Needed Spares for Semi auto shotgun - thoughts?

[Dean1818]

I am looking to pick up a semi auto shotgun soon.

For those that have them, what are the recommended spares to also buy
(The most commonly repaired or replaced parts)

For my AR15, I always keep an extra extractor, plus pins and some springs

Thoughts for semi auto shotgun?

 

[oneounceload]

WHICH semi auto? THAT makes a big difference

 

[JAshley73]

Shells. You're always going to want to shoot one more round...

 

[41magsnub]

Is this a hunting shotgun, home defense, etc?

My bird hunting shotgun strategy is a spare shotgun. I'm never all that far from the truck and I'd rather switch guns than try to do some in the field gunsmithing.

 

[oneounceload]

Is it a gas gun, inertia, long recoil? Does it use O-rings? I would need more spares for a 1100 than a Benelli or Beretta

 

[Dean1818]

Mossberg spx

I may also break my own rule of buying only american made.......

. The CZ712 utility looks good



Its for home defense, but would like to use for hunting as well

 

[JAshley73]

Is this a hunting shotgun, home defense, etc?

My bird hunting shotgun strategy is a spare shotgun. I'm never all that far from the truck and I'd rather switch guns than try to do some in the field gunsmithing.

I think this is the correct answer. If this is your home defense weapon, then you should have a backup gun. You certainly don't want to be working on the gun mid-fight... Ditch that thing and grab another. (Rifle, pistol, ball-bat etc.)

 

[Dean1818]

I have plenty of guns to back up a shotgun

I just want to know what are the things that break or wear out the quickest on a semi auto shotgun, so that I can keep spares on hand

 

[410.bird.shot]

It's basically impossible to give you guidance without knowing your model, but Briley has some fantastic information that you should consider here: http://www.briley.com/articles/autoloader.html.

EDIT: Dean, I overlooked your post regarding the Mossy SPX or the CZ. I'm not familiar with those models, but still think about the things Briley discussed.

 

[410.bird.shot]

Note the Briley article I posted above gives specific items to keep on hand for Browning Golds and Beretta 391s. There is a lot of REALLY good info in that link, and I implore you to read it top to bottom if you are serious about shotgunning with a semi-automatic. Many of the parts identified might be kept just in case for your new addition.

I've put some 25,000 or so shots down my Gold's tube and the only mechanical thing that slowed me down was a broken Bolt Link, which I attribute to using some heavily tarnished shells that likley put odd tension on the part. Otherwise, if you keep your semi-auto (of a reputable make) cleaned and use good ammo, I doubt you'll soon need many, if any, replacement parts.

 

[MagnunJoe]

Dean, think positive. Your new shotgun may NOT need anything -spares- for years and years to come. I hear of shotguns that are 10 years old, 10K powerful 3 inch shots and still have all the original parts.
Shoot more, worry less...

 

[Dean1818]

Dean, think positive. Your new shotgun may NOT need anything -spares- for years and years to come. I hear of shotguns that are 10 years old, 10K powerful 3 inch shots and still have all the original parts.
Shoot more, worry less...

Positive is good

But..... I have had guns for many years, and have seen things wear out on them

 

[rbernie]

Springs and extractors - everything else is gonna be designed to work for a good while and parts breakage will be difficult to predict...

 

[two gun charlie]

lol , find a parts list for that shotgun and just buy one of each part I can promise you that when anything breaks it will always be the part that you dont have in stock :banghead:

 

[45crittergitter]

I used to do that, but then just bought a better gun.

 

[MattShlock]

Springs and extractors - everything else is gonna be designed to work for a good while and parts breakage will be difficult to predict...

Hammer spring and recoil spring, mag spring only if you shoot thousands and thousands of rounds annually, extractor, firing pin, gas rings.

Glad you're insuring yourself -- these are the times to do it.

 

[Virginian]

I used to work on guns a lot, and I still have an assortment of parts. I have never needed them on my personal guns. Since about 1966 when I converted the metal V ring to an O ring so I wouldn't lose the V ring, I have carried a spare O ring in my wallet for my 1100s, and I have never needed it. If I am going on a long distance trip, I bring along a spare gun. It came in handy when I broke an extractor on the first shot of dove season about 1981 or so. When I lost the bolt handle once because I got two mixed up when I was cleaning 4 guns at one time, I just had to remove the fore end to unload at the end of the hunt, it didn't tie the gun up.
Any machine can break, and it will usually break whatever part you don't have. It's pretty easy to tie up more than a few dollars that don't do you a bit of good in spare parts.

 

[btg3]

Had a firing pin break once. If that happens, you'll need one firing pin, tools, and replacement parts for the ones you drop and can't find in the field. Fortunately, I had another gun and was back on the birds in much less time than if I had made a repair.