Semi Auto

[Deadwood]

I am thinking of getting back into duck hunting after taking a 15 year break and had a couple questions to ask. Question #1: Which semi-auto 12 gauge shotgun would you recommend? Question #2: Why (pros/cons)? Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.

[Dean Schellinger]

I am assuming you live in MN. And therefore the cold weather will cause you problems unless you get an upscale semi-auto, especially if you are hunting late season. You can't really go wrong with the B's-Beneli, Browning, Beretta. From my experience, if you go lower-scale, you will experience problems so you get what you pay for.

[Fish&Fowl]

Definitely can't go wrong with a Benelli. The SBE or M2 Field are both excellent autos. They are inertia driven, not gas-operated, meaning they don't have all that gas build-up and fouling...plus you can have the thing ENTIRELY taken apart (action, trigger assembly, everything) in less than a minute once you learn what you're doing. Assembling it is just as easy.

These guns are also very light and have an adjustable stock for improved fit. I have had my M1 Super 90 (now the M2) for 2 years, and my dad has had his for 7-8. We hunt a lot of ducks, geese, and pheasants and have NEVER had one jam. As with any auto I have had them slow down when it's 5-10 degrees out, but if you keep the oil to a minimum that's not an issue. I am sold on Benelli for life as far as autos go.

[IceHawk]

I personally own use and love Rem 1187's. They have been my bread and butter for a couple yrs. Knock on wood but they haven't failed me yet and I am pretty tough on my guns when hunting waterfowl. Benneli Black Eagle and Winchesters X2 and X3 are also very nice but I'll stick to my 1187's untill they fail or let me down!

[Farley]

Might as well run the board. Winchester SX3. Just bought one. Love it. Havent shot anything other than clay yet but it sure shoots and loads smooth.

[Sartell Angler]

I'm a Remington guy so if I bought an auto I'd go with an 11-87 also.

[shae1986]

I'm a benelli shooter.

[MrBaz]

Im with IceHawk and Sartell on this one, I shoot an 11-87, hasnt let me down yet.

[dukhnt]

My winchester Super X2 is an awesome goose gun. I still can't bench my 870 for ducks.

[koonie]

I've got three 11-87s that work great and shoot well in all conditions. Me on the other hand. I won't go there.

[Ducknut]

I've shot a browning gold 3.5 for 5 years now. 2-3 CASES per year. Clean it properly and it will function well. If you don't want to care for an auto....get an 870, you got to really work to screw up one of them.

Anyone who says an Auto(brand irrelevant) requires no maintenance is lying. ALL autos require more care than pumps.

[surewood]

If it's just for waterfowl the mossberg 935 mag. is a cheaper option. The only downside it only shoots 3" and 3.5" and it's heavier then the higher end guns. But my brother shoots the benelli SBE which is a great gun but the mossberg shoots right with it with no problems for about half the price.

[Deadwood]

Thanks for all of your input, it's much appreciated. I do have an 870, but was looking for a semi-auto to add to the arsenal for waterfowl.

[eyehunter01]

I would stick with Rem. My brother has a benelli and my dad shoots a mos. Both have had prob. in cold/wet weather. Rem has yet to fail me, even though its older than both Ben. and Mos.

[Quackaddict9]

I have hunted with a Benelli for the last 5 years and has never failed me in cold and wet weather, lube it up and take care of it before heading out really helps, doesnt take long to do so.

[ole matty]

I have stoeger 2000 can't say more abt it as I only used it 2 week left of duck season but didn't have any jammed on last day of season when outsides 8-12 degrees.

Don't want to hijack this thread but is there any HSOforum about cleaning the autos? I misplace/lost my manual books abt disassemble the parts n cleaning.. Thanks.

[BoxMN]

 Originally Posted By: Ducknut

Anyone who says an Auto(brand irrelevant) requires no maintenance is lying. ALL autos require more care than pumps.

I agree ducknut. I have seen Golds get cold and dirty and have too much oil and turn into singleshots, but also saw an 1100 blow out through the chamber, Franchi lose the bolt pin, a Benelli get thrown into the muck by a ticked off hunter, and I even was the single person in the world who ever had a problem with an 870 Wingmaster (I was glad to get rid of that thing!).

So you can have good and bad expereinces. I suggest you pick each gun up and shoulder it, swing it, check out how the magazine and ejection systems work, cause they are all a bit different. I.e. I shoot a Gold, and my stepson has SuperX2. Pretty close to same gun, but his grip is wider and it doesn't have the auto-load chamber like the Gold does. My Gold shoulders and swing just like my Wingmaster did, so I like that.

Only thing with Gold, you need to clean out the stock spring (not sure of technical term) every couple years, its one area you never think of to clean, but it can be an issue. Otherwise the Gold and SuperX2 are totally easy and quick to clean and maintain. And no shotgun needs that much oil, a drop will do ya!

Good luck with whatever you get!

[Hookmaster]

I'm partial to the Benelli M1 now the M2. I don't think you really need a 3.5 inch chamber of the SBE. On the M1 and M2, the adjustable angle between the receiver and the stock (with different shims) was important to me since I needed to adjust it from the normal position so the point of impact was right on. But as BoxMN said pick them up and handle them because they will have different feels. I like the Benelli forend (thinner) than the Beretta forend (wider) and I'm taller/bigger than normal. Before this gun I had a Browning A500 gas operated that was a piece of crrap in 40 degrees or colder. I wanted to get the recoil operated but the gas operated on felt better. The guns on the market today are better overall than 18 years ago when that happened.

[Hills]

I have shot a Benelli SBE for 12 years and it has only failed me once in thousands of shots. I had mud in the chamber from the goose blind. Great gun for everything.

[goblueM]

shot a benelli M1 and then a benelli montefeltro the last 5 years... never had any issues. turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants... all conditions. No jamming ever from either one, super easy to clean, reliable, i could go on. Now to get a deer with it this year...

[paceman]

I've had a M1 since 1997. Lots of shooting, never had a problem. But I take very good care of it. Clean it after any nasty weather or dusty conditions... No need for another gun IMO

[jeff127]

I have strictly owned beretta and I will stick with them(ford/chevy deal). I have a silver mallard I bought new in 2000 its only a 3 inch gun but I think it is one of the best overall semis that I have ever used, hands down. As easy as an 870 to clean and very light. I have put thousands of rounds through it and have had no problems----you can find them used for a decent price. They no longer make the silver mallard it is now called the Urika (I think). I also use an extrema 3.5 for goose and late season ducks and that works flawlessly. The benellis are a great gun---a bit pricier than beretta---and in my experience when I have tried them kick like a mule after a few volleys.....2 of my buddies got rid of theirs after some brused shoulders in the layout blinds.

jeff

[hanson]

I think its funny where opinions sort themselves out at.

This particular topic you will NEVER, EVER lay to rest in an internet forum. It won't happen!

I'll be an 870 shooter for life. Love that gun!

I've shot a few of the major guns in discussion right now and I would have never put the words "Benelli" and "kicks like a mule" in the same sentence. But thats just me.

I would seriously take any of the "major" semi-autos if somone were to give me one (1187, Gold, SBE, Extrema). There are obvious fit differences IMO and thats what should be important. Get one that "fits" you right and is comfortable coming up to the shoulder. Thats more important than anything.

[winter_grizz]

I bought a Winchester SuperX3 last spring and i love that thing! never jams and is light weight. this spring i took it out snow goose hunting and we crawled through muck every day and by the end of the trip it never jamed once, thats more than i can say for benellis that went through the mud. not saying that they are not quality guns but I would go with the SX3, and they are only like $900 so it would save you some money!

[skee0025]

I've had my Browing Gold for 9 years and have not yet had a problem. It replaced a Mossberg POS, Best 900 I even spent on a gun