Options for a short-barrel, utility, semi-auto

[Jason_W]

I really want a Benelli M2 "tactical" but that's simply not in the cards, financially speaking.

I'm not really looking for a dedicated self defense gun, but more of an all around shotgun good for non-flying critters from squirrels to deer. I want something that can consistently shoot acceptable groups with slugs, so a sighting option beyond a basic bead is desirable. complicating matters is that I want the option of choke tubes. I want it to be a semi-auto because I find fore end rattle while hunting irritating. I'm not sure if suck noise alerts game, but I feel like it alerts game, which is distracting.

No gun in my price range has all of what I want out of the box, but two that I've found come close.

1. The CZ 712 utility: Choke tubes, but no sight and is not drilled and tapped for a scope mount.

2. Mossberg 930: Drilled and tapped, but the shorter barrels aren't threaded for choke tubes.

So, I can either get the 712 and have it drilled and tapped, or get a 930 and have a barrel threaded for tubes (if the barrel even has a thick enough outside diameter to allow installation.

The other wildcard is the trigger. I shoot a lot of slugs, so a decent (for a shotgun) trigger would be nice.

Thoughts?

 

[rcmodel]

Find a good used Remington 11-87 Police or Turkey gun.

Problem solved, under budget.

http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10695956

http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10778782

rc

 

[Jaymo]

I got lucky when I found my Mossberg 9200A1 Jungle Gun, back in 2000. It came chambered for 3" mags, AND has the heavy barrel that is threaded for Accu Choke tubes.
I've never found any info from Mossberg that showed that model available with either option.
Yet, the Mossberg label on the box clearly shows it as being a 9200A1 Jungle Gun, chambered for 3" mags, and with an Accu Choke barrel.
You could check the Mossberg website to see if the 930 with the 18" barrel is available in an Accu Choke version.

 

[gunnutery]

What is the budget? The 930's are nice, though I can't remember the price range right now. I don't have much experience with the CZ or Remingtons.

When you say "short barreled" are you meaning 18" or 14"? I have an 18" Mossberg 500 and it doesn't do too bad for social work but slugs at 100 yards is asking a lot, at least with mine (I haven't tried in a while so maybe it was me?).

 

[Jason_W]

I can probably squirrel away up to $700 (assuming nothing breaks on my truck in the next few months).

By short barrel, I mean 18-22 inches.

 

[Rail Driver]

I dig my converted saiga 12 (19" barrel, +~2.5" for the polychoke). It's for sale too. The G2 trigger is great, and sighting is no problem.

 

[armoredman]

I'll have a 712 Utility next week, hopefully, will be able to give an opinion then

 

[Jason_W]

I look forward to the review, armoredman.

 

[jmr40]

Buy one of the 24" turkey guns. That is a good compromise barrel length. Short enough to make a decent SD gun, but still long enough to work for wingshooting with various choke tubes.

 

[Gordon]

Used M-1 Super 90 for what you will pay for new JUNK.

 

[Jason_W]

What do you consider junk?

Edit: I just ran a GB search, and used M1s are going for only slightly less than new M2s.

 

[jmr40]

I have 2 M-1's bought used, paid $600 for one, $750 for the 2nd one. I'm not normally a Mossberg fan, but the 930 is getting good reviews and sells for around $400.

Another option is the Stoeger 2000 with a 24" turkey barrel. I had one of those for a while and liked it a lot. Truthfully it was just as good as my Benelli's for the year I had it. I only sold it after buying the 1st Benelli and having a guy offer me $50 more for it than I paid.

 

[Gordon]

Well then get a good used Remington 1100 from the 70s or 80s or early 90s. You can get parts readily for them and they are VERY good and shoot softer than a Benelli.

 

[roadchoad]

Jason_W, the CZ 712 should have dovetails in the receiver. While it limits what length optic you can use without a messy adapter, it should be okay for a shotgun scope.

Well, to be clear, at least the 712 in this thread does have the grooves: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=651286&highlight=cz+712

 

[DaleCooper51]

If you get something with a vent rib barrel, there are Hi-Viz clamp on sites that attach right to the vent rib. I would go with a turkey gun in the 20"-24" barrel length.