Best Semi-Shotgun for hunting

[patrick0685]

Im looking at buying a semi shotgun for hunting like it says. I have been looking at Browning Silvers, a used Browning Gold, Benilli SBE or something or maybe a Remington 1100 or 11-87. Any thoughts?

[Hoser]

Sbe.

[patrick0685]

Sbe.

...any reason?

[TriggerHappy]

S uper B lack E agle.

In case you were unaware.
[ROFL3]

[patrick0685]

S uper B lack E agle.

In case you were unaware.
[ROFL3]

thanks had that one, just wandering why his choice is the SBE

[Hoser]

They are built like a tank with very few moving parts, yet they dont weigh that much. And with the SBE you can shoot 3.5 inch shells if you want.

[JohnTRourke]

If i wanted a shotgun for hunting.
It would never be a semi-auto

I like semi-autos, they shoot nice, etc

but damn, they ALL jam.
and in hunting, you only get one shot.

If you really really really still wanted a semi-auto, I'd 2nd the Benelli.

[nontactical]

I own an SBEII, a Browning Gold Fusion (alloy reciever, weighs nothing), a newer Browning Auto 5 with choke tubes, and a Beretta AL391 and have hunted with all of them. I guess I have been either lucky or diligent with my cleaning (or a combination thereof) but none of them have ever jammed up on me after the normal breakin period.

All four of them are superb weapons, and a joy to hunt with. Like women, they each have their own personality and I love them for different reasons. The SBEII is sexy because its state of the art, probably the most reliable out of the bunch, and the black polymer thing allows me to lean it against fenceposts without sweating. They are also stupid expensive, and kick considerably harder than gas guns.

The Browning Fusion is a slick, no-nonsense little auto that has the lines of a Model 12. It points really well, weighs even less than the SBEII, has nice wood, and if you look around for a month or so you can find one for around $500 in as-new condition I bought mine for $500 even about 6mos ago. This may be the best thing about the gun. In fact, CDNN has the SL (another alloy frame gun, but Im not sure how it varies from the Fusion BRAND NEW for $699 right now; you can buy two for the price of an SBE.

The Auto 5 is a classic almost in the same way that my Model 12 or my sxs guns are. For me, the thing points like my own finger, it has a warmth to it that only older Browning and Winchester products have, and I dig the funky humpback design. Its new enough to be Japanese which bothers me exactly none. While it is limited to 2 3/4" shells, that is just fine with me. I't not a big believer in the huge candlestick shells anyway. In good shape, they are starting to commmand a premium, but if you look you can get a nice one for $600.

The Beretta is, well, a Beretta. There is a reason that it is the most shot semi-auto in the pro sporting clays ranks. I actually shoot my AL391 in factory configuration as well as I shoot the Citori Special Sporting that I had professionally fitted to me. Recoil wise I'd call it a toss-up between this and the Browning for softest shooting.

Honestly, if I was in the market right now, I'd hop all over the Browning at CDNN, as long as you are looking for a hunting specific gun. Sure, you could shoot clays with it, but I wouldn't purposely buy a 6lb gun for this. I bird hunt about twice a week for the entire season, and more and more I use my Browning Gold for ducks and geese and my 28ga sxs for everything else.

Sheesh... that turned into a book in a hurry.

[jmg8550]

I have a Tri-Star Viper that works quite well for me. It doesn't like light loads though. Here is a link for a test of this shotgun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVInopUELnU

[gcrookston]

Built using the same mechanicals as the M1 Super 90 tactical shotgun, the Benelli Montefeltro has one of the fastest actions in the shotgunning world. I picked mine up gently used years ago for half the price of a new one. I've never had a jam in either it or my M1S90...

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/gcrookston/DSC00287.jpg

[patrick0685]

Tell me more bout your M1, is urs all tacticaled out, would it make a good hunting gun?

[gcrookston]

Tell me more bout your M1, is urs all tacticaled out, would it make a good hunting gun?

It wouldn't. 18.5" barrel, ghost ring sights, pistol grip, extended tube. That's why I got the Montefeltro. I had a 682 at the time which I didn't care to take out into the swamps of Louisiana duck hunting.

The Montefeltro and M1S90 are mechanically identical.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/gcrookston/DSC00183.jpg

[patrick0685]

I found one used with a 28 inch barrel set up normal and im thinking bout picking it up

[gcrookston]

I found one used with a 28 inch barrel set up normal and im thinking bout picking it up


Extra barrels and accessories are plentiful for the M1. My Montefeltro is 28" with a full assortment of chokes.

A neat trick is take one down to the rifle range with an extended tube and shoot slugs. It's fairly easy to master the art of firing the last round before the first round gets to the target, having 7 slugs in the air at the same time.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Benelli

[thebottomline]

For the money, give the 390/3901 a look. I bought a Beretta 3901 this fall and has performed very well - $570 at Dicks. I realize this isn't the prettiest shotgun but I've yet to have it malfunction at all - both with light dove loads and heavy pheasant loads. It's light weight and recoil is manageable even for an Air Force guy. Only downside is 3" shells and doesn't look like they sell the walnut version anymore - Gunbroker has a few.

The 391 will set you back some bucks and you can find plenty of reviews on the net comparing the pros and cons of the 390 and 391 gas systems - toss up if you ask me.


http://www.berettausa.com/products/3901-citizen-synthetic/

[c3d4b2]

After going through several shotguns, the best shotgun is the one that fits you best. If they do not fit well it is harder to hit what you are shooting at.

[CO-Exprs]

+1 on fit. Hunting and sporting shotguns must fit the shooter really well. Tactical not so much, but with your eye being the rear sight, it has to be in the correct spot and every time you shoulder. Berettas, Brownings, Winchesters, Benellis are all popular choices because they all work well. While fine shotguns, Berettas don't fit me very well. The old Browning golds and the Winchester SX3 fit me very well. Benelli fits me pretty good.

[patrick0685]

ya, i believe in the fit too, i just need to save some money now

[soco11]

After going through several shotguns, the best shotgun is the one that fits you best. If they do not fit well it is harder to hit what you are shooting at.

For you guys who talk about "fit"--could you give a little more info about what that means? What should a newby to the shotgun world be looking for and looking at to ensure "fit"? Thanks!

[JohnTRourke]

does your eyes line up straight down the barrels?
is it too long or too short (this is rather easily fixed)
is the stock bent correctly or too much or not enough (or even the wrong way, cast for a right handed shooter and you shoot lefty)
is the reach to the trigger easy?
is the reach/fit to the handguard/barrels easy?

remember, in a shotgun, your rear eye is the rear sight, if the gun doesn't come up the same way each time, you won't hit the same place each time.

[soco11]

does your eyes line up straight down the barrels?
is it too long or too short (this is rather easily fixed)
is the stock bent correctly or too much or not enough (or even the wrong way, cast for a right handed shooter and you shoot lefty)
is the reach to the trigger easy?
is the reach/fit to the handguard/barrels easy?

remember, in a shotgun, your rear eye is the rear sight, if the gun doesn't come up the same way each time, you won't hit the same place each time.

Thanks! That is helpful...I am in need of my first shotgun, but when I go in and pick them up and wave them around the store, I have no idea what I should be looking for or how it should feel. I will have some clue now what to look for.

[Marine24]

remember, in a shotgun, your rear eye is the rear sight, if the gun doesn't come up the same way each time, you won't hit the same place each time.

Absolutely. A lot of nice autoloaders out there, but if it doesn't fit you, you'll be letting a lot of birds or clays go free to propogate the species.

While not a fool proof method, practice mounting the shotgun before purchasing.

While I like the SBE, 391 and Auto 5, what works best for me is a Remington 1100 and Weatherby SA08.