- Joined
- Mar 18, 1999
- Messages
- 2,112
OK, here's the rundown...
I have the following...
All are 12 gauge except for the last one, it is a 10 gauge.
Remington Model 29 pump (old gun, inherited that I never shot)
Browning B80 - (Same exact gun as Beretta A390)
Browning Auto 5 Light
Benelli Super Black Eagle
Browning 10 Gold Hunter
With the exception of the pump of course, all are gas operated semi-autos with the exception of the Auto 5 and the Benelli Super Black Eagle which are both recoil or inertia operated actions. The 10 gauge's felt recoil, due to it being gas operated, is about like the Auto 5's.
In my experience, the gas operated autos tend to cushion recoil a little better than the recoil operated autos. If you can picture a pneumatic cushion as compared to a mechanical one then you get the idea.
Mechanically, there isn't that much difference between a pump and a semiautomatic shotgun. Gas operated guns have ports in the barrel that actually actuate the slide mechanism where as on a pump gun, the shooter takes care of this action. A semiautomatic is not appreciably heavier than a pump. Most hunters prefer a pump due to the price.
Pricewise, an auto's cost will start at least a couple of hundred dollars more than a pump shotgun.
From the list above, you will see 3 Brownings. I am not a "Browning man" by any stretch of the imagination. It is just that when I went to buy these guns, these were the ones that most closely fit the bill.
As far as pump shotguns go, the following are some worth looking into.
Remington Model 870 - a good, dependable gun. If you get the "Super Mag" then you can shoot 3 1/2" shells. More on that later...
Winchester Model 1300
Mossberg 500 and Mossberg 835 - 835 can be chambered for 3 1/2" shells. Run of the mill entry level pump shotguns.
Benelli Nova - supposedly a good pump shotgun, never shot one but a lot of folks rave about it.
Browning BPS - I personally don't much care for these, others love 'em.
I am sure there are some I have missed.
As far as an auto....
Mossberg 935 Autoloader - not a recommendation, just letting you know it exist. It is brand new and just came out. Low priced.
Beretta AL390 Xtrema
but looking at the price, I would opt for a Benelli Super Black Eagle if they are in the same price range at "buying time". It wasn't too long ago when you could get a Beretta A390 for $600 bucks! I don't think the list of $1300 is worth it. That's rediculous! You can chamber 3 1/2" shells it.
Remington Model 1100 - shoots only 2 3/4 inch shells - more about that later.
Remington Model 1187 - can shoot 3" shells
Winchester Model X2 - not a bad gun. On a par with the 1187 except you can chamber 3 1/2" shells in it.
Browning Gold Hunter - not a bad gun, however, for the price, I would look at the Remington 1187 as well. I would however really take a close look at the "Gold Classic".
Now, this 3 1/2 inch shell that has been out for a few years. Unless you are pass shooting geese or turkey hunting, you are wasting your money. There are few occasions when they are really needed.
I have seen on more than one occasion where someone that consistently shoots these shells have had things break on their guns. Now, this is under very heavy use. You are shooting a 10 gauge load (minus 1/8 ounce of shot) through a much lighter 12 gun. One size fits all does not apply here. Sorry. I opted for a 10 gauge for this very reason when I was primarily goose hunting. Occasional use, no problem. If you are going to consistently shoot these shells, then get a 10 gauge. Now, bear in mind that these are guys that are hunting just about every day in a 100 day season and will shoot at least a box and a half of shells at every hunt.
For the most part, there is nothing wrong the standard 2 3/4 inch shells. The 3 inch shells do add a bit more load but are generally a slower round than the 2 3/4 inch loads.
Just because your shotgun is chambered for 3 1/2 shells it doesn't mean that you have to exclusively shoot those shells. It should handle 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells as well. When my Super Black Eagle (recoil or inertia operated semiauto action) was brand new I had problems with it cycling the lighter loads until it was broken in.
Having typed all that to say...in the price range you mentioned, The Remington 870 pump would be a very, very good choice. It is a very dependable gun. If turkey hunting, then I would opt for the Super Mag. Any 12 gauge chambered for 3 1/2 inch shells should hold up fine with no problems for turkey hunting.
Although I haven't ever shot one, don't count the Benelli Nova out. I know folks that just love theirs. I have heard nothing but good things about them.
Craig
I have the following...
All are 12 gauge except for the last one, it is a 10 gauge.
Remington Model 29 pump (old gun, inherited that I never shot)
Browning B80 - (Same exact gun as Beretta A390)
Browning Auto 5 Light
Benelli Super Black Eagle
Browning 10 Gold Hunter
With the exception of the pump of course, all are gas operated semi-autos with the exception of the Auto 5 and the Benelli Super Black Eagle which are both recoil or inertia operated actions. The 10 gauge's felt recoil, due to it being gas operated, is about like the Auto 5's.
In my experience, the gas operated autos tend to cushion recoil a little better than the recoil operated autos. If you can picture a pneumatic cushion as compared to a mechanical one then you get the idea.
Mechanically, there isn't that much difference between a pump and a semiautomatic shotgun. Gas operated guns have ports in the barrel that actually actuate the slide mechanism where as on a pump gun, the shooter takes care of this action. A semiautomatic is not appreciably heavier than a pump. Most hunters prefer a pump due to the price.
Pricewise, an auto's cost will start at least a couple of hundred dollars more than a pump shotgun.
From the list above, you will see 3 Brownings. I am not a "Browning man" by any stretch of the imagination. It is just that when I went to buy these guns, these were the ones that most closely fit the bill.
As far as pump shotguns go, the following are some worth looking into.
Remington Model 870 - a good, dependable gun. If you get the "Super Mag" then you can shoot 3 1/2" shells. More on that later...
Winchester Model 1300
Mossberg 500 and Mossberg 835 - 835 can be chambered for 3 1/2" shells. Run of the mill entry level pump shotguns.
Benelli Nova - supposedly a good pump shotgun, never shot one but a lot of folks rave about it.
Browning BPS - I personally don't much care for these, others love 'em.
I am sure there are some I have missed.
As far as an auto....
Mossberg 935 Autoloader - not a recommendation, just letting you know it exist. It is brand new and just came out. Low priced.
Beretta AL390 Xtrema
but looking at the price, I would opt for a Benelli Super Black Eagle if they are in the same price range at "buying time". It wasn't too long ago when you could get a Beretta A390 for $600 bucks! I don't think the list of $1300 is worth it. That's rediculous! You can chamber 3 1/2" shells it.
Remington Model 1100 - shoots only 2 3/4 inch shells - more about that later.
Remington Model 1187 - can shoot 3" shells
Winchester Model X2 - not a bad gun. On a par with the 1187 except you can chamber 3 1/2" shells in it.
Browning Gold Hunter - not a bad gun, however, for the price, I would look at the Remington 1187 as well. I would however really take a close look at the "Gold Classic".
Now, this 3 1/2 inch shell that has been out for a few years. Unless you are pass shooting geese or turkey hunting, you are wasting your money. There are few occasions when they are really needed.
I have seen on more than one occasion where someone that consistently shoots these shells have had things break on their guns. Now, this is under very heavy use. You are shooting a 10 gauge load (minus 1/8 ounce of shot) through a much lighter 12 gun. One size fits all does not apply here. Sorry. I opted for a 10 gauge for this very reason when I was primarily goose hunting. Occasional use, no problem. If you are going to consistently shoot these shells, then get a 10 gauge. Now, bear in mind that these are guys that are hunting just about every day in a 100 day season and will shoot at least a box and a half of shells at every hunt.
For the most part, there is nothing wrong the standard 2 3/4 inch shells. The 3 inch shells do add a bit more load but are generally a slower round than the 2 3/4 inch loads.
Just because your shotgun is chambered for 3 1/2 shells it doesn't mean that you have to exclusively shoot those shells. It should handle 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells as well. When my Super Black Eagle (recoil or inertia operated semiauto action) was brand new I had problems with it cycling the lighter loads until it was broken in.
Having typed all that to say...in the price range you mentioned, The Remington 870 pump would be a very, very good choice. It is a very dependable gun. If turkey hunting, then I would opt for the Super Mag. Any 12 gauge chambered for 3 1/2 inch shells should hold up fine with no problems for turkey hunting.
Although I haven't ever shot one, don't count the Benelli Nova out. I know folks that just love theirs. I have heard nothing but good things about them.
Craig
