klcmschlesinger
New member
I want a nice semi-auto shotgun for trap and dove. It won't be abused, but it will be used. Take a pick and put in your own ideas as well.
Which Semi-Auto for trap and dove
- Thread starter klcmschlesinger
- Start date
I didn't vote ....because to me you're talking about characteristics, I think, where I'd want 2 different guns.
For Trap - I'd want a heavier and longer barrel / and probably not a semi-auto. My primary Trap guns are 32" barrels on O/U's and around 10 lbs.
For hunting - I like a more nimble gun / around 8 1/2 lbs ...maybe even lighter for Doves ...down to 7 1/2 lbs ... and not longer than 30" barrels in an O/U. Doves to me are pretty challenging ...even over good dogs ...so I want a real nimble gun.
I tend to think of a semi-auto as a do everything pretty well gun ( Skeet, Sporting and hunting ) - but not so good at Trap.
My favorite semi-auto is a Benelli Super Sport ( carbon fibre stock, comfort tech supression system, 30" barrel in a 12 ga / and a 28" barrel in a 20ga ).... I like the Benelli with the Comfort Tech in it / but I wouldn't like it in a wood stock gun ...because the recoil would be significantly higher. I'm not a big Beretta fan / so of your choices I would probably look the Winchester SX3 over pretty carefully if I wanted a gas gun.
If I wanted a semi-auto to do everything / I would go with the longest barrel I could find / hopefully 30" ...and something light to carry all day. Benelli Super Sport is a 7.2 lb gun so it fits that criteria pretty well ....and if I want to shoot mine at Trap ( I add at least 1 lb of weight to it ) keep the balance in between my hands ...but give me a little more weight to smooth out my swing. A real light gun / tends to be real "whippy" in my hands -- but maybe its just what I'm used to shooting / so I whine too much when I can't take a different gun for every past time ...
For Trap - I'd want a heavier and longer barrel / and probably not a semi-auto. My primary Trap guns are 32" barrels on O/U's and around 10 lbs.
For hunting - I like a more nimble gun / around 8 1/2 lbs ...maybe even lighter for Doves ...down to 7 1/2 lbs ... and not longer than 30" barrels in an O/U. Doves to me are pretty challenging ...even over good dogs ...so I want a real nimble gun.
I tend to think of a semi-auto as a do everything pretty well gun ( Skeet, Sporting and hunting ) - but not so good at Trap.
My favorite semi-auto is a Benelli Super Sport ( carbon fibre stock, comfort tech supression system, 30" barrel in a 12 ga / and a 28" barrel in a 20ga ).... I like the Benelli with the Comfort Tech in it / but I wouldn't like it in a wood stock gun ...because the recoil would be significantly higher. I'm not a big Beretta fan / so of your choices I would probably look the Winchester SX3 over pretty carefully if I wanted a gas gun.
If I wanted a semi-auto to do everything / I would go with the longest barrel I could find / hopefully 30" ...and something light to carry all day. Benelli Super Sport is a 7.2 lb gun so it fits that criteria pretty well ....and if I want to shoot mine at Trap ( I add at least 1 lb of weight to it ) keep the balance in between my hands ...but give me a little more weight to smooth out my swing. A real light gun / tends to be real "whippy" in my hands -- but maybe its just what I'm used to shooting / so I whine too much when I can't take a different gun for every past time ...
klcmschlesinger
New member
I just want a new, nice semi-auto. I use my 870 now for everything and it works fine. I dove, duck, goose, hunt, shoot trap for fun with buddies. I have a Russian 3 1/2 gun for duck and goose. My 870 does everything else. I just want a nice semi-auto and want some opinion on peoples experience.
oneounceload
Moderator
Where I live, dove "hunting", more like dove shooting, can easily be done with a heavy gun as you tend to be at a station and move now and again- much like trap or skeet. Not knowing your budget, guns can range from a few hundred to a few thousand. The Beretta UGB Xcel25 at the high end is an awesome trap gun that could double as a dove gun since two shots will be acceptable.
If less money is paramount, the Beretta 39X series, new or used, will work well. The advantage they have is specific stocks, high resale value, soft shooting, and lots of after-market accessories. Benelli, Remington also have them, though, IMO, not to the same extant.
If less money is paramount, the Beretta 39X series, new or used, will work well. The advantage they have is specific stocks, high resale value, soft shooting, and lots of after-market accessories. Benelli, Remington also have them, though, IMO, not to the same extant.
oneounceload
Moderator
Jim, you must be a great dove shooter!...Most folks I know shoot about 5-10 rounds for every dove brought to hand- that can be a flat or so if you limit out - that 8-10 pound gun would be real handy and save that bionic shoulder of yours.......
There's no losers in that list. All of them will serve you well.
Most trap guns do not good dove guns make. Trap needs smooth, dove need speed.Trap guns are a bit ponderous for something that can switch directions, altitude and speed in an eyeblink.
Be that as it may, I've done well at dove with my 32" barreled Beretta O/U, an 8 lb clay cruncher that does well also on trap. Of course, a few thousand rounds at sundry clay targets first helped.
There's a point there. Guns we call good for everything are as much myth as meat. Still much can be done with a well known and frequently used shotgun even if Net Senseis regard it as less than ideal.
Were I thee, I'd get a good, name brand semi that fit BA/UU/R until it felt like a body part, and go ruin lots of doves' days next fall. Any on your poll will do, get the one that feels best....
Most trap guns do not good dove guns make. Trap needs smooth, dove need speed.Trap guns are a bit ponderous for something that can switch directions, altitude and speed in an eyeblink.
Be that as it may, I've done well at dove with my 32" barreled Beretta O/U, an 8 lb clay cruncher that does well also on trap. Of course, a few thousand rounds at sundry clay targets first helped.
There's a point there. Guns we call good for everything are as much myth as meat. Still much can be done with a well known and frequently used shotgun even if Net Senseis regard it as less than ideal.
Were I thee, I'd get a good, name brand semi that fit BA/UU/R until it felt like a body part, and go ruin lots of doves' days next fall. Any on your poll will do, get the one that feels best....
Oh come on now ....we were both good when we were younger and we could actually see well ....and had those "cat like reflexes" ...
No, OneOunce I was never that good on Quail - "at least not like you southern boys" ... and the couple of times I went Dove hunting in Texas...way back in the late 80's ...frankly I don't remember too much about those hunts ( but I was still partying hearty in those days too )...and it was a "business trip" ...we were in central Texas, west of Denton somewhere .... In the late 80's I was still shooting a Browning Lightning O/U 12 ga ...as my primary gun.
But shooting Skeet did seem to help my averages in the field a little ...
I seem to remember a lot more laughing than birds falling ...but we always did ok / and had some laughs and managed to shoot a few birds. I don't remember if there was a limit on Doves or not frankly ...
No, OneOunce I was never that good on Quail - "at least not like you southern boys" ... and the couple of times I went Dove hunting in Texas...way back in the late 80's ...frankly I don't remember too much about those hunts ( but I was still partying hearty in those days too )...and it was a "business trip" ...we were in central Texas, west of Denton somewhere .... In the late 80's I was still shooting a Browning Lightning O/U 12 ga ...as my primary gun.
But shooting Skeet did seem to help my averages in the field a little ...
I seem to remember a lot more laughing than birds falling ...but we always did ok / and had some laughs and managed to shoot a few birds. I don't remember if there was a limit on Doves or not frankly ...
oneounceload
Moderator
I'm not so sure Dave, folks who shoot bunker using Perazzis need to move very quickly delivering two shots in what seems like a nano second. While the target doesn't "juke" like a dove, they are screaming. The same for Helice which subs for box pigeons and those targets DO "juke".
I think they can be good choices, but like you always mention - it takes a lot of practice
I'm with BigJimP on this one -- trap and dove are totally different, and I'd use different guns. I haven't shot dove in many years -- now there are houses were I last shot. I used a Skeet O/U and quickly limited out, it was the first day and all the shots were easier than Skeet's 7-high -- not much of a challenge. I'll pretend you asked which gun for Skeet and dove, and vote for the Beretta.
klcmschlesinger
New member
Thanks.
Thanks for all the info so far. Just to keep it clear and simple. I shoot dove and trap with my 870. No problem. Have fun and even win sometimes. I just want a nice auto to take the job over. I don't want an OU, I want a semi and will only buy one nice $1000 semi for this. Something I can shoot well but also feel good knowing I bought a quality semi that should last for quite some time.
Thanks for all the info so far. Just to keep it clear and simple. I shoot dove and trap with my 870. No problem. Have fun and even win sometimes. I just want a nice auto to take the job over. I don't want an OU, I want a semi and will only buy one nice $1000 semi for this. Something I can shoot well but also feel good knowing I bought a quality semi that should last for quite some time.
Agreed on bunker,1 oz, but we're talking American style trap guns, which do swing like wrecking balls.
PGC has a Bunker setup, where I can be found on occasion. No Perazzi, though they're common with the guys that shoot with me. And those targets do scream. I'd love to be able to take those straightaway 80 MPH ones as incomers. THAT would be good practice for dove.
PGC has a Bunker setup, where I can be found on occasion. No Perazzi, though they're common with the guys that shoot with me. And those targets do scream. I'd love to be able to take those straightaway 80 MPH ones as incomers. THAT would be good practice for dove.
There are a lot of good semi-autos out there / your first choice is to go with Inertia (Benelli ) or a Gas Operated gun (Beretta, etc ) ...
Then you can pick a model -- but It is All About Fit ... meaning the gun hits where you look. None of us can pick a gun that fits for you ... Very few guns fit me, right off the shelf ... but over time, I've figured out the exact stock dimensions I need on length of pull, drop at comb, and drop at heel.
You can only do your best at the store - shoulder it - see if you get a good figure 8 pattern on the beads / make sure you don't see too much rib - etc... and then using the shims, etc that come with most guns, make adjustments.
Adjustability is the key / which is one reason I like the Benelli Super Sport - but that model is out of your price range ( around here its selling for about $1,800 ) ...but Beretta, Browning, Remington, Winchester, etc all have models from $ 850 - $1,000 and there are a lot of good used guns out there too.
Then you can pick a model -- but It is All About Fit ... meaning the gun hits where you look. None of us can pick a gun that fits for you ... Very few guns fit me, right off the shelf ... but over time, I've figured out the exact stock dimensions I need on length of pull, drop at comb, and drop at heel.
You can only do your best at the store - shoulder it - see if you get a good figure 8 pattern on the beads / make sure you don't see too much rib - etc... and then using the shims, etc that come with most guns, make adjustments.
Adjustability is the key / which is one reason I like the Benelli Super Sport - but that model is out of your price range ( around here its selling for about $1,800 ) ...but Beretta, Browning, Remington, Winchester, etc all have models from $ 850 - $1,000 and there are a lot of good used guns out there too.
oneounceload
Moderator
KLC and REL - for what you're describing, the Beretta or Benelli semis are good guns - you might be talking used with a budget from 800-1000 for one of these though. The Remingtons might be more in the ballpark for new, although I am seeing new 1100's running in the 1200-1400 range now.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Must the gun be new? How about a Winchester SX1 with a MOD choke? I'd get a field model, but they did make trap guns too. You'd save some money and get to join the club. 
This one is a little high, but it has the rarer 26" IC choked barrel. Only $795.
www.gunsamerica.com/929488225/Guns/...ders/Hunting/Winchester_Super_X_Model_One.htm
Edited to add: I bought my 28" MOD barrel field gun for $449 slightly used, but that was 6 or 7 years ago iirc.
This one is a little high, but it has the rarer 26" IC choked barrel. Only $795.
www.gunsamerica.com/929488225/Guns/...ders/Hunting/Winchester_Super_X_Model_One.htm
Edited to add: I bought my 28" MOD barrel field gun for $449 slightly used, but that was 6 or 7 years ago iirc.
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www.briley.com/2009/screwchokepricing.html
$179 includes three choke tubes for lead
$209 if you want to shoot steel; includes 3 choke tubes.
Other companies might charge less.
Wright's produces parts for the SX1 and works on them too.
www.wrightsgunsmiths.com/wrightsgunsmiths_002.htm
Nuline is another.
www.nulineguns.com/gunsmithing.php
But why mess up a really great fixed choke in a really great autoloader. But still, an SX-1 for, say, $650 and $250 in barrel work plus shipping is still less than $1000 for a classy, classic, steel and walnut gun. A little heavy for humping it up and down mountains, but just right for less tiring use like clays or doves.
$179 includes three choke tubes for lead
$209 if you want to shoot steel; includes 3 choke tubes.
Other companies might charge less.
Wright's produces parts for the SX1 and works on them too.
www.wrightsgunsmiths.com/wrightsgunsmiths_002.htm
Nuline is another.
www.nulineguns.com/gunsmithing.php
But why mess up a really great fixed choke in a really great autoloader. But still, an SX-1 for, say, $650 and $250 in barrel work plus shipping is still less than $1000 for a classy, classic, steel and walnut gun. A little heavy for humping it up and down mountains, but just right for less tiring use like clays or doves.