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Shotguns which semi auto ?

wywindsor

I know this is a reloading forum. But I only belong to this one.

So if you were to buy a new semi auto which one and why. I have looked at the Franchi affinity at Sheels for 799.00 which seem like the best deal. One problem I dove to Rapid city today to buy it and was put on hold by the ATF. I denied the sale because I don't want to drive back. I had my wife try and Sheels would not let her do to the fact we live in the same house WTF.

So after getting home I see the Benelli has an M2 and Montefeltro for about the same as the Franchi . Beretta has the outlander and so on. I need a gun that will fire below zero conditions. I had a mossberg 930-that sucked in the cold.

Ideas without breaking the bank.

Thanks
 
Ive always been partial to Remington auto loaders. Last one I Purchased, is a Remington VersaMax. It was about 800$ back 7 years or so ago. I hunt ducks 3 days a week from the end of Sept-Dec, and I use it for pheasant Hunting aswell. Shoots and functions perfectly with any load you feed it. I probably clean twice a year total whether it needs it or not, and I have never had any issues.

Good luck with your decision.
 
John11-87 said:
Ive always been partial to Remington auto loaders. Last one I Purchased, is a Remington VersaMax. It was about 800$ back 7 years or so ago. I hunt ducks 3 days a week from the end of Sept-Dec, and I use it for pheasant Hunting aswell. Shoots and functions perfectly with any load you feed it. I probably clean twice a year total whether it needs it or not, and I have never had any issues.

Good luck with your decision.
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I have a versamax as well. I believe remington’s finest hour, but carrying it all day relegates it to guarding the safe while the italians go hunt.
 
Benelli for me ,have shot a super black eagle for ever with not one malfunction. This thing has been used and very abused to say the least. They are very ugly but will shoot in any conditions out there. Have to give CZ some credit for there new auto, the thing is inertia driven like the Benelli and very much alike. Freind bought one and has shot it a lot ,no malfunctions and a great looking gun . Only about half the price of Benelli.
 
John11-87 said:
It is definitely slightly heavier than some of the other autoloaders. I am only 30 so it doesnt bother me to much yet, but im sure that day is coming. ;)
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Truthfully it doesnt bother me much until i hold somebodys 11-87 or versamax while they do something. I say man this thing is like a brick, then let them hold mine and buy another remington later that day as we ride over to macks and get a benelli
 
I’ve had a decent number of shotguns, and to me the worst ones were my Benelli’s. I had a Vinci and an M2. The problem I had with them was that You had to let the bolt slam shut with enough force to lock the rotating bolt. there were so many times I just got a ‘click’ when there should have been a bang. my dad bought one because the salesman convinced him it was great, and he had the same problem.

the best I’ve had is the Winchester SX3. I’ve got a 12 and a 20 gauge, my son has one, and I’ve also got the Browning version (Maxus). They have all been 100% reliable for me shooting 5 stand, skeet, snow goose hunts, ducks and geese on the Mississippi, or for pheasants.

if I had to buy another shotgun (no idea why I would) it would be an SX3.
 
wywindsor said:
I know this is a reloading forum. But I only belong to this one.

So if you were to buy a new semi auto which one and why. I have looked at the Franchi affinity at Sheels for 799.00 which seem like the best deal. One problem I dove to Rapid city today to buy it and was put on hold by the ATF. I denied the sale because I don't want to drive back. I had my wife try and Sheels would not let her do to the fact we live in the same house WTF.

So after getting home I see the Benelli has an M2 and Montefeltro for about the same as the Franchi . Beretta has the outlander and so on. I need a gun that will fire below zero conditions. I had a mossberg 930-that sucked in the cold.

Ideas without breaking the bank.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi wywindsor. I'm just about exactly opposite of you. I shoot trap and probably shoot between 20 to 30 thousand shells a year. I travel quite a bit doing it and have shot trap over 40 years. I'm on this site trying to learn more about rifle shooting. If I had to pick an auto loader I'd go beretta. I'm biased a bit, I have 4 303's, 2 390's a 391 and a extrema I hunt with. In all these years I've only broken two action links and otherwise have replaced action springs every so often. I really believe a beretta is as close to bullet proof as it can get. I've shot a k-80 mainly the last 15 or so years but the berettas still get used quite a bit shooting sporting or hunting. Their great guns and don't think you could go wrong with one. Tha a400 is one to take a look at. Hope this helps.
 
As far as the hold, it was likely due to the ATF being overrun. There are times some busy stores were on a very busy day, half the people will end up with a hold. I had a friend put on hold and we continued to shop. As we left the hold changed to approve and he was able to take the gun with him. Of the many guns I've bought over the years I got a hold once a couple of years ago. Took three days for it to transition to approve.

As far as shotguns, bag the auto and go with a double barrel. Either over and under or side by side.
 
I have 9 o/u 's 2 singles and one pump. I wanted a semi auto that won't break the bank with reliability . I understand the hold. But the guy right next to me that started his form at the same time and ended after me was approved. Our ATF is FU
 
If its only for hunting I can't offer much. my cheap stoeger m3000 works well enough for me. but while I love benchrest and prs style shooting I also love 3 gun. I think it is dam hard to beat the fun of a box fed semi auto shotgun. I run the RIA VR80 as I try to shoot too many sports and have to compromise to do so. the smile it can put one anyone's face and they burn down a big shotgun stage or portion of a stage... Also I got my VR80 to shoot so soft, with much effort and frustration along the way mind you. Compared to my Fabarm XLR5 or Stoeger, and obviously the pumps its like shooting a 410 even when running hot loads or slugs. when ever I switch back to another other 12gauge it is a rude awakening.... you'll get looks and a few spicy comments taking it hunting or to shoot sporting clays though trust me....
 
I've had several Benelli shotguns... Im on the Beretta wagon. Got rid of the benelli's. The berettas are smoother cycling, less recoil.

The ultimate test though is what fits you better when you pull it up to aim/point. Stock angle for line of sight is huge when buying a shotgun. When you pull up you want to be a direct line of sight to the bead, if it aint set up right for you its worthless no matter how much it cost. Alot like a bow is set up for the owner, not everyone's draw length is the same.

Over and unders beretta all the way too..
 
I did a lot of research before i bought my last shotgun. Budget was a somewhat limiting factor also.
Wanted something light weight, reliable, and wanted it to look good too. Not European double good looks, but you know.
I was looking at semi auto as i had heard they tend to tame recoil a bit.
I ended up getting a CZ720.
And love the thing!
Trap #8s to full on turkey loads are easily taken care of.
Comes with hard case, 5 choke tubes & wrench.
Only issue i have is that it doesn't come with attachment points for a sling.
Going price before shortages was $525.
Local shop is a CZ dealer & knows i buy guns there. Picked it up for $479.
 
I've had very good luck with Beretta 390 Auto's over several years. My latest addition is an A300 and it is chugging just like the 390's and costs about half what the 400 does. About 10 degrees above 0 is the coldest I've hunted in, so I cannot speak to below zero conditions.
 
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I have hunted will all of them and by far if you can one the super X3 is by far the best. I still have a 12 and 20 ga Benelli while they are good guns they do kick more then the SX3.
 
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