Deciding on a shotgun

J

Joe Chicago

New member
Ok, I took the plunge and sold my Ruger Red Label 12g to Cabelas. They rated it at 98% and gave me $750. I know a private sale would have netted me more money, but I did not want to deal with the admin. I was hoping to get into the new gun for what I made on the Ruger plus $200 I set aside (and a bit more for the right gun).

My plan is to get a budget / used 20g O/U or reasonably priced semi-auto in 20 or 12g. I would use it for shooting trap or skeet with the wife (we are newbies, and she is really interested in shooting), and maybe shooting pheasant (I have done this a bit over the years). I am trying to get something with relatively light recoil. I would appreciate advice on the following:

1. Would the felt recoil on a 12g semi-auto shotgun be comparable to that of a 20g O/U? How does the felt recoil of a inertia gun compare with a gas-cycled semi-auto?
2. Has anyone handled or fired a Franchi Instinct? It gets great press, but I have not seen one in a store. The only other O/U in the running was the CZ Redhead, but the fit and finish was marginal.
3. Would dropping down to a 20g from a 12g hinder me in hunting and shooting clays?
4. The semi-autos on the short list include Weatherby SA-08, Beretta 3901 and Beretta AL391 (I found a nice used one for $799). The inertia guns on the short list are the Benelli Montefeltro and Franchi Affinity. Your thoughts? Is the 3901 mechanically the same as the 391? If I pursue the used AL391, what should I look-out for when inspecting the gun?

Thanks for the advice.
 
1. Would the felt recoil on a 12g semi-auto shotgun be comparable to that of a 20g O/U? How does the felt recoil of a inertia gun compare with a gas-cycled semi-auto?
2. Has anyone handled or fired a Franchi Instinct? It gets great press, but I have not seen one in a store. The only other O/U in the running was the CZ Redhead, but the fit and finish was marginal.
3. Would dropping down to a 20g from a 12g hinder me in hunting and shooting clays?
4. The semi-autos on the short list include Weatherby SA-08, Beretta 3901 and Beretta AL391 (I found a nice used one for $799). The inertia guns on the short list are the Benelli Montefeltro and Franchi Affinity. Your thoughts? Is the 3901 mechanically the same as the 391? If I pursue the used AL391, what should I look-out for when inspecting the gun?
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1- a 12 will have less recoil than a 20 simply because of more weight in the 12. The inertia will have more felt recoil.
2 - CZ's are made in Turkey, quality is hit or miss
3 - no unless you are shooting registered targets
4 - grab the 391 and run FAST
 
Registered targets are those shot in tournaments. There are several competition groups - the ATA for trap, the NSSA for skeet and the NSCA (part of NSSA) for sporting clays. These group have registered shoots at clubs all over the country where folks are competing against themselves and others in their "class". The classes are to keep shooters of somewhat equal ability comparing their scores against each other and not just against the top dogs

When you join, you are given an initial classification (at least in skeet and sporting), and as you get better and earn wins in your class you move up and shoot against better shooters.
In a typical sporting clays event (which is what I shoot), there will be the new shooters in E class and the top dogs in Master class. In between are the rest of us mere mortals in D, C, B, A, and AA. I started in D last year and made it to A before the end of the year. Now I am shooting against better shooters so the wins aren't coming quite as easily...:(, but it is still a LOT of fun, and that little extra pressure from shooting in a competition really makes me focus hard on doing well

Here is a link for skeet:
http://www.nssa-nsca.org/index.php/nssa-skeet-shooting/new-to-skeet-shooting/how-to-play-the-game/

Here is one for sporting clays:
http://www.nssa-nsca.org/index.php/...g/new-to-sporting-clays/how-to-play-the-game/
 
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Finding one shotgun for both you and your wife ...is usually not your best option...unless length of pull for both of you are about the same, and for what you need for drop at heel and comb....but if you're going to go with one gun, make it a gas operated semi-auto ...for the least recoil. Weight of the gun is also a factor for a lot of ladies - and overall length, etc...too long, or too heavy - make a gun difficult to shoot / but we're all different.

I'm 6'5" and 290 lbs...and my wife is 5'10" and 120lbs.../ no way one gun would work for us.

All of the Inertia guns ...even with Benelli's comfort tech system in them ..will give you more recoil than a gas gun in the same gague.

I'm not a Franchi fan...semi-auto or O/U ...their guns I see at our club are marginal at best. Personally I think what you saw on the CZ's will be similar to what you see in the Franchi's ....( and you can't see inside / the quality of the steel, firing pins, springs, etc..) is where the real issues will show up after a few thousand shells.
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Browning and Beretta will by far give you the most gun for the money ...and whether you look at their O/U's or their semi-autos its hard to buy a gun, in eitiher line of guns, that will be a poor quality gun. Browning & Winchester are the same company today / and Beretta owns a number of other companies - including Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, etc...but other than the Benelli line of guns ( and they're all Inertia ) I would stick with the Beretta labeled guns on that side. Franchi and Stoeger fit a niche in the market for price ....but are not near the quality that Beretta labeled guns or the Benelli's are, in my opinon.

Beretta 3901, 391, X plor, etc are all good solid guns.....Browning/Winchester have their silver hunter, maxus, etc..and again all good solid guns. Benelli Super Sport, etc are all fine guns as well ( but all Inertia operated ).

The only 20ga semi-auto I have is the Benelli Super Sport ...its light at a hair over 6lbs...has comfort tech in it / its a good training gun for my teenage granddaughters and the other young grandkids. It has a lot of adjustability - if you buy the extra comb and recoil pads...so I can adjust the length of pull, angle of comb, etc ...and it has shims between receiver and stock.../ but the price tag new on that gun is around $2,000 now / and if you buy all 4 of the extra comb and recoil pads then add another $ 300 or so to it...but if you run accross a used one ...I'd snap it up especially in a 20ga / I have one in a 12ga as well ( and they make a 28" and 30" barrel in the 12ga ) so if you find a 28" it might suit your wife as well...again its a light gun about a shade over 7 lbs even in a 30" barrel... / and you might find one used.

If you look at any of the wood stocked Benelli's - they can't have the comfort tech system in them / its only an option on the synthetic stocks. So any wood stocked Benelli - will probably give you 25% more recoil that a gas gun in the same gague. It may be fine for you ..but most ladies/or new or young shooters will not find it to be an asset.

but I think you're better off looking at gas guns....Browning Silver Hunter is around $1,000 new and they make it in a 20ga or 12ga / Beretta 3901's - 391's are good options - and they make a few in 20ga. I wouldn't necessarily disregard the older technology in the Remington 1100's or the 11-87's either if you run accross a good clean one / if it has changeable screw in chokes.

I wouldn't recommend you buy any used gun if it has a fixed choke because its just not very versatile. You really need changeable screw in chokes ..

Good luck / and have fun with the search.

If you happen to find an O/U field grade ...like a Browning Lightning series...in either a 20ga or 28ga ...they might be good options for you as well. There are a lot of them around / while they command about $ 1,250 on the used market .... you might find one that has a stock that's beat up / that you could refinish ...and it might be a great gun for you or your wife. Same thing on the Beretta side of their O/U's ...I'm not sure what they call their entry level field grade O/U's ..silver ?? ...don't remember...but a quick check of both Browning or Berettas website will give you some models to look for.
 
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BigJim, thanks for all the info. The new shotgun will be primarily for me, but she will try it out. Her father just handed down a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20g to her.

Well, the AL391 for $799 was gone from Cabelas today. They sold it the day after I looked at it. You snooze - you lose. They did have another AL391 20g today, but it was $1150. I called around to find a Beretta 3901 and no one has one for me to see. One store that caters to wing shooters told me that Beretta discontinued it to push buyers to the 391 and 400. No stores in my area have Franchi Instincts either.

Sooooooo... I bought a Weatherby SA08 20g today. It fits me great and the fit and finish is as good as any Beretta, Winchester or Browning I handled (and better than Remington, but that is not saying much). I can pick it up tomorrow.

Thanks again for the remedial instruction and advice.
 
Cabelas will transfer any gun they have to your local store for $50, which will be included in the sale of the gun. If the gun isn't exactly as described, ask for your money back. There were a number of 3901 session are the Fort Worth store recently.
 
You know Cabela's will sell that $750 gun for about $1300, right? They're making a better markup than if they bought it wholesale.........$550 would have bought a lot of ammo.....just sayin

Try to fine the Beretta and have them bring it in - they might knock some off their normal price because of your trade
 
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