Recommendation for a Semi Auto Shotgun

[Busywyzy]

I have a SBII and an M2. Most reliable shotguns I have ever owned. SBII can be a little finicky with light skeet loads but for banging birds they can't be beat. It does make me laugh at all the Remington and Browning single shot auto loaders in the goose blinds!!!!

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by Busywyzy

I have a SBII and an M2. Most reliable shotguns I have ever owned. SBII can be a little finicky with light skeet loads but for banging birds they can't be beat. It does make me laugh at all the Remington and Browning single shot auto loaders in the goose blinds!!!!

What makes me laugh is saying yours jams occasionally but it's the best.

The correct answer has been given by a couple guys....go with the one that fits you best. Disregard anybody that says "I have this and it's the best". It's human nature to think you are the best and your stuff is the best. Heck if Savage made a semi there would be someone here who has one telling you how awesome it is.

[morinj]

I was once told by a wise old man that you can't go wrong buying from one of the manufactures who's names start with B!

[Groundhogger]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

For a cheap semi i have a Remington 1187 left hand. It cycles everything from cheap target loads to the heavy 3" without a problem. It gets cleaned thoroughly about once a year and probably gets at least 2000 rounds/yr.

No offence, but I only opened this thread to see if someone was going to recommend an 11-87. A buddy of mine was looking for a duck/goose gun about a year ago, and knowing he was on a budget...I recommended and 11-87 Supermag..even helped track one down for him. He shot clays with it, even ran some 3" steel through it for ducks~all good. Last spring, we took it (and my 870) out to pattern them for turkey season, he dropped a 3-1/2 turkey load in, first shot, a "clang" sound followed. For whatever reason, the pin (cast into the into the receiver?) that the shell retaining latch pivots on sheared right off. The retaining latch hit the ground, but was recovered. The clip that held it onto the pin also gone.

I felt a little guilty recommending this gun, and in the process of trying to help him find a place that would even consider trying to fix it (that wasn't easy) I found lots of references to this not being that uncommon an issue with the 11-87. Anyhow, found a gunsmith to take in on, repair was almost $200.

I like my 870s, my old 11-48..generally, a Remington fan. However, I personally wouldn't recommend an 11-87 to anyone having seen that happen.

[SpectreBallistics]

Originally Posted by Off in the Bushes

I am in the market for a semi auto shotgun for mainly for geese and duck and a little bit of grouse and pheasants. Wha have you guys and gals shot that you would recommend?
Would like one that has some recoil reduction and so that I can shot 3 1/2 inch without getting abused. Price is not a all that important as I will be using it for the remainder of my years.
Once I have narrowed the field I will be checking the fit and pull of the gun to make sure that it is the one for me.
FYI I am also open to used guns incase some models are not longer made but are a great gun.
Thanks in advance

The Stoeger M3500 is a pretty great gun. I had one and it ran any ammo well.

[Bergerboy]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

No offence, but I only opened this thread to see if someone was going to recommend an 11-87. A buddy of mine was looking for a duck/goose gun about a year ago, and knowing he was on a budget...I recommended and 11-87 Supermag..even helped track one down for him. He shot clays with it, even ran some 3" steel through it for ducks~all good. Last spring, we took it (and my 870) out to pattern them for turkey season, he dropped a 3-1/2 turkey load in, first shot, a "clang" sound followed. For whatever reason, the pin (cast into the into the receiver?) that the shell retaining latch pivots on sheared right off. The retaining latch hit the ground, but was recovered. The clip that held it onto the pin also gone.

I felt a little guilty recommending this gun, and in the process of trying to help him find a place that would even consider trying to fix it (that wasn't easy) I found lots of references to this not being that uncommon an issue with the 11-87. Anyhow, found a gunsmith to take in on, repair was almost $200.

I like my 870s, my old 11-48..generally, a Remington fan. However, I personally wouldn't recommend an 11-87 to anyone having seen that happen.

The older Remington products were well made. The current lot is a mere shadow of the originals. Hammers are stamped steel, very poor machining finish. I think the accountants are looking to cut funds from quality and riding on the coat tails of the Remington name.

[J0HN_R1]

My Mossberg 930 has never failed to shoot anything I've fed it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If it's good enough for Jerry Miculek...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs1vSeg0nFI

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

My Mossberg 930 has never failed to shoot anything I've fed it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If it's good enough for Jerry Miculek...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1WnTqnSzVEs

Like any other professional shooter, Miculek shoots what he is paid to shoot. If his next contract is with a different company, he will shoot their firearms instead.

[coolpete1]

i love my browning , its ate alot of lead and steel with out a flaw.

[J0HN_R1]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Like any other professional shooter, Miculek shoots what he is paid to shoot.

If his next contract is with a different company, he will shoot their firearms instead.

How many Pro Shooters do you know that shoot & support unreliable and/or poor quality firearms ? Does Norinco have any sponsored shooters ?

And don't say "well a good gunsmith can make anything shoot good"...

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

How many Pro Shooters do you know that shoot & support unreliable and/or poor quality firearms ? Does Norinco have any sponsored shooters ?

And don't say "well a good gunsmith can make anything shoot good"...

Do you honestly believe that Miculek shoots shotguns right off of the assembly line, with no custom tuning or prep? And if there was a problem with a shotgun, Mossberg would simply replace it , and you would never know any different. As I posted previously, he is paid by Mossberg, so he has no choice but to use their shotguns.

[ak-71]

I am pretty happy with SA08 - my second favorite shotgun so far, but I tend to favor light toyish shotguns.

[prarie_boy1]

I have had a Beretta extrema2 for about 7 years now and been extremely satisfied. Shooting about 1500-2000 trap loads a year and also waterfowl hunting haven't had any issues what so ever.

[Timothy]

Love my weatherby sa-08. Haven't gotten it out duck hunting yet but it is a grouse slayer. I have the 20 gauge.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by newhunterjp

Weatherby element and never look back....inertia driven so recoil reduction comes for free flawless feeding and ejection better than franchi and yet cheaper... Comes wood, synthetic snd camo

Old thread but I just got an Element. Tried pretty much everything the stores had which wasn't much these days.... The Weatherby shouldered about the same as the Beretta A300 for me, but the action felt much smoother and it was slightly cheaper. Getting ready to take it on a goose hunt this week so I'm excited to see how it works.

[curtz]

Love my Browning Silver Hunter.

[Bolete]

My hunting buddy has a Beretta Extrema 2. Two years ago the bolt broke, and he still hasn’t been able to get parts to repair it, and from the sounds of it, Stoeger may not ever be able to get a replacement bolt.
He’s not a target shooter, only waterfowl but it saw a steady diet of 3” and 3.5” loads. Very disappointing for a premium shotgun.
The only other catastrophic failure I’ve seen in the nearly 20 years of hunting most weekend with this group was a Remington 870, but it got run over by a 3/4 ton Dodge, lol.

[ward]

Originally Posted by Bolete

My hunting buddy has a Beretta Extrema 2. Two years ago the bolt broke, and he still hasn’t been able to get parts to repair it, and from the sounds of it, Stoeger may not ever be able to get a replacement bolt.
He’s not a target shooter, only waterfowl but it saw a steady diet of 3” and 3.5” loads. Very disappointing for a premium shotgun.
The only other catastrophic failure I’ve seen in the nearly 20 years of hunting most weekend with this group was a Remington 870, but it got run over by a 3/4 ton Dodge, lol.

I have acquired lots of Beretta auto loader parts, including a 390 bolt, from Coles Gunsmithing in the US. It may be worth a try.

[Blockcaver]

Originally Posted by ward

I have acquired lots of Beretta auto loader parts, including a 390 bolt, from Coles Gunsmithing in the US. It may be worth a try.

Thumbs up on Coles...good company.

Add Briley to the list as a source of bolt handles.

Can't believe he can't get a bolt handle through Stoeger though???

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Blockcaver

Thumbs up on Coles...good company.

Add Briley to the list as a source of bolt handles.

Can't believe he can't get a bolt handle through Stoeger though???

Bolt handles are easier to find, but his bolt is broken.

[mstefoniuk]

Benelli, or beretta..cant go wrong with either.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

No offence, but I only opened this thread to see if someone was going to recommend an 11-87. A buddy of mine was looking for a duck/goose gun about a year ago, and knowing he was on a budget...I recommended and 11-87 Supermag..even helped track one down for him. He shot clays with it, even ran some 3" steel through it for ducks~all good. Last spring, we took it (and my 870) out to pattern them for turkey season, he dropped a 3-1/2 turkey load in, first shot, a "clang" sound followed. For whatever reason, the pin (cast into the into the receiver?) that the shell retaining latch pivots on sheared right off. The retaining latch hit the ground, but was recovered. The clip that held it onto the pin also gone.

I felt a little guilty recommending this gun, and in the process of trying to help him find a place that would even consider trying to fix it (that wasn't easy) I found lots of references to this not being that uncommon an issue with the 11-87. Anyhow, found a gunsmith to take in on, repair was almost $200.

I like my 870s, my old 11-48..generally, a Remington fan. However, I personally wouldn't recommend an 11-87 to anyone having seen that happen.

Yeah it's an old thread but whatever. I bought an 11-87 I'm guessing 25 years ago. 12 gauge 3" synthetic. Actually bought it at Wholesale when they were down by S&M Kenworth if I remember right.
Gun saw many a goose blind back in the day, shot everything from 3" mags to factory trap shells as well as reloaded trap shells. Gun has never missed ejecting a hull once, and have to admit that although I've never seriously abused it, I can promise you it has never once been cleaned in 25ish years. Maybe hosed some mud off the stock, that be about it.
I like it...

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by mstefoniuk

Benelli, or beretta..cant go wrong with either.

You can go wrong, if they don't fit you.