good all around auto shotgun

[Eric Wettschreck]

I know there are mixed feelings about them, but I picked up a Charles Daly semi and I totally love it. It's light, not a jam master, shoots every shell I put in it, and best of all, fits into my tight-wad budget.

[Little Joe]

I've been shooting the same Remington 1100 for 20+ years and love it. Shoot lo-brass in the summer in a trap league and mags in the duck blind come fall. No problems with either.

[96trigger]

FYI,

The REM 1100 is a great all around gun, never shot one, but know people at the range that do and love them.

The Winchester Super X2 and the Brownig Gold are basically teh same gun. I believe Winchester owns Browning. There is a common problem with the browning in that it does't want to bring the next shell into the reciever when shooting 3 in. The problem has been fixed on the X2's but was never fixed on the Golds. This won't be a problem if you shoot 3.5 inch.

Personally, I love my Beretta 390, I shoot trap, ducks, geese, pheasants, and crows with it. I've thought about buying a new gun but never do because that gun just fits me. You can usually pick these gus up at any gun shop for around $550. When buying your gun, new or used, be sure that you pull it up and that it fits you,not to short, too long. It should feel comfortable and easy to swing by your standards.

There aren't too many guns that I would consider Jam masters, the browning is the only gun that I know has had problems, I do know the super X has had a little trouble with the trigger springs. Most of the guns are quality if you stick with any of the Rems, Wins, Berettas, or Benelli's.

[Cootz]

If you're anything like I am, the 391 is the way to go. I shoot in a sporting clays league with it and hunt with it. Have had it for four years and have put many many shells through it without it ever jamming. I clean it twice a year at most. I oil it often to keep the rust off. Has never let me down. I do know someone that bought a 20 gauge that didn't like low brass shells but my 12 is totally reliable.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Thats a good question about the varying reports one gets from all these guys. No, I dont have an answer either.

[kpj5br]

Cootz - I'm with you!

My A391 Xtrema...it's so much a part of me, it's another limb! Ducks, Geese, Pheasants, Clays, such a wonderful gun.

But I will say that nearly any gun can be this for any man if it is the right gun for you. Just takes finding it! I've gone through a lot of shotguns over the years, and shot well with a lot of them, but this one is the first where everything is "just right".

[bear204]

well i bought the SBE 2 with the comfortech today the gun seems to fit real nice. Picked it up at gander i think i got a pretty good deal. Cant wait to take it to the range and dust some clays. Thanks for all the info on the different guns

[Gadgetman]

I had an SBE for 4 years that I just loved but it jammed too much for me. Had it into a reliable gunsmith many times and finally couldnt take it any more. Traded it down the river and got the new Benelli M2. The smith suggested that the jamming problem may have been shell related. They arent all exactly the same length. I found that federal worked the best,PMC was a total nightmare and so was Kent. Even magnum loads would jam. I cleaned that thing 2 or 3 times a season and it still did it. Nice thing about the Benelli is that if you have a problem you can take it apart and clean it unlike other autos that have gobs of parts. Havent had a chance to use the M2 for a season yet so the verdict is out on that, but I sure like the way it pulls up.

[CodyDawg]

I will second the Beretta 390 opinion. It is awesome. I shoot trap, upland, waterfowl and deer with it. It has never let me down and I am working on 10,000 rounds through it. I clean it once per year, maybe twice if its really bad. The only thing that I dont like about the 391 is that I am not aware of a rifled slug barrel for it. Does anyone know of one?

[Cootz]

CodyDawg, a buddy of mine couldn't find one for his 391 either but he did find one someplace for a 390 and I thought he said it was around $350. For that price it's a good excuse to buy another gun.

Gadgetman, I'm not what autos you've taken apart (and this isn't a slam) but the 391 has the nut for the barrel, a piston and the forearm. Three parts. Four if you throw away the lock washer for the plug.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't have to fit a person of the store shelf. I have shorter arms and have cut every shotgun's stock down by up to 5/8 of an inch to get the length to fit. And with the beretta they send you shims so you can drop the comb. I had my mind set on a Bennelli until I asked a great local gunsmith near 78th and University what he worked on the least. And his answer was the Berreta.

[96trigger]

A rifled (Hastings) slug barrel on the 390 can put 1.5 inch groups at 100 using the winchester partition gold slugs. It is one deadly machine. I easily run 2,000 shells through it. Clean it in march after crow season, then in September after Trap season, then in November after Deer season.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

I'll give you my experience with autos. I have owned a 20ga 1100 for about 12 years and it has been a good gun. Firing pin spring broke 2 years ago but I would consider that routine maint. I bought an M2 last fall and it has worked without issue. I was a little bummed the M2 only held 4 rounds fully loaded but recently bought a magazine extension kit that allows it to now hold 6. I'm not super happy with the look and feel of the extension and it screws up the shoulder strap snap on connection as well as adding a moving strap only connector that swivels against the barrel which guarantees scratches to the barrel. It is a super light gun and seems to fit the bill.

[CodyDawg]

Cootz,

I know that gunsmith I believe. In fact I bought my Beretta from him. That is in fact true, he works on Beretta's the least. I dont think they do make a 391 slug barrel (at least Hastings doesnt).

[tealitup]

A good thing to do if you are looking at a new shotgun is to go to the Game Fair in Ramsey. There is a 2 and 5 man flurry (clays). They have some guns there to use.

Last year I went and shot the Win. X2. Loved the gun - Still own a Beretta that gets alot of work, but the X2 is now my favorite.

[puddleduck]

All of the guns mentioned are good guns. The most important factor in my estimation is to find one that fits you. If you don't, it will matter little how good of a gun it is. I personally like A-5. But, I can't hit the broad side of barn with them. They don't fit me at all. Pull them up and see that they fit.

[chefjim]

i have SX2 that is great i bought it for waterfowl but fell in love with way it shoots. I shot 2 3/4 outo of it for pheasant and it cycles great I shot 3.5 for geese and they all patterned well. I like the shorter stock it has than the bennelli faster up to my shoulder. Great all around gun. I just wish they had a slug barrel for it.

[iffwalleyes]

Personally I have a Benelli SBE and love it. I have had it for about 3 years now. It isn't the most affordable gun but it is a nice lightweight gun that fits me great. I also have a Rem. 1100 and it is a nice gun but doesn't compare for me. Brownings Golds are great but they are very heavy guns. If you can afford it I would look at the benelli.

[loosegoose]

My favorite is my Beretta AL391 PF Edition. Although it only shoots 3" it is a light, reliable, all around gun. My second vote is the Browning Auto-5. Again only a 3" gun, this one is more heavy and a little more combersome. This gun is my goose blind gun.

[mwal]

I shoot trap 9 months out of the year and hunt upland and geese. I have an 11/87 that is 6 years old and has never jammed or failed to cycle. I strip it down once a month and clean per the instructions in the manual and it has performed flawlessly. Of the 9 guys on my trap team 3 of us shoot 1100 or 11/87. We have 1 870 The other 5 are Benelli SBE 3 1/2. The are handsdown the most overated shotgun produced. They all have jammed or failed to fire during trap leauge. Yes they are cleaned and lubbed. Yes some put sure cycle spring kits in them. The sure cycle kit helps the gun function but they still jam on occasion. Yet the guys defend them. I wouldn't be to happy to spend over $1,000.00 on a gun then have to put after market kit in so it cycles shells better. I hunt with guys that use Berreta 390 and they seem all right as well as Winchester SX2. Probably the best Auto loader would be an A-5 Browning. I used mine till the mandatory use of steel shot. If you find Japenese built A-5 with choke tubes it would be good waterfowl and upland. Just my opinions. When it all comes down to selecting a gun pick the one that fits you best as it will be the most accurate for you. Guns are like cars everyone has a favorite brand.

Mwal

[surfs]

New to the market, the Mossberg perserve over/under. Pretty gun and great break action for the price, around $550.00 Never shot one, have a Franchii Alcone O/U combo 20/12 ga....love it like mad ($1,700)!!! Feel sorry for my other guns, they never get used. Best of luck!

[FOOT]

I've owned and shot a Remington 1100 12ga Trap 2 3/4" with 30" Full Choke VR Barrel and Monte Carlo stock since 1968 and wouldn't trade the gun for the world.

I was just out of the service in 1968 and money was a little tight when I found the 1100 at the J.C. Penney outlet in St. Paul for $100. It was nearly new, it had been purchased and brought back within the week. The guy didn't like the Monte Carlo stock.

I've used it for ducks, geese, pheasants, deer (purchase a slug barrel later on), grouse, quail, turkey, crows, trap,etc:.

I've never had a problem with it jamming and have only had to replace one firing pin. I've shot low base to magnums and reloads to factory loads.

I have since purchased a 1100 LT 20 ga and 1100 16 ga. Looking for an 1100 410 to complete the set.

[Blaze]

I'm watching this thread with particular interest cuz I'm also lookin' for a good multi-purpose semi-auto for ducks, geese, pheasants, ruffies, etc. (not in that order). That being said, please allow me to give my summary of what I'm hearing in the last 2 pages of posts from you guys...

1) Everybody who has a Beretta loves it

2) Benelli's are the fastest auto-loader and easiest to clean, but occasionaly have jams

3) Brownings & SX2 are mostly decent, but some Gold's are jammers too

4) 1100/1187's seem to be Remington's trademark, but conflicting reports make it a tossup in quality/reliability

5) Mossbergs - jury is still out

I've been looking exclusively at the B guns - Beretta, Benelli, & Browning. I've had one Rem 1100 and will never haul another single shot pig like that around the field (30" barrel - huge for a 13yo kid, especially in the grouse woods!). Anyone have experience with the Browning Gold FUSIONS? After looking at AL391s and M1s, I picked up a Fusion the other day and liked the feel, but not sold on it. If I'm spending that much $$, I think I'd rather stick to the Benelli/Beretta tradition of reliability.

-Blaze

BTW - After handling most all of the guns that have been discussed, my preference follows the numbered list above and I'll probably end up with a 391.

[smallies24]

Just my 2 cents. All the above mentioned auto loaders are capable of performing when used for their intended application. If you speak to the Reps you will find reasons for some of the before mentioned issues.

Browning Gold - The Browning auto loaders are great guns but are not intended for both game loads and trap loads off the shelf. The Hunter models have a heavier spring that is not intended for use with 1 oz and some 1 1/8 oz loads. You can get a different spring for them to shoot the lighter trap loads. Browning clames to have the fastest cycling gas operated shotugns on the market.

Winchester - The X2 is similar in functionality to the Brownings with respect to the springs.

Benelli - Another great group of auto loaders. The inertia systems with recoil heavier than a gas operated system but with the recoil reducers in the SBE II and M2 they recoil lighter than any other auto loaders on the market. Inertia driven systems cycle faster than gas as a general rule. Benellis will cycle most any load.

Remington - The also have trap load specific models but the 11-87 and 1100 tend to handle a full range of loads better than the Brownings and Winchesters.

Beretta - Designed to cycle everything from the light trap loads to the heavy game loads in the 391 and Extrema models.

I'm not very familiar with Mossberg or some of the other auto loader options. A lot of cycling problems can be caused by using loads a gun is not designed to handle and from improper lubrication. If an auto loader is lubed too heavily as mentioned before it can fail even when the correct load is used, especially when it's cold. As temperature drops the viscousity of lubrication oil goes up. This makes it "thicker" and will require the gun to do more work in order to cycle a shell. If too little lube is used there is too much friction between the guns components for the gun to cycle properly. It's important to read each gun's manual to learn the proper amount of lubricaiton required.

My advice would be to pick a few guns that meet your requirements and then take a look at each for personal fit. Some of the manufacturers have models with raised ribs. Some people finds that helps them line the gun up when they raise it to their shoulder. Seemingly little things like this can make a huge difference in how well a person shoots.

Just a few things to consider before you go out and spend a few hundred dollars.

[frabillfisher]

Just wondering since were on the subject...didnt have time to read through all the posts in this thread but most and didnt see the new i think beretta xtrema...i think thats what its called has any one tried it out yet,how much did it cost?

[DomW]

I bought a Browning Gold Hunter a few years ago. I was very pleased. NEVER had any malfunctions, it cycled everything well from 1 1/8 oz 2.75 inch 9 shot to heavy 3 inch slugs, steel, lead. I used it for pheasant, grouse, duck, geese, deer, and a lot of trap/skeet. I cleaned it once a year.

This year, I traded with a friend for his Gold Fusion....SWEET! It is about 11 ounces lighter than my Hunter (both 26 inch barrels), but stilll seems to cycle everything without problem. I am looking forward to carrying the lighter gun this fall. I have a lot of confidence in Browning products, but the Berettas also seem very reliable and have a gas operation. I know a few guys who shoot em and love em.

I love how Benellis look and feel, but I have seen them malfunction a bit more often than I think a thousand-dollar gun should.

Number one: after you select a gun (Browning or Beretta), check the fit and have it adjusted to your liking before you do a lot of shooting with it.