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cj2112 · 04-07-2007, 09:50 AM

The Benelli is a decent enough gun, but I have read a bit about recoil and feeding issues w/ the M1. YMMV

If I were in the market for a new shotgun, and wasn't too sure about what to buy, I would go down to my local skeet or sporting clays club, and talk to the guys who are members. These are guys who live and breathe shotgunning, and know what is good, and what is junk. When you put ~ 15,000 shells a year through your gun, and you shoot w/ a bunch of guys who do the same, you tend to separate the good guns from the junk pretty quick. I only go through about 100 shells a week, but many of these guys go through 300 or more.

Fit is going to be very important to shooting any shotgun well. Hand me a Remington 1100 or 11-87 fresh out of the box, and I can't shoot it worth a damn. Hand me a Browning Gold or a Beretta 390 or 391 fresh out of the box, and I shoot very well. The difference is not that the Remington is a bad gun and the Browning or Beretta is a good gun, the difference is fit. A shotgun that fits you, mounts and points well in your hands. When you shoulder it with your eyes closed, and open your eyes, your sight picture is what it should be, without adjusting the gun or your head. This will mean more birds in the bag, and more broken clays. Many shops will custom fit a gun to you for a price, however you will be money ahead to buy one that fits well out of the box if you can.

Perceived recoil will be much less if you buy a gas operated gun rather than a recoil operated gun. A decent recoil pad such as a kick-eze or a Morgan adjustable will also help a lot. (you should only purchase a Morgan adjustable IF the gun doesn't fit).

Before I settled on a particular make and model, do a Google search using the make model and the word problems as your search terms, (like "Remington 11-87 problems"). This may save you from buying a problematic gun.

Lastly, I spend a lot of time with shotgunners, both on the skeet fields, and the sporting clays course. I have found this group of guys to be among the most helpful, kind, and passionate about their hobby, that I have ever met. I will tell you again, go talk to these guys, if they are not in the gun business, they will give you really really good advise.

04-07-2007, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	The Benelli is a decent enough gun, but I have read a bit about recoil and feeding issues w/ the M1. YMMV If I were in the market for a new shotgun, and wasn't too sure about what to buy, I would go down to my local skeet or sporting clays club, and talk to the guys who are members. These are guys who live and breathe shotgunning, and know what is good, and what is junk. When you put ~ 15,000 shells a year through your gun, and you shoot w/ a bunch of guys who do the same, you tend to separate the good guns from the junk pretty quick. I only go through about 100 shells a week, but many of these guys go through 300 or more. Fit is going to be very important to shooting any shotgun well. Hand me a Remington 1100 or 11-87 fresh out of the box, and I can't shoot it worth a damn. Hand me a Browning Gold or a Beretta 390 or 391 fresh out of the box, and I shoot very well. The difference is not that the Remington is a bad gun and the Browning or Beretta is a good gun, the difference is fit. A shotgun that fits you, mounts and points well in your hands. When you shoulder it with your eyes closed, and open your eyes, your sight picture is what it should be, without adjusting the gun or your head. This will mean more birds in the bag, and more broken clays. Many shops will custom fit a gun to you for a price, however you will be money ahead to buy one that fits well out of the box if you can. Perceived recoil will be much less if you buy a gas operated gun rather than a recoil operated gun. A decent recoil pad such as a kick-eze or a Morgan adjustable will also help a lot. (you should only purchase a Morgan adjustable IF the gun doesn't fit). Before I settled on a particular make and model, do a Google search using the make model and the word problems as your search terms, (like "Remington 11-87 problems"). This may save you from buying a problematic gun. Lastly, I spend a lot of time with shotgunners, both on the skeet fields, and the sporting clays course. I have found this group of guys to be among the most helpful, kind, and passionate about their hobby, that I have ever met. I will tell you again, go talk to these guys, if they are not in the gun business, they will give you really really good advise. Last edited by cj2112; 04-07-2007 at 09:52 AM..