What is a good autoloader shotgun...

[bernie]

for small game and waterfowl hunting. Possibly being able to take a cantilever scope mount slug barrel. I am looking for actual experience, not a wish list of stuff that no one really has experience with. Try to stay a $750 and under. For example, I have a buddy that bought a beretta a couple of years ago, and I have seen him drop it in the mud (by accident), clean it our best he could and still hunt with it. I have an 11-87 that I love, but I really do not like the o-ring thing, although I have never had trouble with it. Thanks.

 

[Remington788]

I'd stick with the 11-87. I've never had trouble with mine and I've had it for 17 years.

 

[lycanthrope]

Well, the 1187 is a great gun and you can get the rifled slig barrels on ebay for a song.....LOTS of aftermarket parts too!

My Competition gun is a 1100 and as long as you aren't taking the O ring on and off all the time, they can last for years and years. Buy 5 from Brownells and go shoot until your arm falls off.

The downside of the recoil operated guns is that they can be finicky with light loads and have a sharper perceived recoil.

 

[HSMITH]

The SuperX2 and the Beretta 390/391 are the best autoloading shotguns on the market today. In my experience they are followed by the Browning Gold, and it is followed by the Benelli Montefeltro and M1 series guns, all others a distance behind. Some of them are long way behind, and the 11-87 is one of those. There are some 11-87's out there that work well with little or no problems, but there are a lot them that are flatly junk too. On average they are less than reliable, and less than desireable. I have had a couple 11-87's, and I hunt and shoot with guys that own them regularly, so I'm not guessing. Good ones are few and far between.

The older 1100's are good shotguns if you can find one. Old SuperX1's are good shotguns, if you can find one.

Readily available shotguns like the SuperX2 and 390/391 are probably the best autoloaders ever made regardless of cost, get one if you can.

 

[9mmMike]

My 1100 is a '79 Magnum model with a 2 3/4" VR in 21" flavor. It shoots all the ammo that I have on hand reliably and cost me around 400 clams. I run a factory +3 extension, an extended bolt handle and an English stock. Sometimes I think I'd like to put a set of the Competition Master gray stocks on there but I just like wood.
I really like these 1100's and cannot imagine the need for any other "improvements".
Mike

 

[ksnecktieman]

I have three 1100s, and have never had a failure.. When i bought the first one I was warned about the "fragile" oring, so I bought some. I do not think I have had any replaced in less than two years. When I am cleaning them and notice they are hard, I install a new one. I have not had one fail yet. No problem for me saying "buy one, and try to shoot it to death."

 

[TrapperReady]

I've got lots of experience shooting the Beretta 391, Benelli Montefeltro and Benelli M1 Field. I've used them all for high-volume clay games, upland hunting and some duck/goose hunting.

I prefer the way the 391 shoots, but the Montefeltro and M1 have been reliable (for me... keeping them bone-stock) and they are WAY easier to keep clean. I use them all, depending upon exactly what I'm doing on a particular day... although if I could only have one, it would be the 391.

The only real downside is that extra barrels are usually quite expensive (for any of them), and I don't think I've ever seen a dedicated slug barrel on a Beretta or Benelli autoloader.

 

[kudu]

I have 3 1100's in 20, 28, and .410 and an 11-87 in 12ga. None have given me problems, and the 11-87 has had tens of thousands of rounds through it. Mine has been reliable. That said, the 11-87 is or was rarely seen on competition fields because it was never up to the reliability of the 1100's. I have three barels for mine, a 26", a 30", and a cantilever rifled slug barrel that will keep inside of 3" at 100 yards all day long with the right ammo. HSMITH has had problems with his 11-87's. That will sour you on most any guns. I will say this, I think the Beretta 391's are the best autos that I have ever shot, but I have never shot the SX1's or the SX2's.

If I ever buy another auto it will be the 391, I'm sure it is not too far down the road, but the money isn't available right now. I'm not sure what accessories are available for them though. For me it would be a clays gun.

 

[9mmMike]

We looked at the 391 very closely for Mrs. 9mmMike but she shot an 1100 LW in 20 ga. and really liked it so we bought an 1100 Special Field (an LT) in 20 ga. for her. This gun gets shot almost as much as my 870 and has never given her any trouble. I do have a spare batch of o-rings but I've never replaced one since we bought the gun.
I like her 20 ga. more than my 12 ga. 1100. A really cool and fun gun to shoot.
Mike

 

[Smoke]

I like all the guns that have been thrown out so far, but let me add a couple of more:

Browning A-5 Classic auto loader that will out last your grandkids (I'm still shooting Granddaddy's )

Benelli. Played with one at gun camp once. Liked it. Feels good, but hear they may be more finicky than others...all hearsay to me.

Smoke

 

[sm]

Never owned a scoped shotgun, I use front bead only or front bead with mid bead.

I kept my first SX1 made in '74 - still running , guessing I've put well over 200k rds thru this one. Other than the NuLine external knurled chokes, adding a mid bead and Decelarator pad, ran this gun stock. Gun has all original internals - I did replace the spring in the buttstock twice I think.

Original recoil pad is back on it now, letting this one enjoy retirement ...maybe. Never a firearm related problem, I blew a tourney once using factory ammo ( required to use their ammo, ammo was bad because eveyone had problems with it...even the O/U guns) , My reloads, never a problem.

Will the SX1 run a slug...never a problem, not even the day I ran ~ 200 slugs in one day thru it.

I gave my other SX1s , including bbl sets to up and coming shooters...still running and breaking skeet and trap targets.

SX2 - great guns. I have tried to tear one up, it, like the SX1 kept going despite what all I did to it. Same experience with other SX2s

Ran all 4 gauges of 1100s HARD . I like these a lot. the 12 and 20 ga even kept going for 10 days straight of 7 rds minimum each a day. I figure I had 3K round in one week alone on that 20 ga. I let a club use for all to use with some teaching, training and tourneys going on. It did not spend much time in a gun rack or not being shot.

1100 in 12 and 20 ga, will shoot slugs all day long...I have many a time gone out and shot a 25- 100 at one time in these.

Ran Beretta 302, 303, 390 Hard ( Beretta 303 in 20 ga is another best kept secret)

A5's...never owned one personally. Have run thousands of rds with nary a problem- great guns. Felled a slew of ducks with 'em.

1187s at the time did not hold up ( reliable) in competition , never owned one, prefer the 1100 personally.

Benellis don't like me either.

For awhile some years ago, if the ducks noticed it was me using a SX1 ....they would just land, swim over and put their necks in the game sling. Didn't have to fire a shot .
Had to shoot a few with the 1100s in 12 and 20, before they recognized...not long , just give up and head for the game sling.

 

[mjb]

The Browning Auto 5 is the only semi-auto shotgun that I have. Only one that I will ever want. The others are just second class in my opinion.

 

[nico]

I'd highly recommend the SX2. I've had mine for about two years and I like it a lot. My dad has a Super Black Eagle, which has slightly nicer fit and finish than my SX2, but I'd take my gun any day. It has slightly more recoil than an AR15. Definitely not what you'd expect in a 12ga shotgun.

 

[Wags]

I'd seriously look into the Remington 11-87 due to you can purchase cantilever slug barrels about anywhere for a decent price if you shop around.

The Beretta 390/391's, Winchester SX1/2's, Browning Auto-5's and a few more not noted are all fine auto loading shotguns. I'm not sure though on availiabilty concerning the cantilever barrels?

If you need one auto that does it all for your hunting needs, found out price and availiabily of all the bells and whistles you plan on adding before you purchase the new auto. Nothing like buying a new autoloader but can't find accessories......

Just my opinion.

Wags

 

[TNT]

Buy the SX2 and a spare barrel with cantilever will run you about $169.

www.ithacagunlodge.com/firearms/barrels/non-ithaca.shtml

 

[Bill B.]

My list would have to have the Browning A5 and a Beretta 303 as personal favorites. If you have to have 3" look at the Beretta 390 - 391 as they are excellent also.

 

[tc300mag1]

love my beretta Al 390 like how you can adjust lop and cast off with spacers look for wally mart ya can pick one up for about 500

 

[Brass Balls]

I just went through this very same decision making process. I ended up purchasing a Remington Competition Master 1100. It sure is a soft shootin' 12 gauge with the gas system and Simms Vibration Laboratory recoil pad. It cost $710, but it comes pretty well equiped out of the box with an 8 round magazine, enlarged carrier release button, a receiver-mountable ammo carrier for seven extra shells and sling swivel studs.



clic pic

 

[lycanthrope]

You forgot the oversized bolt handle, 22" barrel, the Hi-Viz sight with inserts and a few chokes including one designed for slugs.

I have a Comp Master as well. Definately soft shooting.

 

[sm]

...for small game and waterfowl hunting. Possibly being able to take a cantilever scope mount slug barrel...

No disrespect folks, but for this purpose why would one need a Competition Master? Game Warden is gonna check that 8 rd mag for a restriction to 3 anyway. Now I like the 1100 much much bettter than a 11-87 personally.

I hate oversized anything on a shotgun, be it a bolt, a safety...
Not to mention that color is gonna scream "newbie duck hunter".

Get a Used 1100 in blue and wood, BA/UU/ R with all the monies you didn't spend on worthless crap you didn't / don't need.

NO disrespect , just my expereince and opinion.

 

[lycanthrope]

Nope. None taken. You could use the CM to hunt with (I do for fun, because it swings so well in tight for grouse), but generally you could buy a used 1100 and get A LOT of extra stuff.