Shotties: advantages of a Pump' over a Semi'

P

Pond James Pond

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As the title suggests.
It seems that a Semi auto shotgun will load faster than a pump in most people's hands, but are there any other practical considerations?
 
First, if you want to be taken seriously, they are not "shotties", they are shotguns. Next, if you have over 300 posts, you must know that this has been discussed ad nosium, and with a little searching will get you lots of information. Check Google and the forums. Mark
 
Pumps IMHO don't have any advantages over autos, except price and wieght. Autos are so reliable now that even 7/8oz 1150 fps will cycle in 3" guns that will have no trouble switching to Buck on the fly. Short shucking is a pretty big issue, and the likelyhood of FTF and FTEs don't go away just by switching to a pump.
 
+1 what oregunner said, and quit the 'shottie' stuff if you want to be taken seriously. They are called SHOTGUNS. In answer to your question, pumps have no advantage over an autoloader. They're much cheaper to manufacture and a little easier to clean...
 
I think you have to specify the use of the gun. There may be a big defference in relaibility if the gun is clean and used for home defense or if it is dragged through a swamp full of muck.
 
Pumps are cheaper, that is really about it. There are a few, and I mean very few loads, that will cycle through a pump that an auto will not cycle. I have never owned any such loads, nor do I see the point of doing so.

Gas operated autos are a little heavier and more complex, requiring a little more attention and cleaning to keep them running 100%.

Pumps and inertia operated autos are pretty foolproof, and are lighter. They will likely keep working when much dirtier than a gas gun. The Gas guns generally have a little less felt recoil.

While in theory a pump should be more reliable, in reality the auto will be because there is much less chance for operator error.
 
While in theory a pump should be more reliable, in reality the auto will be because there is much less chance for operator error.
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While I agree with this statement in theory, I have to say that over the past fifty years or so I have owned many semi-auto (including a Beretta Model 390) and pump shotguns but have never owned a semi-auto (be it gas or inertia operated) that hasn't had a malfunction at one time or another-and that is with factory ammunition; some being much more reliable than others. On the other hand, I have never had a pump shotgun that has malfunctioned. Maybe I've just been unlucky with semi-autos and/or lucky with pumps; I don't know. I'm just recounting my experiences for whatever it's worth.
I do agree with the caveat that there's less chance for a semi-auto shotgun to malfunction due to operator error than with a pump shotgun. My understanding is that most malfunctions occurring with pump shotguns can be attributed to "short-stroking".
 
hmmmm...

now, if I had to break my piggy bank for a dedicated trap gun, I would opt for a nice preowned vintage 870 Trap, or, a new Browning BPS Trap gun... ;)
 
To those who answered my simple question: thank you.
I understand now and am interested as I will probably soon be taking ownership of my Grandfather's old semi from the 19?0s! Presently, I am also entitled to buy another shotgun also, and I was interested in any differences in case I decided to add to my budgeoning collection.

For those who are getting their underwear in a twist over pseudonyms: Is it really that important? (Rhetorical question). I don't see many having fits over the term "wheel-gun" for revolvers. :rolleyes:

Fair point on the search remark, though....
 
I can operate a pump shotgun very efficiently... I have TheKlawMan as a witness :)... With a semi auto, assuming everything works all you need to do is load and pull the trigger... It takes practice to shoot a pump well... I can shoot a pump shotgun faster than most pump shooters you will meet but I practice with them a lot... But someone relatively familiar with a semi can shoot, faster than I can work my pump...
 
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Weatherby indeed shoots his pump very well. Not only should the OP consider which is more reliable UNDER THE INTENDED USE, but should there be a jamb what type of problem is likely to be expected and how easily is it cured. I remember reading where some duck hunters sitting in a blind and putting up with near freezing temperatures the two auto loaders faild to cycle butt he pump did fine.

Early on with my 870, it had a couple of jambs at the range until I polished the chamber. About a thousand rounds later I had a couple of more jambs. One was probably caused by short stroking and another due to the cheap shells I was using. The cure in each case was to aggressively pull the slide back and if the didn't do the trick I slammed the butt on the ground. Are all cycling problems with semis fixed that easily. I don't know.
 
The klawman hit the nail on the head.

Yes, you can short shuck a pump. It can be rectified immediately. But, a malfunction in a semi auto will be much more complicated to fix in the heat of battle.
 
Thanks for asking this question as that is what keeps forms like this going even if it has been discussed once before. I would think that a pump gun is a little bit more reliable as I have put some less desirable looking hand loaded shells through a pump that an auto would not cycle. I was able to force them to load. I think the pump is also a simpler design which would be easier to clean and fix if things did go wrong. This is not to say that the auto loaders today are not reliable. You must have been listening to some Ice Cube or something while chooseing the title name hahahaha:D
 
First, if you want to be taken seriously, they are not "shotties", they are shotguns. Next, if you have over 300 posts, you must know that this has been discussed ad nosium, and with a little searching will get you lots of information. Check Google and the forums. Mark
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This guy needs to step off his noble throne and help a person out instead of bashing him. I am sorry if I am offending anyone by saying this but I dont respect a man that answers one of my posts with how I must not know how to maintain my oil in my vehicle, sorry have to vent abit.
 
Pumps are cheaper, that is really about it. There are a few, and I mean very few loads, that will cycle through a pump that an auto will not cycle. I have never owned any such loads, nor do I see the point of doing so.

Gas operated autos are a little heavier and more complex, requiring a little more attention and cleaning to keep them running 100%.

Pumps and inertia operated autos are pretty foolproof, and are lighter. They will likely keep working when much dirtier than a gas gun. The Gas guns generally have a little less felt recoil.

While in theory a pump should be more reliable, in reality the auto will be because there is much less chance for operator error
Click to expand...
+1
 
Columbia, You are the guy that advised everyone to take the o-ring out of their shotgun, because it worked better that way, and got universally dismissed as giving bad advice. I tried to make a joke about similar advice with your car maintainence. Also, a quick Google search of "pump semi auto shotgun comparison" got 500,000 hits. If he was really looking for information, that would be the place to start, as the OP later recognized. Mark
 
It is not even an argument. If you are starting out and know nothing about shot guns, buy a single shot. I can not believe guys that go through a box of shells and come back with one or two rabbits. Learn how to shoot first.
 
Oreg, If you gave advice(before your bashing me in an earlier post) I would have never gave a reply to ANYONE like how they maintained their life, home, flowers, automobile, etc). What does this have to do with shotguns? I won that debate on my previous post about o' rings, just by you pointing a finger at my personal property you know nothing about. I will say you will win the last word on this because I have no further use to reply, its just a waste of my time.
 
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