I have shot a Mossberg 500 for years. I like it a lot. I've doubled on doves with it. Still, been thinking about a semi-auto. I am not in a spot to spend a huge amount but any of the standard brands would be fine. I've thought about a Mossberg 930 just because I could use all the chokes I already have but it seems a little bulky. Of the Mossberg, Remington, Winchester level of semi-autos do any of you have any that you particularly like? Handles well, shots a variety of loads without trouble, etc.

I've used a remington 1100 for yrs. it's heavy but I Absolutley love it and it has never failed me. Excellent for the price too.

Winchester SX3, Beretta or Benelli (probably not going to find a cheap Benelli) would be the 3 I would consider. Just go pick'em and see what feels best to you.

Also, a lot easier to go from a pump to auto than an auto to pump...easy to forget to pump, don't ask me how I know

Get you a Stoeger M3000 or if you want the 3.5" chamber get the M3500. The M3000 is the same gun as the Benelli SBE1. Stoeger is made by benelli and the parts are interchangeable. I love mine. Have killed sever duck/dove over the last 2 years. Only inertia driven gun in the price range all other autos in the price range are gas driven. Think I picked mine up for $520 after FFL fees. It is the M3000 MAX4 camo model 26" barrel.

Hunted my whole life with a pump, picked up an auto and just couldn't get used to it. Back to the old 870 for me.

Remington Versamax is a great gun for the money. Switch between light 2 3/4 or 3 1/2 mag without any issues.

I shoot a mossberg 930 with the black synthetic stock. Makes a great duck gun, it cycles everything I feed it. Its not a high dollar gun so I don't worry about mud and water. I keep it lubed with royal purple sae 30 and give her a good hose down with wd40 after every couple trips. Hasnt failed me yet. Only conplaint is safety mech is plastic, don't like the feel of it.

WD40 makes me cringe

Ok

Berreta Outlander or Mosberg 930, those are my 2 favorite budget friendly semi-autos. Have also heard good thins about the Weatherby SA-08.

IMO, a 3 1/2 shell is never needed, I just stay with 2 3/4 and 3.

Find an old Browning A-5. You won't be disappointed.

My opinion.

I prefer wood BTW.



The winchester sx3 is a very good gun. Its made in the same factory as Brownings other semi auto shotguns. It comes with cast/drop shims and spacers t adjust the stock how you like.

I own a beretta outlander (wood). It come with cast/drop shims (synthetic version comes with shims and spacers to adjust stock). It also comes with full, mod and ic chokes. IT PLAIN RUNS!! I have put nothing but win and fed bulk box stuff (about 2000rnds) from walmart through it and havent had a hiccup. The wood is very nice if you like that kind of stuff. IIRC I picked mine up for about $690(synthetic is a little less) out the door. Its made in the USA.

I agree with gone to tx about 3.5s

Look at the franchi affinity also. Its another sub $700 semi.

Remington for me

I like a semi auto for the duck blind and dove field.

I shot a 1100 for years and love the gun, got a browning silver hunter last year and fell in love

If your not gonna spend the money on a good semi auto stick with a pump best gun I ever sold was a 870 wing master

I have a Remington 11-87 Premier Light Contour that has been an amazing shotgun. It is light weight, cycles softly, and has been very reliable. Prior to that, I used an 870.

For semi, I've used a Remington 1100 since the mid-90s. Like mentioned by someone else, it's not light, but it is dependable. The Remington VersaMax looks very promising. The gas system looks very neat how it can shoot anything without trouble.

The Stoeger M3000 and the Benelli SBE are not the same gun, nor do they use the same parts. The Benelli has a return spring setup in the stock where the Stoeger has it in the fore end. I do not own either one, but the parts diagrams are readily available on the net.

Stoeger is also not built by Benelli. Stoeger is owned by Benelli, much like Benelli is part of the Beretta Holdings umbrella, but Stoeger has their own manufacturing plants that are not in Urbino, Italy.

Not saying that the Stoeger is not a good shotgun, but don't fool yourself into thinking that your $500 shotgun is as good as its Benelli brother at twice the price. This isn't gun snobbery either, as I shoot the Beretta A300 Outlander... while it meets my needs, it isn't anywhere as nice in finish or features as the A400 line. Corners have to be cut to provide at a lower price point.

I agree, I'm trying to find where I read that about it being interchangeable it's been a while since I bought mine. Can't seem to find it. I agree corners must be cut to get a lower price but my buddies dad that we duck hunt with has one of the old SBE1 and the fit, finish, and function is exactly the same. I've never seen his broken down but yea you're right the inertia system is in the forearm on mine. However I was right about one thing haha you can't really find an inertia driven gun in that price range.

No, you can't. I have thought about one several times, and now that they offer it in a 20 gauge, I just might have to go get one. My buddy shoots a SBE II, but he bought a Stoeger for his son... has nothing but good things to say about it.

If the Remington fits and feels good, the Versa Max Sportsman might be hard to beat... Remington is running a $100 rebate which could bring it down in the $600 range.

I own Winchesters, stogers, Remington's Mossberg's and others but since I bought a benelli the rest have sat in the safe whining they want to shoot something. I own three benellis now and I ain't going back anytime soon..

You could find a used SX3 in the $700 range pretty easily I would imagine. The only malfunction I have ever had with mine was a fail to eject on a muddy goose hunt after I accidentally scraped the mud off my boot into the chamber

Find a NEW Browning A5. Awesome shotgun.

I have a Weatherby SA-08 (wood) and absolutely love it. I handled a BUNCH of autos before I picked that one as the best fit. Look and handle all that you can before you make a decision.

I have a 930 flannigan that works great.