Thoughts on Girsan MC312 as a budget hunting shotgun?

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somethingspecial

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The Girsan MC312 was a budget darling a couple of years ago. I've been considering one as an upgrade from a pump for goose and duck hunting and I'm looking to hear if they have turned out as good as people said they were.

If you've had one, were/are you happy with it? Do you regret it? Would you buy it again?
 
I bought one and I really like it so far. I've only fired a few boxes of shells out of it but it hasn't jammed yet. For the money, they're pretty hard to beat.
 
Vote is yes !

Hi - I have one from last summer. Like spoc, I only have a couple boxes thru it to test function. Mostly #7.5s but I also shot a dozen slugs - Win Rackmaster HV. After that I went out and bought a Limbsaver butt pad!! And remembered why for a week or so ;-P
Other than that I'm completely happy. Not a 'wet' hunter so can't give an opinion, but mine's a 3" - not 3.5 and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot 'heavy' duck/goose loads, especially after the 'Saver. Read a review by Randy Wakeman and also this thread on shotgunworld ->
http s://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=448523&start=0 - these locked in my purchase.

BTW - I'm a compulsive "Deal shopper" and keep thinking of buying another. Excellent bargain and Girsan is developing a good rep among those who are not 'gun snobs'. I don't have a couple thou $ to put into a 'really good' shotter.
 
I have some experience with the MC3512. Fantastic bargain and the bolt of very, very smooth. Don't expect to shoot skeet or trap with it though as the one I used was a jam o matic when using 2 3/4 light skeet loads. Worked fine on anything above that.
 
Well, I shot 7.5 and #8 "Target" loads with no problem. For the inertia to work with a light load, you need to shoulder tight and maybe 'lean into it' so the mech has resistance to cycle against? That's another reason to have the Limbsaver ;-)
 
There was someone who used a Girsan for competition, 3 gun or IPSC, don’t remember. It worked great for a couple of seasons, but in the end he sold it and got a Benelli. It should last quite a while for hunting though
 
Sub 500 bucks seems like a good deal, can even be had in 3.5. I guess if it's horrible should be able to sell it and not lose a bunch of cash, unless it breaks....
 
Did some looking, 400 bucks for the tupperware version. That's seems like a good price for a 12G semi.....
 
I picked one up last year, it was 400 pesos taxes in from the local CT. No complaints about the fit an finish, it shoulders extremely well and I have had no issues with the gun. At the recommendation of the CT rep I ran some heavy loads through it for the first little bit.

It was my first intertia gun and my first semi auto 12g so it took me a little while to get used to. If i had to do anything different I might put in the extra 100 bucks for a used one with wood furniture, but thays about it.

Great value for the money imo.
 
Buck1950 said:
Well, I shot 7.5 and #8 "Target" loads with no problem. For the inertia to work with a light load, you need to shoulder tight and maybe 'lean into it' so the mech has resistance to cycle against? That's another reason to have the Limbsaver ;-)
Click to expand...

Which stock (synthetic or walnut) did you have and which limbsaver did you install on it?

David
 
Ok - first off - not interested in responses re: Turkish guns and / or buy a *****

Interested in hearing from those that bought a brand new MC312

Based on the reviews here, I checked with our local CTC dealer and he can get these in the black synthetic 3" Mag version for just over $400. Fair enough, asked him to order me one for a planned hunt in the fall. He decided to order 2 based on what I told him I had read. Got the call yesterday it was in. I had asked him a few days ago and he said no it hadnt arrived yet and that was strange as he usually got them in a couple days from when he placed the order (which was weeks ago).

When he brought the box out, first alarm bells were the fact that the top of the box had a number of punctures - I thought uh oh thats from the charging handle. Opened the box up, the shotgun (without the barrel which is in another compartment in the box) is in a plastic sleeve with the charging handle facing downwards creating a couple of creases in the cardboard. The box with the choke tubes is lying loose and unsecured in the box.

The butt stock has some scratches and what looked to me like some decent scuffs on the left side. CTC manager (who is a good guy) says oh that is oil. No way I say and he goes into the back and comes out with some armour all wipes and micro fleece and rubs the stock, but I can still see the scuffs and scratches. I ask him what the other one looked like and he said he didnt receive a second one. I told him I would pass on this one till the second one came in and make a decision then. The receiver who opened it when it showed up came out and told me when he opened the box to verify the S/N, that exactly how it came - with the choke tube case lying loose in the box.

OK - recognizing this is a utility hunting shotgun, my question is to those that bought a brand new MC312, how was it packed in the box? Was the choke tube case lying loose in the box so that it could rattle around with the firearm?

To me it looks like someone had one and sent it back to the distributor and it got forwarded here. I did not check the barrel as I never made it past the receiver. Based on the box, my biggest concern would be that the charging handle was damaged and shear off when I need it most. As you cant return firearms to CTC, I wasnt willing to take a chance on it.
 
Sorry not what you are exactly looking for, but I just got a Charles daly 601 which is a gas operated and very similarly priced 12ga.... What a raging piece of garbage.

If you decide against the 312, don't go for a 601 field instead.
 
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