Lets talk Shotguns

[swd]

Another old trap shooter here too. Gun fit is everything with a shotgun. A good pad, proper butt pitch and cast and LOP. An adjustable comb will make it shoot where your looking. A little weight tames them too.

MX2000RS combo. AA27AA

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have 3 Benelli's..

A 12 ga supernova - duck hunting, boat paddle, do it all gun works reliably every time..

I have a 20ga ultralight semi auto thats my wifes she loves it.

And I have a silver monefeltro 12ga - dove hunting and shooting sporting clays and skeet every once and a while..

Ill admit up front I had a ol cheap semi auto charles daily from walmart once upon a time and I could put the HAMMER DOWN with that thing, I mean whoop up on ya shooting skeet, hunting and all... I cant shoot as good with the benelli's but they are more reliable. I wore out that charles daily and threw it away it got shot so much... I could and did shoot cases of shells through it a day, no problem.

With my monefeltro I can dove hunt easily with it, limit out no prob, shoot it no problem... Its fine for hunting, BUT after a box of shells through it I just hurt in the shoulder so bad. I cant fit it right to me.. Ive tried the different stock shims to adjust the stock at different angles and just cant get it feeling right...

I love benelli, I'm wondering if a super sport or cordoba 12 ga may be better? They have ported barrels, more rubber/carbon fiber and may recoil less as they are made for skeet and or tons of shooting...

Whats yalls thoughts?

And the relationship of shotgun and accuracy is....?

 

[jk80]

And the relationship of shotgun and accuracy is....?

The same as rifle shooting, hitting a target. I'm new here and hope I'm not breaking a rule, but sniper 338, you might want to head over to trapshooters.com. a lot of good information. Let em know your a new guy and you'll get a lot of help. Some of em can get a little salty sometimes, but ignore em. Most are really good people. Don't know where your located, but wenigs stocks in Lincoln mo. can help you make sure it fits. Phil Simms in Glade park co.can do it too. I'm getting ready to go see Phil for a custom stock with a pro soft set up in it. Phil or Bobby Chambers at wenig should be able to help.

 

[rkittine]

Or www.ShotgunWorld.com. Must less "Salty" that trap shooter.

 

[Ray F.]

I am going to be the dark horse and suggest something completely different. Since recoil, and reliability, are both issues, I would suggest the Remington Versamax. I have shot many semi-autos and this by far the softest recoil of all. It also has a very simple and robust operating system with a Benelli-style bolt but a short stroke gas piston that is self adjusting and self cleaning.

Both my brother and I have one, and we have shots thousands of rounds through both. They digest every shell from 1 oz target loads to 3.5" heavy stuff without a hiccup. And they run the light stuff with 100% reliability. I have shot hundreds of rounds in a day in complete comfort.

Now Remington doesn't do a lot of stuff right, but this one is pretty solid.

Agreed. I’ve got a Waterfowl Versa and Tactical Versa. They do have their warts. The (3) biggest being: The trigger pull is about 15 lbs. The shell catch is a bear to push shells past to load the tube mag. And the shell lifter will bring tears to your eyes when your thumb gets trapped between the cutout and the receiver.

Each one of these issues can be overcome. I sent both of mine to Triangle Shooting Sports to tune the shell catch. They both also went to C-Rums for trigger jobs and shell lifter mods.

I take no comfort in buying a $1000 shotgun, knowing that I’m still $250 and weeks away from the finished product, After shooting the SBEs, A300s, 1301, Maxus, etc., however, I couldn’t deny that the fit and act of shooting the Versa felt best to me.

My (close) second choice would be an 1100 (mag if using 3” shells).

 

[Dub]

I use a Winchester 101 over and under for sporting clays. Fits me perfect.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have all 3 ultra lights (12,20,28) and a super sport. The super sport is a thing of beauty if you can stand the weight. I hunt with the ultra lights but show off with the super sport (bought it from here) the back boring and ported barrel makes it very nice for clays and is beautiful in my eyes. I never pick up my 1100s or super x1 anymore and even have a new versamax in the box never assembled

 

[Dub]

nice Dusty. My 101 is the sporting model with the back bore and porting

 

[Dusty Stevens]

nice Dusty. My 101 is the sporting model with the back bore and porting

My 101 is a fixed (f,m) 28” barrel 12ga from the disco era.

 

[urbanrifleman]

My CZ sporter 32" has a lot in my trap club shaking their head how CZ can a make a shotgun this nice.

 

[AckleymanII]

I recently bought a Benelli Ultra Light 12 gauge from a forum member here. I was a little worried that it would kick the sh*t out of me because it is so light.
I just got a chance to shoot it yesterday with some light dove loads at some clay pigeons. I couldn’t believe how soft it kicked, it seemed to be less than my old Rem. 870.
I only shot it 8 times behind the house but I hit 7 out of 8 birds. I’m extremely happy with the Benelli!
Gary

Gary, you shot it 8 times and you are happy?! Here's your sign!

5 boxes of 12ga dove loads turned my arm green wearing a colored t Shirt to shoot doves in.

Beretta 390-391-400 are where the light kicking shot guns are at. 20ga 390 is like shooting a pellet gun!

 

[Fast14riot]

Man, I'm over here just loving my wingmaster 870 12g as about the only scatter gun work I do is at doves, and you guys are speaking a totally different language!

However, the basics of shotgun are not lost on me, I did go through a bunch of issues over a couple seasons trying to perfect the fit of my gun. Finally got it dialed in last year. My 2 year average in the dove fields (since getting fit dialed in) has been steadily hovering around 50%, which is pretty damn good for dove shooting!

Maybe some day I'll get a nice SxS, but having to shoot steel, im not sure it'll be able to get a vintage gun.

 

[markT]

I have a Benelli. It beats the shi$ out of me. I bought a beretta A400 and haven’t shot the Benelli since. The beretta is gas, fast and springs in stock takes up a lot of recoil. I shoot heavy loads for crow. 1.25 oz at 1350 fps.
They are heavier than a Benelli but that helps with recoil. I never could shoot then Benelli that well.

 

[HTSmith]

My 2 year average in the dove fields (since getting fit dialed in) has been steadily hovering around 50%, which is pretty damn good for dove shooting!

You better believe it is. Get a pretty gun if you like, but keep shooting the doves with what works. JMHO

 

[Bugs]

If you find a good used Beretta 390 or 391, get the shims to make it fit you pretty well (Coles gunsmithing is a good resource), I'll bet your Benelli guns will be spending a lot more time in the back of the safe.

 

[Gary in MD]

Gary, you shot it 8 times and you are happy?! Here's your sign!

5 boxes of 12ga dove loads turned my arm green wearing a colored t Shirt to shoot doves in.

Beretta 390-391-400 are where the light kicking shot guns are at. 20ga 390 is like shooting a pellet gun!

Ack,
I’ll try and get more shooting experience so I can measure up to your high standards (although I somehow doubt that could happen).
Gary

 

[AckleymanII]

I am sorry about that Gary. I just could not believe how much they kick, and that 8 shots does not tell you much. Shoot 4 boxes on a trap field in succession, you will see what I mean. I got rid of the first one thinking that something must have been wrong with it. Then two years later bought another one, same thing. Expensive lesson to learn on a dove field with lots of birds, you stuffing shells in the gun as fast as you can shoot and load.

Then when my right shoulder turned green, I shot on my off shoulder.

Even my Browning A5 never did that!

 

[moondog]

Dove hunting I use a $50 mossberg pump 20 bore. Weight isn't an issue as I'm sitting under a tree. Wife uses a Beretta 391, 20. Soft shooting for sure. Walking a field, I will usually have a SxS, double trigger, English stock on my shoulder. Either 20 or 16. Worst thing ever happen to me was being introduced to a SxS. shotguns.

 

[Schandler]

I know this is an old post but I’m still going to ask - if a fella was looking for a used a400 with wood and sportsman model - fancy rail or comb not needed - where would a fella shop besides gunbroker ?

 

[9146gt]

Try Indiana Gun Club.
Tom