SEMI-AUTO 12 GAUGE?

[#1Gaffman]

Hey guys. I got such a good response iand help in the new waders deal that i figured i would come here to ask my new question.

Shotguns.


i have had a 870 pump 12ga for 6 years. BEST gun ive ever owned............. I have dropped it in water more times then i can count. fired hundreds of shells out of it and it has only jammed once. the thing is a tank.

But ive decided i whant a new gun, simply becuase im gonna retire the old girl to the deer feilds. i whant the new gun to be a Semi-auto 12 guage, and i would like the option to shoot 3 1/2 shells in it. this gun will be for waterfowl hunting and thats it. No slugs.

I have been looking around and pricing around and man, doesnt seem you cna find a half decent semi for under a grand.

Anyone have any opinions? options?

I have looked at the Charles daly guns, heard some scary storys about them. Then theres the mossberg, but ive never owned one??

All the help you guys can give me would be great, im looking to spend about 800$ and down if i can.

I know a lot of guys will proabably think why doesnt he just keep the 870? truth is im afraid she wolnt make it through another season of hell that i put my guns through.

Thanks for any help,

Shane

[JasonB]

Hey guys. I got such a good response iand help in the new waders deal that i figured i would come here to ask my new question.

Shotguns.


i have had a 870 pump 12ga for 6 years. BEST gun ive ever owned............. I have dropped it in water more times then i can count. fired hundreds of shells out of it and it has only jammed once. the thing is a tank.

But ive decided i whant a new gun, simply becuase im gonna retire the old girl to the deer feilds. i whant the new gun to be a Semi-auto 12 guage, and i would like the option to shoot 3 1/2 shells in it. this gun will be for waterfowl hunting and thats it. No slugs.

I have been looking around and pricing around and man, doesnt seem you cna find a half decent semi for under a grand.

Anyone have any opinions? options?

I have looked at the Charles daly guns, heard some scary storys about them. Then theres the mossberg, but ive never owned one??

All the help you guys can give me would be great, im looking to spend about 800$ and down if i can.

I know a lot of guys will proabably think why doesnt he just keep the 870? truth is im afraid she wolnt make it through another season of hell that i put my guns through.

Thanks for any help,

Shane

I use use a Mossberg at work occasionaly and haven't had any problems with it; however, I own an 870 Express. Buy another 870, it is a real value giving alot of bang for only a little buck.

JasonB

[Tuna Meltdown]

Shane try lookin at the Beretta 391 series. They are priced right around that $800 figure and I have one and love it. I have never hunted with it but it does serious damage on the trap and skeet fields. Never had a malfunction or misfire and I average about 500-600 rounds through it a month. YOu can get it with a walnut or synthetic stock.
http://www.berettausa.com/product/pr..._guns_main.htm
Don't be scared by the MSRP prices most places sell them for about 200 bucks less than those prices. I picked mine up about 3 years ago for $850.

[hit-n-run]

I own a remington 1187 and 1100. For the money I don't think you can go wrong. The only thing with auto's is they like to be cleaned after every time out.

[Wild Life Management]

Shane, it seems you might be stuck somewhere in the middle. You might have to either save some cash and go with another 870 or spend more on something like a beretta or benelli, although I could be wrong, it happened once before.

I have an 870 and they are hard to beat for a pump gun, my dad has had his for over 30 years and it's still kickin'.

I also have a benelli super black eagle, and it is sick. I have put at least a couple thousand rounds through it at the range, and although I have yet to drop it in the water, I have had it soaking wet while hunting in down pouring rain, never a problem. As far as cleaning, it is way easier than my dads 1187, there are really only a few parts and no gas rings or anything to worry about.

What ever the outcome, have fun with the new toy. Whack em and stack em.

Ken

[wbfish]

I'd say a beretta or Franchi(if you wanted a benelli but don't want to spend over $1000).

[Talbot29]

I gotta agree with Ken. You can't beat the 870 for a rugged gun. If you really need an autoloader - save some more $$$ and go with the Benelli or the Beretta. I've got most of them and if you really like to clean guns, go with a 1100 or 1187. If you want an autoloader that just won't quick, save up for another year. I'll bet your 870 will last a bit longer.

[Wild Life Management]

I'd say a beretta or Franchi(if you wanted a benelli but don't want to spend over $1000).

I forgot about Franchi. Does any one have any experience with these guns? I have never heard any negative feedback.

[Glenn W]

Shane, it's clear you want a new auto cause there is no way to destroy an 870 from the rigors of duck hunting--- plain, simple, end of story. That's ok, I personally prefer an auto as well.
When it comes to auto shotguns for duck hunting there is really only one thing to understand--You can a pay a little more now and get an auto that will work and last, or you can buy a cheaper auto now, get pissed an end up buying the more expensive gun you should have bought in the first place a couple years from now:
from what I see and use in the field there are 3 realistic options in my order of preference:
Beretta
Benelli
Remington.
I'm not a 3.5" user so if your heart is set on this look at those models. The Baretta 391 and Extrema will take the abuse.
The Benelli's are very nice indeed, but I have heard more complaints of misfiring than I like for those produced in the last 2 years and the price. I don't know all the details but have such a foul taste in my mouth for Stoeger (owned by Benelli) I mention this. Most people love their SBE's though.
The Remington's are proven workhorses but don't like the cold (when dirty) very much. Still a fine firearm.
Biggest factor (even bigger than price) is fit. Get the one that fits you best and that feels "right". All three of these will be fine guns.
Then again, for under $400 you can get a new 870 and be back in bidness.

[SAXIS ISLANDER]

Benelli Nova - $319 (pump)
Pattern master choke - $40
New Floating Gun Case - $25


Cant beat the price for a quality pump, which you already like. Pattern master chokes are far better that the shit that the Benelli comes with and will greatly improve your shooting (as opposed to using the stock chokes).

And if you dropped the 870 over as many times as you say then a floating gun case is a great idea.