Attn: Shotgunners
 

I'veown severalguns, but I currently own no shotguns. I'm think that may be the next addition to the collection. I don't hunt ducks, but pheasants, quail, dove, predators, and hogs are all possibilities. I want a semi-auto, preferably with a synthetic stock.

I've been looking at Franchi I-12's, Remington 11-87's, and maybeBrowning Gold's. Any thoughts on these?

Money is an object.:D

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

funny you mention that. I just aquired a brand new 11-87 sportsmen completely dipped in MO camo. I got it used but never fired for $450.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

never been around the franchi but have heard mostly good things. The remington and browning should never give you any problems. Add the beretta al390/3901/391 (all *pretty much* the same gun) and just choose whichever feels right, looks right, and costs right. You have alot of "workhorse" options in the semi shotgun market.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

I know that there will be at least 1 other person out there that disagrees(and dosent own one) but I won a Stoeger a few years back, and I absolutly love it! I also own a couple 11-87's and they are great guns too, but I tell ya what, for the money I'd own a Stoeger before ANY other semi-auto on the market!

Great shooting gun, VERY easy to clean, VERY simple mechanics, super reliable, easy swinging gun, just the perfect balance of features and form!

The only down fall......it took 100 - 125 magnum 3"shells to get the spring loose enoung to reliablyhandle the low brass shells I use for Dove, Pheasant, Grouse, Ect......So be prepared for a long day at the trap shooting range to get the gun properly broken in.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

NT,
I have a Browning Gold 3.5 wood and blued, and hunted ducks, geese, and pheasants, but when I hunted the pheasants we walked a lot and man it was a load to carry through the fields. So let me ask a couple questions; Are you looking fora 20ga, camo, or wood??????? I actually retired the the Browning and purchased a nova....but lets stick to the topic...my vote would go to the SBE if you wanted a nice semi auto. A little more pricey, second choice is a 11-87.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Take a look at the Winchester Super X3. I have heard good things about the Super X2, and the X3 has got to be even better because it is just an improved X2. And they affordable guns (for a semi-auto anways). If I were you, though, I'd look for a used Benelli M2. It's basically the same gun as the SBE II, but it's only chambered for the 3" mag.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Of the 3 that you mentioned, I have limited experience. I have a constable friend that has a Franchi and loves it, and another friend that shoots an 11 87 and loves it. I am more into Berettas and Benellis, but I do have a 1970 model A5 that I would not sell for a million dollars. I am assuming that you are trying to stay in a certain price range. If I were you, I would read some reviews and find a gun that fits me for the money that I wanted to spend. Good luck with your choice.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

I don't want to disagree with anyone, but before you take advice on a shotgun from someone, make sure that whatthey are recommending, is in their gun safe. I can tell you the Winchester Super X2 is one of the hardest shotguns in the world to keep clean and will jam if it even sees a piece of dirt. The best auto is a Beneli, period. They just can't be beat. They are very simple to clean, and they will not jam unless they are filthy. However, if you are on a budget, IMHO it would be better to buy a quality pump than a cheap automatic. The Beneli Nova or the Remington 870 would top my list.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Those 2 shotguns are old designs but very well made. I am about to by a Winchester Super XII shotgun. Kinda pricey but a great design.
Also Remington has just come out with a new semi auto design that is supposed to really cut down on recoil. I can't remember what it's model is but it should be on the website by now. But it is well over a grand.
mco

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

You couldn't pay me enough money to carry a Super X2 or a Browning Gold. Yep, I've had 'em both within the last 2 years, and both were very very finicky in cold weather, and if they got any sort of debris in them, they would not function properly. The only semi auto that has met and excreeded my expectations is the Benelli M1 Super 90 and the M2 Benelli. I have one of each in my cabinet, and will have more by fall. If you are on a budget, get a Stoeger.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

I just bought an 1187 camo supermag. I got a turkey with it 2 days later. Nice gun, it shoots all size shells. The 3 1/2" turkey loads pack a good punch, not only to the target, but to the shooter as well.;)

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

I have a Franchi 712 which I like a lot and is pretty light for a 12 gauge.. I would go with the i-12 or the gold whichever fits you best. I know that one of the reasons Beretta purchased Franchi was to copy their gas system. My 712 is a snap to clean and is a very gentle recoiling shotgun..it has the rotary bolt system as well

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Franchi=OK Remmington 11-87=good BROWNING= enough said

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

If money is an object check out the CZ model 712, My cousin just purchased one last week, we shot it about a dozen or so times it worked without a hitch.
I know thats not enouph really to go on but the price was $329.
It balances well, it has a matte finish, its lacking in the recoil pad department. It comes with three choke tubes and wrench.
Good luck!!!

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RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Tex, go with the Rem. 11-87.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

I have been thinking about this topic today while sitting in church (the sermon was a little slow). Since money is an object, have you considered a "used" gun? You might be able to find a "higher quality" gun for less money. What is the maximum amount that you are wanting to spend?

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your worship. LOL:D

I have been keeping my eye out for used guns. Dove season is still a ways off, so I have plenty of time. One of the local gunshops always has a large selection of used shotguns. Usually some Brownings, Winchesters, Remingtons, Franchis, etc., at sometimes some decent discounts.

New, I can getthe Franchi for around $700, and that's about the upper end of my price range.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Thats correct. It's been so long since I have hunted with mine cuz of my Nova, but that action would never close all the way in the Iowa cold. I tried everything, drylube, oil, hoppes #9, and always kept it clean but it never seemed to work right on really cold days. Like I said earlier....my vote goes to the Bennelli SBE or 1187. Spend the extra and get the SBE, and like it was stated earlier, a good pump is far better than a cheap auto loader.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Personally, I would skip over the SBEor the SBE 2 unless you really feel like you need to shoot 3.5" shells. In my opinion thats just more action that has to cycle, which leads to more failures. You can get a Benelli M1 Super 90 for real reasonable.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

A 3" chambering will be all I need, won't it? Or do I need a 3.5" for predators (never hunted them with a shotgun before)?

Part of my thinking is in heavy brush where the shots are fairly close, if I call in two coyotes, I might take both of them if I could get off the second shot fairly quickly. That's one of the reasons I want a semi-auto. I don't want to have to do anything but aim to get off my second shot.

As far as cold, about 40-50 degrees is about as cold as most days in the winter here get. I had an old Winchester semi-auto, and it was finicky about dirt, which is why I don't have it any more. Dove hunting in fields where the wind blows, sand gets in everything. My dad has a Remington 1100, and it's never even hiccuped.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Ya, I'd stay away from 3.5". All a 3.5" shell does for you is give you more recoil, a bigger bill for buying ammo, and a lil longer shot string. The only reason there are 3.5" shotguns is because the firearms industry needed a new marketing scheme before they had thought of the short mags.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

That's what I figured. But since I'm not much of an expert on shotshells, I thought I'd ask to make sure.:)

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

NT
If you shop around the online gun auction, you can probably find a Benelli Super 90 for under $700. I had been looking for one for my oldest son but have just bought a couple more show heifers that set me back more than I had planned, so the shotgun will have to wait a while. I will look and let you know, but I had seen one for about $650.

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Its expensive but the only shotgun I use now. I own a few shotguns... SP10, Rem 1100, Browning BBS and Citori, Ithaca 37. The only shotgun I use now is my superblack eagle (I also have a superblack eagle slug gun as well). I use it for training dogs shooting quail as well as goose and turkey. It shoots 1 oz loads as well as the heaviest. It light enough to carry all day and I rarely clean it. I haven't cleaned my other shotguns because I don't use them anymore!

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

Shotgun rules as per my buddy, I showed him this thread...

1) More is better, the more shot you toss out there the better it is. Meaning, having more lead in the air may just turn a marginally bad shot that might cripple the game, into a killing shot. It doesn't matter much on a good shot but who here makes good shots all the time.

2) Gas operated guns stink-(except for the 391s for the most part). Meaning, When they are kept clean most all of the popular models work well, when they get dirty recoil operated guns function better, when they get filthy, recoil operated guns are the only ones to have.

3) You get what you pay for in a new semi-auto. Not much else can be said except if you can't swing a new one, look for a good used one. The advise on the used Benelli Super 90 is very good. You also might look into a nice Jap A-5.

Now, I may have offended the 1100/11-87/Gold crowd and that is not my intent. My buddy and I have been shooting together for 30 years and we shoot alot, we both agree that we don't mind cleaning our guns but we don't like to have to clean them to keep them working. The 1100 is a classic and a fine gun, but they are prone to failures when dirty. You just don't see gas guns on competitive ranges very much, except for the Beretta.

Doug

RE: Attn: Shotgunners
 

For all you inertia fans out there, I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Franchi I-12, but it uses the Benelli-type inertia system. Here is the link:

http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/