ImARugerFan
Member
1100. A great gun. They look sharp and won't cost you a ton if you pick one up used. Stay away from the russian guns and stoegers.
semi auto recommendations
- Thread starter kart racer
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Walmart sells the budget version of the Beretta A-390 for around $529. That is probably the most gun you can get for the money. I have had one of the wood stocked ones for years and it has never given me any trouble.
I took a chance on the Stoeger 2000 about 3 years ago and it too has never jammed. While it does not look as good as My Benelli M-1 so far both of them have been 100% reliable. My only concern with the Stoeger is how well it will hold up in the long run and they have not been available long enough to say.
I can't say anything bad about the Remington 1000 or 11-87, I have owned both before but they are a little heavier than the others I currently own and the lighter weight is preferable to me.
No comment on the Mossberg 930 because I have no personal experience. My brother and I both had the 9300 for a while as does one of my hunting buddies. They seem to be inconsistent, but if you get a good one they seem to be pretty good.
I took a chance on the Stoeger 2000 about 3 years ago and it too has never jammed. While it does not look as good as My Benelli M-1 so far both of them have been 100% reliable. My only concern with the Stoeger is how well it will hold up in the long run and they have not been available long enough to say.
I can't say anything bad about the Remington 1000 or 11-87, I have owned both before but they are a little heavier than the others I currently own and the lighter weight is preferable to me.
No comment on the Mossberg 930 because I have no personal experience. My brother and I both had the 9300 for a while as does one of my hunting buddies. They seem to be inconsistent, but if you get a good one they seem to be pretty good.
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sm
member
Joe, I get the impression you around my age group, I'm 52.
Toting more than shooting, Migratory Laws Apply to doves, so the gun will be limited to 3 shells, and I'm guessing some clays, and other small game.
I'd suggest a 20 gauge, and in Older Used,
guns such as Win 1400, easy to tote, limited to 3 shells by design and the softest shooting shotgun period.
1100, better gun than 11-87 ever will be
Beretta 303, 390...I am real partial to the 303 in 20 gauge.
12 gauge:
Winchester Super X 1 is THE best Autoloader - period, just these are hard to find, and can be a bit pricey. I only have 300,000 round through one ...
You are past all the Marketing and Hype tossed out, you are mature and have life experiences.
I'd get a good 20 semi, one that fits, and have a good time with it, and be grateful to not be in the "gotta-have" stage of life.
fearless leader
Member
If you can find a winchester 1400, they are very user friendly. Low magazine capacity, but you said you wanted it for hunting.
I have one and love it. It is the easiest auto loading shotgun I have personally used, and I have had a Benelli. Mine cycles everything, moderate recoil (gas operated), I've won events with it, and it cost under $200.
I have one and love it. It is the easiest auto loading shotgun I have personally used, and I have had a Benelli. Mine cycles everything, moderate recoil (gas operated), I've won events with it, and it cost under $200.
fearless leader
Member
HTML:
Not to offend anyone, because I don't personally have any experience with one, but can someone please tell me why the Benelli SBE's are $1300+???? I have no doubt that they are reliable, but just what makes them so special???Importer greed.
toivo
Member
Another vote for the Beretta 390 "Wal Mart Special"--I have the 20-gauge, and it's a great gun. They only stock the 12's these days, but that sounds like what you want anyway.
Second choice is Remington 11-87 or Mossberg 930.
Second choice is Remington 11-87 or Mossberg 930.
BridgeWalker
Member
Most gun for the money, I agree with the Berreta 390 wally-world special.
But I *love* the intertia drive system on my Benelli. The Benelli Montefeltro usually retails new for under $1000, and used ones are $550-700 or so. I don't hunt with mine, but reputedly the intertial system reacts much better to field conditions than most gas guns.
Worst I've gotten so far is shooting four rounds of trap in a driving rain with no problem. I'll have to report this winter on how it does in extreme cold. Others have found though, that for durability and ease of maintenance, the intertia drive is hard to beat. Some Franchis also use that system.
But I *love* the intertia drive system on my Benelli. The Benelli Montefeltro usually retails new for under $1000, and used ones are $550-700 or so. I don't hunt with mine, but reputedly the intertial system reacts much better to field conditions than most gas guns.
Worst I've gotten so far is shooting four rounds of trap in a driving rain with no problem. I'll have to report this winter on how it does in extreme cold. Others have found though, that for durability and ease of maintenance, the intertia drive is hard to beat. Some Franchis also use that system.
evbutler462
Member
tx1911, go for the M2000 Stoeger. Make sure that you have a Limbsaver put on it. It is light and very reliable. All light guns tend to kick. Makes a perfect upland gun.
The Mossberg 930 is another good buy. You won't need to put a pad on it.
The Mossberg 930 is another good buy. You won't need to put a pad on it.
I picked up a Remington 11-87 Premier. Mine has what Remington calls a "Realwood" stock with an R3 recoil pad(limbsaver). The limbsaver pad is about as good a recoil pad that you can get. Its made my S&K Gunstocks, they call it "Ultra Walnut". Not all 11-87 have this stock, so you would want to check.
http://www.sandkgunstocks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SKG&Category_Code=ULTRA
Its an absolute beauty of a shotgun and has been 100% reliable with 1 oz or 1 1/8oz loads through the first 300 shells. Its a little heavy compared to some others but when you combine the gas operated action, limbsaver pad and that extra weight of the shotgun you have one light recoiling shotgun. I paid around $720 which is higher than I've seen elsewhere but I got mine on a trade in.
Another nice thing is the 11-87 has been around for 20 years and spare parts of commonplace and cheap. People like to talk about the "o-ring" issues with the 1100 and 11-87. Its a 50 cent part that can be replaced in under 1minute and some go ten, twenty, thirty thousand shells without changing it once. Carry one in your spare pocket at the range or hunting if you want just in case.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_11-87/model_11-87_premier.asp
Above all else I would recommend picking up alot of different shotguns and seeing what fits you best. If the Remington 11-87 didn't shoulder well for me and didn't fit me so nicely I would never have bought it. I had orginally wanted a Beretta 391 until I picked one up..just didn't like how it felt. I'm sure its a wonderful shotgun.
http://www.sandkgunstocks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SKG&Category_Code=ULTRA
Its an absolute beauty of a shotgun and has been 100% reliable with 1 oz or 1 1/8oz loads through the first 300 shells. Its a little heavy compared to some others but when you combine the gas operated action, limbsaver pad and that extra weight of the shotgun you have one light recoiling shotgun. I paid around $720 which is higher than I've seen elsewhere but I got mine on a trade in.
Another nice thing is the 11-87 has been around for 20 years and spare parts of commonplace and cheap. People like to talk about the "o-ring" issues with the 1100 and 11-87. Its a 50 cent part that can be replaced in under 1minute and some go ten, twenty, thirty thousand shells without changing it once. Carry one in your spare pocket at the range or hunting if you want just in case.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_11-87/model_11-87_premier.asp
Above all else I would recommend picking up alot of different shotguns and seeing what fits you best. If the Remington 11-87 didn't shoulder well for me and didn't fit me so nicely I would never have bought it. I had orginally wanted a Beretta 391 until I picked one up..just didn't like how it felt. I'm sure its a wonderful shotgun.
I only have a Ithaca 20g O/U, and I love it. I was shooting a Browning BPS for a while. I hate that gun. My next gun will be a Benelli. My dad bought a M2 about a year ago, it has maybe 100 rounds through it. He has decided he doesnt like the all black, He told me if I buy him the Montefeltro, he'll give me the M2. But back on topic, I shoot his 1100 sometimes. Its a great gun, just kind of heavy.
EHCRain10
Member
M2000
Ive done some research while looking for a gun that would be fitting about the same needs/wants.
as far as ive seen and been told, the Stoeger M2000 uses the same inertia driven system as the much more expensive Benellis.
Just what ive found out so far though.
Ive done some research while looking for a gun that would be fitting about the same needs/wants.
as far as ive seen and been told, the Stoeger M2000 uses the same inertia driven system as the much more expensive Benellis.
Just what ive found out so far though.
I have a Rem 11-87 Premier in lefty. My parents bought it for me used when I outgrew my Mossberg 20ga, some 10years ago.
Ive deer hunted, dove hunted, rabbit hunted, and shot clays with it. Just change the chokes and go. Ive never had any real trouble with it. Few jambs, mainly b/c I dont clean it like I should. It does get heavy when draggin it through the woods, the shoulder sling helps.
Id love to have a Benelli or Beretta, b/c they do come up nice are lighter. But I cant justify paying over a $1K for a shotgun that will only get shot a few times a year. Now if I can find a clean used Left handed one for a good price, then Ill be all over it.
My cousin sold a SBE dirt cheap and didnt tell me. But it was a right handed model. After using a lefty model shotgun, Id hate to go back to everything bein on the wrong side.
Matt
Ive deer hunted, dove hunted, rabbit hunted, and shot clays with it. Just change the chokes and go. Ive never had any real trouble with it. Few jambs, mainly b/c I dont clean it like I should. It does get heavy when draggin it through the woods, the shoulder sling helps.
Id love to have a Benelli or Beretta, b/c they do come up nice are lighter. But I cant justify paying over a $1K for a shotgun that will only get shot a few times a year. Now if I can find a clean used Left handed one for a good price, then Ill be all over it.
My cousin sold a SBE dirt cheap and didnt tell me. But it was a right handed model. After using a lefty model shotgun, Id hate to go back to everything bein on the wrong side.
Matt
jonboynumba1
Member
It's hard to beat the humble ole' Rem 1100...if 2 3/4" shells are all you need you can't do any better. That and the old Browning A5 (though they kick a LOT harder) are probably the two most reliable semi's I've ever seen...they run forever...add a new $5 teflon coated O-ring to the remington every 2-3 years (or a .25 cent rubber one from the plumbing parts store every year...your choice) Everything else you see a larger percentage of lemons of "needs high brass loads to work right" type of stuff. I'd just find a good used 1100 for $300-400 or get a new one if you want choke tubes and need to shoot steel shot. I had a set of colonial thiwall chokes fitted in my ole (2nd year production) 1100. Cost about $100 and $25 for each additional choke tube...the older guns had lighter bbl's so you have to go thinwall choke tube on them...colonial seems to be the best one to use...especially if your smith is setup for them already with reamers ect. For the money you could just buy a new(er) 1100 though. The R3 recoil pads are dang nice to!
PS- the stoeger 2000's are NOT as relaible as the Benllies. It's not so much the inertil system part as the ejector design seems finnicky...YMMV I nearly bought one untill I shot several different load through it first. It shot VERY well pattern wise but not point of aim for me. I took an 870 express out and shot nearly as good of patterns with sveral choke and shot combinations and they were point of aim....so I took home the 870 instead. They aint fancy but they work 100% The stoeger only shot high brass loads well and even then not 100% No cheap practice shells kinda kills it for me...forget the charles daily as well before someone mentions them...they shoot great until they don't...then you may as well sell it cheap and go buy an 1100 or 11/87. There's a reason they are that much cheaper than the Benellis...I really wanted to like that gun to...feature wise I did...proof was NOT in the puddin though...I spent over 100 rounds of assorted shells with it before I gave up. Patterns...man it was GREAT...I needed a smaller front bead though I think. If it had been more reliable I'd have snapped it up...such a shame on the reliabillity. It was used in very good/exc. shape...so it may not show up right away...who knows...the CD's are like that...they make a really nice afforable quallity SxS & OU though (CD that is)
PS- the stoeger 2000's are NOT as relaible as the Benllies. It's not so much the inertil system part as the ejector design seems finnicky...YMMV I nearly bought one untill I shot several different load through it first. It shot VERY well pattern wise but not point of aim for me. I took an 870 express out and shot nearly as good of patterns with sveral choke and shot combinations and they were point of aim....so I took home the 870 instead. They aint fancy but they work 100% The stoeger only shot high brass loads well and even then not 100% No cheap practice shells kinda kills it for me...forget the charles daily as well before someone mentions them...they shoot great until they don't...then you may as well sell it cheap and go buy an 1100 or 11/87. There's a reason they are that much cheaper than the Benellis...I really wanted to like that gun to...feature wise I did...proof was NOT in the puddin though...I spent over 100 rounds of assorted shells with it before I gave up. Patterns...man it was GREAT...I needed a smaller front bead though I think. If it had been more reliable I'd have snapped it up...such a shame on the reliabillity. It was used in very good/exc. shape...so it may not show up right away...who knows...the CD's are like that...they make a really nice afforable quallity SxS & OU though (CD that is)
Master Blaster
Member
Berretta 390/391, I see alot of them on the trap sporting clays field, and folks who shoot 50,000+ rounds in a season seem to be under the impression that they hold up very well. The benelli inertial drive is a great hunting shotgun, but you really would rather have a gas gun if you are shooting 500 shells in an afternoon.
How does a Benelli do with a very light 3/4 oz target load on the skeet field????
The Beretta has a self adjusting gas system, that handles heavy loads and light target loads reliably
How does a Benelli do with a very light 3/4 oz target load on the skeet field????
The Beretta has a self adjusting gas system, that handles heavy loads and light target loads reliably
redactor
Member
Beretta 390 from Walmart.
BridgeWalker
Member
The lightest loads I've shot regularly are 7/8 and it did fine (I shoot trap with mine). I am pretty sure that a guy at the range was talking about doing 3/4 loads for skeet in his, but that conversation was several weeks back, as it may be jumbled. (Eta: The vast majority of my shooting is singles, so I actually can't comment on how it cycles super-light loads, as I've only shot doubles a couple times. Kinda' forgot about that...)
Benelli does recommend doing a couple hundred 1-1/8 oz loads to break it in. I got mine used from a hunter. That is part of why I paid a premium price for mine--I knew it had been properly broken in, but still low round count.
As for the recoil, I haven't even done more than a couple round at a time through a gas gun, and never 500 in a day--I'm too poor
, but I have done 200 rounds in a shooting session and still had plenty left in me for some playing around on the pistol/rifle range. Compared to break- and pump-actions, I find that the Benelli is not significantly lighter, but it is, if this makes sense, longer. It's more like a shove that a punch to the shoulder. One other thing worth noting on the Benelli is that it seems to be one of the most favored guns among the women at my club. This is not to say that it is a girly gun at all, but there's something there. For my part, I think it is a combination of the more diffused felt recoil and about the very refined balance that just makes it easier to handle overall, particularly if one doesn't have very much upper body strength. I know that for me, with a bum shoulder that used to really mess with my attempts to shoot much, I can shoot for much, much longer than with other guns I've tried (pumps and break actions mostly, couple rounds through an 1100).
Smitty in CT
Member
(BOLD emphasis by me)
There is a great deal on the following Mossberg 930 combo:
R & R has it for $425.17 (shipping NOT included)
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G85238
Bud's Gun Shop has it for $441.33 (shiipping included)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/43854
Joe,kart racer said:
There is a great deal on the following Mossberg 930 combo:
R & R has it for $425.17 (shipping NOT included)
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G85238
Bud's Gun Shop has it for $441.33 (shiipping included)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/43854
BridgeWalker
Member
I dunno, it just seems that two of the OP's requirements "good" and "not outrageous" are fairly subjective.
Smitty in CT
Member
Benellis and Berettas are great shotguns but, IMO, most of their pricing fits the definition of outrageous. (there are a very small number of bargains in their midst)
BridgeWalker
Member
Hence, subjective.
evbutler462
Member
EHCRain,
You can pay more but you can't buy better than the M2000. It has less returns for service than the Benellis, per Field & Stream magazine. Of course it doesn't have those shims or whatever that most everybody doesn't use anyway. It is a great basic gun with a heavy duty action using the same technology as Benelli/Franchi at 1/4th the price. Just looking at them, it is hard to tell the difference. The innards are just as tough as the more costly cousins. Read the owner's manual, go by it, and you will have a gun that your great grandchildren can use. All inertia actions have to be broken in using heavy loads. Most people just won't take the time or effort to do it. So they come online and bitch and moan that the inertia actions ain't working right.
These actions are made to very close tolerances and have to mate with the rest of the gun. So a box or two of high priced shells is a cheap price for a lifetime of shooting pleasure. Read the posts that complain. Most of them say, "I didn't shoot the heavy loads during break-in and now I am having misfires, ejection problems. Read the book. It is in the box. Do what it says and be done with it. Remember, the M2000 was the gun that beat the Franchi I-12 in Gun Tests Magazines extensive testing.
The M2000 is a light weight semi with only 3 moving parts. It needs very little care but it does need a decent recoil pad. They cut corners on the pad but that is the only thing I find that needs improving.
You can pay more but you can't buy better than the M2000. It has less returns for service than the Benellis, per Field & Stream magazine. Of course it doesn't have those shims or whatever that most everybody doesn't use anyway. It is a great basic gun with a heavy duty action using the same technology as Benelli/Franchi at 1/4th the price. Just looking at them, it is hard to tell the difference. The innards are just as tough as the more costly cousins. Read the owner's manual, go by it, and you will have a gun that your great grandchildren can use. All inertia actions have to be broken in using heavy loads. Most people just won't take the time or effort to do it. So they come online and bitch and moan that the inertia actions ain't working right.
These actions are made to very close tolerances and have to mate with the rest of the gun. So a box or two of high priced shells is a cheap price for a lifetime of shooting pleasure. Read the posts that complain. Most of them say, "I didn't shoot the heavy loads during break-in and now I am having misfires, ejection problems. Read the book. It is in the box. Do what it says and be done with it. Remember, the M2000 was the gun that beat the Franchi I-12 in Gun Tests Magazines extensive testing.
The M2000 is a light weight semi with only 3 moving parts. It needs very little care but it does need a decent recoil pad. They cut corners on the pad but that is the only thing I find that needs improving.
Squidward
Member
Best bang for the buck. No pun intended
Mossberg 930
Mossberg 930
ArkansasHunter
Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 26
Mossberg 930
I bought a Mossberg 930 back in July and I must say that Mossberg did there home work when they developed the 930.
I bought the BLK/SYN turkey model with 24" barrel I also bought all the chokes because it only came with there turkey choke.
I bought this shotgun to be my bangger gun but what I found out after I bought and shot It I was I'm gonna take care of this baby !
I Dove hunted in September with this 24" barrel wonder useing the full ckoke and I did very well and never had any problem.
Squirrel season opened and the 930 did an excellent job on bushey tails and was very impressed with how well the gun patterned with a 24"barrel and full choke.
The feel and fit of this gun is excellent and with the uniline reciever you are on target when you brought it to fire.
Last week I was cleaning out my gun cabinet and I found about 40 rounds of 2&3/4 mag and 3" mag buck shot so later that afternoon I put the modified choke in the gun and headed to the woods.
This shootgun will handle any load and pattern it well, it so much nicer than my Remington model 1100 and my 2 870's inregards to handleing and perfect shot patterns.
Folks I give you my word this shotgun appears to be very well made and I've found nothing cheap about this gun, the gas system is the same used on high end guns too.
I'm very impressed and love this shotgun BUT the only thing I found that I didn't care for was when I was in the woods squirrel hunting and fired it, (not in the open field) the 24" barrel and ported barrel was to loud for my ears so I'll be buying the 28" barrel for next year.
A.H
EDIT: I gave $388.00 for mine not including tax.
I bought a Mossberg 930 back in July and I must say that Mossberg did there home work when they developed the 930.
I bought the BLK/SYN turkey model with 24" barrel I also bought all the chokes because it only came with there turkey choke.
I bought this shotgun to be my bangger gun but what I found out after I bought and shot It I was I'm gonna take care of this baby !
I Dove hunted in September with this 24" barrel wonder useing the full ckoke and I did very well and never had any problem.
Squirrel season opened and the 930 did an excellent job on bushey tails and was very impressed with how well the gun patterned with a 24"barrel and full choke.
The feel and fit of this gun is excellent and with the uniline reciever you are on target when you brought it to fire.
Last week I was cleaning out my gun cabinet and I found about 40 rounds of 2&3/4 mag and 3" mag buck shot so later that afternoon I put the modified choke in the gun and headed to the woods.
This shootgun will handle any load and pattern it well, it so much nicer than my Remington model 1100 and my 2 870's inregards to handleing and perfect shot patterns.
Folks I give you my word this shotgun appears to be very well made and I've found nothing cheap about this gun, the gas system is the same used on high end guns too.
I'm very impressed and love this shotgun BUT the only thing I found that I didn't care for was when I was in the woods squirrel hunting and fired it, (not in the open field) the 24" barrel and ported barrel was to loud for my ears so I'll be buying the 28" barrel for next year.
A.H
EDIT: I gave $388.00 for mine not including tax.
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