ziadel

whelp, my ass hurts, so I need something softer shooting than my old mossberg. soft shooting is the word here, cheaper is better of course, something that can handle 2-3/4 through 3-1/2 would be awesome, but I understand if I have to choose between one end of the spectrum or the other.


so, in summation

little recoil
eat any ammo
cheap (as possible)

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CandleInTheDark

I'm not an expert, but here's my advice to the best of my knowledge.

Few autoloaders will take 3.5" shells. The action would be too long to cycle in a reasonable matter. 3" should suffice for most any hunting needs. Even geese, as the new non-toxic shot is becoming more and more accessible.

Off the top of my head, Browning and Weatherby both make autoloading shotgun that do not need to be adjusted for different gas pressures. The 11-87 needs to be manually adjusted for target, hunting and more powerful loads.

Hope that helps.

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cj2112

Wal-Mart sells a Beretta 3901 for ~ $600.00. I own one, in 20 ga., I have shot the 12 ga. and these guns have very little recoil. I have put better than 5000 rounds through my 20 ga. and the thing just runs. I got mine on clearance for $300.00 and I would buy this gun again in a heartbeat.

ziadel

I disagree emphatically.

I'm working at ranges too great for 3" shells, I usually toss 3-1/2" Max Dram BB or BBBs.

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debaser

M1 Super 90 is your gun.

Of course it has a tendency to dent the wallet a bit...

If you must have the 3.5's try the Beretta Xtrema, but I'm not a huge fan of their guns...

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cj2112

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.

cj2112

so.....have ya chosen a gun yet?

longbough

I'll second that vote for the Benelli Super 90. If I had to go with an autoloader I might go with the Super 90 M3 which can switch from auto to pump.

I never shot one, though - I only know it by reputation.

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Fob_Magi

If you gotta have the 3.5" and you got $1200 to drop I'd go with the Benelli Super Black Eagle II... A friend has one and its a dream, I however only have a lowly Benelli Nova.

For a dirt cheap Semi-Auto get the Saiga-12 or Saiga-20, autoloader built on an AK reciever in russia.. $300-$400 out the door. My Saiga-20 is my favorite gun of all time... its a f***ing blast to shoot clays, phonebooks or abandoned cars with, but might not be up to the long-range bird hunting you do....

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ziadel

The benelli is starting to look tempting...ow just what freaking one to get


I gotta research Brownings semi-auto offerings a bit more, but its either something from Browning or the Benelli...

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newtx

My vote goes to the Browning. If you can find/afford a Belguim made you will be quite happy. A Remmington 870 will be much cheaper, just as reliable, and I've never had a recoil issue with either.

squirrelyburt

Super Black Eagle II auto will feed 3.5, but a Nova with a recoil pad will save you about $700. Benelli has recently come out with a recoil reduction system, its not on the Nova but on the higher end guns. If budget is a concern, an 870 with recoil pad will suit your basic needs. It all depends on your needs.

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ziadel

did longbough put you two up to recommending an 870?

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cj2112

I own a Japanese made Browning Citori, I have been shooting 100+ rounds/week through it for better than 2 years now (and I bought it used) and have yet to have a single malfunction. I shoot w/ a couple of guys that have Browning Golds and they are also fantastic guns, I shoot with several guys that shoot Beretta, and none of them have ever had a gun caused malfunction, I shoot with one guy who has a Benelli, and while he did have one malfunction, I'm not sure that it wasn't his own fault (I think he put it together wrong after cleaning), He ended up sending it back for warranty repairs, and they treated him right. I also can highly reccommend SKB.