Need a Soft Shooting Semi-Auto

[shaggycat]

I have grown up on my dad's Light Auto 5 (12 gauge), but I want my own shotgun now for a number of reasons.

Firstly, I am a lefty, so if at all possible, I would prefer a lefthanded gun. I don't like shells flying across my face when I want to get a second shot off. It is distracting.

Secondly, I would like the softest recoiling shotgun I can get. I want to be able to put as many possible shells downrange. Plus, while I am comfortable with a 12 gauge, I am far from an expert so I want to develop good habits on a soft recoiling gun, while still shooting a 12.

Thirdly, I would like a semi-auto. I am just more familiar with them, I enjoy cleaning guns and keep them clean, and I don't see the reason for getting anything else.

I want this gun to be as much a do all gun as possible for me. I would like for it to chamber 3 1/2 inch shells for that reason. I would like to have the option of waterfowl hunting, shooting clays, upland birds, maybe some turkey. Understand I do not expect the gun to be the perfect fit for each of these purposes, but I figure that with a couple barrels the gun should be able to do the job.

Needless to say (but I will say it anyway ), it needs to be as reliable as possible.

I have fondled the Extrema and 11-87, among others, but need advice from those much wiser than me.

 

[45Guy]

For my money the Remington 1100 is best for your pruposes, but I'm not sure if they come in lefty. It was the frist shotgun I ever fired at 13 and I hit all 5 clays because of no fear of the recoil. I have since then fired my grandfathers 1100 several thousand times for times exceeding 3 hours and have never once had a sore or bruised shoulder afterwards. Good luck with any choice, this is just my personal recommendation.

 

[lycanthrope]

Hard to beat a gas operated gun for soft. +1 on the 1100. They come in lefty-friendly models too!

Wal Mart sells them online surprisingly cheap.

 

[toivo]

The 1100 is a great gun, but didn't shaggycat say he wanted a gun that would chamber 3 1/2 inch shells too? The 11-87 Super Magnum would fill that bill.

 

[ojr]

Beretta xtrema2.Shoots 3 1/2,easy to clean, and you can buy a kickoff upgrade which makes it even softer.However I own a Benelli,m2.

 

[JohnBT]

www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_105CTi.asp

It won't shoot the 3.5-inchers, but it is a bottom ejector.

I've had great success on Canadas and Mallards with 2.75" and 3" Hevi-Shot and don't see a need for 3.5" shells for hunting over decoys.

John

 

[ArmedBear]

If you're used to being beaten up by a light Auto 5, everything will be soft-recoiling.

Remington 1100s HAVE been made leftie AFAIK, since my recent search for parts has turned up left-handed barrels. A quick call to Remington will tell you if they still are. They're soft shooting. So are Beretta gas-operated guns, if you like to spend more money. A gas-operated gun will take care of what you want. People also like Brownings, though I think that most of them are overweight and overpriced. So's my Browning, but it's a trap gun, so it's supposed to be overweight and overpriced.

I'd say forget the 3.5" guns. They're heavier and they don't shoot light 2 3/4" loads well. For an all-round gun, that's FAR more important, especially since newer non-toxic shot makes 3.5" shells unnecessary. Get a 3.5" gun only if you have a known, specific purpose. And in that case, consider a 10 Gauge.

 

[ArmedBear]

JohnBT-

Do you have a 105?

What is the street retail for those things?

How do you like it all around?

I've never seen one.

 

[TonyRumore]

The lightest recoiling shotgun is the Winchester Model 50. It has FAR LESS recoil then an 1100.

 

[00-Guy]

Diconnect noted

Soft Shooting Semi and 3.5 Shells

I agree with Armed Bear. Skip the 3.5. 2.75 is good enough. You can get a wide variety of loads that size.

 

[PJD]

Soft Shooter

I own several Beretta Xtrema II 's KO ( with the kickout feature ) . They will handle 7/8 oz. to 2 1/4 oz. loads with no problems.

I just returned from a Dove and Pigeon trip in Argentina and put 7,150 round thru one of them . My shoulder is just fine .


Make sure you purchase one with the KO ( Kick Out ) feature . this is well worth the slightly higher dollar amount . This feature makes the recoil feel like a 28 gauge .

PJD

 

[ojr]

over here they call it the kickoff,and they are priced at $2700.00 as opposed to $2300.00 for the standard model.Makes Me extremely jealous when I see the prices you guys pay for the same things.

 

[JohnBT]

The Remington 105cti isn't out yet that I know of. The last thing I read said it should be out by fall hunting season.

MSRP - $1300
Predicted street price - $1100

I know, it's expensive, but the Remington 1100 Competition lists for
$1400 IIRC and some of the Beretta autos are pushing $2k.

 

[PJD]

OJR

Hi OJR ,

I stand corrected , they call it the Kick Off feature here too .

You can purchase one here with the Black Synthetic stock for $ 1375.00 - $1500.00

Sorry to hear you folks down under have to pay so much more !!!

Have you tried Herman's Guns in Australia to see what his prices are ? He has some great prices on many items in the shotgun market.....

PJD

 

[ojr]

Hello PJD, to import a firearm from Aussie you need a dealers Licence,pretty hard to get in this country where handguns and MSSA[ millitary style semi auotmatic,s] are banned. As for Aussie after the tasmainian massacre ten years ago they now have some of the harshest firearms ownership rules around.No semi shotguns,no semi hunting rifles including .22s,I never would have thought the Aussies would have layed down like that, it's probably why they want to colonise us.cheers.

 

[ojr]

I should say that hanguns and MSSA's are not totally banned,but you need a special licence and most, unless into club shooting, do not bother.

 

[ball3006]

I have shot many thousands of rounds....

through my Remington 11 and I have never seen the empty fly past my face. If recoil is a problem with you, buy a 20 ga........chris2

 

[9mmMike]

I shoot with a guy who has an 1187 that is wrong-sided. I'm pretty sure the 1100 is also available leftie. I really like my 1100 but it does not shoot 3.5" shells.
Mike

 

[GRP]

I vote for the Rem 1100, It's cheaper, better pointing and you don't really need 3.5" shells. A good shot dosen't need more shot,(pellets) and more shot (pellets) won't help a poor shot.

 

[STiTkacik]

I would also vote for the LH 1100.

Although the new Remington mentioned above would be very nice as well .

 

[shaggycat]

OK, so it sounds like I don't necessarily to be able to shoot 3 1/2 inchers.

Is there anything about the Xtrema that would warrant the warrant the extra cash if I was fine without being able to chamber 3 1/2 inch shells? I am willing to spend money to get a higher quality firearm, but money is definately a factor. So if the difference in gun is not equal to the difference in price, that matters to me.

Also, is there any gun I am missing that I should consider? The Winchester Model 50?

 

[ArmedBear]

The Beretta 3901 may well give you the same service for a lot less cash than the Extrema.

I'm not too enamored with the Remington 11-87 Sportsman because it's heavy, but it's also relatively cheap. The 11-87 Premier, OTOH, I like a lot. And I'm putting together an 1100.

The Mossberg 930, if you can find it, is a nice all-purpose semiauto, solid and priced right. It's pretty new, though, so it's hard to find someone who has had one for 15 years or put 25,000 rounds through it.

Berettas and Remingtons have stood the test of time.

(Benellis, Franchis and Stoegers are good high-volume guns -- they all have the Benelli action design -- but they're not soft-shooting unless you get the tricked-out Benelli, which is expensive and beautiful only in that it is very functional.)

 

[shaggycat]

I haven't done much waterfowl hunting. Would 2 3/4 inch shells be adequate?

 

[Kingcreek]

adequate in the right hands, but I would get a shotgun with 3" capability if your menu includes goose.
My winchester SX2 is a dedicated waterfowl gun and chambers to 3.5", but since switching to hevi-shot I don't use anything over 3".

 

[JohnBT]

For hunting over a pond or a creek - yes.
For hunting over decoying birds, even on the big water - yes.
Using Hevi-Shot or high-speed steel out to say 35 yards or so - yes.

Pass shooting the high flyers at 50, 60, 70 yards - no - people do it, but not me.

I have a 3.5-inch SX-2 and have never fired a 3.5" shell. Great gun, but so's my synthetic 2.75" 1100 and I've shot ducks and geese with it, too. I really like Hevi-Shot. And yes it is expensive.

John