Which semi auto to get?

super sports are nice, but are light and with heavy loads, recoil is best compared to a freight train impacting you stationary shoulder at 75MPH

Personally I would recommend a Beretta 391 in any variant, soft recoil, easy to operate, extremely reliable and field proven.

I'd avoid new Remingtons, browning autos, cheap foreign junk.

The winchester sx3 seem to be the most like a 391, without being a 391, I wouldn't steer you away from one.
 
gwagen said:
super sports are nice, but are light and with heavy loads, recoil is best compared to a freight train impacting you stationary shoulder at 75MPH

Personally I would recommend a Beretta 391 in any variant, soft recoil, easy to operate, extremely reliable and field proven.

I'd avoid new Remingtons, browning autos, cheap foreign junk.

The winchester sx3 seem to be the most like a 391, without being a 391, I wouldn't steer you away from one.
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Not sure where you are getting your info on brownings. Ever own one????
In 12ga I own two sx2 and two sx 3 win, 2 browning gold and a maxus. All are 3 1/2"
If I had to keep just one semi it would be the maxus then all the gold.
Foreign junk my ass:slap:
Also have a couple 391's which are no better than the golds or maxus
 
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I'd avoid new Remingtons, browning autos, cheap foreign junk.

The winchester sx3 seem to be the most like a 391, without being a 391, I wouldn't steer you away from one.
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Are you not aware that the only real difference between an SX3, and a new Browning semi auto( other than the Maxus), is cosmetic. They use the same action, and each is as reliable as the other. The Maxus is if anything, a slightly improved SX3.
 
stubblejumper said:
Are you not aware that the only real difference between an SX3, and a new Browning semi auto( other than the Maxus), is cosmetic. They use the same action, and each is as reliable as the other. The Maxus is if anything, a slightly improved SX3.
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I'm not familiar with the most recent browning autos, however I am familiar with most other browning autos, they are good and reasonably reliable, that said, I just don't like them, I find they don't fit as many people as say a good old 1100 or 391.

Reliability wise an auto 5 or double auto is hard too beat, apparently these new sx3 and newer browning autos by extension are as well.

I can not personally recommend them.

Also to add to above, when I said cheap foreign junk, I wasn't referring to remington or browning, I meant things like baikal, norinco etc.

Yes I'm a shotgun snob, but I've owned a LOT of shotguns have been competing in clay target sports for many years.

I've gotten to try many many makes and models and develop a decent understanding of what works and what doesn't
 
I'm not familiar with the most recent browning autos, however I am familiar with most other browning autos, they are good and reasonably reliable, that said, I just don't like them, I find they don't fit as many people as say a good old 1100 or 391.
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From what I have seen, if an 1100 fits you, the new Brownings and Winchesters likely will fit you, but the Berettas won't. If the Berettas fit you, the 1100s,Brownings, and Winchesters likely won't fit you. The new Brownings and Winchesters seem to fit at least as many people as the Berettas do.
 
kidconcrete said:
[youtube]Pqtg81aRILM[/youtube]
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I really want Flanigan's shotgun.

3453815226_52613c0098.jpg
 
stubblejumper said:
From what I have seen, if an 1100 fits you, the new Brownings and Winchesters likely will fit you, but the Berettas won't. If the Berettas fit you, the 1100s,Brownings, and Winchesters likely won't fit you. The new Brownings and Winchesters seem to fit at least as many people as the Berettas do.
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I'm a bit of an oddity as most everything but auto 5's fit me.

1100's are like a glove to me, 391's need to be shimmed for a little cast off. But I love my parallel target, as well as my 1100.

That said I don't use autos much anymore only for 12 ga. events or fun.

Rest of the time I shoot 20ga. in the 12ga. events with a tubeset.
 
slick39 said:
I am coming to the realization that my shotguns are the most used of all my guns. I have all the fun toys like handguns etc but find that my shotguns are brought out most often. I shoot everything from trap/skeet to waterfowl and upland game. Up until now I have always used my trusty Remington 870 in 12 gauge. But I am looking to upgrade to a semi-auto for around the $1200 mark.

Since I use the shotgun the most I want it to be a nice one and it must be able to perform all of the above tasks. QUOTE]

I've been through this very same scenerio.. Play with clay targets and hunt hard, the 870 never misses a beat and I seem to hit most of what I point it at.. But I wanted something nicer- so I bought a beautiful used Beretta Urika 391, its a wonderful shotgun- really it is, but guess what brings me more joy, satisfaction and big silly grins? That beaten but slick 870 Express. These days the Beretta gets daylight only for the odd round of skeet when its dry- what a shame! Guess I'll sell her soon, too nice for me..
So back to the point, use what you feel yourself enjoying the most and never mind the "upgrade".
Good luck with your decision.
1Shot
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i am also looking into semi after years of the reliable 870 yes an older one, its seems hard to make the change theres so much out there the 2 i have found that fit best are the versa max and the sx3 no i am not parcell to any 1 make both are within the price i am looking for.
 
gwagen said:
I'm a bit of an oddity as most everything but auto 5's fit me.

1100's are like a glove to me, 391's need to be shimmed for a little cast off. But I love my parallel target, as well as my 1100.

That said I don't use autos much anymore only for 12 ga. events or fun.

Rest of the time I shoot 20ga. in the 12ga. events with a tubeset.
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Sorry but as a shotgun guy that remembers the introduction of the 1100 in the 60's and bought one new back then I have to laugh. You talked earlier about "Reliability wise" and use the old auto 5 as an example. The log with a barrel we called them.Wonder how reliable they are with over 100,000 rounds through them like some of my old superx1's. NOT
Has to be the worst fitting shotgun ever the auto 5, yea they work somewhat and have a following of mostly hunters that shoot a box a year out of them max but I don't recall too many winning any events in the 40 plus years I have been shooting. Not like my super x1's or 1100's in every gauge of the same era.
I am glad you clarified however what junk was.
Want to have fun shoot all 12ga events with an old remington 870 28ga like I do,that is fun and a real challenge is do the same with the 410 870.For me I have never seen even a one bird difference between a 20 and a 12ga especially when shooting tubes.;)
 
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3macs1; said:
Want to have fun shoot all 12ga events with an old remington 870 28ga like I do,that is fun and a real challenge is do the same with the 410 870.For me I have never seen even a one bird difference between a 20 and a 12ga especially when shooting tubes.;)
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I've been known on occasion to shoot my .410 1100 in all the guns, including doubles just for fun. Not registering those though, you would otherwise look like a sandbagger.

I actually have better scores shooting 20ga then twelve, an older friend of mine who still shoots 12ga in the 12ga events teases me and calls me a candyass 4-gun shooter. I always get a laugh out of that.

My 12ga average is higher than my 20ga just by a little bit despite using the same gun, gauge and shells.
 
I've probably put about 10-15k rds through my Beretta 391 trap gun and can only recall a couple of malfunctions that weren't ammunition related (bad primers).

I've been looking for one for a hunting gun too, but a Browning Gold Hunter fell into my lap for about 1/2 the price used. Jury is still out on that gun.
 
slick39 said:
So far I have been looking at the Benelli Vinci and Remington Versa Max as my top two picks. Generally I only use 3" shells for waterfowl as I feel 3.5" is more than what is needed.
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Hey I was in the same boat as you. Beretta, Benelli, or Versa Max.
Went to my local gun store, saturday came home with the Winchester SX3.

Kids and I put 250 rounds through her today. Even cycled the lightest target loads I make for the kids. About 950fps.

I love the light weight and general feel of the SX3.

Good luck in your search.

:ar15:
 
I bought a Browning Silver earlier this year from Wanstalls (I mention them to give Gary and April props for good customer service) for around a thousand plus tax.

I am a novice at trap but this swings well and after only going to the trap field for the third time, I'm shooting in the 80 per cent. Not bad for someone that had cataract surgery 3 years ago, if I do say so myself. OUCH I just strained my shoulder patting myself on the back :)
 
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