Best semi auto shotgun under $ 600???

[m-g Willy]

Been thinking about getting my first SEMI AUTO shotgun.
I've shot and owned all types of handguns and rifles from single shot muzzle loaders to full auto B A R s ,,, but my only shotgun use has been with  single shots, pumps and doubles.
So I'm asking for some input from some of you that knows about these things.
Main interest is for self defence,, so it has to be reliable.
And used is fine too.

[FPH]

For $600.00 I'd stay with a good pump.

[spruce]

My choice would be a Benelli or a Remington 11-87.  At that price point the Benelli would have to be used.  Not sure what the 11-87 is going for now, but $600 may get you close to a new one??
 
The Benelli built it's reputation on reliability and is a favorite with high volume shooters and those who hunt waterfowl in adverse conditions. 
 
The 11-87 is a good, reliable shotgun and it's a little softer shooting than the Benelli.  The Rem is gas operated, the Benelli is recoil operated.  I'd be happy with either one - just depends on which one feels, and looks, the best to you.

[FPH]

You can rule out a Benelli at your stated price (great shotgun).  An 11-87 used might work.  Although I have read about problems with the 11-87 and the 3 " chamber.....something to think about with the use of the shotgun with your stated use of HD.....a new 870 Tactical can be had at your price.

[m-g Willy]

Thanks for the replies.
I think I'll be on the lookout for a benelli.
BTW-What is opinions on the Mossberg semi autos?

[corbanzo]

I have a mossberg 935 supermag auto.


It is a great shotgun, but will not cycle light loads, ever.  Set up for 3.5" shells.   Shoots 3" and 2.75" slugs fine.


If their normal 2.75" semis are as good as this 935 though, they will be great.  As with any other gas operated semi... clean and dry and not much lube.


If you aren't afraid of recoil, the stoeger semi's are GREAT.  I have a model 2000 I paid $350 for, and it is the most reliable shotgun I have ever used and ever seen.  It has the recoil operated system like benelli uses in some of their guns, very very reliable.  I used it in pure sleet shooting skeet.  My 935 quit, my buddies browning gold medal quit, but the stoeger kept shooting.  But it is a kicker!  That recoil is not fun shooting all day.


The stoeger semis are probably the best for the money you can get on the market.  They are no frills, kick hard, and are reliable.  They would be perfect for defense as you are talking....


If you want to go gas operated, I would look around for a used rem 1100 or 11-87, they are pretty common, and you can find them for 500-600 on a regular basis. 

[Dixie Dude]

I have had an 11-87 3" or 2-3/4".  Shot sporting clays with no problems.  Also shot heavy 3" loads, no problem.  It has to be kept clean.  Also used a pipe cleaner to clean out the gas holes out of the barrel.  Get all grime off, and always have a spare O-ring.  I cleaned mine after every use.  I use a Benelli SBE now.  No problems with it either.  My son got a used Beretta for about $600.  Light shooter, but also clean it after every use.  Remington has a ton of 3rd party parts for them since about 5 million were made. 

[hunt-m-up]

Basic model Beretta 390 with synthetic stock

[Ranger99]

good used benelli - beretta,
or stoeger 2000 or auto-5 for
3-400 dollars and use the rest
for mods or ammo

[mcwoodduck]

I would shop the used shelves.
I have a Remington 1100 that was about $550 with a new barrel and have spent less that $600 total as I sold the old barrel and bought chokes and a case.
I have a Beretta 390 that was under $300
I have a Browning B2000 that I got for under 200 out the door, someone had reassembled it wrong and they thought it was broken.  Grabbed the blow up of the gun, took it apart, cleaned all the parts, and paid attention to how the gun went back together and it worked well.
I passed up a Remington 11-87 Duck gun one afternoon in favor of a S&W M17 target model, and a week later went back for the 11-87 to find an empty spot in the rack. 
If you are set on a new gun.  The Stoger autos are copies of the Benelli M2's but you can see some of the fit and finnish problems and why they are knock offs, they work well though.

[m-g Willy]

I think I will have to check out the Stoger.
Thanks all for the replies ...again

[corbanzo]

There is also a mag extension for the stoeger 2000/3000.

Of you want to see something completely excellent, look up "stoeger double defender". It's not a semi.  But I wouldn't wanna be on the wrong end! 

[Savage .250]

You said," main interest, home defense."  Go to your local Gun Show,if you have any and you`ll find exactly what you looking for.   Under budget and new.   Comes down to what you, like not use.

[Buckskin]

If your main interest is home defense, why in the heck would you want a cheap auto shotgun??? Not that you couldn't find one, but it's more likely that you will find a $600 single shot when you may really need that follow up shot.  Stick with a pump for your intentions, the auto is of no benefit over it for your purpose.

[darkgael]

If your main interest is home defense, why are you posting in the Upland hunting forum?
I have some recommendations for good upland worthy SAs but as for HD.....stick with a pump gun.
I do own one of the shotguns mentioned - the Stoeger M2000. It is a good buy. I have used it for 16 yard Trap and for grouse. Never had a problem.
There is an easily installable barrel extension for it if that kind of thing floats your boat. I have one. I put it on the gun and shortly after took it off the gun. It worked just fine but limited the use of an otherwise good shotgun. Once you add a barrel extension and those extra rounds.....in many states you cannot hunt with it (unless you plug the extension). It becomes substantially heavier and its balance changes so the swing dynamics change. Not an insurmounable problem, I know.
Pete

[mannyrock]

 
  Get a lighltly used Beretta semi-auto in 12 Gauge.  Absolutely positively reliable.   People have reported as many as 20,000 rounds through them without a single jam.   I have about 2,000 round through mine, without a single jam.
   
    I know that this goes against the grain, but I think the pump shotgun is a poor choice for the casual shooter to use for home defense.   Go out to any gun range, and watch people with their pumps.   They jam them right and left.  Short stroking them, fooling with the release latch, not fully closing them.
 
   Yes, I know that with constant training, and practice in slamming the forestock briskly back and forth, the pump guns are very reliable.  Problem is, not one in a thousand homeowners is going to engage in constant training.  And in the dead of night, in a crowded hallway, with your veins pumping fear throughout your body, there is is really big chance of jamming one.
 
   The Remington 1100s and 11-87s are simply not in the same league as the Beretta.  Apples and oranges.  Walmart guns vs. professional skeet shooter guns.
 
   Plus, if you take good care of it, the used Berettas will appreciate nicely every year. 
 
Hope this helps.
 
Mannyrock
 
   
 
   
   

[corbanzo]

That last comment was a joke right??


The new teknys professionals go for over $2000.


So you are right, a teknys is far above an 1100, and an 1100 is a third of the cost.


Hell a well used beretta is more than a new 1100.


So you are correct.  You are comparing apples to oranges.  For $600 you might find a cheap older Beretta that has had the holy $#^! beat out of it - but look at his price range.

[mannyrock]

Corbanzo,
 
   I don't know where you are buying your used Beretta 390s, but you can easily find them, in lightly used condition, with synthetic stocks, for way under $600.   Now, the ones with nice wooden stocks, yea those are way up there.  But, the poster said he wants a self defense gun, so I assume the synthetic stocks would be fine.  A Silver Mallard with synthetic stock would be fine for him.
 
   Best, Mannyrock

[mcwoodduck]

Corbanzo,
 
   I don't know where you are buying your used Beretta 390s, but you can easily find them, in lightly used condition, with synthetic stocks, for way under $600.   Now, the ones with nice wooden stocks, yea those are way up there.  But, the poster said he wants a self defense gun, so I assume the synthetic stocks would be fine.  A Silver Mallard with synthetic stock would be fine for him.
 
   Best, Mannyrock

Most of the guns named so far can either have a barrel shortened or a rifle sighted barrel ordered. 
I think if I try I could find a used 11-87 that is rusty and nasty, clean it up and polish the guts, remove the plug, order a new rifle sighted barrel and have night sights inserted.  And paint the whole gun the same color as the walls of the closet to hide it from casual people looking in the closet for less than $600.  Guess I have a new project to look for a beat up 1100 or 11-87 this summer when the duck hunter pulls out his gun that was put away wet and looks like heck for the week before dove season. 

[Dixie Dude]

I think the Beretta Technys 390 was a Walmart gun that was not too expensive.  The 391 on the other hand was more expensive, looked the same on the outside, but better made.  The 1100/11-87 models can be had for less than $600 and are very good guns.  They can be cleaned up and they have lots of accessories that will fit them.  Just buy a couple of extra O-rings and you are good to go.

[mcwoodduck]

I think the Beretta Technys 390 was a Walmart gun that was not too expensive.  The 391 on the other hand was more expensive, looked the same on the outside, but better made.  The 1100/11-87 models can be had for less than $600 and are very good guns.  They can be cleaned up and they have lots of accessories that will fit them.  Just buy a couple of extra O-rings and you are good to go.

I think the 390 is a step in the evolution of the Beretta autos.
I have both a 390 and a 301  both good reliable semi auto designs the system is similar just some parts are refined as you get to the 390 from the 301.  My guess is the 391's are a slight modification to the 390.

[mannyrock]

McWood,
 
  The Beretta 390 in 12 gauge was and is a superbly made shotgun.   It was manufactured and sold for more than 10 years.    I'm not sure, but it may still be manufactured and sold in Europe for the European market.
 
    You will notice that it has a slight angle in the top rear of the receiver.   Apparently, the Europeans loved it, but the American market was not as hot as Beretta had hoped, Americans being used to the smooth curve receivers like the Rem 1100.
 
    When Beretta decided to upgrade the 390 to the 391 (with a curve receiver), they had thousands and thousands of 390 receivers in storage.  So, they made a special deal with WalMart.  They cranked out all of the remaining 390s, using synthetic stocks instead of walnut, and sold them to WalMart.   WalMart then sold them at really great prices.  Other than the synthetic stock, I don't believe anything else was cheapened up with the shotgun.  (No reason to, since Beretta had all of the production parts in stock, and many of them interchange with the 390.)   
 
   A friend of mine got one for about $450.    A really wonderful buy.   Later, he bought a set of beautiful walnut stocks online, for about $225.    So now he has both stock sets.
 
   New and used barrels, from 22 inches to 32 inches, are sold in abundance on the internet.  The 22 inch barrel, with a cylinder bore, would make a fine self defense piece.  Or, one could buy a really beat up trap or skeet barrel for around $80, and just have it legally shortened to 20 inches.  Sell the good barrel for $180 and pocket the difference.
 
   99.99% reliable weapon.    The ONLY, shells they won't cycle are the ultra light skeet loads (or equivalent light handloads). Everything else goes through like clockwork.
 
Regards, Mannyrock
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Dixie Dude]

Only bad thing about the 390-391 series Beretta's is they only hold 3 shots.  Remingtions would hold 5, and you can get magazine extensions to hold 8 rounds, if you wanted to convert it to a home defense gun.  Berettas are soft kickers, Remingtons a little harder.  Neither as bad as a pump.

[mannyrock]

Dixie,
 
   The Beretta's hold one in the chamber and three in the tube, for a total of four.  About twice as many rounds as you may ever need in that 1 second self-defense encounter.
 
   Best, Mannyrock