Shotgun selection question

[Potatohead]

Hey gents,
My wife's best friends husband, whom we know from church, texted her and asked if I knew anything about shotguns, as he is looking to purchase one. I'm a semi auto handgun guy (and an inexperienced one at that) so I told him I probably couldn't help but I could relay his question to my THR brethren.

Here is his question to my wife, word for word:

"I would like to get a 12ga Browning semi auto that uses gas recoil. Maxus seems like a good one but someone told me to look at Browning Gold, which is also semi and gas recoil. Is their any real difference between them? I want a 12ga that has an easy recoil-not so much kick-"

My answer was "get a 20ga"...but I don't know much at all about the topic. If you all need any more details I will ask my wife to ask him. I told her you guys will probably want to know how much money he's wanting to spend, so she is working on that. These are some great folks and I'd really like to help them out. I'm always babbling about "the guys on the forum" so maybe I can bring my wife closer to my gun world with this too

Thanks very much for any help you can offer us/them/him. PH

 

[Sauer Grapes]

It would be nice to know what the gun will be used for. Sporting gun, hunting gun or just an all around occassional weekend plinker. In any event, Browning has a model for everything.
Recoil would depend on ammo used. 12ga target loads are no big deal in a gas semi.
20ga will do almost anything the weekend shooter needs. Both gauges are quite versatile.

If I was a casual weekend shooter, I'd have no problems relying on a 20ga.
BTW, Beretta also makes some of the finest semi autos. Depending on new or used, Berettas' are probably a little more money.

 

[hoghunting]

I have a Weatherby 12 ga SA-08 that I've used four years for dove season and sporting clays, and it has never missed a beat. It has very nice wood, the gas recoil system works perfectly and the recoil pad really works. Wouldn't hesitate buying another one.

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks for your help. I'm thinking this is probably a home defense gun with some very occasional plinking on the side.

 

[oneounceload]

Low recoil is achieved by shooting the heaviest gun you can (and Brownings are heavy), with the lightest loads that will work the gun. There are many choices; what is the budget?

HD gas guns bring the Remington 1100 to mind as you can get a variety of barrel lengths so you can have a short one for HD and a longer one for clays or birds or whatever

 

[Mr. T]

My Dad's family are Browning Nuts. My recommendation is go with the 12 gauge and go with the A-5 Auto. The gun is heavier, but there in lies your cure to the problem of recoil....it will be non-existent. Also if he ever finds himself in a dangerous position and out of ammo, he could use the A-5 Auto as a war club and not even damage it. The A-5 was used in the military and was WWII mil. spec. used to clear rooms and trenches. They are also very accurate slug throwers...accurate out passed 100 yards. Yes you heard me...accurate out passed 100 yards.

 

[oneounceload]

Those long recoil guns can also transmit as much recoil as any other non-gas gun - one of their drawbacks, albeit not as bad as others. As to the club, I thought they were used as jack handles.........

 

[JohnFritz]

That A5 is a good looking gun.

My recommendation is check out a Stoeger M3000 or M3500 depending on if you want to use 3-1/2" shells.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

A gas operated gun will have reduced recoil compared to recoil operated gun. The semi-auto 12-gage with the least recoil would be the Beretta A400 Xplor with the KickOff recoil system. I shoot a Beretta over/under with the KickOff system and it reduces felt recoil by about 50%.

In a Browning, the Maxus would be softer shooting than the A5. The A5 is recoil operated and the Maxus is a gas operated design. The Maxus also weighs more than the A5. On the Maxus, Browning has increased the forcing cone length and reduced the forcing cone angle. With bird shot or buckshot, that will help reduce the felt recoil a small amount as it spreads the impulse from the shot being forced into the barrel over a slightly longer time period.

 

[Virginian]

There are at least a half dozen good choices for a semi auto, and everyone will tell you theirs are the best. If he is going to buy a new one he needs to go handle some of them and see which ones he likes. There is nothing wrong with a Maxus or a Gold, but neither is what I would recommend for home defense and a little plinking. That's more coin than he needs to drop. For hunting and/or clay pigeons and a secondary role as home defense they would get the job done admirably. If all he is going to shoot is watermelons and imaginary zombies a tactical model with a short barrel and maybe an extended magazine would be better.
If he has a chance to get a good deal on either one used, go for it.

 

[BigBore44]

A Browning for HD. Whodathunkit. He definitely has coin to throw around that's for sure. My question would be does be actually know anything about shotguns? It seems he might be a guy who has more money than knowledge and just has heard Browing makes fine shotguns so that's what he wants. There are many choices in HD guns that will work just as well and save a bunch of money. But if he wants a Browning that shoots soft, the Maxus gets my vote.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

BTW, Beretta also makes some of the finest semi autos. Depending on new or used, Berettas' are probably a little more money.

And Joe Biden swears by his Beretta shotguns...

 

[MattShlock]

I would probably suggest a Stoeger M-3000 too. It is a Benelli Inertia Army System gun.

Model 31832 has a 24" barrel and will be less than $500. 4+1 capacity. Suggest buying a new mag spring to change for when they pass it down to the kids and ONLY use quality American-made shells if they're going to keep it loaded (true for any shotgun but especially self-loading ones).

Note: LOP is manly.

 

[Virginian]

If he has any concerns about recoil - which was mentioned - it is my opinion he will be far better served by a gas operated semi auto than any inertia actioned or recoil operated gun.

 

[BigBore44]

Well the truth is that if/when (hopefully never) he ever needed to actually use the gun for HD, he'd never even feel the recoil. Now, practicing at the range with slugs or buck shot? Yes he will feel it. But slugs and buck out of any gun becomes not fun after awhile no matter what gun he's shooting.

 

[bassdogs]

Somebody with little or no background w/ shotguns [evidenced by the forwarded ??'s] has no business with a semi-auto, any semi-auto. What he needs is a simple [but reliable and effecient] 12g pump either Mossberg or 870.

Nothing wrong with a semi-auto so please don't come out swinging about semi's over pumps, but if this guy knew anything about HD weapons or shotguns he wouldn't be asking these questions. A 20 over a 12 to reduce recoil is often not going to be a good idea because 20's tend to be lighter and that increases the felt recoil. but that gets me back to the simple pump. Add a limbsaver reduced recoil LE ammo and you're good to go.

 

[BigBore44]

^Not to mention the "Chack Chack" effect should he not have the gun loaded. Not a guarantee the perp would scram, but it definitely has an effect. Also likely he wouldn't need more than one "KABOOM!!!!" to end the intrusion. Hit or miss, odds are they are gonna leave after that....one way or another.....

But this one is about the Maxus or Gold. If he wants a semi, go for it. His coin, his choice. I choose Maxus.

 

[bassdogs]

BB44 - Yup this is still America and given a clean background he can buy whatever, but that doesn't mean he should be advised to do so by wise and experienced shooters. < deleted by staff >

 

[ugaarguy]

Yup this is still America and given a clean background he can buy whatever, but that doesn't mean he should be advised to do so by wise and experienced shooters.

No, what he needs is someone who's experienced to educate him and take him shooting so he can make his own informed decision. He doesn't need a know-it-all to look down on him like he's an idiot. He's probably much smarter than you're giving him credit for because he's swallowing his pride and asking questions before buying. Would you rather he take the machismo attitude of just buying whatever shotgun, despite his own ignorance, loading it up with some slugs or buckshot, and leaving it in his closet in case it was ever needed?

Somebody with little or no background w/ shotguns [evidenced by the forwarded ??'s] has no business with a semi-auto, any semi-auto. What he needs is a simple [but reliable and effecient] 12g pump either Mossberg or 870.

That's a very strong opinion you're stating as fact, but there's plenty of evidence to counter your assertion. Let's start with military recruits, many of whom have never fired any gun, who get a few hours of classroom training and can still safely operate and qualify with an M16 rifle in basic training. Then we can look at law enforcement officers, again, many of whom have never fired a gun in their lives. These same cadets / recruits get minimal firearms training in most cases, yet the majority are able to safely operate and qualify with semi-auto handguns.

As for pump vs. semi-auto shotguns, a semi auto can be better for a new shooter. There's no worry with a user induced short stroke of the action, while a quality semi-auto shotgun will be plenty reliable with all but the lightest loads. If one can clean and maintain a pump then he or she can just as easily clean or maintain a semi-auto.

 

[Sam1911]

"I would like to get a 12ga Browning

Ok... why a Browning? They're good guns, most would agree, but pretty pricey compared to others. If he doesn't know much about shotguns, why has he already selected a maker?

semi auto

Makes sense. Less chance of short-stroking it. The primary benefit of pump guns, these days, is cost. If he can afford a semi, he'll likely be well served by one.

that uses gas recoil.

Say what? Gas operation, long-recoil operation, short-recoil operation, inertial operation. Pick one!

Gas operation is usually the softest shooting.

Maxus seems like a good one but someone told me to look at Browning Gold,

Ok, both of those are gas-operated. The Browning Gold is only offered (new) as a 10 ga. now. Of course there are used 12s and 20s.

Is their any real difference between them?

Of course! They use gas system designs which are slightly different. Will that matter to the shooter? Well, hopefully not. If all goes well, the shooter pulls the trigger and the gun loads another shell.

I want a 12ga that has an easy recoil-not so much kick-"

As others have said, kick is tamed by weight and operation method. A gas op 12 ga. with some weight to it will kick noticeably less than a light 20 ga. pump or break-action.

But really, the guy needs to go shoulder some guns and see what he likes, and what his budget can stand, and figure out what he wants to do with this.

I don't think I'd go looking for either of the mentioned guns as home-defense weapons, though they could do that well enough. As skeet or sporting clays or waterfowl guns? Sure!

 

[hso]

..no business with a semi-auto, any semi-auto

Modern militaries are training recruits to shoot the Benelli M1014 so that attitude is probably outdated in its overstatement.

 

[ugaarguy]

Getting Back On Topic

I'm thinking this is probably a home defense gun with some very occasional plinking on the side.

So, he probably has little need of, and will doubtful ever shoot 3.5" shells. If he could live with 2.75" shells only, then the Remington 1100 Tac 4 is a great do it all shotgun. The Tac 4 has a 22" vent rib bbl with thread in Rem Chokes, a HiViz fiber optic front sight, a 4 shot mag extension, and standard synthetic sporting furniture. The extension could be removed and replaced with a standard mag cap if preferred for balance or required by range regs / hunting laws. Should he ever need to use 3" shells he could just buy a factory replacement bbl.

I think the stock 22" VR bbl with 2.75" chamber is a great all purpose choice. The 1100 is soft shooting, and reliable with minimal care. With the Tac 4 variant selling for $800-$900 it (and a spare 3" chamber bbl if desired) falls well within the budget if he can afford a Browning Maxus. Again, that's just an all purpose option I like.