Author Topic: Semi-Auto 12 ga.?? (Read 1720 times)

Lawdog · « **on:** October 09, 2005, 11:54:55 AM »

What, in your opinion, is the softest recoiling semi-auto 12 ga. that can handle everything from 2 3/4" light field loads to 3 1/2" heavy turkey loads that is made today??? This was asked of me and I don't have an answer for the guy. Lawdog

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2005, 12:08:54 PM »

probably the 11-87. it has quite a heft to it, besides being a gas-operated gun.

-Matt

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2005, 12:18:24 PM »

Not all auto's handle 3".......3 1/2"........well,.....I don't think many handle a 3 1/2.......Good question!

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2005, 01:37:00 PM »

I try to steer guys away from the 3-1/2" shells. To me it is a bastard round, invented for waterfowl back when lead was first banned. It owes its existence to the crappy ballistics of steel shot. Now that we have much better shot alternatives, it should be left to die, but "Magnumitis" has infected the American shotgun scene almost as bad as the rifle and handgun areas. Fact is, the 3-1/2" turkey loads usually pattern worse than 2-3/4 or 3 inch shells due to the long shot column. Better to get a 10 gauge if you think you need this much shot. That said, the Remington has always felt like the softest shooter to me. But I'm double barrel guy.

varmit_master · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2005, 07:33:23 PM »

The 11 87 Rem. VM

dukkillr · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2005, 08:26:29 PM »

Winchester would get my vote. Heavier than the other guns. I've got an SBE II that has that fancy recoil reduction system. It's pretty good, although I've only shot 3 shells through it (it's the woman's gun).

killer · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2005, 09:58:28 AM »

the winchester super x2 handles all loads very easily. and is the best recoiling 12 gauge i ever shot. and iv'e shot alot.

lefty o · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2005, 07:53:02 PM »

the answer is- whichever gun fits him better.

varmit_master · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2005, 09:24:36 PM »

I have a new Win super X 2 3 1/2 12ga NWTF shotgun with sights . I havent shot it yet. But i like the looks of it. I am waiting to take it to the gunsmith's and have the force cone cut out and have a custom made turkey choke. So that is why i didnt said the Win i havent shot it yet.

Sx2 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 11, 2005, 01:19:58 AM »

The Beretta Extrema gives my Sx2 a run for the money on less percieved reciol and comfort. Too bad they stuck the safety in the wrong spot.

Jimi · « **Reply #10 on:** October 11, 2005, 06:29:36 AM »

I'd go with the Benelli SBE-II. One comment though... 3 1/2 in. semi auto's do not do particularly well with 2 3/4 in. rounds. I'll second the Ramrod on this one... stick with the 3 in., which fires 2 3/4 in. just fine... and you'll be happier. I love my Mk-II. Good recoil recovery, and for those rare occasions where it actually matters, it has the fastest cycle time in the business. The SEALS chose it over everything else, so that says something about their dependability too.

Lawdog · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2005, 10:00:00 AM »

I should have explained more about the guy doing the asking. He was arthritis in his shoulders and cant afford but one shotgun for everything from trap/Dove to Turkeys. His old favorite Browning Auto 5 12 ga. 3 just hurts him to much even with trap/field loads. I have agreed to purchase his Browning from him if we can find a softer shooting shotgun. Lawdog

mjbgalt · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2005, 11:06:52 AM »

i dunno Lawdog...how do we know YOU aren't the old codger who's falling apart and your friend is buying YOUR browning?

gotta get an age joke in there sometime folks and I saw an opening.

ok lawdog, go ahead and tell me i am not too old to be taken to the woodshed. lol
:oops:

-Matt :wink:

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2005, 12:59:43 PM »

Quote from: mjbgalt

i dunno Lawdog...how do we know YOU aren't the old codger who's falling apart and your friend is buying YOUR browning?

gotta get an age joke in there sometime folks and I saw an opening.

ok lawdog, go ahead and tell me i am not too old to be taken to the woodshed. lol
:oops:

-Matt :wink:

I admit it, my hair and beard is as gray as Graybeards. :-D A few years ago I went the Just For Men hair coloring route. Gave up on it after it did look as natural as it should. :eek:

That "old codger who's falling apart"ould be me except that I use .410 bore, 28 and 20 guages for most of my bird shooting. I'm not real big on waterfoul shooting. I only go a few times a year. I use a pellet rifles for turkey hunting. About the only time I shoot any of my 12 guages very much is during "turkey" trap shoots at our club. Lawdog

mjbgalt · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2005, 01:13:46 PM »

no disrespect intended, good sir. just thought you seemed like the type that would enjoy a good laugh and wouldn't hesitate to poke right back

-Matt

varmit_master · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2005, 11:51:36 PM »

Quote from: Jimi

I'd go with the Benelli SBE-II. Good recoil recovery, and for those rare occasions where it actually matters, it has the fastest cycle time in the business.

New World Record SET BY Patrick Flanigan 7-7-05

11 hand thrown clay targets shot indvidually And he goes on to say the
Win S X 2 is the fastest cycling shotgun out!

Look it up your self. at www.patrickflanigan.com

Sx2 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:12:22 AM »

my Sx2 is certainly faster cycling than I can shoot it :blaster:

From guys at the refuge forums that duck hunt primarily, they swear by the beretta for low recoil.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2005, 07:01:39 AM »

For this discussion cycling rate isn't really an issue.

The recoil operated Benelli will simply beat the snot out of the old guy---and shouldn't be considered. Had a 3in Montrofeltro(sp??) that was one of the worse recoiling guns I've had the displeasure of owning---it was reliable but the recoil was horrible---worse than any pump or O/U I've ever had.

That pretty much leaves the gas operated guns---the only gas-op 3.5in guns I'm aware of are:

Remington 11-87
Beretta Extrema II
Winchester SX2
Browning Gold
Baikal ??-model

No direct experience with 3.5in autoloaders---my 3.5in guns are pumps---a Nova and a 870.

Fit will be critical---no matter the gun---any 3.5in shell will really come back on ya.

Not sure what size he is----but for me---the 2 best fitting guns are the Extrema II and the SX2----esp the Extrema II------that goofy lookin thing just fits me to a T---and I'd be lookin hard at one if I had an extra $1000 laying around.

prairiedog555 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2006, 08:49:22 AM »

Take a look at the new Franchi gas guns. They make a great product at reasonable price, I think better than bennelli, (who now owns them) or Berretta.

454Puma · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2007, 04:54:11 PM »

Lawdog
If your friend can't handle the A5 recoil I don't see him shooting anything buit maybe a 20/28 ga with light loads! My A5 12 Mag is the best gun I've ever shoot as far as recoil goes. Heck my wifes 20 ga O/U hits harder! So if he's that bad he needs to get a serious recoil pad installed!

Have him try a packmeyer recoil system!! I've heard they reduce recoil by 50%!!

victorcharlie · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2007, 01:11:25 AM »

Funny you should respond to a post by the late Lawdog..........

It was about a year ago he passed away.......I can't really remember the date, but I believe it was late Dec. or early Jan...

I always enjoyed his posts.......

Val · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2007, 11:19:07 AM »

My Benelli SBEll handles everything well except for light loads under 3 drams. I used 3 1/2" loads successfully as well as 3' and 2 3/4" game loads. It kicks less than my Browning Citori.

454Puma · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2007, 06:37:13 PM »

His post was dated 9 Oct 05! I had no Idea he had passed!