General Purpose Semi-Auto Shotgun

General Firearms Shotguns
1

Introduction: I used the search feature but didn’t quite find exactly what I was looking for and so I thought I’d start this thread to spark some discussion to see if there were others in my situation. Essentially I’m looking for a general purpose, semi-automatic shotgun that can perform a variety of tasks well-enough but in the most cost-effective manner.

Caveats: While I know very little about shotguns I’m pretty sure I’ll end up with a Benelli M2 or Beretta 390 series but want to approach the choice in a way that makes financial sense. I’m not looking for opinions as to why this choice would be better or why such-and-such operating system sucks or kicks ass, but if it helps someone else reading this thread go ahead and offer it. I don’t really need “tactical” advice here, I’m more interested in hearing from skeet shooters/duck hunters who also have some tactical knowledge and understand the trade-offs involved.

Background: Over the years I’ve never really had a need for a shotgun, I’ve owned an 870 tactical, more because I thought I should have one that any real need or desire. In fact I pretty much didn’t like shooting it but thought that it’s value as a GP gun with the potential to hunt duck and other game (I’ve been duck hunting in my youth but never really got into it much due to cost/convenience but as an enlightened amateur chef it’s probably my favorite game/meat source).

Recent Events: This past weekend I was taken skeet shooting for the first time and I am pretty well hooked. It’s really some of the most fun I’ve ever had shooting targets and so I want to do it lots more and it gives me an excuse I need to start duck hunting.

Choices: That said I’m trying to get into this for as little money as possible and while skeet typically requires 4 gauges to get into competition seriously, I’m more just looking to do it for fun and so I don’t really have multiple thousands of dollars to spend on this.

Additionally it would be preferable to have some form of tactical shotgun capability in the form of an easy barrel change and mag extension tube when needed.

In order of preference with associated questions:
[ol]
[li]Benelli M2 - Would it be more cost effective to get the “tactical” version and then buy a skeet/duck barrel? or vice-versa? I don’t like ghost rings so that’s not an issue as I’d get rifle sights on a tactical model. Additionally is there any difference in the quality or receiver as there is between the Remington Police and Express versions?[/li][li]Beretta 390 - Distant second choice, are there after-market parts that allow it to be converted to a tactical model? [/li][li]Remington Versa-Max or 1100? Even more distant 3rd choice but thought I should consider it. I didn’t know if the versa-max was equal in quality to a police or more like an express? Additionally whether it could take 1100 barrels?[/li][/ol]

Down the road: While skeet requires 4 gauges (12, 20, 28 and .410) and this would take care of 12 gauge, eventually I’ll have to break down and get the others. I figured the best way to do this was a shotgun with interchangeable barrels but I don’t know anything about who offers such a package at a decent price. I’d rather not buy total crap but a Holland and Holland isn’t a viable choice.

Any input is appreciated.

2

I’m a HUGE fan of the Mossberg 930 series. I’m using it for 3gun and Skeet/Trap. I’m really considering getting their SPX version for a “Tactical” shotgun, it has a +2(7rds total) and 18.5in barrel from the factory.

I would avoid Remington shotguns. I had a 11-87 for years, and it was great for hunting, but thats it. Gotta put alot of money into it to bring it into the world of a GP Shotgun IMO.

The 930 I picked up was the Field version, had the barrel cut down to 24in(just behind the ports), got a Nordic +6 extension, had the lifter welded and the feed port beveled out and opened up.

3

Is the Mossy gas or recoil operated?

4

It has a operating system almost identical the the Benelli’s

5

The gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun is a direct descendant of the excellent Mossberg 930 hunting guns. The shared self-regulating gas operating system reduces recoil and eases stress on its components by venting whatever excess gas isn’t required to cycle the action.

The system uses two gas ports in the barrel to power a piston that surrounds the magazine tube under the barrel. The set-up gives the Mossberg a bit of a chunky for-end (to accommodate the moving parts), but nothing that looks out of place. The 930 SPX functions smoothly and reliably without a gas seal ring. An added bonus: the 930 SPX also field strips without a lot of drama.

http://thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/10/bryan-hyde/gun-review-mossberg-930-spx-tactical-shotgun/

Doesn’t sound much like a Benelli at all to me. Closest would be the M4 with its ARGO dual-piston gas system.

6

As an aside, in case it wasn’t clear, reliability would be a prime consideration.

The mossy looks very interesting even though I hadn’t considered it, they even have a 930 package that comes with a tactical and sporting barrel.

7

Winchester SX3 makes a great choice IMO.

  1. 26" still maneuverable in a house (not the greatest length) and does the job for hunting.

  2. You can add a Nordic magazine extension to give you 6-8 shots.

  3. One gas piston versus switching from a light load piston to a heavy load.

  4. If you want a shorter barrel you can look for another barrel on gunbroker any Browning Gold, Maxus, SX2 (older version), FN SLP will fit.

Mine has cycled flawlessly for me soft shooter however that is subjective to the user.

A SX3 can be had for around 900$. I don’t know if you need to be logged in to view these pics but here is the link to Brian Enos forum.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87438&st=0&p=1085102&hl=sx3&fromsearch=1&#entry1085102

8

If you are looking for a trap/skeet gun check out the Stoeger 2000. Its basically a Benelli M1(built on the old M1 tooling) with cheaper furniture and a slightly different spring setup(spring around the magazine vs. in the stock). They run about 400 bucks or so. Mine has been flawless through 1000 rounds or so(I know not a great indicator, but probably more rounds than most shotguns see in their life). There are not to many accessories for the gun, but for trap and skeet, not much is needed. They come with a big fiber optic front sight on them already. Comes with sling swivels already installed. Comes with 5 chokes, they arent the greatest quality(I dont think), but they work. It really just needs a limb saver pad and its good to go. I have a 30" gun and I keep thinking about ordering the 18.5" barrel for it for $200(but then I think about grabbing an 870 with 18.5" barrel for $350 and I hesitate to order the barrel).

For the $400 I paid for the gun I have not regretted it at all and its been a joy to shoot.

9

Do they come in 20 gauge? I wouldn’t mind spending some coin on a decent 12 gauge like an M2 that I can switch back and forth between sporting and tactical, but it’s the 20 gauge sporting only versions that are giving me some heart burn with the price…being that even cheap ones make an M2 look modestly priced.

10

I dont think so. Only 12g.

Stoeger has some over unders(which are designed for skeet and trap) which are 20g for about 500 bucks. The Condor Supreme is the one I am interested in. They also have a combo 12/20 over under

11

Great thread, especially since I was about to start a very similar one. Keep the comments coming. I guess a question for me with my shoulder would be recoil dampening.

12

I shot sporting clays Saturday for the first time in a few years and borrowed a friend’s Remington 11-87. If he was a very good friend I would have sold it to the first sucker I ran into for $10, given my friend the money and told him he got the better end of the deal. We shot a 100 round course, I stopped counting the jams after 20. I applied some Slip 2000 after the first few jams and it helped for a little while but started to choke again. One of the guys I was shooting with said they were known to be Jam-O-Matics. Just sayin’…

If I decide to shoot more I may try to pick up a Benelli SuperSport if I can find one used. Not really a GP gun but I shot one a few years ago and it was sweet. The SuperSport is available in 12 and 20 gauge but I don’t know if you can change barrels on them or not.

13

When I bought my Stoeger 2000 this is exactly what I found out in my research, that the 11-87 was a jam o matic.

The common consensus for a semi was to look at the Benelli lineup(which Stoeger is a licensed copy of). The Beretta’s got high marks for gas guns. The low end 3901 has gotten pretty good reviews and was on my list of guns to check out when I picked up the Stoeger.

14

I’ve owned several Mossberg’s and didn’t care for any of them. Before anybody tries to jump on me they are damn good shotguns I just don’t like the location of the safety. I have a 1187 and have owned a 1100 and a Beretta 390 and all 3 were very nice shotguns. The 1187 I have will do good on good shells. 1187’s have a heavier spring due to shooting the 3" and 3.5" shells. It will jam on the cheap ass walmart shells. Now, my 1100 and 390 would eat anything I feed it. Me personally, I wouldn’t use a auto for a tactical shotgun. I would be afraid with so many parts its more succeptable to go down in a time of need. I’d say get the 390 and make it worth skeet or general purpose gun. Use a 870 for a tactical.

15

Yeah no thanks on pumps. I’ve got an 870 which is getting sold. There are enough reliable semi-auto shotguns out there that it’s not too much of a stretch. The 870s I tried in the military were as close to “jam-o-matics” as anything else so a pump can be unreliable as well.

Honestly I’d rather chew glass than use a pump 12 gauge. I really don’t want a whole bunch of different shotguns. The whole virtue of a shotgun is that it lends itself to doing a lot of different things fairly well. Basically my thinking is one 12 gauge and one 20. The former is a do-all (skeet, hunting and tactical) while the 20 is a dedicated skeet gun both my wife and I can use.

I shot a Beretta 391 12 gauge on a sporting clays range the other night and it was dead smooth. It was honestly the most pleasant 12 gauge I’ve ever shot and that includes a pump with a knoxx stock.

My only complaint with Beretta is the lack of tactical options but if someone knows something I don’t I’d be curious to hear about it.

16

Take a look at the FNH SLP. Very reliable shotgun.

17

Everyone has said a lot of good things so far. I will add one more.

I personally like the Benelli M3. I really like the application of semi-auto shotguns because it is simply aim and pull the trigger like every other platform that I am training with. But I understand that not everything may feed through one design shotgun.
I have enough ammo stocked up, but not all ammo (just like guns) may not be my own when I am in the real world. So having the option to switch to pump shotgun makes more sense to me.

18

Do you think you will get serious about shooting clays? If so, I don’t think you can really have a tactical/clays gun as they are designed conversely from one another. Its kinda like asking for a real fast car that handles well AND can also haul lumber and go off road.

For starters, most clays shooters like long barrels that are not very “tactical”. As to your future desire to shoot 4 gauges with skeet, most people that do that have over/unders with barrel inserts. They shoot the 20 gauge for both the 12 gauge and 20 gauge matches.

http://www.briley.com/2009/fittedtubesets.html

Clay shooting is the most fun that can be had with a gun IMHO. If you really think you will be getting into it, I would strongly consider an 30" or 32"double barrel. What I read into your post is that you actually really want a clays gun.

I think after a couple month of shooting you will want one anyway. Plus you won’t be “that guy” with the tacticool gun at the shotgun range:smile:

If you really want a semi, Benneli and Berreta are excellent choices. Because of the their design, Benneli’s seem to be more reliable but kick harder. True gas operated shotguns are much softer. That being said, I hardly notice the recoil from target loads and I shoot a double gun.

I would read up a lot on clays shooting before you make this decision…and not on M4carbine.net.

19

The idea was less to have a true tactical gun, but a gun that can fill that role with a simple, quick mods like a barrel change. In order of priority the roles of the gun will be clays and duck hunting with 3-gun competition/tactical coming in a distant third. I’m not looking to be a serious competitor, only have some fun at the range.

In an ideal world 3 shotguns would be the best solution but it’s not financially viable (even dedicated clays guns are a bit pricey for now) so some compromises will have to be made. This is why I spelled it out as a GP gun, jack of all trades n’at.

I’ve read quite a bit on dedicated shotgun forums and I’ve been picking the brains of old timers at the gun club. They don’t really have much to offer on the tactical front so I thought I’d ask here to see what people had to say.

20

I’d recommend the M2 21" to start out with. The shorter barrel will be frowned upon by the gamers and hunters but you can add a longer barrel later if you stick with it long enough that the barrel length is holding you back. The down side to the Benelli is that as an imported shotgun you can’t have more then a 5 round mag without adding US parts to satisfy 922r.

There are no shorter barrels that I know of for the Beretta, being gas with a complicated relief valve I would not be interested in chopping one to see if it runs.