Looking for advice on a Semi Auto

Zarthab

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I mostly Sporting clays but like trap, I tend to shoot for fun.
I have an 870 and would like a semi auto, here are some I was thinking about.
Let me know your opinions and recommendations. 26" 28"

In no particular order, I think Inertia might be better for the cleaning.
Benelli Ethos Sport, Inertia
Benelli Montefeltro Silver, Inertia
Browning A5 Ultimate,,,, Inertia
Retay Gordion Walnut Inertia
Winchester SX4 Upland gas
Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting gas
 
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That Winchester Upland is a beauty. I've had extremely good luck with my gas gun. Win 12ga XTR. I'd be tempted to go with this one. I'm a sucker for real wood on my guns though.

You can't go wrong with any of the names on your list though, so you really can't loose on what ever you choose.
 
If most of your shooting is some form of clays shooting a gas operated Semi will recoil less and be a better choice for high volume shooting. I like Beretta.

If you're looking for a dual purpose shotgun to use for hunting and clays and don't plan to shoot high volume then an inertia operated gun would be my pick. They are lighter, generally more rugged and more likely to continue working if dirty. I like the Benelli M2.

Either can be used for hunting and clays. It depends on your priorities. I'm primarily a hunter and when I shoot clays, I want to use the same gun that I hunt with. I don't want a barrel longer than 26" for what I do.

If you're primarily a clays shooter who only hunts occasionally then a gas gun with a longer barrel might be better for you.

The serious clays shooters think of a 28" barrel as too short and want 30" or more.
 
Nothing worse than waiting behind a guy on the clays course stand jacking shells in and out of a semi that won't cycle low brass shells or is dirty and won't function!

If you are serious about clays buy an over and under!

.....
 
If most of your shooting is some form of clays shooting a gas operated Semi will recoil less and be a better choice for high volume shooting. I like Beretta.

If you're looking for a dual purpose shotgun to use for hunting and clays and don't plan to shoot high volume then an inertia operated gun would be my pick. They are lighter, generally more rugged and more likely to continue working if dirty. I like the Benelli M2.

Either can be used for hunting and clays. It depends on your priorities. I'm primarily a hunter and when I shoot clays, I want to use the same gun that I hunt with. I don't want a barrel longer than 26" for what I do.

If you're primarily a clays shooter who only hunts occasionally then a gas gun with a longer barrel might be better for you.

The serious clays shooters think of a 28" barrel as too short and want 30" or more.
Yeah , a gas gun would be more pleasurable especially after the first box or two of ammo
 
Benelli or Beretta those would be my pick

Mage sure it's a Sporting gun, they have a better Palm Swell and are cast differently than Field/Hunting guns

Guess I should have mentioned for the cost of either you could probably pick up a nice used Beretta or Browning Sporting Over/Under
 
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Get a model that shell catchers are made for. The Birchwood/Casey and Carlson's wire ones are not a good choice.
The SKB 400 HS is a value. The most adjustability for the money, and a parallel comb, unlike Sporting Clays models.
 
I think you should handle, mount and swing those guns before deciding. While you can get accustomed to anything, better that a shotgun fit you to start with, than the other way around.

I have an older Benelli Legacy 12 gauge 28", which uses the original 2-piece receiver design, similar to the Ethos. I used it as my clay target gun for 2 years when I shot almost weekly. The inertia action does have more felt recoil than a gas gun. However, I did very well at sporting clays with it, and shot 100 straight Skeet with it. The gun fit me perfectly. After a year of use, I switched to 1oz loads for both sporting and skeet, and was very pleased. Always 100% reliable with minimal maintenance.

Prior to the Benelli, I used a Browning Gold 12 gauge 28" gas gun. Not a thing wrong with it, other than the mess in having to clean the action. I sold it as it felt ponderous between the hands, although it was not a heavy shotgun.

I know many shooters who like the Beretta, but they don't fit me well, and the guns seem to be less reliable than I prefer.

Regarding barrel length, don't be talked into a too-long barrel. Much of what drives new shotgun models are the preferences of influencers, who don't necessarily share your level of ability, needs and preferences. If you're not shooting FITASC, you don't need a 32"semi-auto. When I competed with O/U guns, 30" barrels were useful. They were also heavy as hell. In a semi-auto, the reciprocating action adds 4" of effective "barrel length" in terms of sighting down the rib. A 28" semi-auto is the equivalent of a 32" single barrel or O/U. I've tried 30" semi-autos and they were just too much. To each his own.

Best to try before you buy.

PS. For upland hunting I mostly have used O/U, but last year I bought a Benelli Ethos 20 gauge 26" and it's perfect. For nasty waterfowl hunting I use a camo Benelli SuperNova 12 gauge 28".
 
Im in a similar spot. I sold all of my Over/Unders due to some financial issues and am now wanting to get back into sporting clays. I took my Benelli Nova A few weeks ago and shot much better than I should have. I’m looking hard at the Browning Maxus 2 with 26” barrel. Also looking at a Citori hunter in 26” which is sub $1800.
 
I mostly Sporting clays but like trap, I tend to shoot for fun.
I have an 870 and would like a semi auto, here are some I was thinking about.
Let me know your opinions and recommendations. 26" 28"

In no particular order, I think Inertia might be better for the cleaning.
Benelli Ethos Sport, Inertia
Benelli Montefeltro Silver, Inertia
Browning A5 Ultimate,,,, Inertia
Retay Gordion Walnut Inertia
Winchester SX4 Upland gas
Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting gas

The Benelli Montefeltro is a nice, light, easy-swinging gun, and the inertial system keeps it very clean. I know several guys who own and swear by the Beretta shotguns, as well. They're both the same company now, if I'm not mistaken. I believe Beretta bought out Benelli, Sako, Tikka, etc.

Gas guns will theoretically be softer-shooting, but I've shot Benelli's all day long through boxes of shells doing trap, sporting clays, five stand, and hunting and had no issues. Bird shot doesn't recoil much in them, IMO. Inertial guns will theoretically be less dirty and stay cleaner longer. Benellis' actions stay very clean.

You really can't go wrong with either Benelli or Beretta. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot a Browning A5. I'm less familiar with the others.
 
i sometimes shoot a remington 870 in 12ga for sporting clays and i shot a 40-50 with a lite mod choke. and the ones i missed had nothing to do with pumping to slow for the second shot, i just plane missed.
 
I'm not sure what gauge you're looking for. If you ever plan to hunt with it, the weight savings of a Benelli is nice as gas guns tend to be heavier.
 
Like Boom Fang says fit is the most critical in my opinion. If you like the 870 maybe a Remington 1100 or 11-87. My grandson shoots one very well as did my son. My other grandson loves his Browning A5 ( new version) and I do too. I also shoot my Beretta 686 O/U very well. An adjustable stock and fitting by someone that knows how may help. My son switched to a Benelli SBE and really likes it. I prefer a little shorter, lighter and well balanced gun but I mostly shot Sporting Clays and used my guns for upland hunting. For trap and pass shooting some guys like longer, heavy guns. If you can mount a few in front of a mirror and see how they line up for you try that.
 
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