New shotgun on a budget.

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I'm looking for a little input on a new shotgun on a budget. I got to boys taking up the sport next season and at least one is set on an semi auto 12. My advice was if he is only going to buy one gun then buy a 3.5". Although i don't personally feel it's not necessary, that way he is covered for everything. That being said, I also told him the price of a higher end gun and his jaw dropped. Ya ... things like that look a lot better when the old man flips the bill. I also casually mentioned the cost of lets say a new Beretta slug barrel (that was an example because i heard they actually made one.... for a price) and that's when reality set in. So now we're looking at $1000 or less for a new semi auto shotgun that will cycle 2.75" to 3.5" shells and you can get a smooth or rifle barrel for it. He likes my 1187 premiere 3" 12ga converted to black synthetics. They come in 3.5" also but i told him that my "used gun" has shot lots of ducks , geese, grouse, rabbits and deer and until i find what i consider to be a deal , I'll shoot it. So ... It's an 1187 maybe SX 3 . A dealer tells me the new Stoeger doesn't like cycling a lot of 2.75"( ie sporting clays). What about these Hatsan Escorts. They have a 5yr warranty , come with 5 chokes and i think there is a smooth bore slug barrel. They are also are available in camo or or black. I did read that a couple people out of 20 reviews had a piston spring break and were looking for parts on their Escorts. Might consider the versa max sportsman if you can get a slug barrel for around $200. Oh and if we do settle on a 3" i read a great review on a Franchi Affiniti . We have a few months to decide so lots of input please.
 
Never needed 3.5" in my life. Taken goose with just a 28" barrel and 2 3/4" shells. That being said, never needed a semi either. If the shotgun doesn't fit, don't buy it. Oh, it was a 20 ga, not a 12 and still worked
 
For a do it all semi-auto under the $1000 mark, the 3" SX3 Black Shadow is the way to go. For $100 more, you can get the 3.5" version and they will cycle 1oz. light target load with outmost reliability! They are a proven design that have been pretty well unchanged since Browning introduced the Gold 12ga. shotgun back in 1994. Both the 3" and 3.5" guns have every shim and spacer in the box needed to make them fit %98 of shooters! Slug barrels are available but they are rather expensive.
 
agreed with vlt. also a Mossberg 930 is decent gun just not 3.5 capable. and the 935 won't cycle 2 3/4
 
If it has to be semi auto, look at Baikal MP155 or 153 if you can find it. They are tanks, do everything well enough. But I got a Maverick 88 pump with 28" barrel that does everything for me including trap, skeet, sporting clays and brings geese down as well. It cost me $250 new. I consider something like that an excellent gun for a starter, it does not shoot 3.5", and I don't know if that is a deal breaker.
 
+1 for SX3. Mine is a 3" field that is super light. Hundred of rounds of target loads with no issue. 3 invector chokes included. Very fast and hard ejection. Made by FN in Belgium. It's the fastest cycling shotgun I believe.
 
Some good advice in this thread already, and I am going to echo it. I would be less concerned about what the gun is chambered in, and more concerned about fit. First of all, my opinion is that 3.5" is a marketing scheme and has no actual merit for hunting. I know others will disagree and that is fine, but for myself I can't see it as a useful feature. What I would do is make a list of what guns fall into your budget then go to all the local gun stores and have your son shoulder them. If members of your club have some of the guns, try and arrange for your sun to shoot them. Buy the BEST fitting gun of the highest quality you can afford. Oh, determine if your son is left or right eye dominate - might as well get him shooting the correct handedness.

I have a SX3 in 20 gauge with a 26" barrel (I'd have preferred 28" but...). I can tell you that this gun is a treat to carry and cycles everything I have ever put through it - including low recoil 3/4 oz. hand loads. I have also shot plenty of waterfowl and turkey loads with no ill effect and very manageable recoil. I've not had a problem with failure to extract and only once in 2258 shots has it failed to eject (shell came out funny and bounced back into the action).

For the price of a rifled barrel for an auto-loader you can buy a whole gun. If a rifled barrel is a concern, I'd just buy a H&R Ultra Slug Hunter or Savage 220 as a dedicated slug gun and keep the auto-loader for birds and clays.

If used is alright, then there are plenty of older guns which have proved themselves time and time again which can be had for less than $1000. Remington 1100, Browning Auto 5, older Beretta's (300 series), etc.
 
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Dante sports is selling the baikal mp153 semi auto synthetic for 400.00 takes all shells just have to follow the break in period instructions.
Came to me shipped just under 500. Can't buy any autoloader for that.


Good luck with whatever you buy.
 
You should be able to get a Beretta A300 for about $900. It's a proper A league gun, not one of those Mickey Mouse plastic things that will need replacing in a year or two.
 
I agree that the Berrettas & Bennelis are great and will last you a lifetime. If you can get one of them you'll be glad you did.
 
I'm 100% with you. I use mostly 2.75". Tried some of the new 3" deer loads but went back to the 2.75". My 1187 loves those cheap Winchesters. Took 2 deer this fall with them.Good stuff keep it coming. I see lots of the tried and true names mentioned . Winchester, Beretta and so on. Now what about those who dare to try something different ie. that Hatsan Escort i mentioned. Weatherby ,CZ,Baikal. I do know a lot are 3" guns but that's still not out of the question. I'm more concerned about reliability. As far as the deer barrel goes, i myself am mulling over buying one of those Savage slug guns because my bush pushing days may be winding down(health reasons) but as for now , where we party hunt a smooth bore with rifled sights is all you need. I'm easily good for 100yds with my gun and shot both deer with 00 buck this year. Most of the guys just use there regular barrels.
 
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anorden said:
You should be able to get a Beretta A300 for about $900. It's a proper A league gun, not one of those Mickey Mouse plastic things that will need replacing in a year or two.
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Friend bought one from sail and it was finished. Returned it to sail and they gave him his money back and he went and bought and sx3. A300 is not the same quality as the a400. Not even close. I don't want to be negative as the sx3 for the money are really nice shotguns that are reliable and just go bang.
 
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krchov said:
agreed with vlt. also a Mossberg 930 is decent gun just not 3.5 capable. and the 935 won't cycle 2 3/4
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Have one 930 and it has jammed duck, bear, and deer hunting and at they trap range. Can not sell it because i do not want a negative trader rating.
 
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