Best All-around Semi Auto Shotgun

[Nipp45]

I'm interested in purchasing a 12ga semi-auto shotgun to use for turkey, duck, and dove hunting.  What is the best value for the money?

[Graybeard]

My vote goes to the Remington 1100/11-87. For your uses I'd chose the 11-87.

[pastorp]

I really like the Benelli. When my son-in-law asked me this same question I recomended the Benelli M2 so thats what he bought, he really likes it and should be on lake ochocachopie with it this week-end on his first duck hunt with his new shotgun.

I would recomend you stay away from any shotgun that shoots 3&1/2" shells. 3" is the most you need. Those heavier shells will make a flincher out of you.

Having said the above, the remingtons, brettas, and the benellies are all good guns and the remingtons are certinally less expensive. So stay within your budget & handle a bunch of them picking the one that feels best to you. 

Regards,

[dukkillr]

When you say, "For the money..." what do you really mean?  If you mean, what's the cheapest gun of solid quality then GB is right, it's probably the 11-87.  If you want to know what the best auto available for less than the cost of a car, it's the Benelli SBE II.  The recoil tech is not a gimmic. 

The other benellis are good to, and less money...  The newer Winchester autos enjoy a good reputation but I've only been around them a few times so I can't personally vouch for them.  Avoid the mossberg products like they have herpes.

[Skunk]

I really like the Benelli. I would recommend you stay away from any shotgun that shoots 3&1/2" shells. 3" is the most you need. Those heavier shells will make a flincher out of you.

Pastor P,

That heavy recoil might be an effect of Benelli's gas system (M2). Although I've never fired one, I hear Benelli Semi-Autos are brutal in the recoil department, at least compared to Browning's gas system.

Nipp45,

My vote would be for either a Remington 11-87 or if I really wanted to spend some dough, my ultimate choice would be Browning Gold Hunter or Silver Hunter.

[mirage1988]

Skunk-
I havn't shot the 1100 or 11-87 side by side with the benelli, but the benelli tames recoil very well. Turkey loads in my wifes benelli feel like field loads in my 870. I havn't shot a browning shotgun, but have a BAR in 7 mag that I don't like, the recoil is light, but it feels weird when you shoot having all that stuff moving, the gun actually feels like it recoils forward when the bolt slams shut.

[snowbelt45]

My vote goes for the 11-87 as best for the money.  I have both and use the 1100 for dove hunting only, just my personal choice, but everything else I hunt I do with the 11-87, especially for ducks and turkeys.  Folks that have the Benelli's  swear by them, but they a $$$ more.

[mjbgalt]

duckkiller,

i own a mossberg as a beater shotgun for hunting and informal clay shooting. it is not as nice as my browning or the reming 11-87 of course.

but for a cheap pump they do just fine. i know they may not hold up in a frozen duck blind with guys who shoot once a year, but they did pass the military torture test and our military is using them right now. i know it was a price thing as well, but regardless of price, if they sucked that bad, they would have gotten a different gun.

[mjbgalt]

scratch that, i thought you meant ANYTHING mossberg. now that i re-read it, i would agree that mossberg's semiautos are not equal to remington or benelli, etc.

[hunt-m-up]

Beretta 390 or 391, cleanest gasser out there

[Dee]

There is nothing wrong with the Mossberg shotguns. They aren't pretty but they are solid and dependable. I watched the 500s eat thousands of heavy police rounds and never miss a beat. In fact I can honestly say that in 18 years of running a police training range I have NEVER seen one fail, and I have also seen them abused during SWAT training, and they never failed.
My youngest son a Sgt. in the 82nd Airborne used a Mossberg 500 fighting house to house in Baghdad on TWO TOURS, and NEVER had a failure. Hmmmmmmm  He ought a know. All their weapons took a pounding. Day in and day out.
I personally prefer Remingtons in 870 and 1100, but if someone threw me a Mossberg and go in and get the bad guy I would check to make sure it was loaded first. In fact! I have went in and got the bad guy armed with a Mossberg.
If one wonders about the kick of the Mossberg it is because they have a very strong, but light, aluminum receiver.

[GRIMJIM]

My mossberg 9200, also has never failed. It has also shot slugs three feet to the left of poa at 50 yards since the day I bought it.

I'll stick with my 11-87, very accurate, a little heavy though.

[John R.]

I like Remington's, but ever since I bought a Winchester Super X2, I haven't looked back. I shoot better with that shotgun, than anything I've ever owned.

[Skunk]

I like Remington's, but ever since I bought a Winchester Super X2, I haven't looked back. I shoot better with that shotgun, than anything I've ever owned.

If I'm not mistaken John, that X2 is a Browning Silver Hunter in a Winchester receiver and stock. In other words, I'm thinking the entire gas system is Browning. Good choice in a shotgun John.

[jamaldog87]

the Harrington & Richardson's Excell Auto for around $461  is a good gun. there is a review from guns and ammo.com   http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/H%2526R+1871+Excell

I would buy it. But i used a old noble 12ga that was cut from 28'' to 20'' and had what i thinks was a full on it.

[dukkillr]

the Harrington & Richardson's Excell Auto for around $461  is a good gun. there is a review from guns and ammo.com   http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/H%2526R+1871+Excell

I would buy it. But i used a old noble 12ga that was cut from 28'' to 20'' and had what i thinks was a full on it.

If it was cut down it probably has no choke in it.

[jamaldog87]

there was a choke tube on there, it had been used so hard i had no idea what was on there. I would take it out to shoot slugs and back in for shot.  It was not that best shooter but killed many birds with it.

[dukkillr]

there was a choke tube on there, it had been used so hard i had no idea what was on there. I would take it out to shoot slugs and back in for shot.  It was not that best shooter but killed many birds with it.

Any pictures?

[MGMorden]

For the money?  Remington 11-87.  I'm not a huge fan of their rifles (they're ok - just not my preference), but Remington shotguns for me have always been the pinnacle of reliability.  Others, not so much.  Heck my brother's boss who we duck hunt with bought a brand new Beretta auto last season.  $1500 if I remember right.  Out of the box it was snapping on rounds about every 5th or 6th shot.  They made it right, but still, for that kind of money that's pretty pathetic.  My brother bought a Stoeger.  Turkish made clone of a Beretta that's actually owned by Beretta itself.  Result?  Snapping and FTE's out of the box.  My brother sent that gun back 3 times - kept coming back with the same problem.  Eventually he ripped the customer service rep a new one and they agreed to send him a different gun rather than working on the old one.  This one has worked fine and he loves it, but it was a lot of hassle.

I bought a CZ-712 myself that I've not been fond of (sometimes it doesn't like to return to full battery after a cycle - resulting in a failure to fire).  Tons of people had had similar issues with Charles Daly guns.

On the flip side, every person I know who has a Remington has it working fine.  I don't have their autos, but my 870 is built like a tank and has never let me down.

I'll admit based on relatively positive reviews I've been tempted by a Mossberg Semi-auto, but I think I'm going to end up with the 11-87 next time Dick's puts them on sale.

[SHOOTALL]

Winchester Super X -2 or 3. Fastest , light recoil , fits good , rugged .

[454Puma]

I'm predudice! I love my Browning A5's , nothing sweeter then a Sweet Sixteen!  I also have a Mag 12 A5. I would love to get an A5 20 ga! My brother just picked one up -unfired-but not anymore!!!