Looking for a GREAT shotgun

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Harry in SC

Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
27
Location
Lugoff, South Carolina
Hello all,

It has been a while since I last posted on this website. I am looking for some really good input on a shotgun to buy. Here are my needs:

1.) It will probably be used mostly for shooting clay targets,
2.) I would like to be able to go hunting with it as well (maybe deer but definitely waterfowl...)
3.) I would like it to be automatic (although a smooth action pump would be nice.)
4.) I love Browning products and Remington products. Benelli would be nice but probably a little above my price range (suggestions are certainly welcome.)

I guess what I am looking for is a solid, all-around shotgun. I would really appreciate any feedback any of you are willing to give. Also, tell me what not to buy and stay the h*$& away from. Thanks!

Harry :banghead:
 
Both of these are good solid shotguns from brands you like that cost less than $450

Sounds to me like you're in the market for a Rem 1100 or a Browning Auto 5.

Either one would suit your needs really well.

You don't need to spend $1000+ on a user field or trap and skeet shotgun like you would on a Beretta Xtrema or a Benelli. If you have the money to do so that's one thing, but you don't NEED to spend that much. Since you said that a Benelli's a little too much, I'm gonna guess that you're like the rest of us and that you have champagne taste on a beer budget.

You could find either a used Rem ($350 to $450) or a used Browning (for between $250 to $700/price on them really depends alot on condition and the specific model) pretty easy without too much trouble.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_1100/model_1100_sporting_12.asp

GDshot_1005C.jpg

Remington 1100

BrowningA-5Light12Closeup.jpg
Browning Auto 5

zs-b4952.jpg

Browning Auto 5

New Browning semi-auto shotguns would cost as much as a Beretta or a Benelli.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=020B&cat_id=011&type_id=350

Those kind of sound like what you're leaning towards anyway. Both are very reliable, they're both really common, parts are readily available for them both and they're both semi-auto's that are suited towards trap shooting and bird hunting.

Sound like a match made in heaven.
 
Depends what you want to spend. As far as autoloaders, I've had Browning, Remington,Beretta and Mossberg shotguns. I have steered away from Remington auto's because of some problems I've had in the past couple years.

For your stated purposes, a 3" gun is all you need, so I'll post some links of the guns "I" like, and have used.

Benelli-too expensive for me, but great gun.

Browning Gold about $1000
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_130_134/products_id/21069

Browning Silver
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_130_134/products_id/17690

Beretta 390(I have this gun now, and love it)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_65/products_id/25000

Mossberg makes a nice 2 barrel combo
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/43853

I think these are all solid shotguns...I left out the Winchester SX, but it is very similar to the Browning Gold. I threw in the Mossberg because of the great price...I had a 935 3.5" that was stolen, but it was a great gun while I had it. I think it comes down to what feels best to you.
 
The current generation of Brownings is very good. Wnchester is essentially the same gun, so it is apparently quite good too.
Nothing wrong with the Remington's either, but I have heard some really bad things about the CT105.
Main thing about Remington is that they really haven't updated anything since 1987 on their automatics.
With all that said, I have always been somewhat resistant to the Berettas. Kind of like "just because everybody and their dog has one doesn't make it all that." However, I picked up a nice used A390 a few weeks ago, on the cheap ($450.00), and I can't make this thing FT anything. Any ammo, any conditions, it just works everytime. I have indeed become a fan. I also like the stock adjustment feature. I was able to make it fit me very well with out spending any addittional money or time at the gunsmith.
 
Rem 1100.

shoot one, then shoot another auto loader. It will be clear why.
 
shoot one, then shoot another auto loader. It will be clear why.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I have a Remington 11-87.
I think the 1100's / 11-87's are great guns. I think they may be a little softer shooting than the Berettas, but only marginally so.
My buddy has 2 1100's. I have a Beretta A390, as I said above, and he has a Beretta AL391 Urika. We shoot all of them at almost every range session. So side by side comparisons won't necessarily yield a preference for the Remington.

My buddy and I both have pretty much switched over to the Berettas and the Remingtons are relegated to "back up" status. Fit is one reason, and the Beretta's complete indifference to ammo is the other.

Great point though. If you could shoot all of the contenders, that would be the best way to make your selection. However, in the real world, that is rarely a doable thing.

Next best thing is what you are doing. Talk to folks. Try what you can. Decide what is most important to you. If you are going to shoot only 2 3/4" loads for clays, then the 1100 will probably be a good choice. If you want to shoot anything from light 2 3/4" to heavy 3" stuff then the Browning, Winchester or Beretta would probably be better.

Just bear in mind that folks get attached to a particular shotgun. They know how to operate it effectively. They can load and unload it quickly. They have learned to hit with it well. So... for them it is the only choice. For them it feels better and works better than anything else they pick up and try for a few rounds.

I don't think you would be disappointed in any of the choices you mentioned. Good luck.
 
You don't mention your budget but if you can live with a synthetic stock my standard answer to these questions is to buy the Walmart special Beretta for about $550. It is essentially the older Beretta 390 without the magazine cutoff and a black plastic stock. The most gun you can get in an auto in my opinion.

Absolutely nothing wrong with Remington 11-87 or 1100. The 870 pump is a classic as well. If we had an idea of how much you would like to spend it would help with advice. There are a lot of bargains in used guns and you may be able to afford more gun than you think if you are willing to buy used.
 
I like 1100s. I have since 1963. Right now Berettas are the fashionable gun. In the 70s you just "had to have" an Ithaca 51. But all the while that Remington has just been ticking along. Yes I do have to clean the gas system. 2 minutes to squirt it with WD-40 or RemOil and wipe it off. I know you don't have to do that with a Benelli, but I like the fillings in my teeth the way they are. I don't think you need anything more than 3" shells with the advancements in shells the last few years. And yes, I do need more than one barrel to shoot everything from real light girly men loads up to the 3"ers, but I have more than one barrel, so that is okay. The 11-87 addressed that, and added choke tubes, but I opt for the better handling lighter barrel.
I tried the Browning A-5, but I can't get used to the long recoil Browning shuffle. I can't get used to any gun with a big hole in the left side of the receiver, either.
Try as many as you can and make up your own mind which one feels best to you. Before getting too influenced by "fashion" remember, the weather and the fashions will surely change.
 
Okay...

So far I hear a lot of you saying the Remington 1100 or Browning Auto 5 or Gold Superlite Hunter. Can anyone tell me what the difference in the Browning Silver and Gold line is? I can't figure it out...they seem to be pretty comparable to one another.

The thing that concerns me about going to get a used shotgun, is that I worry about how well it has been taken care of. I am meticulous about anything I own, especially my firearms. I want to know it has been well maintained. Is there anything I need to look for when purchasing a used shotgun? Should I even look at a used shotgun or just go ahead and spend the money for a brand new one? I know these are a lot of questions...sorry!

Does anyone know the maintenance record of one of the Beretta 390's? Are they pretty reliable?

Harry :scrutiny:
 
The Beretta 390's are super reliable and require little in the way of maintenance. Many folks prefer them to the newer 391's, because they are easier to disassemble and clean than the newer guns. On the other hand, the gas system on the 391's is improved over the 390's, but with that improvement came additional complexity.

Frankly, I was on the verge of buying a Browning Gold Superlight Hunter, when I found the used A390. The silver has the semi humpback design receiver. I believe this is a feeble attempt by Browning to cater to the A5 owners. Kind of silly, because while these are fine guns, they are not A5's. Additionally, the Silver does not have the magazine cut off that the Golds do. Again I don't find this to be a real useful feature, so It really does not matter to me. The Gold models have the auto load feature and the Silvers do not. That feature is where you have the bolt locked open, and an empty magazine. When you put the first round into the magazine, the gun automatically loads it into the chamber. Again, not a big deal for me.

Browning's web site says that from now until November, you get a $100.00 rebate on any Browning Gold you purchase. That is a big deal for me.

Also, keep in mind that the Winchesters are the same gun, made in the same factory as the Brownings. FN Herstal owns both companies. The differences are primarily cosmetic. Shape of the safety button, stock finish, etc. Prices are about the same.

A lot of folks believe that the newest Brownchesters have the best gas system of them all. Could be. I am just really liking the A390 right now. If it were to go away tomorrow, I would most likely be buying the Browning Gold Superlight Hunter. I would pick it over the Winchester because I can get it for $100.00 less.

The current incarnation of the A390 is the 3901. It is made in the US in the same plant that the Beretta 92 pistols are made. It is comparable in price to the Brownings and Winchesters. There are some that say it is not as good as the 390, but if you research it, you will be hard pressed to find someone that has one that doesn't like it. It pretty much is the 390 without the magazine cutoff.

As far as buying new or used, there are a lot of factors. I am a very mechanical guy. I have found a lot of bargains because there was some slight problem with a gun, that I recognized and knew I could easily fix. On the other hand, if you are not of this bent, and do not have a good dealer to back up a used gun, then new is probably the way to go. If you know of a good place that takes consignment guns, then you may find some great bargains there too. My buddy that bought the AL391 Urika got it for $485.00. It is like new. It was on consignment. I am convinced that some one just needed to move it really quick for a mortgage or rent payment. The dealer he bought it from gave him a 30 day guarantee with it. Great deal, not a lot of risk.
 
Last edited:
used 870 wingmasters run around $170-$230 here. I own four, use them a lot, and think quite highly of them.

870 Express models usually sell in the $180 range used here, will have interchangeable choke tubes, and a 3" chamber. Not as nice as the wingmasters, but entirely serviceable.
 
As I said earlier the Remingtons are a good choice and they have the reputation to back it up. Have used them successfuly in the past but prefere the Beretta or Benelli now. Both the Beretta and Benelli are lighter to carry because of the aluminum receivers and I like the location of the bolt release better.

Reimgtons used to dominate in the competition shooting circles but the Beretta has replaced it at this time. The Beretta is slightly heavier than the Benelli and is gas operated to reduce recoil. The Benelli is the lightest weight and since it is recoil operated will kick harder. I prefer the Benelli for hunting because of the light weight and their reputation for working better when dirty.

If I had to have only 1 gun to do everything with for the rest of my life I would pick one of my Remington 870 Wingmasters. I shoot them well and they will keep shooting when everything else has stopped.
 
Beretta 391 Urika. Nothing else comes close as a clay shooter or general purpose gun (except maybe the Beretta 390).
 
Browning Gold or Silver?

So, I think I have narrowed my search down to these two shotguns. I am having a difficult time telling the difference in these two guns (except the price tag). Does anyone know the major differences and/or if they matter enough to justify spending more money on the Gold? I want the most gun for my money...but not to break the bank. (Certainly we all can relate to this with our current economy...)

Also, is there really a big difference in the 28" barrel and the 26" barrel? If so, what is the difference?

Thanks!

Harry
 
The Silver and the Gold are essentially the same gun.

Differences that I have observed;

1. The Silver has a semi humpback receiver, the Gold is rounded
2. The Gold has the magazine cut off feature, the Silver does not. (I personally do not think this is a big deal)
3. The Gold has the auto load feature, the Silver does not. (I feel that this is somewhat "gimmicky", and not of any real great value).

There may be others, but these are what I have observed when I was looking at these guns.

I have a Remington 11-87 with a 26" barrel, and a 28" barel.
I have a Stoeger M2000 with a 28" barrel.
I have a Beretta a390 with a 30" barrel.
I have a Yildiz O/U with 26" barrels.

I seem to hit better with the longer barrel guns. I don't know why. Some folks think the extra weight smooths out the swing. I ain't smart enough to know. It just seems to me that I hit better with the longer ones. Also, the longer barrels seem to be more prevalent on the skeet and sporting clays ranges.
 
I have an Ithaca, two Remington 1100s, and a Benelli. The older Remington was made about 1966, is 20 gauge, and runs perfectly. The other is a 12 gauge, made about 2005, and I have to fix something almost every time I shoot it. It gets dirty fast and then jams. That's why I bought the Benelli M2. It cycles everything and stays clean. There is a little more recoil.
 
More questions...

"The Silver and the Gold are essentially the same gun.

Differences that I have observed;

1. The Silver has a semi humpback receiver, the Gold is rounded
2. The Gold has the magazine cut off feature, the Silver does not. (I personally do not think this is a big deal)
3. The Gold has the auto load feature, the Silver does not. (I feel that this is somewhat "gimmicky", and not of any real great value)."



Snarlingiron (or anyone else who may know),

What is the magazine cut off feature? Also, the auto load feature you referred to...is that something only Browning has, or do other companies have the same thing? I want to make sure I get this all figured out before I drop the cash. Thanks buddy!

Harry
 
Magazine cutoff- Allows you to eject the round from the chamber and the rounds will remain in the magazine. Let's say you are duck hunting and have #4 shot in your gun. A goose is flying over in range. Using the magazine cutoff will allow you to eject the round from the chamber and drop a round of BB shot directly into the chamber. Could also change from buckshot to slugs if deer hunting.

Never had a gun with the auto load feature but this is how I THINK it works. With your bolt locked back when you drop a round into the chamber it automatically chambers the round. With most autos you have to press a button somewhere on the gun to unlock the bolt and chamber the round.
 
jmr40 is right, I think. However, I am basing my thinking about the value of the magazine cut off on the Beretta A390, and the Stoeger M2000 that I own. On these guns, If you have not pulled the trigger, cycling the bolt will cause the chambered shell to eject without feeding another round from the magazine. Is this not essentially an "automatic" magazine cutoff?

The Brownchester, I am assuming is the same...maybe not?

Also, like jmr40, I dont have a gun with the autoload feature, nor have I ever used one. With that said, I have read that with the chamber empty, and the bolt locked open, when you feed a round into the magazine, it automatically feeds from the magazine, and the bolt releases and chambers the first round.

I can't imagine that it is quicker or easier than tossing a round into the ejection port, pushing the button, and sliding another round or two into the magazine.

Hey, some Browning Gold owner help us out here.
 
I had a Gold, and the magazine cutoff works as you describe. Flip the switch, and you can unload the chamber without a new round being released from the magazine. I never used this feature.

I loved the auto load feature though...at least while hunting ducks. When the last round is fired, the bolt locks open, you simply load a round in the magazine and it feeds itself into the chamber. When it comes to fast paced shooting, it allows you to keep your eyes on the incoming ducks and eliminates any buttons to push to chamber a round. After initial loading, it's just shells to magazine until you're done.
 
A lot depends on what you are going to use the shotgun for, hunting, skeet, or home protection. Keeping these factors in mind should help lead you to the shotgun that is right for you and your needs.

BTW: I recommend Remington 870...awesome shotguns, take a lick'n & keep on tick'n. I have 2 that I use for bird and duck hunt, respectively. Each is set (choke & barrel length) for what I am hunting for (along with different Mossy Oak camo...hee hee).

Hope that rambling on helped you in some way. - 240SX
 
since you're thinking of getting a multi-sporting purpose gun, I would say to go with Remington as well because of their aftermarket that allows you to turn just about any remington into a gun that will fit any purpose you want it to.
 
..."Also, is there really a big difference in the 28" barrel and the 26" barrel? If so, what is the difference?"...

The answer is 2" (ha ha). The real difference is how the gun feels to you. I doubt that 1 out of 10 people can tell the difference, and the shot preformance out of 26 vs 28" barrels is almost too slight to measure. Trying to find one gun that does all things is difficult. If you are set on that, I would look for a semi auto 12 ga with vent rib, a somewhat high stock comb and screw in chokes. I would go for the shorter end of the barrel length spectrum for easier handling in the field and duck blind.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
Looking for advice: shotgun for sporting clays
Replies
8
Views
892
George P
George P
M
  • Locked
Looking for a new shotgun
Replies
9
Views
685
greg531mi
G
B
  • Locked
Looking at 3 shotguns-Help Appreciated
Replies
8
Views
728
M Jager
M
B
  • Locked
Recommendations on 1st shotgun
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
Irish Bird Dog
I
J
  • Locked
Shotgun Shell Catcher
Replies
3
Views
2K
ArmedBear
A
Back
Top