Looking for an all around 12 gauge..

[Kylersk]

I may try sporting clays this year, first time, and I need a shot gun. I'd also use the gun for an occasional grouse hunt and maybe even duck hunting...

One option was the Tri-Star that Cabelas sells. I think they go for $399. Anyone know much about them?

I've also looked at the Remington 11-87, they seem fairly reasonable.

The Beretta's look to be a nice gun, but I think they may be out of my price range.

My wife gave me the 'You dont need the biggest and badest gun out there' line. I'm not sure what price range that gives me, but I'd imagine $1,000 would be my top most price I could spend ($400-$600 is probably more reasonable).

Any and all opinions are appreciated!

[PerchJerker]

I don't know anything about that gun so I can't help you with that.

You could post this in the archery/shooting sports forum and probably get some good replies there.

Where are you going to shoot clays at?

[Kylersk]

not sure yet. One if my wives friends asked her if I'd be interested so I do not know all the details yet.

[Kylersk]

PerchJerker, I just found out where.. It's in Prior Lake at the Horse and Hunt club. I'm not 100% sure I'm going to do it yet.. but I'm leaning towards it.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Try Capra's in Blaine as well, their gun guy there is one of the most knowlegable shotgunners I know, he'll be more than happy to help you make a decision on what the best gun for the money you want to spend and get you the best deal possible. I have always had great luck there!

[Will]

i don't know about tri-star, but i think that first you should determine if you want a pump, semi or over under.

one of my favorite all-around guns is my baretta 'pintail' semi auto. it's inertia operated, easy to clean, light weight and very comfortable to point and shoot.

if you have buddies that own some different guns, maybe you can shoot with some of them to help find something comfortable.

i think that above all else, it has to fit you and feel good in your arms.

[BoxMN]

I would recommend a 11-87 or Browning Gold or Berratta. The Winchester Super x2 is about same as Gold, with some small differences. All the above fit your price range. The Benelli are expensive (and good), and I am not sure of Tri Star or Mossberg autos.

I have Gold. Very smooth shooting, I like it a lot. I shoot trap, duck and goose hunt, grouse hunt with it. The thing I really like about the Gold, is that it comes up just like a Remington 870, and that fits me great. The grip is narrower than a Winchester.

A really cool feature for trap shooting, or duck or goose hunting when you want fast reload times, is that the Gold will leave the action open after the last shell - that is not all that special, but when you insert the a shell into the magazine, it will automatically feed it into the chamber in a split second. That is really nice, as it doesn't make you push the button. My bro has Franchi, which I think has same action as the Benelli, and it has a really funky (to me) couple of loading "features" that I just don't get. Somehow it locks the chamber off - like I said, I know there is a reason for it, but I am not sure what - it just messes me up, as it is not like a typical magazine lock-out that many autos have (some Gold models have mag lock out, mine does not).

My only complaint about the Gold is that I have seen several get the spring in the stock dirty or weak, and it must be cleaned to keep the action fast. It own't happen until many thousands of rounds were through it, but it is a complaint. Easy to fix - just clean it, but I think Browning could somehow fix that on new models, since to me it seems common for guys who shoot pretty much.

More info than you probably wanted, and mostly on Gold, but I like mine. Gas operated autos will be the most comfortable to shoot, less recoil, and for hunting I find that my second shot is better and more on track with gas than pump or O/U or a recoil auto.

Good luck, have fun!

[PerchJerker]

I've shot at the HH club before. It was awesome when I lived in Lakeville but it's kind of a poke to get there from here so I sort of faded out of the league that I shot in. But I miss it, it was really fun to shoot.

[raymondk]

stay away from the cheaper autos they don't like the low base shelle which you would be using for trap . i would go with a pump there is alot of used ones out there .i shoot a 2000 stoeger which i think i got lucky with it shoots good and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I also clean it almost everytime I use it. but it doen't like the low base shells i also seen guys with benellis that do the same thing they just don't like to cycle

[hanson]

Guess a big question is whether you want an Autoloader or a Pump gun??

I'll tell you that I've been shooting the same shotgun since I was 14. Saved up my paper route money and bought a Remington 870 Wingmaster. I even "upgraded" from the 870 Express which was quite the task for a 14 year old on a paperboy's salary.

Your question was "looking for an all around 12 gauge". My opinion... Remington 870 Wingmaster. Ducks, geese, grouse, pheasants, throw a slug barrel on there and you have a deer gun. It will really do it all, and it will not break the bank either.

You will have a hard, hard time finding someone who does not like an 870 Remington, they are a workhorse!

I also like the 11-87 Remington and Benelli Nova, Black Eagle, and Super Black Eagle (depending on how far the budget will let you go!). I'm not much of a Beretta fan but that is just my opinion, they don't "feel" right on my shoulder.

[Schloogs]

I have browning, remington, winchester, and beretta, with beretta being my favorite. Very light weight and very good on the shoulder. Some guns after shooting a box or 2 of shells your shoulder can get a little sore but with the beretta I feel nothing. I happen to have the xtrema which is probably a little much for shooting trap but I would suggest any of the beretta A391 series of shotguns. Can't go wrong.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

If you are shooting "Sporting Clays" I would go with nothing but an "Over / Under". Yes, they do get a pretty penny for them but they are worth it.

[zamboni]

 Originally Posted By: raymondk

stay away from the cheaper autos they don't like the low base shelle which you would be using for trap . i would go with a pump there is alot of used ones out there .i shoot a 2000 stoeger which i think i got lucky with it shoots good and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I also clean it almost everytime I use it. but it doen't like the low base shells i also seen guys with benellis that do the same thing they just don't like to cycle

Do NOT get a pump for sporting clays. Most of the time you have 2 targets to shoot at simultaneously. O/U is your best option, but not many cheapies out there, and semi autos second choice- but with an auto you have to be careful not to get an unreliable one that will jam all the time.

[fish2live]

sounds to me that you are just getting into the sport and want to duel purpose the gun. well stay away from a over under yes they are nice to shoot but, you are limited on the use and they are spendy. my vote goes to 870 wingmaster to start it's light and won't break the bank and is bullet proof. if you are dead set on a semi do not go with cheap model made this mistake once and i regret it because for about 2-3 hundred more i could of had the gun i wanted.

[harvey lee]

I shot trap for many years and my Browning O/U worked great. I have also shot many pigeons with my 1100 and 1187 and those guns also worked just fine and I never had an issue with either. I have also seen many shooters use an 870 and shot very well. Yes, the doubles could be an issue but if they are only shooting singles then the 870 will fill the bill without breaking the bank.

[fishorgolf]

I would go to a knowledgable gun dealer that sells used guns and start picking them up and see how they feel. Feel in my opinion is the #1 thing in a gun. the reason I would go used is I would much rather have a good used gun than a cheap new one. There are allot of VERY good used guns out there.

[Dozer]

One thing to consider is Brownings need to be cleaned every time you use them right away. If you go shooting one evening you need to atleast swab the barrel that evening or you will have rust issues. A remington is more forgiving for this in my experience. You can let them go a day or two without having to worry about it rusting too fast. I would recomend an 870 if just hunting or shooting singles but if you are planning on shooting sporting clays you will need to shoot doubles so I would get an 1187.

[anyfishwilldo]

I personally would stay away from the Rem autos. I have never had any luck with them. They seem "cheap". I would go with the Benelli. I have a Cordoba and absolutely love it. I am thinking about getting a Benelli ultralight 20ga also. I think it would be a great gun for my kids to use. You get exactally what you pay for in semi auto guns.

[Bassman55]

I shoot my Browning BPS pump for sporting clays and do just fine. But then again I'm only 21 years old and my reflexes are alittle faster than the rest of the guys I shoot with.

[Kylersk]

Ok, I found a Benelli M1 12 gauge for $600 in Black. It looks to be in good shape, no noticable scratches. Thoughts? Good price?

[fishorgolf]

I don't think you can go wrong with a benneli.I don't know allot about the M1 but I have shot a 12 gage super black eagle since the day they came out. This gun has seem the talcum powder sands of west Texas, to the black dirt fields of the Eastern shore and back to the swamps of MN. Shot 3 1/2 magnums down to #8 field loads and never a problem. It is just one tough dependable gun.

[anyfishwilldo]

If I was you, I'd take it. Great gun. IMO there is no better semi auto than a Benelli, and when you can find one for that price buy it.

[RonZych]

Tell me where it is, and I will go check it out for you.....

[Schloogs]

The M1 is a great gun, I don't think you can go wrong with that deal.

[Kylersk]

RonZych, it's located at GM in Eden Prairie.

I think I got my heart set on a Beretta Urika 2, now to find a deal on one.

[Bassman55]

My dad has an M1 and is very happy with it for shooting pheasents and sporting clays. For $600 I would buy it.