Semi-auto design question

[Flechette]

I am by no means a shotgun expert, but it appears to me that most semi-auto shotguns have a bolt release button of some sort, either on the receiver or near the shotgun shell lifter paddle.

I understand the advantage of locking the bolt after the last shot out of the magazine, but why does this button need to be pressed in order to load the gun?

In the pump-action shotguns I have played with one can simply press the shotgun shell lifter paddle and load a shell at anytime, without having to press any sort of release button. This makes loading a pump-action much easier.

Why the need for this button to even be involved in the loading procedure. Why does it not only lock the bolt open and nothing else?

 

[rcmodel]

There has to be some way to close the bolt when you don't want to load the gun.

And many semi-autos do feed the first shell when you stuff it in the mag.
Brownings Speed-Load feature for instance.

http://www.browning.com/library/tech-terms/detail.asp?id=108

Others have a magazine cut-off so you can change loads in a hurry just by ejecting the shell in the chamber, throwing a different load in the ejection port, and pressing the button.

Useful when you are duck hunting and a goose flies over maybe?

As for the pump?
Well if the bolt is closed, you have to press the bolt release button to get it open to load it.

rc

 

[rule303]

Not all of them need to be pressed to load the gun. Some are strictly a bolt release. Some also have a magazine cut-off button so you can eject the shell from the chamber and lock the bolt open with the tube loaded, much easier than with a pump. Different features for different purposes.

 

[Flechette]

"There has to be some way to close the bolt when you don't want to load the gun."

I understand that. But why does it need to be pressed when you want to load the gun?

In other words, the shotgun shell lifter paddle will not move unless you press this button. Why?

 

[rcmodel]

Read post #2 again!

And watch the Browning video I linked.

rc

 

[allaroundhunter]

"There has to be some way to close the bolt when you don't want to load the gun."

I understand that. But why does it need to be pressed when you want to load the gun?

In other words, the shotgun shell lifter paddle will not move unless you press this button. Why?

Because that is how they mechanically function. You can't load the tube of a pump gun with the bolt open, either. In both semi's and pumps, the action must be closed in order to load the tube.

And there doesn't have to be a shell in there to press the button. You can press the button to close the action without loading the gun... Then with an empty chamber you can load the tube.

 

[Flechette]

@RCModel: Ok, I watched the Browning link; that gun operates differently from the ones I am used to. It appears that if the bolt is open one must simply insert one shell into the magazine tube and the gun chambers itself. Nice.

But why must someone push the slide release button in order to unlock the shotgun shell lifter paddle when the bolt is already forward?

I have high standard, Mossberg and Remington autos. They all require me to push some sort of button in order to move that paddle out of the way and load each round.

Are other autos different?

 

[rbernie]

Benelli's do not, Beretta's do not, the new Browning A5 does not, and the same may be true of many others.

 

[allaroundhunter]

@RCModel: Ok, I watched the Browning link; that gun operates differently from the ones I am used to. It appears that if the bolt is open one must simply insert one shell into the magazine tube and the gun chambers itself. Nice.

But why must someone push the slide release button in order to unlock the shotgun shell lifter paddle when the bolt is already forward?

I have high standard, Mossberg and Remington autos. They all require me to push some sort of button in order to move that paddle out of the way and load each round.

Are other autos different?

The only shotgun I know if that requires what you are saying is the Remington 11-87. I have a Mossberg semi that doesn't require anything like that, and I have no experience with High Standard shotguns.

Other semi's do not require what you are asking in order to load the tube.

 

[Flechette]

Not all of them need to be pressed to load the gun. Some are strictly a bolt release. Some also have a magazine cut-off button so you can eject the shell from the chamber and lock the bolt open with the tube loaded, much easier than with a pump. Different features for different purposes.

So there are indeed semi-auto shotguns that can be loaded without pressing a button? Interesting. I wonder if there is a list somewhere or if I will just have to try a bunch at gun shows.

 

[rcmodel]

No, but I think you will find if you throw a shell in the ejection port, and then press a second shell into the lifter / mag tube.

The shell will press the button for you, and you have basically loaded two shells in the gun with one motion.

rc

 

[Flechette]

Benelli's do not, Beretta's do not, the new Browning A5 does not, and the same may be true of many others.

Clearly, I am a shotgun newbie.

 

[MCgunner]

Reload after firing dry, drop one in the ejection port and press the release, the shell chambers. Now, put two in the mag and you're topped up, assuming you're duck or dove hunting. My auto, an old Winchester 1400, only holds two in the magazine. But, I don't see the problem here.

 

[jmr40]

I've not fired them all, but Mossberg and Remington autoloaders require the button to be depressed to load. Beretta and Benelli do not. It is OK to press the release to unlock the bolt, but I do not like having to depress a button to load each shell. I no longer own Remington or Mossberg and that is part of the reason.