Topic: Semi auto 12 gauge suggestions

[kneedownnate]

Looking to get a new 12 ga semi, and any time I think I found one, somebody suggests another.

I want an everything gun with a heavy lean toward duck/geese.  Gun shop guys keep saying don’t bother getting a 3.5”, saying follow up shots take longer and it isn’t worth it, plus I’m small so they’re probably right.

That presents another issue:  a lot of them have built in recoil reducers in the stock, so I don’t know if they can be shortened for the correct lop.

Looking for inertia driven and franchi is currently top choice.  Suggestions?

[emsvitil]

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/this-12-gauge-gatling-gun-will-leave-you-drooling/

[:)bestgen4runner]

One word
"Benelli"
You will not find a better 12 gauge period. 
They do everything, shoot everything up to 3 1/2, pattern perfectly, and cycle faster than any other.
They are the very best.
 

[redneckcustoms13]

I have a sbe benelli. I will take my new browning a5 over it any day of the week. Honestly havent shot it since I got the browning last year. You cant go wrong with either. I prefer the a5.

[:)bestgen4runner]

I have a sbe benelli. I will take my new browning a5 over it any day of the week. Honestly havent shot it since I got the browning last year. You cant go wrong with either. I prefer the a5.

 

[86bobbedtoy]

simple, easy, cheap, tried and true, done.......rem 1100

but if you want to complicate it and spend a lot more money go ben or bro

in all honestly everyone I kno says browning, got a few buddys waiting on there's currently, and 1 buddy just got a benelli and loves it.
go put hands on them all and see which one you like better, in all reality they all go bang,

comparing high end benelli and browning is like comparing a hot blonde and a hot brunette, both are fun to ride and you will always want to ride the other

[300k]

We went bird hunting with a dude rocking a sweet benelli with a can. Cycled beautifully. I have no experience with semi automatic shotguns though.

[jimbo74]

are you looking for something with a tube mag a detachable mag? newer regulations have classified them into the same class as a rifle.

benellis are nice

[redneckcustoms13]

When you say new. Are you referring to brand new or would you go with a nice pre owned? As stated above an 1100 is tried and true and can be had in a 3.5". I use 3.5" when dog hunting because we end up with a a bunch of running pigs and deer and they are often out 60 yards or so. If you are good with 3-3.5" any of the 3 stated above are good guns. I got my Nelli on trade, otherwise wouldn't own it. Overpriced in my opinion. It's a good gun dont get me wrong. Just doesn't hold a candle to an a5 or an 1100 in my eyes. I've killed many birds with an old Belgian a5, old 1100, and 870.

[300k]

Mossberg 500 > Remington 870

[jimbo74]

Mossberg 500 > Remington 870

I have a mossberg 500, but op wanted a semi auto, not a pump

[:)bestgen4runner]

Just something to consider.
From My experience a Benelli will not care what ammo You shoot. Cheap walmart ammo will cycle the same as any other. This is not the case with some of the other guns that have been recommended. example, The Remington likes high dollar ammo and can fail to feed with the cheap dirty stuff. Maybe You only shoot $$$ ammo but not everyone does. 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

All good feedback guys!  I would love a benelli but, since the franchi shares the majority of action related parts with the benelli, I would be inclined to save the thousand dollar difference and go with the latter choice.  That said, it all depends on how much my butt hurts after I leave the dmv tomorrow morning since I got distracted by the carr fire this summer and forgot my registration was due on the red truck.

I do definitely want new but will always consider a good used unit.  Tomorrow I plan to go to a store that typically has a fair amount of used guns and see if they still have the two I saw last time, an 1100 and an a5.  I don’t remember either being in the best shape, but I am not above buying an older used one and a new one, especially since this place is willing to drop their prices a little more the more stuff you buy

[redneckcustoms13]

The franchi seems to be a good gun. A good friend I duck hunt with has used one for the last 3 years with zero issues. This fool doesnt even clean it. Its absolutely filthy and still cycles nicely.

Finding an old a5 in 3" is not very easy. They are out there but I gave up the search and got the new one. Much lighter, different in every way other than being a hump back.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Went to check on Stocker’s truck at the body shop and decided to hit the gun stores.  First one had a couple beat up and overpriced 1100s, some overpriced other brands and a decent selection of new.  I didn’t feel like talking forever about guns and decided to go home, then realized I could check the shop down the street from my house on the way home.

They barely had any used guns and we looked over a franchi, then as he’s putting it back he noticed one that was in the wrong spot and was already shortened... long story long, I pick up my camo 12 ga weatherby sa-08  in ten days.

On a side note, after hunting this morning I decided to go to a blm shooting area to pattern my 870 and ended up filling a grocery bag with brass and shotgun shells, some of which were 6.5 creed brass.  I have been looking to get a new 6.5 but was anti creed, but after seeing how short the brass was I am much more interested in that caliber.  I really wanted another 6.5x55 swede but so few manufacturers are making them, whereas everyone makes the creeds

[:)bestgen4runner]

Sounds like I'm to late but another good one is Stoeger. If You have never seen them check them out also.
Great guns.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

I have a Beretta Auto 12 and it is super nice. Next semi auto I get is a Saiga 12.

[redneckcustoms13]

Ok since he got a gun, we can divert.

We took 4 saigas with us to the dove field to shoot skeet. Put drum mags on them and had one on each shoulder like Rambo. It was the most fun I've ever had with a shot gun.