What are some good, Reliable semi auto SD shotguns?

[Rule3]

I am looking for a good reliable, semi auto self defense shotgun.

My shoulder can not take a pump any more.

I have a newer Rem 870 pump which I think is a piece of junk. I like my Mossberg better.

Looking for a GAS gun not Inertia (I have a Benelli field gun which is great but not a home defense gun)
The Inertia system is a little softer but not enough.

Oh, and without the Benelli price tag

 

[GatorFarmer]

Saiga or conversion thereof. If recoil is a problem you might want to look into Vang comp or somesuch modification.

 

[jkc]

I spoke a few years back with Hans Vang, of Vang Comp Systems, shotgun guru, about this very question. At the time he was modifying a bunch of Bennelis for the DEA who'd spec'd them in favor of the inertia operating system, vs. gas guns such as the Remington 1187 I was contemplating. Mr. Vang very diplomaticaly said he thought that concerns about the possible failure of O-rings in the gas system were overblown and unwarranted, and pointed out the obvious, which is that in a few minutes, with a couple $ worth of small parts, and without tools, you can replace all the rings and seals in an 1187, restoring it to like-new functionality. I went with the 1187 and it's been utterly reliable and trouble free, and, doesn't "kill on one end, cripple on the other."

 

[g_conway]

1100 1187

I have the 1100 TAC4 Tactical. Very good

 

[photoman]

Mossberg 930.

 

[35Rem]

Remington 1100, if you only need 2 3/4". Should be all you need for HD. Plenty of stuff to add on to it out there, if you feel the need. Easy to work on, you are familiar with Remington already, very reliable.

 

[KJM]

Go with a 20 GA. if recoil is a problem.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob120.html

and and good choice price wise:

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/mossberg-sa20-tactical-shotgun-review/

From Ayoob:

In his book "StressFire II," Massad Ayoob, a self-defense expert who supports the use of 20-gauge shotguns for personal protection, wrote: "Delivering roughly the ballistic force of two .44 Magnum revolver rounds at once, the twenty is described by most shooters as having about half or little more than half the recoil of a 12-gauge with the same type of projectiles. Throwing its lead at about the same velocity as the twelve, the twenty merely has less lead to throw.

 

[Rule3]

I have always thought the 20 gauge was more than sufficient. No shops around here carry 20 semi autos in a SD or dare I say "tactical" version.

20 or 12, I just want one the works, every time. I look at how the new 870 is made compared to older ones and it"s sad. You could make 2 guns from the metal in a older one.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Get a nice older 20ga 1100, and either trim the barrel to desired length, or invest a bit more and buy a cylinder bore barrel with your choice of sights, and perhaps add a magazine extension if desired. It's likely that you will come out cheaper getting a good used one and modifying it to your needs than buying one off the shelf- they've gone nuts with their pricing.

I like the Auto-5 myself...just wish I'd have gotten one of the extended tube police models that were imported and sold second hand about 10-15 years ago. I can kick myself now.

Something like this if made today would float my boat.

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/bungib/PublicFolder/Guns/Browning%20A5.jpg

 

[Rule3]

Get a nice older 20ga 1100, and either trim the barrel to desired length, or invest a bit more and buy a cylinder bore barrel with your choice of sights, and perhaps add a magazine extension if desired. It's likely that you will come out cheaper getting a good used one and modifying it to your needs than buying one off the shelf- they've gone nuts with their pricing.

I like the Auto-5 myself...just wish I'd have gotten one of the extended tube police models that were imported and sold second hand about 10-15 years ago. I can kick myself now.

Something like this if made today would float my boat.

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/bungib/PublicFolder/Guns/Browning A5.jpg

Local shop has a couple A5's. Don't know if I could get myself to cut on them though. An old Rem maybe.

 

[Combat]

SAIGA,everything you will ever need in a SD shotgun.

 

[jlrhiner]

Browning A-5. Shorten the stock, clip the barrel, and never look back.

 

[S&WOkie]

Remington 1100 or 1187!

 

[Rule3]

SAIGA,everything you will ever need in a SD shotgun.

I was looking at one of those. Have they fixed the gas system so it shoots anything?? Something about they wouldn't shoot light loads?

 

[Combat]

One of the great things about this weapon is if your gun has a problem with a certain type of shell there are many "fixes" you can do. I was lucky and my gun eats anything you feed it. People are inventing new upgrades for this weapon all the time, in fact my gun does not look like it did in this old pic anymore. Just about anything that can be done to or added to a regular AK can be done to this shotgun. They are getting to be like AR's, you can dress them any way you want. Folding stocks, fancy railed handguards, ect, ect...

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I've had good luck with my Mossburg 930 SPX 12 gauge. Simple non adjustable gas system that functions with 2 3/4" light trap loads to OO buck and slugs. Never had a malfunction with 2 3/4" yet. Never fired a 3 inch out of it so I really dont know about that.

 

[35Rem]

Charles Askins liked the Model 11 Remington
The Gunfights Of Col. Charles Askins | American Handgunner | Find Articles

 

[max]

Remington 1100 works for me.

 

[chief38]

Well I have two Shotguns for HD work:

1) First is the Remington "Marine Version" of the 870 which I think is pretty good (IMHO), but not as well made as #2. I have never had any issues with it and it has always gone bang when the trigger was pulled. Fits the bill for HD.

2) Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight (vintage model from the late 60's) - well made, strong, short barrel, ejects from the bottom instead of the side & very reliable. Downside is it kicks like a mule due to its very thin stock. Other than that it's great!

I did have a Mossberg M500 years back and while it did do the job, I was not very happy with it's construction or control layout, so I sold it.

I can sympathize about the recoil of the Pump guns, and while I do have a fair amount of Semi- Auto Shotguns, I have relegated them to hunting, skeet, trap and sporting clays. I truly don't remember having any issues with any of my SA guns (except once when an extractor broke) but I just feel better using a pump gun as I feel they are inherently safer and more reliable for HD situations. If I had to use a SA shotgun for HD it would more than likely be a Remington 1100 or 11-87. I do not know if they sell a model that is specifically set up for HD, but if they do I suppose that would fit your bill fairly well.

Chief38

 

[Chipmunk6]

Go with the Mossberg, you won't regret it.
20 gauge if you can find one.
Chipmunk6