Semi auto shotgun rankings

Tikkactr

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How would you guys rank the top 5 to 10 semi auto shotguns that are out there with a barrel length of 20 inches or less? I think the benelli is up there but it has a high price tag. Would any turkish semi autos make this list ie. Hatsan, derya. Just curious
 
I've had some good trigger time on a number of the more common, though it's only worth giving the top 3. For a number of reasons - cost included - there's a decent gap between first and second:

1) Beretta 1301 Tactical
2) Benelli M4
3) Remington Versamax Tactical
4) Rem 1187 Police
5) Mossberg 930 JM

But that also accounts for preference. Since the 1301 came on scene, I wouldn't even consider another semi...even though I love the Reminton.

Honorable mention would go to an Auto 5 whippet gun, but we're out of luck. Ha
 
I've had some good trigger time on a number of the more common, though it's only worth giving the top 3. For a number of reasons - cost included - there's a decent gap between first and second:

1) Beretta 1301 Tactical
2) Benelli M4
3) Remington Versamax Tactical
4) Rem 1187 Police
5) Mossberg 930 JM

But that also accounts for preference. Since the 1301 came on scene, I wouldn't even consider another semi...even though I love the Reminton.

Honorable mention would go to an Auto 5 whippet gun, but we're out of luck. Ha

Intresting, I have never shot the Beretta, but have had two M4's and loved them both. What do you prefer about the Beretta vs the M4?
 
The Beretta 1301 seems to be pretty nice and goes for around 1500 but seems to be sold out at most places. Wonder if they mame a shorter barrel for it than the 18.5 inch barrel that comes with it. Are the benelli and higher end semi auto shotguns worth that much more than say a derya or any other turkish shotgun? I know some turkish shotguns are terrible but others have been gettinv pretty good reviews online
 
The Beretta 1301 seems to be pretty nice and goes for around 1500 but seems to be sold out at most places. Wonder if they mame a shorter barrel for it than the 18.5 inch barrel that comes with it. Are the benelli and higher end semi auto shotguns worth that much more than say a derya or any other turkish shotgun? I know some turkish shotguns are terrible but others have been gettinv pretty good reviews online

I paid $1800 and $1900 for my two M4's, I think they are worth every penny. The only reason I sold them was it was a pile of cash to have tied up in a non-hunting toy gun. They are very well built and never had a issue, even with very low powered target loads.
 
Intresting, I have never shot the Beretta, but have had two M4's and loved them both. What do you prefer about the Beretta vs the M4?

The price is what should attract most people. Last round of Gen1 guns were $999. That aside, it is redicioualy light weight, so much so I'd say it's lighter than an 870...certainly feels that way. Despite this, I even find it jumps a little less. I also can't outrun the gun, no matter how quickly I pull trigger. It's a silly thing to do, but I've been able to stop most every other semi I've tried.

Doesn't mean I don't love the M4. Feels like a real piece to me. The 1301 is like a Tupperware gun to me ;)
 
IMO, Benelli and Beretta are in a class of their own when it comes to tactical semiautos.

Everything else is likely to either require at least some degree of tuning if you expect it to be bulletproof when ran hard, and/or have poor longevity in comparison.
 
The Beretta 1301 seems to be pretty nice and goes for around 1500 but seems to be sold out at most places. Wonder if they mame a shorter barrel for it than the 18.5 inch barrel that comes with it. Are the benelli and higher end semi auto shotguns worth that much more than say a derya or any other turkish shotgun? I know some turkish shotguns are terrible but others have been gettinv pretty good reviews online

If they did make a shorter tube, it wouldn't sell a whole lot - it would be restricted.
 
The price is what should attract most people. Last round of Gen1 guns were $999. That aside, it is redicioualy light weight, so much so I'd say it's lighter than an 870...certainly feels that way. Despite this, I even find it jumps a little less. I also can't outrun the gun, no matter how quickly I pull trigger. It's a silly thing to do, but I've been able to stop most every other semi I've tried.

Doesn't mean I don't love the M4. Feels like a real piece to me. The 1301 is like a Tupperware gun to me ;)

Interesting comments. The Beretta comes in nearly two pounds lighter than the M4, which is definitely impressive. Despite being beautifully made, I found my M4 kicked pretty angrily with proper shotgun loads, even with the extra ballast. Beretta says the 1301 runs something like 30% faster than any other semi, which would seem to back up your observation. I thought the M4 was going to be my holy grail for shotguns, but once again I find myself looking for the perfect shotgun...I might have the give the Beretta a try.
 
Interesting comments. The Beretta comes in nearly two pounds lighter than the M4, which is definitely impressive. Despite being beautifully made, I found my M4 kicked pretty angrily with proper shotgun loads, even with the extra ballast. Beretta says the 1301 runs something like 30% faster than any other semi, which would seem to back up your observation. I thought the M4 was going to be my holy grail for shotguns, but once again I find myself looking for the perfect shotgun...I might have the give the Beretta a try.

The M4 definately kicks hard for a heavy gas semi, albeit it its a nice crisp type of recoil that lacks the shuffle and vibration of typical mag tube riding piston gas semis.

I doubt its 30% slower than the 1301 with all loads though, ARGO cycle speed seems dependent on the power of the load being used. With full power buck or especially slugs its probably very close.
 
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The M4 definately kicks hard for a heavy gas semi, albeit it its a nice crisp type of recoil that lacks the shuffle and vibration of typical mag tube riding piston gas semis.

I doubt its 30% slower than the 1301 with all loads though, ARGO cycle speed seems dependent on the power of the load being used. With full power buck or especially slugs its probably very close.

I know I've run into issues switching loads in an M4, and I've been able to hang it up. You would never need to shoot it THAT fast, but I'm just calling it how it was.

I've always said I prefer the feeling of a solid gun like the M4, but the 1301 could easily be carried all day.
 
I know I've run into issues switching loads in an M4, and I've been able to hang it up. You would never need to shoot it THAT fast, but I'm just calling it how it was.

I've always said I prefer the feeling of a solid gun like the M4, but the 1301 could easily be carried all day.

What loads was it hanging up with?

There are some awfully fast shooters, Jerry Misculek included, doing mag dump videos with the M4 with no issues. Its possible that there is something else occuring other than you beating the trigger?
 
Honestly, the benelli M4. It's the Cadillac of shotguns, the premier of semi autos and still used in the US military. I have one and it would be my go to zombie, sh1t hit the fan, someone breaking into my house gun, it's never failed me... Of course, this is all my opinion.
 
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