What to do

I have a few buds who use the SA08. They hunt waterfowl and other small game. From their reports the guns have held up well. IIRC Armsan builds some Weatherby, Mossberg and Canuck semi auto shotguns. From what I have read you are not looking for a gun that needs to digest thousands of rounds a year. Just a reliable, reasonably priced semi auto. As I mentioned Armsan A612 is a very good shotgun and mine work great. If you don't need a gun that is camo, 3 1/2" chambered or has synthetic stocks a good used Remington 1100 in magnum or standard would be a good purchase. Look for a Modified choked version (if fixed) so steel will work well. Aftermarket 1100 barrels abound and most newer ones will have screw in chokes if that is a need. Lots of options you just have to sift through them all.

Darryl
 
Anyone use the benelli m2 field im thinking it's got great after market support as well as being sub 2000. But I do like hearing real world use and testimony rather than just what the internet says.
 
Heres the score. Semi-auto shotguns are required to deal with a variety of ammo, from 2 3/4 inch target loads to 3 (or 3 1/2) inch duck loads. High end manufacturers developed sophisticated gun designs that have compensating loading systems that can deal with shells of varying power, such that the gun cycles reliably. (ie doesnt short cycle or hammer itself to death).
Established designs such as the Beretta can reliably do this, however, one has to keep the gun reasonably clean, with parts like recoil springs up to spec. Even then, you are betting upon the compensating ability of the gun, which may be more or less capable in a given situation. (Yes, I've had failures to cycle with my Beretta 390 series shotguns)
Alternatively, some manufacturers have opted to provide a manually adjustable gas system. This gives the user the ability to make adjustments for the type of ammo used. Weatherby (Turkish) and Baikal (Russian) are good examples. If the user is reasonably astute, reliable and maintenance free operation can be easily achieved. I had a Baikal 153 that I used for all shooting disciplines, and found it very easy to adjust. One time while duck hunting on a particularly cold day, the gun started to short cycle with a new box of ammo. I took the gas wrench out, adjusted the gas port 1/4 turn and I was back in business. On balance, the Baikal proved to be more reliable than the Beretta.
So, you have to decide whether you want to spend 4 figures to get the high end gun, or 3 figures to get a manually adjusting gun. Getting a self compensating, inexpensive, no warranty Turkish gun doesnt easily fit into this regime.
 
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ashcroft said:
this subject comes up over and over and over again. "i bought a cheap gun, one of the cheapest i could find and now it's broke. What are some better entry level guns that will last? " then when the suggestions from knowledgeable experienced people try to point the op to a better quality gun ( more expensive of course, quality comes at a price) we see a response like " i don't want to pay more than a basic price, i'm too hard on my equipment" or some form of "i don't want a more expensive gun, just a better one".
There is a good reason why some guns are much more expensive than other, seemingly similar ones. Quality means much more than bling, it extends from the design on paper to the selection of materials and components to manufacture and on to customer service. Cutting corners at any stage along the way will compromise the final result be it a gun, a car, a television or the food you buy. If you must have a lower priced gun (or car, or cell phone) because of severe budget limitations then do your homework and search the internet for reviews on the candidates you are looking at. There are turkish guns that have been on the market long enough to establish a track record, good or bad, guns with names like cz, huglu, churchill, savage, stevens are building a reputation. Obscure makers and house brands have no reputation to protect, they'll pump out whatever they can make the most profit on and if it fails to provide satisfaction after a few years we'll just change some detail and the model or name and go again. I know you want it now but but don't complain when that plan fails to produce good results. A good used gun by any established maker will cost no more than a cheap pos, will last longer, give more satisfaction and will still have a reasonable resale value when you get tired of it. Why ask for advice on this subject then argue against good experienced advice when you get it?
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Amen!!
 
I've got a Mossberg 930 with a couple of thousand rounds through it, very reliably. A used 11-87 is always a great choice. I've also used a Browning A-5 for years, again great gun. I haven't owned any of the new Winchester semis but they also appear to be great. You don't have to buy anything new, there are lots of guys who buy new guns and sell them soon after for various reasons.
 
I have a 930 (was my dads) and an 1187. They have only been used for waterfowl mainly so not a ton of shells through them but they have been fine. People I hunt with often smirk when I pull out my 1187 with 26" barrel ( I'm talking gun) . They quit laughing when I usually out shoot them. Not necessarily because I'm a better shot but the gun fits me so well which is one reason why I bought it.
 
If youre that hard on guns that the thought of taking a $1200 gun afield scares you, stick to a pump.

Also, guns are made to be used. If you have to abuse the $1200 gun, do it. Its not a heriloom. Its a tool.

Aside, I dont understand people who say "Im too hard on guns to buy an expensive one". What the bloody hell are you doing with them that is damaging them so much? Paddling your boat? Prying logs to make a blind? I hunt afield. I dont baby my guns, but I dont do stupid things with them either. They have some scars from use, but still perfectly functional and look fine.
 
blasted_saber said:
Aside, I dont understand people who say "Im too hard on guns to buy an expensive one". What the bloody hell are you doing with them that is damaging them so much?
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Over the years, I've known a few people I wouldn't lend a hammer to... as they'd find a way to destroy it... like dropping it down in a puddle and putting it away wet, to turn into a rust-stick.
 
To some people firearms are tools. Nothing more nothing less. Look to the far north and in the first nation communities. The firearms are used hard with little or no cleaning or care. To buy a 2000.00 dollar shotgun would be insane for these people. That same type of thought of firearms occurs throughout Canada in places. Nothing wrong or right just the way it is. If a guy doesn't want to spend big money on a gun in that circumstance I understand completely.

Darryl
 
madtrapper143 said:
To some people firearms are tools. Nothing more nothing less. Look to the far north and in the first nation communities. The firearms are used hard with little or no cleaning or care. To buy a 2000.00 dollar shotgun would be insane for these people. That same type of thought of firearms occurs throughout Canada in places. Nothing wrong or right just the way it is. If a guy doesn't want to spend big money on a gun in that circumstance I understand completely.

Darryl
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Then he should adjust his expectations of a cheap semi. Or buy a pump gun.
 
madtrapper143 said:
To some people firearms are tools. Nothing more nothing less. Look to the far north and in the first nation communities. The firearms are used hard with little or no cleaning or care. To buy a 2000.00 dollar shotgun would be insane for these people. That same type of thought of firearms occurs throughout Canada in places. Nothing wrong or right just the way it is. If a guy doesn't want to spend big money on a gun in that circumstance I understand completely.

Darryl
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That's very true and since those same shooters are not going through vast piles of shells in a year they really don't need durability as much as reliability in a gun!
 
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