New semi-auto (inexpensive)

M

Merck

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Hey all,

Looking to get a new semi-auto 12g. Basically a back-up at the range and all-around camping/woods gun. Have narrowed it down to the SA-08, the 930, and the 1187. The driver here is price as my current gun serves me well, so this is just a fun second gun. I've read various reviews but anyone have any head-to-head info? I'm probably leaning toward the SA-08 - want to make sure I can cycle target loads effectively. Would prefer to buy new so the 5-7 hundred range is what I'm looking at.

Cheers
 
I would save some more and buy an sx3. Cheap and reliable are not equal and cheaper semi automatics are cheaper for a reason.
 
Well I have the 1187 and my wife and dad both have a 930. Been nothing wrong with either gun so far. They get used mainly for hunting, not trap shooting except for some pasture clays. However, I know a couple of fellows who used 930's for trap for several years, shooting a fair amount each year. You said you are looking for a back up gun and as a camping gun. They will work fine in my opinion.
 
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Depends on what cheap is though....Around a grand is the lowest I think you can go and not have junk for the most part.....$1000 can get you into a SX3, Franchi, Versamax,.....
 
Stretch the budget and go versamax, IMO.

I have owned both the weatherby (labelled) and the 930. Wby was ok for what it was (way cheaper when I bought than they are now)
930, I had issues within a month of owning it, they wanted it sent to the warranty depot. I looked into said depot and saw pretty terrible reviews so instead, I sold at a loss (with full disclosure to buyer)

That is just my experience as I do know others with solid 930's
 
Fair points guys. I guess it'll either be save up or change it up and for a pump. Just not wanting to take my 725 camping...but like the idea of a semi. Maybe used better semi is the answer. Thanks
 
Baikal MP-153.

Cheap....$500+/-
Reliable.....No problems yet (5000+ rounds) Just avoid the cheap Winchester steel cased target loads......use only brass cased and you'll be fine.
Semi auto.....yes

There are some here that hate Baikal by name alone, others have had a bad experience but there are also others who swear by them. It is my go to shotgun because it fits me perfectly, it is functional and has never given me a problem.

Cheers
 
You can't go wrong with a new Stoeger M3500, 28" barreled 2 3/4" - 3.5" chamber! It cycles everything I put in it and you don't need to adjust anything ever! One of the best things about these that you are not likely to find on any other shotgun other than the really high priced Beneli's/Beretta's is they take down without any tools and are the easiest guns to clean. The inertia system basically acts like a blowback gun without any gas system to clean! Just as easy as a bolt gun! Everything, even the bolt, can be taken down in less than 1 minute without tools. Everything is really accessible when completely taken down as well. They come drilled and tapped with a scope rail to add on if you like, stock shims to change the drop and LOP, and also a recoil reducer(which is just a large chunk of steel you screw into the buttstock) but it really helps keep the recoil down when shooting a lot of 3.5" shells.

I took down my brother in laws newer Browning Maxus and it was a total nightmare compared to these. So much so, that I would never own one. He now has the new Browning A5 with the same type of inertia system if that tells you anything about cleaning a Maxus! The camo really makes them look new even with lots of bangs/scratches and you never have to worry about rust anywhere but the bore!

I would highly recommend these shotguns! My new M3500 Max 4 camo came to $805 shipped to my door 2 years ago. Cabelas Canada has the black synthetic version for $709.99 and the Max-4 Camo one for $749.99. Al Flaherty's has the Max-4 Camo one for only $695.00!

As an added bonus that you may or may not find with your gun. I can get 3" groups with the cheap Winchester 15 pack of rifled slugs at 100 yards with a cheap Vortex 3-9 scope using the improved cylinder choke rested off of a bag. Great for the controlled deer hunt that I go on each year.

Stoeger Canada also has AMAZING customer support! I lost a spring from my trigger group when I was cleaning it one day a few days before opening day and a quick phone call to them and they had it to me in the mail the next day, express post so I got it before opening day! Got to chat with the guy on the phone about hunting and guns for over half an hour as well which was really great.

You can't go wrong!

Cheers,

Ian
 
Smitsauce said:
You can't go wrong with a new Stoeger M3500, 28" barreled 2 3/4" - 3.5" chamber! It cycles everything I put in it and you don't need to adjust anything ever! One of the best things about these that you are not likely to find on any other shotgun other than the really high priced Beneli's/Beretta's is they take down without any tools and are the easiest guns to clean. The inertia system basically acts like a blowback gun without any gas system to clean! Just as easy as a bolt gun! Everything, even the bolt, can be taken down in less than 1 minute without tools. Everything is really accessible when completely taken down as well. They come drilled and tapped with a scope rail to add on if you like, stock shims to change the drop and LOP, and also a recoil reducer(which is just a large chunk of steel you screw into the buttstock) but it really helps keep the recoil down when shooting a lot of 3.5" shells.

I took down my brother in laws newer Browning Maxus and it was a total nightmare compared to these. So much so, that I would never own one. He now has the new Browning A5 with the same type of inertia system if that tells you anything about cleaning a Maxus! The camo really makes them look new even with lots of bangs/scratches and you never have to worry about rust anywhere but the bore!

I would highly recommend these shotguns! My new M3500 Max 4 camo came to $805 shipped to my door 2 years ago. Cabelas Canada has the black synthetic version for $709.99 and the Max-4 Camo one for $749.99. Al Flaherty's has the Max-4 Camo one for only $695.00!

As an added bonus that you may or may not find with your gun. I can get 3" groups with the cheap Winchester 15 pack of rifled slugs at 100 yards with a cheap Vortex 3-9 scope using the improved cylinder choke rested off of a bag. Great for the controlled deer hunt that I go on each year.

Stoeger Canada also has AMAZING customer support! I lost a spring from my trigger group when I was cleaning it one day a few days before opening day and a quick phone call to them and they had it to me in the mail the next day, express post so I got it before opening day! Got to chat with the guy on the phone about hunting and guns for over half an hour as well which was really great.

You can't go wrong!

Cheers,

Ian
Click to expand...

I just bought this gun today from Prophet River, fantastic service.

I looked at the Weatherby SA-08, actually went to buy one, but after handling both of them and cycling the bolt's, the Stoeger was smoother, and the overall feel of the shotgun won me over.
 
Bear_Blade said:
I just bought this gun today from Prophet River, fantastic service.

I looked at the Weatherby SA-08, actually went to buy one, but after handling both of them and cycling the bolt's, the Stoeger was smoother, and the overall feel of the shotgun won me over.
Click to expand...

You will love it. Make sure you put in the steel recoil reducer into the butt stock if you are going to be shooting 3.5" shells and you will be good to go! Also, when you do the first cleaning before you shoot it, take the bolt apart and clean out all of the storage oil and lightly oil/grease the spring. Then shoot a couple of boxes of 3.5" shells out of it first to break it in and then you will be able to shoot any load out of it without incident (Like it tells you to in the manual).

Cheers,

Ian
 
I just bought a Versamax for $875, and there is a $100 mail in rebate, for a final price of $775. The same CGN business member, has one Versamax Sportsman left for $650, and the same $100 mail in rebate applies, for a final price of $550. Those are good shotguns, for a great price.
 
stubblejumper said:
I just bought a Versamax for $875, and there is a $100 mail in rebate, for a final price of $775. The same CGN business member, has one Versamax Sportsman left for $650, and the same $100 mail in rebate applies, for a final price of $550. Those are good shotguns, for a great price.
Click to expand...

careto let me in on who?
 
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