Thinking about a semi auto shotgun.

If you don't buy it PM me so that I can buy it. I've got the Benelli SBE2 wih the Comfort Tech stock and it is a dream come true for high volume shooting. In a severe state of stupidity I traded away a SBE1 for a Browning BPS 10 GA and a few bucks. Wish I still had the SBE1. It was light, fast handling and shoots anything without having to change friction rings or replace "O" rings. Shoot it all day long and have zero crud inside the receiver. Cleaning is so simple it's idiot proof. Pull the trigger assembly, spray it out with break cleaner and reoil. Pull the pin in the bolt and the bolt face comes out, clean and reoil. Unscrew the barrel retaining cap and remove, spray and oil. You can field strip, clean, oil and reassemble in a matter of a few minutes with no tools. If ypu can get it for $550 that is a great deal. I saw two at last weekends gunshow in Memphis. The really nice but slightly used copy was priced at $800 with box, 3 tubes and tube wrench. The rode hard... copy with no box, one tube and no tube wrench was priced at $650.

Class III
 
There was an article in American Rifleman sometime back-Siaga is out of business.

The Benelli/Beretta recoil operated system is very slick. Does seem to require a more firm gun mount that a gas system to allow the recoil to operate the gun.

The 11-87 is a heavy duty version of the 1100, which tended to break on a steady diet of heavy loads. Police/deer versions of the 11-87 may only operate with rather heavy loads. Mine refuses to function on less than 3 1/4 dram equivilent, 1 1/4 oz loads. I bought the piece in '89 or thereabouts and am still on the original o-ring. The ones with the compensated gas system have a steel sleeve that fits over the gas valve on the gas cylinder and retains the valve. If the sleeve goes missing, the weapon becomes a bolt gun after the first shot or two.
 
Class III said:
If you don't buy it PM me so that I can buy it. I've got the Benelli SBE2 wih the Comfort Tech stock and it is a dream come true for high volume shooting. In a severe state of stupidity I traded away a SBE1 for a Browning BPS 10 GA and a few bucks. Wish I still had the SBE1. It was light, fast handling and shoots anything without having to change friction rings or replace "O" rings. Shoot it all day long and have zero crud inside the receiver. Cleaning is so simple it's idiot proof. Pull the trigger assembly, spray it out with break cleaner and reoil. Pull the pin in the bolt and the bolt face comes out, clean and reoil. Unscrew the barrel retaining cap and remove, spray and oil. You can field strip, clean, oil and reassemble in a matter of a few minutes with no tools. If ypu can get it for $550 that is a great deal. I saw two at last weekends gunshow in Memphis. The really nice but slightly used copy was priced at $800 with box, 3 tubes and tube wrench. The rode hard... copy with no box, one tube and no tube wrench was priced at $650.

Class III
Click to expand...

"Cleaning is so simple it's idiot proof."

My kind of gun! Thanks for the info. The gun shop guy is a friend and the only place I buy anything so he gives me good deals. Trying to work on him for a buy 10 get one free punch card but no luck on that.:D
I probably will get it as my first only semi auto shotgun. I like the Rem, Stoeger and Mossberg guns mentioned also but this gun has a "slick" factor to it plus it's the only really nice used one at the moment.
 
If you want an old classic a Browning A-5 is nice, I have a sweet 16. If your going to shoot a lot of targets a gas operated Beretta is the way to go. The Benelli is a good hunting gun, but I consider them over priced for what they are. They also recoil too much for me. The Browning Gold and the Winchester Super XII are also nice shooting gas operated guns. The Remington 1100's and 1187's are probably the nicest looking semi auto shotguns and have low recoil and fit me very well, but I don't think they are as reliable or as tough as the other gas guns I mentioned.
 
Last edited:
I am in no real hurry to buy one, it's just that this one is here now. It will not be there long. There is not a real selection of mid priced/cheap good semi autos around here. Most are pumps or very expensive semi autos and OI.

So is the recoil of the inertia system somewhere between a pump and gas?
 
OCD1 said:
So is the recoil of the inertia system somewhere between a pump and gas?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a good way to describe it. Honestly, if you hadn't been told about this, you might not have even noticed it. SBEs are not the terrible kickers some people like to make them out to be.

If you really object to the recoil with waterfowl loads, you can change the recoil pad to something softer. I think Limbsaver has prefitted pads just for SBEs, but you will probably be fine with the pad the gun comes with - unless all you shoot is 3.5-inch magnums. Those things are going to kick no matter what shotgun you shoot them in. :D You could look into a Kick-eez pad too. I usually prefer those to the other brands/designs. They don't seem as soft as the Limbsaver, but sometimes the recoil pad of a shotgun can actually be too soft.

If you are considering the gun strictly for the ability to shoot the really big loads, then it might be worth looking into the Beretta gas gun, I think known as the "Extrema," or something like that. Otherwise, the SBE you are looking at should handle a variety of loads nicely. My SBE will shoot my very light 1-oz. target handloads (probably just a bit over 1100 FPS) and has never had a hiccup.

Your comments on light weight and balance of the gun are the reasons I saw for buying the SBE. I have yet to change my mind about those, and I have been known to buy a shotgun or two. :)
 
No, I do not plan on magnum 3 or 3.5 loads, just general field loads. Clay Birds. I do not have 3" high brass in my Mossberg SD Pump just regular 00 Buck. I had a Rem 870 years ago But now I am old and brittle;) Not much Goose hunting here, maybe some Turkey some day. We used to have lots of Dove and Quail but development took care of that.

I have some Limb Savers, one on a Rem 700 30-06 older version with no cushy butt pad just metal and on my 44 Mag Carbine. The sell them at Wal Mart now under the Winchester name for half the price of anywhere else. Exact same thing.

I went to the shop and check it out again. It is pretty darn nice:D I have it on hold.
 
Last edited:
auto loader

Ok, three pages now and nobody has mentioned the old Winchester Super-X 1. This is the absolute best autoloader ever built. Simple gas system and virtually jam proof. I used one 30 years ago to shoot 3-gun matches and won many when the tricked out 1100's and such failed. I still have three and would put them up against any 870 anytime as far as reliablity. You will short shuck your 870 before the Super-X will jam. Bad news is they never were chambered for anything but 2 3/4 " loads so duck hunters don't use them. ( but I still do) and being forged steel receivers they are heavy for upland hunting. You can find them used frequently for $400-$600.

Bob
 
It's not pretty, but for flat out fun it's hard to beat a Saiga. Tons of accessories are available, check out the manufacturers and pics on the Saiga forum.

P.S. Saigas are manufactured by the Russian arms factory Izhmash, which has not gone out of business.
 
I carry a FN SLP (Self Loading Police) w/ 18" bbl at work and I have it's cousin, a Winchester Super X2 for sporting use. Fine weaponry, IMO.
 
S-W4EVER said:
I carry a FN SLP (Self Loading Police) w/ 18" bbl at work and I have it's cousin, a Winchester Super X2 for sporting use. Fine weaponry, IMO.
Click to expand...


Pretty much anything FN is first class in my book. Do they make the Winchester? I looked up some X2 and X3 but they are $1000+ But that's new.
 
Like Bat Guano I have packed an 870 around for the past 25 years, never fails. I do have an 11/87P that I use in competition though, and it too has never failed me. The 11/87P (or the regular 11/87) do a good job of eating up some of the recoil from the heavy loads (slugs and buck). Since my shoulder surgery I am sensitive to recoil from shoulder mounted long arms. For my quarterly quals I shoot the 870 left handed, but can handle the 11/87P right handed (and only shoot right handed in competition with the 11/87P).

The early 11/87s did have a problem cycling reduced loads. That problem appears to have been cured by Remington on the newer models. The fix for the older guns was to open the two gas ports. I don't recall offhand, but I think the drill size might have been a 7/64" or a 9/64", whatever size is one hair larger than the existing port.

As stated previously, the 11/87 is a beefed up version of the 1100. I also have an 1100, one of the ealry ones, and it seemed to require replacement of the gas rings and o-rings on a fairly regular basis. I haven't shot that one much since getting the 11/87P.
 
I'm sure this will get some laughs, but I have a Ted Williams (HS) with rib, Poly choke, and brake. About 7.8# and limited to 2 3/4" 12 Ga (or 20) and VERY comfortable to shoot. Can be picked up for $200 range on GB or AA. generally with a pad and nice walnut wood.
 
I went back to the 870 and stayed with it until retirement too. How much a gun jams is only half of the question of reliability. The other half is how easy, or hard, it is to un-jam and the 870 is the clear winner on all I've ever used.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

jimmyj
TOKAREV 12 GAUGE SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN
Replies
8
Views
861
Ματθιας
Ματθιας
MelvinWalker
I am thinking about re-buying a Ruger P89
2 3
Replies
48
Views
2K
CajunBass
CajunBass
chief38
Fabrique National Auto 5 12 gauge shotgun from 1927 - 1929
Replies
8
Views
554
67tempest
6
A
New AR style Semi Auto 20 Gauge
Replies
3
Views
1K
Kanewpadle
Kanewpadle
AJ
Savage Model 340V .225 Winchester
Replies
10
Views
1K
AJ
AJ

Latest posts

Back
Top