General Purpose Semi-Auto Shotgun

General Firearms Shotguns
41

I primarily use my shotgun for hunting. I primarily hunt crows but sometimes go duck hunting. (Crow hunting is ALOT cheaper). But I have a “tactical mindset” with any gun I buy.

I also shoot skeet, but just among friends in back yards for bragging rights and practice in the off season.

Years ago I went through several different brands/actions (Browning Gold, 870 pump, 500 pump, SXS, BPS, Benelli, SX1-2) but finally settled on Benelli. I have 3 of them. All of them are M1’s. One is a tactical model with Ghost Ring sights, that if I had to do over again, I would have just gotten bead or rifle sights. The other 2 are hunting guns. One is a 12 and the other is a 20.

I have never had a bobble on any of them other than a couple of dud rounds from some cheap low brass bulk pack.

My brother has a Browning and he kept having it hang up when we were shooting skeet. To make him feel better I told him that Benelli had a problem with jamming if you didn’t keep it tight in the shoulder firing light loads. So to show him I just held it in my hand one handed and fired it straight up, without putting the stock in my shoulder. 6 times… I finally gave up and said I wasn’t reloading it again, and never mind, sell the Browning and get a Benelli.:lol:

You can shoot the shorter barrel tactical models just as well for hunting/skeet, it will just be louder (because the end of the barrel is closer to your ear) and people might not want to hunt with you but it will work fine. It isn’t much louder than a 26" bbl with those stupid “ports” cut in the barrel.

I have made some really crazy shots with my Benelli 12 ga, shots that would be next to impossible with a pump. Like firing at a crow while laying on your back in waist high grass while he is flying from your toes to your head. You have to have really long arms as he starts to go over your head.

If I were going to use a shotgun tactically, I would defintely want an automatic.

The only thing that I don’t like about Benellis is the loading gate will bite your thumb occasionally when reloading.

42

This is where the welded lifters that so many people make come in.

Would you believe I have a c-rums welded lifter sitting here on my desk, taunting me? Yep, I bought the lifter before the shotgun. I consider it commitment to the M2. :lol:

43

Got a link?

I have no idea what you are talking about, but if there is something out there that keeps me from losing parts of my thumbnail at times, I would love to have it.

I didn’t know there was such a thing out there.

Thanks in advance.

44

Have you taken a look at the new AR12s?

45

Here you are: http://www.c-rums.com/Carriers.html

46

If you mean the AA-12…it’s a Class 3 weapon not easily available for any kind of reasonable money.

More relevant to the discussion how is that a general purpose shotgun?

47

No, not the AA12, I know what you are talking about but that’s not the one. My bad, it’s actually called the AT-12. Can’t find the link to that one but here’s the link to the .410 caliber version. They say the 12 gauge is going to be imported sometime in the future if not yet alreadyhttp://www.americantactical.us/at14.html

As for general purpose, it might be a little over kill for some but from what I heard they show some promise as far as a combat shotgun goes. Have a link to another forum, but I don’t think I can link that here

48

Interesting concept but not really general purpose.

.410 doesn’t particular strike as being general purpose (or honestly even for tactical purposes). Expensive, limited terminal ballistics, limited ammo selection, not capable of bringing down most waterfowl, not to mention a 5 round mag capacity when you can get 7 or 8 rounds in a standard.

I guess though with a quick mag change option it would make a decent tactical gun.

49

Yeah, I wouldn’t use .410 for tactical or combat either. I just can’t find the link to the 12 gauge version for some reason

50

I would much rather have the proven Saiga than the brand new AT12 design.

In my country, however, the Saiga is not legal, so the M2 it is for me. If I lived in America I would not look twice at other shotguns, and get a Saiga immediately. This is only from my own research though, and not experience, so take it for what it is. :slight_smile:

51

Are you stuck on the idea that it must be a Benelli? They are awesome guns but possible better options out there for the $$$

52

Like what? As has been said I can score a Benelli M2 for about a grand.

Thats a pretty reasonable price point for a decent semi-auto. Factor in parts availability and maintenance and it seems that Benelli is a good way to go.

But I am open to suggestions so long as the quality is there.