 a lot and would probably own one if I didn’t have so many shotguns<<

I agree.... it's one of the best bangs for the buck out there. And not everyone needs an O/U.
 
That's good to hear. Thanks.

The Remington Versa Max comes LH and is really value priced right now at least one place, low $900s. But it is still a few hundred more than the V3. That V3 really appeals to me for its light weight and soft recoil...as advertised of course.

The biggest difference between the two is the Versa Max will shoot 3.5” shells and the V3 doesn’t. Versa Max comes with shims, V3 doesn’t. Versa Max is heavier and does recoil less than a V3 because of the extra Weight. Operating system for both is pretty much the same and is based on the Benelli M4.
 
The biggest difference between the two is the Versa Max will shoot 3.5” shells and the V3 doesn’t. Versa Max comes with shims, V3 doesn’t. Versa Max is heavier and does recoil less than a V3 because of the extra Weight. Operating system for both is pretty much the same and is based on the Benelli M4.
Thanks. Just reading the blurbs I am led to believe that the V3 overcomes the extra weight of the Versa Max with even better operating system. No way for me to really know.
 
If you have never had a semi auto shotgun, you would probably like a lefty. I'm used to right handed pumps an autos, shoot left handed load with right hand it is kind of an advantage too me.
The left handed handling of the right handed gun doesn’t bother me. I agree that holding the gun with the left hand and loading with the right hand is actually a good thing. But I worry about the close proximity to the flying shell and any particles and gases coming out of the chamber. Hey this is fun hashing all this stuff out.
 
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I worry about the close proximity to the flying shell and any particles and gases coming out of the chamber.
I used to worry about that but it rarely happens and never has been as bad as getting a bug, weed seed etc in the eye. Shooting glasses are always a good idea and I wear them for target shooting but rarely when hunting.
 
Thanks. Just reading the blurbs I am led to believe that the V3 overcomes the extra weight of the Versa Max with even better operating system. No way for me to really know.

They use the same operating system and the Versa Max does have less recoil.
 
They use the same operating system and the Versa Max does have less recoil.
I hear ya, but Remington says the V3 is the softest shooting gun in the marketplace. And that is even while being lighter than the Versa Max.
 
Trying to sell a product with higher profit margin.

Edit: Just went to their website and Remington says the same thing about both. It’s not important but since they use pretty much the same operating system, shooting the same shells the Versa Max is softer recoiling since it is heavier. I think it is the softest recoiling shotgun made today.


From Remington’s website.
Versa Max: “The Softest-Shooting Semi-Auto Action Ever”

V3: “The Softest-Recoiling Auto In The Field”
 
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Trying to sell a product with higher profit margin.

Edit: Just went to their website and Remington says the same thing about both. It’s not important but since they use pretty much the same operating system, shooting the same shells the Versa Max is softer recoiling since it is heavier. I think it is the softest recoiling shotgun made today.


From Remington’s website.
Versa Max: “The Softest-Shooting Semi-Auto Action Ever”

V3: “The Softest-Recoiling Auto In The Field”
Funny! If I can get low recoil with the lower weight, that is for sure the way I will go.
 
So have you raised your budget to $1000 dollars now and no longer at $500 ?
 
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Two guns shooting identical loads, the lighter gun WILL have more recoil; that is Newton.

Not necessarily so if there is another factor operating. Surely you know that autoloaders have less recoil than O/U guns of the same or slightly higher weight. The whole point of the Versa Max and V3 porting invention is the bleeding off of gas pressure greater than needed to operate the autoloading mechanism. That reduces recoil. Supposedly the 8 port system of the V3 is even better than the 7 port system of the Versa Max overcoming the small weight disadvantage.
 
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