Toughest Auto shotgun
 

Heading to shoot doves in Argentina next year. I need a new
20 guage auto shotgun to take as a main gun. Will use my Weatherby
12 O/U as a back up. What do you all think is the best autoloader
that will stay together and shoot light loads reliably? Needs to shoot
about 8,000 rounds in four days.

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RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

From what I' ve been told and read, the Berettas and Bennelis seem to have the best reputations. The Remingtons are good, but seem to have a higher occurance of breakdowns on the trap and skeet ranges.

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

Well, the location and use let' s out one of those Russian Kalishnakov actioned shotguns. Considering how tough the AK design is they may take alot of shooting though.:D

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

Buy a Beretta 391. No question about it in my mind.

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

id go the route of the 11-87, my fav gun!:D

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

i don' t use shotguns that much any more and my 870 serves me well when i need to use a shotgun but if had to do a lot of shooting in one or several days like you describe i would definately get a beretta 391, i wouldn' t hesitate a second. i worked part time at a sporting clays range in the summer and fall of 2001, and the 391' s ruled the roost out there whether it was with the regulars or with folks from around the state who came to shoot in the tournaments. most of the people out there took the sport seriously and had a lot of money wrapped up in it besides their shotguns, which means that they weren' t going to use anything cheap or unreliable. my observations were that the 391' s have a lot less trouble than any other shotgun out there. i also cleaned the rental guns (391' s) and those things would take a pounding before they started having any troubles with malfunctioning due to being dirty. i talked to a lot of the regulars and they go on trips similar to the one that you are going on and the majority of them were taking 391' s as their primary shotgun and probably another 391 as a backup. there' s quite a few really good semi' s out there, pick the one that fits you and your budget best. for me it would be the 391.

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RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

benelli fan here, i like berettas but my firstshotgun was a benelli and thats what i go with.

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

8,000 rounds in 4 days! Holy Molely, thats like being in a fire fight!....Well not really since no one is shooting back.

As far as Autos are concerning I have owned Remington, Browning, Ithaca, Benelli, and Beretta. All have their good points. If I could only choose one it would be the Beretta 391. Certainly shooting that many shells, your going to want a recoil friendly gas operated gun, even if it is only a 20 gauge.

Cycling that many rounds in that time frame the quality of ammunition should also be a consideration.

Good luck.

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

8000 rounds in 4 days that comes out to 83 shots an hour providing you don' t sleep. If you sleep and shoot 16 hours a day thats 125 shots an hour.Shooting 10 hours a day leaves you at 200 rounds an hour. You better make that something with a water cooled barrel like the first machine guns. Also a recoil pad. Have Fun

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

Rem. 11-87 or even an 1100 would do nicely

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

I own two benellis, one sbe and one m1 super 90 20 ga. I like the benelli' s better than my winchester sx2.

my vote is benelli. the 20ga. is real light, 5.5lbs, you may want a upgraded recoil pad for 8,000 rounds.

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

Another for Benelli

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RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

I saw a show on tv last summer where they were dove hunting in argentina. The guide service had about 30 shotguns....all Benneli' s. They said they' ve tried them all, and those were the only ones that would stand up to that type of abuse (thousands of shots per day). They actually had one that had 400,000 shots on it, [:o] and was still being used on a daily basis...wow! Of course, it was tv...so take it for what it' s worth. I' ve also read some things that state similar findings about the Benneli' s. For the average hunter using a shotgun....probably any will do well. However, if you are going to put that kind of abuse on one...do your homework and get something that will stand up to the punishment. Have fun...sounds like a great trip! (Make sure you bring a recoil pad ...those first few thousand are liable to hurt!;) :D)

RE: Toughest Auto shotgun
 

I would say either the Benneli or the Berreta would be exactly what you are looking for. As for the M-1100 fans, sorry, but I have had more 1100' s come thru the shop for repairs in the past 12 years, than all the other shotguns I have worked on combined. I have yet to have a Berretta or Benneli come in for any other reason than for a good cleaning.