Semi-automatic shotgun reliability

[natedog]

I'm sure when semi-automatic pistols were first introduced, there were long periods of when people seriously question there reliability. Now it's seemed that they've reached a point where any quality pistol will be 99.999999999% reliable (or so it seems). Same thing with semi-automatic rifles- there have been many proven designs (M-1, M-14, FAL, G3, etc) and no one really questions their ability to perform. But it doesn't seem so with shotguns. Are semi-automatic shotguns really less reliable than their rifle cousins? Or is it just a stigma?

 

[mete]

The biggest problem for reliability is dirty guns. If you keep them clean they will work fine.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Dirt, sand and dust are the worst enemies of autoloaders. Newer designs are better than most of old, but these are still a little more grunge sensitive than pumps. The difference is narrowing.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

I have noticed that semis will somtimes jam when being fired from the hip. (Has not happend to me, but I noticed that it was happening to some folks at a class i took a few months back) Anyone know the reason?

 

[sm]

clbj ,
Same principle as "limp wristing" with a semi-auto handgun. Firearm requires being statonary , solid to allow the "particular" semi auto action type to cycle the semi auto action as designed. [ read - something to push against]

Some semi handguns have "blowback" ( no extractor) and then we have those with extractors.

Shotguns can be gas , recoil or what I call 'inertia' type semi auto. Keeping chambers and extractors clean important in any gun/any platform . Many failures on shotguns are chamber related, which will in turn not allow extractor to function as designed - regardless of action type.

Gas guns also need ports kept clean. Gas / recoil / inertia systems all need the respective "system" kept inspected, maintained, cleaned as need.

 

[HSMITH]

The shotguns you saw failing when shooting from the hip were Benelli recoil operated guns, or gas guns that were jamming on other occasions as well.

THE biggest enemy of a semi-auto shotgun is the OPERATOR!!!! You have guys that don't know how to keep a shotgun running and then it is the POS shotgun that is at fault. You have guys that you can tell, then show, then actually clean and lube their shotgun for them and they STILL won't do it the way it needs to be done. Then they blame the shotgun.....

I don't find that being dirty is all that big of a deal if the lube level is correct and in the proper locations. I have gone as long as 6000 rounds through my X2 without a problem, and 4000 through my gold......

The good news here is you can get some great prices on shotguns with NOTHING wrong with them, the bad news is it is hard to get accurate information on which guns work and which ones don't.

I have an 1100 that is flawless in operation, 1500 rounds without cleaning and still runs like a swiss watch. Most guys tell you an 1100 needs to be immaculate to run. I have a SuperX2 that is as reliable as my 870, it has never hitched on a shell that will chamber, but some of my reloads are in hulls that are a wee bit past their prime if you get my drift. I have a Browning Gold Hunter 20 gauge, same thing, if the shells will chamber it runs them. Zero problems. These three are the auto's I have decided to keep out of 25 or so shotguns owned, and the results I talk about are over a combined 60-80K shells.

I have owned a lot of shotguns, the only ones I had trouble with were 11-87's, they just didn't run well. I had trouble with a Benelli Super Black Turkey I mean Eagle sorry, but only with light field loads and lighter which is the bottom end of shells that they tell you it will work with and then below. It needed some SERIOUS shells to cycle off shoulder unless you braced up like you were going to get body checked.........

Most shotguns run VERY well. I am sure there are some of each brand and model that don't but they are more rare than most people think.

 

[sm]

HSMITH...
I'm with you 110%.
Hey I never said I cleaned mine...mine do run tho'.

Yeah I'm not Bennelli or 11-87 fan either,( don't have a problem if one is( experience mirrors yours. Really pisses off a guy with one of those to have a SX1, 1100, or Berretta 303 that has not been cleaned in at least 1k rds to keep running /gunning and beating him like a drum. [ old "style" guns you know won't run like the new ones with bling bling ]

So I run a SX2 and do the same deal...hey, gripe about the old style, might as well prove my point with a new style.

 

[Correia]

I only own 1 semi auto shotgun, and that is a Saiga 12. It is super reliable.

As an SO I get to watch lots of people shoot semi auto shotguns. In my experience most of the malfunctions I have seen have been related to using incorrect ammo. You really need to find what works for you. I always cringe when I seen a Benelli shooter show up with a case of Walmart Winchester Bulk pack because I know we are going to have a fun day of malfunction clearing!

 

[kotengu]

Personally I think it's due to the wider variety of ammo called to use in a shotgun than a rifle or pistol. Once you settle on a caliber in a rifle or pistol, there is not a very wide range of loads you will put through the gun and still ask it to function. In a shotgun, however, you can shoot anywhere from 3 1/2" magnum slugs to a 7/8oz #8 shot, and we haven't even got into the "specialty" rounds yet.

 

[sm]

to have a fun day of malfunction clearing!

Not a bad thing to practice, recommended, perhaps more need to know moreso than others...

I'd rather shoot, I come to drain the swamp...not be surrounded by 'gators.

I have yet to figure out why people spend bunches of money on guns and "skimp" on ammo...then blame the gun.

Maybe I'm wrong...I've invested more money on ammo than the darn guns that shoot the ammo.

"That gun sure is antiquated and Ugly"
Yeah - but ain't them red shells with better components sharp looking?

 

[auschip]

Not really sure, but I have a Winchester model 50 that was made in about 1957, that just keeps on shooting. No matter what I feed it, it kills clays and knocks birds out of the sky. My experience may be atypical, but if it works fine why should I worry about it?

 

[Smoke]

I have a Remington Sportsman 48 in 20ga that has been used and abused by my Grandfather and myself. It hasn't seen too many proper cleanings and has always performed perfectly.

I also have a Browing Humpback 12ga that has spent a fair amount of time wasting shells at those little grey birds. With the exception of the occasional "double tap" with a single pull of the trigger it has never given me any problems.

Smoke

 

[sm]

wasting shells at those little grey birds.

LOL

Dove season was invented by shotshell mfgs. Shotshell mfgs I understand also pay monies to chemical/feed-seed companies to NOT develop any sedative like reactions in products used for or around milo,sunflower...well you get the idea.

I know people tease about this...but you never hear a denial now do you?

 

[Smoke]

Dove season was invented by shotshell mfgs. Shotshell mfgs I understand also pay monies to chemical/feed-seed companies to NOT develop any sedative like reactions in products used for or around milo,sunflower...well you get the idea.

I Knew it! I Knew it!:banghead: It's a conspiracy I tell ya!
I think the game warden is in on it too. Ever hear of an Inca Dove?

I hadn't either....:banghead:

Smoke

 

[Chuck Jennings]

The explanation of "limp wristing" the shotgun causing FTEs makes sense. In retrospect, the operators that day that were having problems were rather slight young ladies that had some difficulty holding the gun tightly to the hip. Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Gary G23]

My Browning Gold and 11-87 were reliable when clean. If you put 500rds through them without cleaning they were not. My Benelli was reliable even if it was never cleaned. My personal opinion is that gas guns need to be cleaned frequently to be reliable.

 

[Correia]

Doves are the most frustrating animal in the world to hunt. You shoot fifty and you get enough meat to equal a 6 pack of chicken nuggets. The best way to hunt doves is to wait for a bunch of them to land on a telephone wire and then shoot them off.

NOTE the above is an attempt at humor, I've only shot doves off a telephone wire once, I was about 10 years old and it seemed like a really good idea at the time. The lack of phone service and my really angry Dad convinced me otherwise. Got about 20 of the little buggers though!

 

[Zak Smith]

Benelli M1S90 "Tactical". Over 1000 rounds, essentially no cleaning. No malfunctions with 1oz or heavier loads:

-z

 

[BerettaNut92]

I always cringe when I seen a Benelli shooter show up with a case of Walmart Winchester Bulk pack because I know we are going to have a fun day of malfunction clearing!

Works fine in my gun...haven't tried it since I put the light on though.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

I always cringe when I seen a Benelli shooter show up with a case of Walmart Winchester Bulk pack because I know we are going to have a fun day of malfunction clearing!

News to me!

I have yet to have a failure of any kind with any Walmart value pack.

 

[Correia]

Interesting. I've seen it a couple of times now where a shooter will use that stuff and have a bunch of malfs in a Benelli. I always figured it was due to the relative weakness of the load. Maybe it is something else?

 

[Zak Smith]

I don't use anything lighter than Winchester AA127 (1145fps, 1.125oz) or Federal "Tactical" in my Benelli, and it runs 100%.

-z

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Maybe it is something else?

The culprit is:

They don't rock nearly as much as I do!

j/k

I have yet to see a Benelli choke on the value packs from Walmart.
With all the traffic on this forum from our experienced shooters, I almost lead myself to believe that the Benellis were problematic.

However, my experiences have been the complete 180 of some of the horror stories.

Not all guns are created equal, and that goes from same model to same model. Perhaps all the Benelli shooters that I have PERSONALLY met and shot with, including myself were all fortunate enough to receive guns that run like clockwork.

I've also personally seen some of the "dead-nutz-reliable" acclaimed shotguns go down.

This forum probably has the most exhaustive plethora of shotgun samples in the world. Perhaps we should all meet up and run tens of thousands of rounds through each of our own samples.

BTW, if anyone cares to know what my setup is (not that anyone gives a rats-butt):
Benelli M1S90
side saddle (on tight)
five-shot buttcuff
standard stock
18.5" barrel
oversized safety, bolt handle, bolt release, yada yada yada...

So far so good. No malfunctions reported with any sort of ammunition, including the Walmart value stuff.

Jim

 

[BerettaNut92]

Correia, were they running with sidesaddles? If you tighten them with the torque wrench of death, maybe it pinches the receiver?

Fed low recoil buck haven't worked since I tossed a light on the gun; I doubt birdshot will. I'll just remove the lamp for the games.

 

[Dave McCracken]

That whirring sound you might hear in the background is my father turning over in his grave.

I gaped like a yokel when I read about not cleaning your guns. And autos to boot!!

I knew I was behind the curve, and kinda liked it that way. But, 6K of rounds oughta leave a bore choked down to 14 gauge or so from plastic buildup. At least run the Boresnake down the barrel after each session...

I trust the regulars here. If you say you only clean every other Feb 29th, I believe you. But,it this really the best way?