Semi Auto vs Pump?

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Adriano199917

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Hey everyone, I'm looking to buy my first shotgun for hunting small game(rabbit, duck, partridge, turkey).
I wanted to know what would be better as far as semi auto vs pump? And any recommendations?
 
As stated, a pump will resist the Liberals and NDP for longer. They are also on the whole both less expensive and more reliable, and more forgiving of some types of ammunition. Against that, you do get a softer felt recoil with a semi.
 
Big Bad said:
As stated, a pump will resist the Liberals and NDP for longer. They are also on the whole both less expensive and more reliable, and more forgiving of some types of ammunition. Against that, you do get a softer felt recoil with a semi.
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I agree it is personal preference. One thing I have personally seen with semis when duck hunting is if they get dirt/sand/crud/plant matter in the action, it may not cycle. Yes, cleaning it out solves that issue, but at least twice I have been duck hunting (with my pump) and my hunting companion's semi shotgun became a single shot (yes, we can debate the frequency of cleaning your gun, not dropping it, etc).

All of my hunting shotguns (12g, 20g, 410) are pumps. I like them, and it's what I am used to.

That being said, I'd guess 99.9% of the time a semi will be just as fast, if not faster for the 2nd shot than a pump.

Also, depending on the shotgun, a pump may be able to handle short (1.75") shotgun shells. I am not aware of any semis that reliably cycle the short shells (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken).

YMMV
 
A semi is set to work well with only a certain a range of ammo. I had bought a 20 guage semi for my daughter and it only worked well with high brass hunting loads but not with target loads. A pump will work with anything that fits in the chamber.
 
JBD said:
A semi is set to work well with only a certain a range of ammo. I had bought a 20 guage semi for my daughter and it only worked well with high brass hunting loads but not with target loads. A pump will work with anything that fits in the chamber.
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Some semis are better designed and more versatile than others. Choose wisely. I've primarily shot a varsamax for waterfoul going on 11 years. Got 1 click ever. Gun so dirty it wouldn't close the action, also the spring was weak. Easy fix.

Occasionally take out my 870 and sx3. I've had far more issues with the 870 than the 2 semis combined. If you really get into running the pump fast I can catch the empty before it leaves the action with the bolt coming forwards. Have to slow down just a touch and all is good. Occasionally shells stick in the chamber. That's now fixed I believe.

I'm partial to gas semi autos and the versamax and sx3 are awesome guns, shoot almost anything you put in them with 100% reliability. I mostly shoot the versamax due to it dampening recoil better than anything. Sx3 is wood also so it only comes out on bluebird days.
 
If a semi fails most often it's because of ammo that's too light, a lack of maintenance or a combination of the two. If a pump fails it's most often operator error. If you can put in the time with a pump to get good with it then it's a fine choice. If not pick a semi. The right answer to the question is to have both.
 
Depends how much you want to spend. A decent quality semi (Say $1500+) will be as reliable as a pump, if you keep it clean. I have a Remington Versa Max, a Browning Maxus II, and a Beretta A400 Xplor. All 3 will cycle anything and everything reliably. You'll have reliability problems with the cheaper guns (The turkish crap, cheaper inertia guns like the M3K, etc). People think semi-autos are unreliable because people let they get filthy and they stop running. A pump will be much more tolerant of being neglected.

Waterfowler said:
Why?

I can shoot my 870 just as fast accurately, as my buddies can with their semis.
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This is his first shotgun. People with ton of experience and practice can shoot a pump almost as fast as a semi. Without that experience and practice, not so much.
 
Highwind said:
I've used single shot and pumps. They work fine.
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:agree:

While I got started with a semi... nowadays, I'd say a single or a double.

- Unless you're in a target rich environment, if the game you're shooting at isn't down after 1 (or two shots), a 3rd (for waterfowls) or 4th-5th (for same game) won't change anything.
- Unless you have a dog to retrieve your down bird (or you are flushing them in some sort of field where it will be easy to locate) shooting more than one at the time and trying to find them afterward is kind of time consuming
- A double will give you the option of two chokes
- They'll shoot anything from light bird loads to full loads for waterfowls.

Haven't gotten around to hunt turkey's... so can't speak about the specific of that...

*-*-*-*

If his objective is to piss-off a lieberal, then sure, why not get a Benelli M4 :pirate:... or a short barrel pump (with a bayonet mount while at it)
- They'll go fine for chasing grouse and hare in thick bushes... for wing shooting, well, I guess you'll need to get used to them.
 
I prefer having a pump shotgun (Mossberg 500) or it's budget friendly brother the Maverick 88 it's all you really need. With more expensive shotguns you will be worried about scratching the finish etc. Not with either of these brands they can take a beating and keep pumping. Notice I didn't mention the Remington 870? lately they been nothing but junk unless you can find a 60's - 70's wingmaster.
 
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