Gas operated or inertia?

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godgab

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Hi, I'm looking for a good semi-auto for waterfowl, but I'm wondering how the gas operated gun do well in rain and swamp. I know inertia driven gun like M2 or I-12 are reliable even in water, but I really like the new SX3 from winchester and I was wondering if I could have problem cycling in hard weather condition like heavy rain and sand from field.

Also, any opinion on winchester semi-auto? Does it have O-ring to replace?
any review of different semi auto available are welcome,
BTW I just need 3'' chamber
 
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Inertia driven are more forgiving and need less maintenance than gas operated shotguns.
The Benelli Inertia design is the best of the recoil actions and the Beretta Gas system used on the Extrema II is the absolute best for gas guns (they will cycle one ounce loads!) and they are considered self cleaning... whatever that means? I understand they need very little maintenance at all!
Most any shotgun needs to be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis but the Gas operated semis need more maintenance and will cease to function reliably if not maintained.
There are no rubber O-rings on the Winchester/Browning semis and they are a very good action and easy to maintain but hey will not reliably cycle one ounce loads.
I think the Remingtons are the least reliable of the popular semis and they need the most TLC... carry a spare O-ring in a ziplock at all times.
 
thanks for advice,
will the franchi I-12 inertia and benelli will use one ounce load?
any opinion on the franchi and how well gas gun work in water? (from personnal experience)
 
I've been trying to figure out what to do for waterfowl - including possibly replacing my older 1100....the options I currently like are the Franchi I-12, Stoeger 2000, or the Beretta Extrema 2....

They are all over the map in price from low (Stoeger) to high (Beretta) the user reports range from ok to excellent (more "just ok's" at the lower end).

They all seem to have the same rotary bolt (although the cheaper/less expensive 2 are inertia driven bolts) and they all use a recoil spring that is not hidden in the stock.....so presumably for real wet weather use (or dropping them in the beaver pond) they are all pretty easy to field strip and clean/dry....completely.

Would certainly like to know what the differences are between the Extrema and the Extrema II though...
 
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BIGREDD said:
Most any shotgun needs to be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis but the Gas operated semis need more maintenance and will cease to function reliably if not maintained.
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My Beretta 301 must be an exception because I very rarely clean that shotgun and have never had any problems with it except for once when I used reloads...
 
Go with a gas operated gun. Keep a gas gun clean and they'll work fine. Inertia guns still have a good recoil to them, gas guns are alot lighter on the shoulder.
 
I pretty much like browning and winchester, but can't decide between gold or SX3, gold is a little bit more expensive but got magazine cut off and speed loading.

Any opinions about speed loading? is it usefull or it's just pretty fast to load the usual way?

By the way I curently use a SxS so I don't know how to load semi-auto, do you put a round in chamber than pull the action or you put the first round directly in chamber?

Thanks
 
Can someone please explain the concept of "inertia operated" to me please? I've never heard of it before...
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I understand a "little" bit...hopefully other more informed people will jump in....for starters the bolt in an inertia operated shotgun (the ones I have looked at) are 2 piece affairs. The locking bolt head (that locks into the barrel extension) and the bolt body ... there is also a spring between these 2 components.

When the gun is fired the locking bolt head contains the round....the bolt body is free to move (or more correctly - to remain in place due to inertia) .. as the gun recoils to the rear the bolt body stays where it is causing the spring between it and the locking bolt head to compress.

When the recoil falls off.... the compressed spring forces the bolt body back ... the bolt body continues to the rear of the action and pulls the locking bolt head out of the recess(es) in the barrel extension. This ejects the spent casing.

The combined bolt head and bolt body continue to the rear of the action compressing the recoil spring (some are enclosed in the butt stock - some are exposed and encircle the magazine tube) .....when the recoil spring is sufficiently compressed it forces the bolt assembly forward chambering the next shell.....

my 2 cents and current understanding anyway.....fwiw
 
I just got a Stoeger 2000 and took it out on opening day waterfowl today. Pissed hard rain all morning. It got super wet and still worked like a charm. As far as having more recoil than gas operated semi's It has a tad more but less than my remington 870 supermag did. Besides when the ducks are flying and your banging around you don't notice recoil anyways.

Chris
 
Brian46 said:
Inertia gun will jam if it is not shouldered properly.
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I had read this several times but had a hard time believing it, so I put this rumour to the test. My Dad owns a Beretta Pintail (original Benelli action). We were shooting some skeet this summer and we were talking about this. I put a field load of #4, 1 1/8 oz, just held the gun with both hands, and pulled the trigger. Well I be damned, the gun cycled the spent shell out and chambered another with no problem. Then I did the exact thing with my old Browning Auto V, and it as well cycled the spent shell out and cycled another into the chamber with no problems. I am unsure where this rumour started, but like alot of things on the internet you can't always believe what you read. Maybe this was a fluke, but I somehow doubt it. Has anyone else tried this. Inertia guns will jam with some light loads when the gun is at your shoulder.

Cheers,
Kaupontenkak
 
I prefer gas-operated, some prefer inertia-operated, it just depends on what you prefer. If you have a chance try both out to see how you like them. Personally, I don't like the "clunkiness" of the way inertia guns cycle, and it's not as tight of a lock-up when the action closes, and also, like others pointed out, do not like the heavier recoil. I don't know about the jamming with lighter loads, although most inertia guns have a minimum shot ounce for them to cycle properly (supposedly). The only thing I don't like about gas-operated is the o-ring, but that is minor and you just replace it every year, no biggie, and so far I haven't had one jam or failure to feed in my gun, and I've had it for about a year and a half, and as long as you give it regular cleaning just like on every shotgun (clean after every few outings) then it will work fine, no matter what anyone says.
 
black_bear said:
The only thing I don't like about gas-operated is the o-ring,
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The o-ring is a feature of Remington autoloaders. The Beretta, Browning and Winchester semis don't have them.

Both systems have their benefits and drawbacks. I prefer gas-operated but my semi does double duty as a clays and waterfowl gun. If I were getting a gun just for waterfowl I'd probably get a Benelli.
 
Which is more reliable in the winter?
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The m14, m16/c7,fnc1 Ak47 etc etc are all gas operated and have functioned fine for decades in virtually all weather conditions...so gas is ok. On the other hand I suppose Browning 30 cal machine gun could be said to be short "recoil" operated and they have worked pretty well in the same conditions as have various smgs (sten, sterling etc)...maintenance is a major factor followed by the type of lubricant used in extreme sub-zero temperatures...my 2 cents
 
I really like my '68 Browning A5 magnum, the "clunkiness" feels good to me and I think it gives me a timing or rythm. Just bought it last season (in new condition) and like it better everytime I shoot it. It did take a while to sort out what way to configure the friction rings for different shell sizes (particularily trap loads) but now I have no issues. The one drawback I see is if I switch from 3" loads to 2 3/4" while in the field. The friction rings have to be changed (one removed) and although it's easy, I would hate to drop one and lose it....
I also have an SKB XL900 gas auto (like the Ithaca XL900). It's a pleasure to shoot and very lightweight (I use it for upland). I've shot Remington 1100's and a Beretta gas auto and find they all shoot great. I would go with a gas operated gun if I was looking for a new auto. Like BB mentioned, you would be best to go out and try a few different models if possible.
The Browning was a fluke buy as a fellow I work with inherited it and I was offered it for $650. I bought it for duck hunting because it had less than a box of shells put through it and I know they have a reputation of standing up to lots of use and abuse.
Dan
browning.jpg
 
benelli if you are serious about getting lots out in all weather and have no time for cleaning! ugly & bulky yes but if you are serious ...
 
The way that story goes is that the rotating bolt of an inertia system needs to have some recoil motion to cycle reliably. If you rear the buttstock to a solid, stationary surface, then the gun will jam.

The way you held the gun, is the way the inertia system likes it.

kaupontenkak said:
I had read this several times but had a hard time believing it, so I put this rumour to the test. My Dad owns a Beretta Pintail (original Benelli action). We were shooting some skeet this summer and we were talking about this. I put a field load of #4, 1 1/8 oz, just held the gun with both hands, and pulled the trigger. Well I be damned, the gun cycled the spent shell out and chambered another with no problem. Then I did the exact thing with my old Browning Auto V, and it as well cycled the spent shell out and cycled another into the chamber with no problems. I am unsure where this rumour started, but like alot of things on the internet you can't always believe what you read. Maybe this was a fluke, but I somehow doubt it. Has anyone else tried this. Inertia guns will jam with some light loads when the gun is at your shoulder.

Cheers,
Kaupontenkak
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