• You are using the old High Contrast theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

One size fits all, does it exist?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nebeel

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2011
Messages
240
Ok, so basically I'm looking around for something that I'm starting to think doesn't exist.

I'd like to find a good semi-auto shotgun that can kind of be a one size fits all gun for me. In other words, it would cycle everything from el cheapo Wal-Mart bulk practice loads (7 1/2 or 8 shot I think?) all the way up to 3" slugs.

I don't do any bird hunting so 3 1/2 mag shells aren't something I need to worry about. I do deer hunt (can't use a rifle where I am) though so slugs would be used. I also like to shoot clays with friends sometimes too, but nothing organized yet.

I have a Mossberg 500 & a Remington 11-87SP that I use for deer, but light loads won't cycle worth anything in the 11-87:cuss:. I've heard good things about the Benelli M2, but don't have access to try one out.

Am I looking for something mythical here?
 
Two guns that I know cycle pretty much everything from light 3/4 oz loads and up are the Beretta A400 and the Remington Versa Max. I have about 8000 rounds through a VM and a friend has a truckload of ammo through his gun. I never shot the M2, but it should cycle bulk pack and up shells. They can have trouble reliably cycling really light 3/4 and 7/8 oz loads.
 
I've had my Beretta AL390 for about 14 years. It has never, ever jammed, FTE, FTF etc. I broke it in on 2 3/4 #8 Winchester promo ammo too.
 
If I had to sell all of my shotguns but 1 the 24" Benelli M-1 would be the one I'd keep. It is lighter than my pumps, just as reliable as the pumps and just points great. Shoots everything I've put in it for close to 10 years with minimal cleaning. The 24" barrel is long enough for most wingshooting and short enough for turkey, deer or personal protection.

New guns aren't cheap, but I bought mine used for about 1/2 what they were selling for new.

Your 11-87 doesn't shoot light loads because it isn't made to do so. All barrels shorter than 26" are designed for heavy loads only because o howthe gas system is set up. Even the 26" barrels are more prone to malfunctions. That is part of the downside to gas operated guns. Different barrel lengths are sensitive to different loads. The inertia guns shoot any load just as well regardless of barrel length.
 
That is sort of along the same line as what I have been reading. Gas operated much more load/barrel length sensitive than what an inertia system is.

Is it also true that an inertia system is cleaner running and consequently (at least in my understanding) more reliable?

Also, if I am truly looking for an inertia system, is the M2 what I should be looking at exclusively or are there comparable models out there? There was another manufacturer (Stoeger?) that also uses a similar system to the M2. Is this virtually the same gun with half the price tag, or is there a big difference in function?
 
I had a Stoeger, was perfectly content with it. I later ran across the used Benelli at a good price. I owned both for about 1 year and had an offer to sell the Stoeger for more than I paid for it. When they were first introduced they were much cheaper than now. While I had no compliants with the Stoeger, I decided to sell it, especially when I could do at a profit.

The guns work on the same principal, but are somewhat different. The recoil spring on the Benelli is in the buttstock. It is around the mag tube in the forend on the Stoeger which changes the balance point. Both are very lightweight which is a plus for me. I use mine for a lot or turkey hunting and 10 mile days are not uncommon. The Stoeger has a larger magazine, 4+1 vs 3+1 on the Benelli without the plug in either, but extended mag tubes are available for the Benelli. Not sure about the Stoeger. The Benelli is better finished, the Stoeger a little more coarse, but both worked 100% for me.

If both gas and inertia guns are kept even reasonaby clean either are probably equally reliable. You can make an argument that a gas gun is more reliable, if clean. In harsh, dirty conditions an inertia gun will probably continue to function longer when extremely dirty The inertia guns are simpler, with fewer parts making it easier to clean them. Gas guns have more parts, and it is possible to put things back together wrong and turn them into a single shot until the problem is corrected.

Gas guns are heavier and the gas system does lessen recoil. That is a factor for high volume clay shooters. if I were seriously into the clay games I'd prefer a gas operated Beretta. As a hunter, who occasionally shoots a few clays to stay in practice I prefer the Benelli. Both are good, as is the 11-87. The 11-87 is an older design with some quirks that more modern guns don't have, but are still not a bad choice as long as you understand their limitations and strengths.
 
I'd like to find a good semi-auto shotgun that can kind of be a one size fits all gun for me. In other words, it would cycle everything from el cheapo Wal-Mart bulk practice loads (7 1/2 or 8 shot I think?) all the way up to 3" slugs.
Click to expand...

Beretta A400, either the Xplor Unico for hunting or the Xcel for clays - I have both and both shoot my 3/4oz 1210 fps reloads with zero malfs; the Xcel handles 3" ammo, the Xplor is a 3.5" goose-ready gun - both have adjustable shims for a good fit
 
I have an old Mossberg 9200 that I ran hard the first time out. I put 125 rounds through it one afternoon, using everything from light target loads to heavy turkey loads and it never missed a beat.
 
Hhmmm.... From the sounds of these replies, maybe I just didn't do my research very well. Sounds like there are a fair number that will work with diverse loads.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk now Free
 
11-87s are designed to shoot anything from 1-1/8 ounce field loads up through 3". Most will run the 1 ounce fast loads but there is no guarantee. With a 26" field barrel your present gun should work. The Versamaxs I have seen eat anything, as do the Berettas. I have seen a lot of Benellis that were picky about loads lighter than 1-1/8 ounce fast field loads. An acquaintance has a Stoeger 3" semi (930?) and it has run everything as far as I know. Another guy has an Affinity and it runs everything okay as well. The inertia guns have a sharper kick in my book. I am not recoil sensitive, have run a lightened BPS 10 gauge (as in machined receiver and barrel to lighten it) for years with no problems, but if I was going to be shooting a lot of clay pigeons it would definitely be a Remington or a Beretta gas gun, whichever you prefer.
 
So would it be better to just find a 26" field barrel to swap out when not deer hunting? I think the current barrel is 21" if I remember correctly.

Believe me, I'd love to have a Benelli and hardly ever say no to a new gun, but the more sensible part of me says make do with what you've got if it's possible.
 
Look on ebay and get a 26" or 28" barrel for your gun. If you don't like the results you can always backtrack for very little money, and you my be happy for cheap. If you do have trouble with real light loads there's an easy fix for that too.
 
Saiga12, can't beat it :)
I know they vary on shooting the light loads but mine chews up everything I put in it. You can have it converted to a more standard AK style configuration as well so you have the comfortable pistol grip. They make mags in; 5rnd, 10rnd & 12rnd as well as drums in; 12, 20 & 30. The gun/stick mags will shoot 3" but the drums won't.

One of my favorite guns to shoot out of my entire collection.
 
For light loads stick a larger O ring in front of the gas piston so it blocks the relief ports just like the barrel seal activator works on the SuperMag version. Do not forget to remove it if you go to shoot heavy stuff.
 
Hhmmm... I'll have to give that a shot if the longer barrel is still temperamental. Thanks!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top