Which Semiauto Shotgun?
- Thread starter S.F. 1357
- Start date
Chuck Graber
New member
SF,
It depends on what you want to use the gun for. The Beretta and Benelli will probably work better for hunting under adverse conditions. These two are both short recoil action guns, whereas the Remmington is a gas operated gun.
The recoil action does not collect soot nearly as much as a gas operated gun and so can go longer with out cleaning. They are also not as susceptable to malfunctioning in freezing rain, sleet or snow. The Benelli and to a lesser extent the Beretta, are favorites of waterfowlers for this reason.
The other side of the coin is recoil. The Remmington will be much easier on your face and shoulder. This is important if you intend to shoot clay targets in any significant amount. After 200 clays in a few hours the Remmington will leave you much less hammered than the other two guns.
What do you intend to use the gun for?
Chuck Graber
It depends on what you want to use the gun for. The Beretta and Benelli will probably work better for hunting under adverse conditions. These two are both short recoil action guns, whereas the Remmington is a gas operated gun.
The recoil action does not collect soot nearly as much as a gas operated gun and so can go longer with out cleaning. They are also not as susceptable to malfunctioning in freezing rain, sleet or snow. The Benelli and to a lesser extent the Beretta, are favorites of waterfowlers for this reason.
The other side of the coin is recoil. The Remmington will be much easier on your face and shoulder. This is important if you intend to shoot clay targets in any significant amount. After 200 clays in a few hours the Remmington will leave you much less hammered than the other two guns.
What do you intend to use the gun for?
Chuck Graber
Chuck Graber
New member
There is a field that I don't know much about. The two programs that I have seen on TV on three gun both had shooters using Benellis with magazine extensions.
Sorry! I am a clay target shooter and hunter, and don't know much about your chosen fields.
Chuck Graber
Sorry! I am a clay target shooter and hunter, and don't know much about your chosen fields.
Chuck Graber
glockster96
New member
Get the Benelli.
I have used both a Benelli M1S90 and a Remington 1100 in 3 gun matches. The Remington was a little softer on recoil, but it had horrible reliability problems (which was repeated by several other 1100s and an 11-87 by other shooters).
I have fired at least 1000 rounds through my Benelli, including at least 100 slugs. It has yet to hiccup.
If you shop around, you can get good deals on used Benellis. I picked mine up LNIB with ghost ring night sights, extended tube and a full set of chokes for $600.
I have used both a Benelli M1S90 and a Remington 1100 in 3 gun matches. The Remington was a little softer on recoil, but it had horrible reliability problems (which was repeated by several other 1100s and an 11-87 by other shooters).
I have fired at least 1000 rounds through my Benelli, including at least 100 slugs. It has yet to hiccup.
If you shop around, you can get good deals on used Benellis. I picked mine up LNIB with ghost ring night sights, extended tube and a full set of chokes for $600.
Mannlicher
New member
I am hopelessly in love with Browning A-5's. I have several, in 16, 20, and 12. My favorite is a Belgium made 1984 model Magnum. What a wonderful gun, and the finish, and wood are perfection. I use a Hastings WadLock II barrel on it with the Hastings tubes. The origional barrel was not suitable for steel shot.
Birdhunter
New member
Benelli!
Remington 11-87 Built heavy duty.......Never had any trouble with mine. Shot everything from light 2 3/4 to 3 Inch loads and never had the first hiccup from it. It is a heavy gun as far as carrying it back through the mountains. Every person has their preference just like Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Good luck on your decision.........
Bruce Buck,over on Shotgun Report, says the Berettas will outlast everything else. Maybe, but the lifespan of the 1100 is still on the order of 35K rounds, more if certain small parts are replaced regularly.
In your shoes, I'd try out all three and go with what feels best.
A side note....
Beretta tends to redo their line every couple of years, with lots of parts not interchangeable. The 1100-87 series doesn't do that, and parts should be available well into the next 5 decades or so.
In your shoes, I'd try out all three and go with what feels best.
A side note....
Beretta tends to redo their line every couple of years, with lots of parts not interchangeable. The 1100-87 series doesn't do that, and parts should be available well into the next 5 decades or so.
Badger Arms
New member
BENELLI.... Hands down. The Remington has the recoil advantage only because of its heavier weight. The Benelli with a magazine extension is 7 pounds even.
The Remington is 8.25 punds. Trying to compare apples to Oranges, that makes the Remington about 1.25 pounds heavier.
Why not just add a mercury recoil reducing device to the stock of the Benelli? These add less than a pound of weight but the moving mercury really soaks up recoil. You'd end up with a lighter, more reliable gun that kicked less. Plus, because the weight is in the rear of the gun, follow-up shots are faster. Brownells Products
The Remington is 8.25 punds. Trying to compare apples to Oranges, that makes the Remington about 1.25 pounds heavier.
Why not just add a mercury recoil reducing device to the stock of the Benelli? These add less than a pound of weight but the moving mercury really soaks up recoil. You'd end up with a lighter, more reliable gun that kicked less. Plus, because the weight is in the rear of the gun, follow-up shots are faster. Brownells Products
striderteen
New member
I'd hold out for the Benelli M4 Super 90, once the Marines finish hogging them.
glockster96
New member
Oh baby! You, me and everybody else!
Badger, some of us find the extra weight forward feel of the average extended mag aids control in rapid fire. As in all things, moderation is the key.
As I grow older, I tend more towards thinking a two shot extension is well nigh perfect, balancing between feel and capacity.
And, there's no tablet of stone that says a recoil reducer shalt only be allowed in Benellis.
One of these days I'm gonna try using one of my homemade reducers in a "Serious" shotguns' butt cavity for a few COFS and time/ score with and without. That should give an empirical answer to how effective the reducers are.
I'll probably do it with my Deer 870, since the HD has that Side Saddle. That may just be too much weight.
As I grow older, I tend more towards thinking a two shot extension is well nigh perfect, balancing between feel and capacity.
And, there's no tablet of stone that says a recoil reducer shalt only be allowed in Benellis.
One of these days I'm gonna try using one of my homemade reducers in a "Serious" shotguns' butt cavity for a few COFS and time/ score with and without. That should give an empirical answer to how effective the reducers are.
I'll probably do it with my Deer 870, since the HD has that Side Saddle. That may just be too much weight.
Badger Arms
New member
MY HD gun is an 870 Express Turkey with the 21" Barrel and vent rib. I have a skeet choke in it and have also installed the sidesaddle and 3-shot extension. Quite a heavy gun but really soaks up the recoil. I'd put a recoil reducer in it if I thought I could lift it afterwards. 
Badg, if our great-great grands could kill off millions of buffalo with 11 lb Rolling Blocks and Sharps's, we should be able to muscle a 9 lb "Serious" shotgun well enough to be goodndeadly. The key is practice.
FYI, as a young man I was able to handle an M-14 with E-2 stock like a carbine when the adrenaline kicked in. That puppy ran over 10 lbs empty.
With "Serious" shotguns, weight's not an enemy.
FYI, as a young man I was able to handle an M-14 with E-2 stock like a carbine when the adrenaline kicked in. That puppy ran over 10 lbs empty.
With "Serious" shotguns, weight's not an enemy.
Badger Arms
New member
Hell, when I was 20 I could do the same thing. My father jumped with the BAR and a battle load during the Korean war and never looked back, till he had double knee-joint replacement surgery a year ago!
I agree, weight is not an issue to most. There is, however, an optimum weight range. If the mechanism of the gun is lighter than that which is optimum for recoil control and balance, why not use the extra weight needed to install one of these wizardry devices? On a shotgun, I prefer the 8-9 pound range.
I agree, weight is not an issue to most. There is, however, an optimum weight range. If the mechanism of the gun is lighter than that which is optimum for recoil control and balance, why not use the extra weight needed to install one of these wizardry devices? On a shotgun, I prefer the 8-9 pound range.
Always go Benelli
If you have the means, then buy the Benelli, they are hands
down the most reliable, fastest operating shotguns on the market. They have more recoil than a Remington, but that's because they are lighter, and due not operate with gas like the Remington, this also gives you an advantage in cleaning because gas guns get much dirtier faster.
If you have the means, then buy the Benelli, they are hands
down the most reliable, fastest operating shotguns on the market. They have more recoil than a Remington, but that's because they are lighter, and due not operate with gas like the Remington, this also gives you an advantage in cleaning because gas guns get much dirtier faster.
Well, let's see...Beretta has an ALUMINUM receiver...Benelli is RECOIL-OPERATED...Remington is ALL-STEEL, GAS-OPERATED (soaks up recoil for us "wimps") AND the Remington is the most reasonably priced AND has best "parts" availability...well, shoot...I think I'll STAY with the Remington!!! After all, my old "Skeet B" has around 50,000 rounds thru it...still "ticking", with a few small, cheap, easy-to-find parts replaced by the user--ME!!!....mikey357