Best Semi-Auto

The best semi-auto depends on what you intend to do with it.

If you are a waterfowler who shoots clays occasionally take a Benelli. They are simple, robust and reliable providing you are using ammo of sufficient power. They don't get clogged up like the gas guns and the mechanism is very easy to maintain. The price you pay is added recoil and poor functioning with light loads. I've spent far too much time waiting on Benelli shooters to reshoot targets because they didn't bring ammo that was strong enough to reliably work the action. On one outing I even traded my 3 dram 1-1/8 ounce ammo with a Benelli shooter whose 1 ounce light loads were just not getting the job done.

If you are primarily a clay shooter but shoot some waterfowl then the Beretta 391 is state of the art. It is soft shooting, reliable with even the lighest shells, works with the 3" magnums and comes in variety of formats for clay target shooting. Due to the gas system maintenance can be a little trickier but not impossible.

I admire the Benelli for its many qualities but I wouldn't trade one for my Beretta 391.
 
Get that 1100. It's unlikely that over 5 years even a trapshooter would put enough shells through it to even break it in good. If it also has extended chokes, those go for anywhere from $25 -$70 a piece.
 
First, I don't see how the Stoeger could be any better, and to be honest about it I don't see how it could even be close to as good as the Benelli with the price it is marketed at.

mathman, you must be one of them big fellers that just don't move when the gun shoots.
 
It's funny you should say that...actually, I'm not all that big (~205 pounds).

Let me clear something up about the recoil operated system on the benelli. The system depends on rearward movement for the gun to cycle. As the gun moves rearward, the bolt stays in its position which causes a spring to be compressed inside the bolt. It is this spring that cycles the gun, not the force from the blast...it is not a blowback design.

Check out this site for more information: http://www.benelliusa.com/innovations/inertia.tpl

Actually, this is one of the reasons that the military needed the gas operated benelli...because you cannot mount accessories to the inertia recoil operated shotgun since the added weight will affect it negatively.

To each his/her own...berettas are fine shotguns, as are the remingtons. I like the benellis due to their simplicity...it is the simple beauty that intrigues me. (not to mention it's a hell of a shotgun!)
 
FWIW I agree with mathman...I have shot and bird hunted with many different guns...my Benelli Black Eagle is clearly my favorite of them all by a large margin...pick one up before you buy.
 
if i'm not mistaken, franchi is made by benelli...and their inertia recoil system is very similar, but not exactly the same.
 
"Those who say otherwise just can't afford one..."

Bwaahahahahaha...good one. You're kidding, right? I like the gun, just think most folks would be happier shooting a lot of shells with a gas gun. BTW, want to compare checkbooks? ;) After I write the $3,000 check for my real estate taxes this week I'll have, oh, carry the 1, hmmm, this is embarrassing, I really need to buy a CD or some more stocks, five figures in front of the decimal point. IT'S TIME TO GO SHOPPING, the heck with investing, you can't take it with you. :) Maybe I'll buy by dad another Guerini. I wonder if he'd like a .410?

Oh a more serious note, a local dealer has sold a lot of SBEs over the years and a lot of them show up on the used gun rack in superb condition. The story is that they feel great, look good and kick hard. Not to say that some folks don't love them, but they aren't for everybody.

John
 
Benelli

I own Rem 1100, 870, Moss 500, Winch 1200 and Benelli M121. The Benelli has never failed. In fact I don't think I've cleaned it in Ten years...Chrome bore.

Take the shotgun out for a shoot. Does it feel right? If not could the stock be adapted to you? My 870 and 1100 have Trap stocks that have been modified to fit my "cheek weld", shoulder position, and adjusted for length of pull.

Recoil vs Gas operation has never bothered me while shooting.

Guess what? If I had to grab one and leave it would be the Benelli. Whether for HD or Sporting use (I use wine corks to reduce capacity to make legal.)
 
$3000 IMO isn't even fair for a 1350 sq. ft. house built in 1916 on a
22.5' x 90' lot on the fringe of a very nice neighborhood. Fringe = we're on the last block before the 7-11 and the bars. Based on last week's sale directly across the street the $3000 will turn into $4000 next year. Oh well, I only paid $41k for it way back when and now they're pushing $300k without central air. :)

OTOH, I'd like to visit California someday. Maybe. On my way to Hawaii say. ;)

John
 
I own a Benelli SBE, Win SX2, and sold a Benelli Montefelltro. When I take one out of the safe, its almost always the Super X 2. The recoil is so much lighter, and has never failed. I won't take anything away from Benelli, they make a very nice shotgun. I'll let my son take the recoil, he's a stout young man and likes the SBE, and does very well with it. As said earlier, perference. If it fits, shoot it. The cleaning is much easier with the Benelli's, but I enjoy cleaning guns as much as shooting them. The SX2 for me!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top