Weatherby SA-08 12ga, what is your impression on it?

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dand883

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So i thought i had everything that i needed and don't really have space for any new guns (i know, i'm blatantly lieing to myself, who am i kidding) but recently i saw a video with a weatherby SA-08 semi auto 12ga in it.
I've done some searching and it seems generally well liked, but there aren't a ton of new reviews or videos about it, so i thought i'd ask around here.
I figure there's probably tons of people who have one, but have never posted a review on it, which generally means they have never found anything terribly wrong with it.

So to all you guys who have one or have tried one, what did you think of it? And how would you compare it to other semi auto shotguns that you have tried like a remington, mossberg or benelli?
 
Beautiful guns if you get the wood stocked version but they fall in the same class as the Mossberg 930. They were designed to last the lifetime of a typical hunter that shoots 200-300rds a year. Use them for any semi serious amount of target work (+/-3000rds a year) and within a couple seasons pieces start breaking and reliability becomes an issue. The other thing to take into consideration is that most Turkish shotgun have a short production lifespan so the models tend to be replaced every 5-8 years or so. Look at the past Weatherby offerings that were made in Japan...parts are unobtanium today. I could very well be wrong but it is my belief that the SA-08 is about to be replaced with something more modern looking and the operating system will be redesigned as well.
 
I have bought one, i like it alot, solid gun, no malfunctions to it, fires anything i put through it and recoil on it is nice with heavy duck and geese loads, swings well and nicely balenced
 
I have both a 20 and a 12 in synthetic SA-08. I wanted shotguns that were a: capable of shooting steel, and b: synthetic so I didn't feel bad when I banged them around.

I haven't used either for anything but shooting "at" a few clays. Seem to work fine with all loads if set properly. Both came with a little box that had some chokes and a wrench.

I would say that they are a good utility shotgun, and will outlast me.

Edit: The wood-stocked ones are very nice. Nice enough that I may have to have one... or two.:p
 
i have one and im currently having problems with Federal 7.5 shot 2 3/4 dram 1 1/8 oz 1145 fps loads. Its jamming up like 1 in 10 :/

Edit: let me clarify on the jamming. After it ejects the spent shell, it's failing to chamber the next round. The carrier does its job and lifts a round into the chamber, but it catches the extractor in a weird angle such that the new round is canted towards the 3 o clock position. On inspection, it looks like its off by 0.25 - 0.5mm and a single light tap on the handle brings it into battery. Based on documentation and reports ive read online, i suspect this is due to a lack of muzzle velocity so that the bolt does not go far back enough to reset the extractor... What kind of target loads are you guys putting through your shotguns?
 
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I have the synthetic 12g and shot about a hundred rounds through it and I have had no problems. All federal ammo 4 shot 5 shot 6 shot no problems.
 
Rod B said:
A man cannot have too many guns. :)
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You are absolutely right! It is completely outside my little realm of comprehension when I hear guys say, "I've got enough guns, " or even worse, "I've got too many guns. I'll have to sell some." Beyond me. :confused:
 
Lead Loader said:
in mine 7/8oz 1200 fps works just fine, got the right gas piston in it for light loads?
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What 7/8oz loads are you using!? Tried some winchester "low recoil" stuff with no luck. The wife wants to try trap this year, and id really like her to try a 12ga.

Anyways, SA-08 = awesome gun for the price and beyond. Best $600 I ever spent. The interchangeable gas rings are really not a big deal.
 
Put another 200 rounds through my SA08 this weekend using 1 1/8 oz shot, 3 dram, 7.5 shot, 1200 fps muzzle velocity and it worked like a charm.
 
xopher said:
i have one and im currently having problems with Federal 7.5 shot 2 3/4 dram 1 1/8 oz 1145 fps loads. Its jamming up like 1 in 10 :/

Edit: let me clarify on the jamming. After it ejects the spent shell, it's failing to chamber the next round. The carrier does its job and lifts a round into the chamber, but it catches the extractor in a weird angle such that the new round is canted towards the 3 o clock position. On inspection, it looks like its off by 0.25 - 0.5mm and a single light tap on the handle brings it into battery. Based on documentation and reports ive read online, i suspect this is due to a lack of muzzle velocity so that the bolt does not go far back enough to reset the extractor... What kind of target loads are you guys putting through your shotguns?
Click to expand...

What gas valve are you running?
 
I hope you're running the gas valve for light loads, xopher! Limit time, the "heavy" gas valve works for standard and heavy magnum shells, so that would be the one you'd put in and keep in for hunting. The light load gas valve is just for soft loads that you'd use if your wife or kid were shooting it...hunting grouse or something with you. It's not something you need to change often, almost all the time you leave the heavy loads gas valve in there.
 
VLT79 said:
Beautiful guns if you get the wood stocked version but they fall in the same class as the Mossberg 930. They were designed to last the lifetime of a typical hunter that shoots 200-300rds a year. Use them for any semi serious amount of target work (+/-3000rds a year) and within a couple seasons pieces start breaking and reliability becomes an issue. The other thing to take into consideration is that most Turkish shotgun have a short production lifespan so the models tend to be replaced every 5-8 years or so. Look at the past Weatherby offerings that were made in Japan...parts are unobtanium today. I could very well be wrong but it is my belief that the SA-08 is about to be replaced with something more modern looking and the operating system will be redesigned as well.
Click to expand...

I thought the design was copied from the proven beretta 300 series? If so operating system should be good, or do you know if it is made with inferior steel quality or so?
 
Dont get it wet ...
By that I mean, dumping it out of the boat in the marsh(next fall) and expect the wood to not swell beyond repair.
Seen one from season 2011-2012 that was dumped from a punt in local marsh.
Guys wated till tide dropped to where they could retrieve said firearm.
They shook it out and because it was still loaded and the ducks started flying the owner pulled the trigger on his wet gun...
Yup, there was mud in barrel and they bulged it ...at least nobody was killed in that experiment.
Wood started to swell shortly there after.
So, I would suggest removing the stock from the firearm and start sealing all the exposed wood before taking it out.
That or buy the synthetic one and dont dump it in the water.
Names and places have been changed to protect the embarrassed.
The rest is just the chain of events.
Would I buy one, not as my first choice and only if I could not find an 870Wingmaster.
Rob
 
My friend has the wood stock version, and after using it a few times I had to go buy my own. I got the synthetic stock. It's very light. Overall I have nothing bad to say about it. It goes bang everytime and it's a lot of fun. Great buy for the price in my opinion.
 
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