Shotgun topic! My son thinks Benelli semi's are absolutely fantastic and wants one BAD!!
I have no idea why Uri wants a Benelli. I'm sure there is a reason. It is possible that his reasoning just might not be really clear to me. Remember how well most of us thought at age 24!!😂
I should add that he thinks the camo finish is really cool.
I'm not really a shotgunner. Handguns? Oh yeah! Rifles, as in deer rifles?? You bettcha!! My thoughts on shotguns can be summed up by saying Rem. 870, two barrels and 4 chock tubes. Covers just about every shotgun need I have.
So what semi auto 12 gauge would you rate as a very good quality, great using shotgun that might be a little less expensive than a Benelli. Actually quite a bit less expensive would be nice. It just makes me think there has to a quality semi auto shotgun out there that would be a real good Christmas present!
You know, Christmas isn't that far off!!
Comments
Well, being the owner of an M2 Field I really can't help much. I think they're just about the pinnacle of semi-auto shotguns.
What is it he wants to use the shotgun for? Hunting? Defense? Trap, skeet, or other games?
You did help. Since I don't know shotguns I didn't know if his desire for a Benelli was because they are good shotguns or if he thought they looked cool!
First use would be trap/skeet/sporting clays. Second would be an occasional hunting trip.
I also have an M2 and use it for trap and skeet. Does very well shooting trap. About .75% as good at skeet, but that may be more a function of the operator.
Brad Steele
Franchi Afinnity comes to mind and I might be putting it up on here. 3.1/2" camo I think? Great shotguns for the money. i am a Franchi kind of guy. 😘
John Moses Browning.
I purchased a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 left hand model two years ago. Much easier on my shoulder than my old 870's and Ithaca 37. 25 rounds though either of those shooting sporting clays or dove hunting would leave me hurting for days. The last time I took the Benelli out, I fired over 100 rounds and did not feel a thing the next day.
For me it has been worth every cent.....
Benelli makes a darn good shotgun for the guys who hate cleaning guns. No gas system means a lot less dirt left in the gun from shooting. Unlike @William81 I find inertia guns like the Benelli kick me more than the gas guns. If I was going to buy a new combo clays/hunting gun it would be this one;
Winchester SX4 Waterfowl Hunter Max 7 Camo 12 Ga 3in 28in 511303392 - Semi Auto Shotguns at GunBroker.com : 1000817953
If he doesn't mind the little extra cleaning, it will do everything a Benelli will do and, at least in my case, is more comfortable to shoot.
However, I already have both an original Super X and a Super X2 so I guess I don't need another. Bob
Genesis Arms Gen 12. You'll be loved if your kid didn't before.
Love mine on top of a Aero lower. They're using a "shorty" while mine is the regular but you get the idea. One thing I will note the Aero is made for the AR10 so the Gen12 magazines will need to be sanded a bit to drop free.
mossberg has a nice semi for around the $500 mark, while it is no bennelli or browning, it is still nice for half the price..... and they come in camo as a turkey model or wood and blue if you like
I am bottom feeding for a Citori 725 Feather..
I think there is no question, Benelli makes the finest semi shotgun available. I have two, a 20ga Legacy that has been all over north & south America on hunting trips. (Once got 5 birds on a covey rise in Mexico with it). Light weight 26" barrel and easy to carry all day for hunting, but due to light weight it is not a good clays gun.
The other is a Super Black Eagle 12ga, 3 1/2" chamber. (although it will never see a 3 1/2" shell as long as I own it). Gun is heavier, 28" barrel and works great for just about any type of shooting. Great for Ducks, geese, & clays. Yes, they are expensive, but with proper maintenance will last several life times.
If I were in the market for an inexpensive good functioning semi, I would probably purchase a Tristar. I have a bronze .410, 28, & 16 gauge that all function flawlessly.
I love old Browning A-5 shotguns and have accumulated them for several years.The workmanship,quality and design were advanced for their time.I had over 40 at one time but have thinned most of them out now.If I were going to buy a new shotgun to hunt or shoot clays,it would be a Benelli.
If it were me, I’d buy it for him as A Christmas gift and write on the package. Buon Natalie, that’s Italian for Merry Christmas.
Love Benelli's. But I don't have Champagne and Caviar live style , LOL.
I did shoot a Silver Eagle from TR Imports at the local Gun Club. Same inertia, recoil and setup as the Benelli.
Bought one of the 5 shot with the long magazine tube. Drilled out the holes in the tube (that limited capacity) and now have a 8 shot tube, Took about 100 rds to break in and works like butter. Easy on the Shoulder too.
Looks like the Benelli M-4. at Less than $ 300.00 UPC 812052024725
Since Yoshi has hijacked this thread already, I'll pile on. I have SDS Imports Lynx 12 gauge that is a Chinese copy of a Russian Saiga 12. It uses all Saiga parts and magazines. It's just about impossible to jam and will eat through your collection of shotgun shells in no time flat. Especially with 10rd mags. It does have some recoil to it.
Otherwise, I would get a real Benelli or Beretta semi-auto shotgun. Avoid those Turkish Knock Off Shotguns. They are still junk.
It seems everyone wants a benelli to hunt with. Most of the guys I hunt with ,shoot them and have been buying them. I like my old 870 wingmaster with the three different chokes.
Gotta agree. Every Franchi I've held felt like it was made for me.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Stoeger 3000, inertia driven, Benelli parts. Broke mine in like they recommended and have never looked back. Under $600. Many Benelli parts are interchangeable, yep my Turkish Benelli runs like a champ.
Got mine from Reeds guns and ammo on the auction side....great people to do business with
drobs - How did I hijack? Just throwing the yellow brotha under the bus, eh?
Dude was asking for a cheaper alternative, right? If he was looking for a Benelli I would have talked him in to getting a M4 and mod it up with goodies from Mesa (like mag extensions and such).
Parting shot. Buy a Chinese copy of a Russian when you can buy 'merican? That's American't.
I just bought a Stoeger M3020 in 20 ga. It's light and quick even with a 26" barrel. Uses the almost universal Benelli/Beretta choke tubes. Handles 2 3/4 & 3" ammo w/o adjustments. Not difficult to strip for cleaning. Fresh out of the box with a few drops of CLP, it popped out 3 rounds of generic light loads w/o a hitch. New gun that had been in inventory a bit too long so $150 off hangtag price.😁
I think the Benellis a great. It's a good choice. I like my 11-87, but they aren't making them any more.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I second the Mossberg(935). Are they the best? No.
Will they go bang everytime and hit the target(assuming the operator can aim)? Yes!
Are they good quality? Yes!
Are they a good bit less $ than a Benelli? Yes!
I have one and you can not beat Mossberg for the price(less than HALF the cost of a Benelli). IMHO you cannot go wrong with a Mossberg, and you may find a great deal on one.
I purchased my Browning A-5 in 1961 to shoot on a trap team. Never saw the need to replace it. Although since then I have put an 18 1/2 inch barrel on it and it is my truck gun, resting under the back seat. Either self defense or seeing a flock of turkeys or a covey of quail, I am ready.
Yoshi - Dreher was asking about a Hunting Shotgun - tube fed Benelli. Your post was not that. I call that a hijack as it's unrelated to what Dreher was asking about. No need to get your feelings hurt.
My post was also a Hijack. I missed out on the cheap Communist Saiga shotguns. My Communist China Shotgun works just as good.
drobs - Was he? I read less expensive than a Benelli in semi auto. You can use a Gen 12 for skeet. They do make a 5 round magazine you can limit.
Now if dude's looking for a bang, bang, bang. I remember a three barreled Chiappa. Fast as a semi.
dont know about the semi but i have a pump called nova and i like it
Winchester SX2 or SX3.
Well, Went to an Auction yesterday. Benelli Nov Super Mag sitting there. Carefully watched it come up.
Yep I got it. After all the fees. $ 325.00 they even had the box stuck away. I'm happy.
And just cause. Sorry to cut in.
Rossi Model 62 $ 225, H&R Leatherneck 165 $ 100.00 (deal), (2) FEGPA-64 $ 175.00 ea
Bunch of Neat ammo too. 7.64 RWS, 307 Win, 7.92x33 Kurtz, 6x64 Brenneke , Old French 30 Carine dated 1950 packs
My newest shotgun is a Mossberg 590S. It's an 8+1 with 2 & 3/4 or 13+1 with mini-shells and came with removable chokes.
Kind of fun gun. Most I ever paid for a Mossberg though.
I have a Super Black Eagle in event I ever get to do a waterfowl hunt again. I also have an IZH27EM-4C - O/U in 28 gauge that is way heaver than the SBE. I also have a Benelli Montefeltro in 20 gauge for the dove field - but those opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. Also a Weatherby SA-08 in 28 gauge - the Benelli and the Weatherby each with 1 ounce loads are essentially interchangeable as far as dove hunting machines go.
Best Regards - AQH