Best semi auto 12 gauge for under $700

Looking to buy a new semi auto shotgun with an out of the door price of less than $700. Is a Remington 11-87, one of the better deals to fit this criteria?

beretta 391 is a better gun and no orings

how else is it better?

For under $700

Gas- Beretta
Inertia- Franchi

some of the budget guns like stroger, Charles Daley, escourt, ect are decent guns IF you get a good one. CD, escourtt and tri-star are basically turkish made 1187 actions

Stroger is a turkish made benelli action.

I have an 1187 and I would buy another one tomorrow. No problems with it

Weatherby SA-08

Same here.

Beretta 390/3901 (New/Used)
Beretta 391 Used maybe a LNIB avail $$

Browning Gold Hunter

Winchester 1400 (used)

Win Super X field

Traditions AL-2100 is a Beretta 303 knockoff, real good quality

What are you using the shotgun for?

dove and duck

I'm gonna go ahead and be "that guy" that gives a vote to Tri-Star, only if you're a fan of saving $350+ bucks...The new model viper doesn't have o-rings on it, 400 rds so far and not a flinch in my gf's 20 gauge!

Now, if you still want to spend 700 bones, then I dont know, because Ive never had that as an option in weapon purchases at this point in my life!

x2

For around $700, you should be able to find a good clean used Benelli M1 Super 90.

Here are a couple.

Benelli

Benelli

Benelli

Academy has Benelli M2 for $699, another great gun is a Beretta 390 for $500-$600.

Dont be the guy that buys the Tristar for $350 less, then comes on here whining because it broke or wont cycle in the middle of the season.

Surely that wouldn't happen.....

Franchi

Where can you get a new 391 for $700? I've been looking for a 20ga 391 for a few years and they are always $900+. I paid $725 for my 12ga and that was 8-9 years ago.

Forgot about Franchi......

Beretta 391 Synthetic 12ga can be had LNIB/NIB $600+
Gotta hold your mouth right and look in the right forsale cubbyholes.

For duck hunting, I would not recommend an 1187. Mine functioned fine for dove, quail, and skeet/trap. When I started duck hunting and using 3" shells, I had nothing but problems. Lots of jambing problems, broken parts, and trips to the gun smith. Since your original post was for best semi auto, I'd have to say eliminate the 1187. Mine is a single shot as often as it is semi auto. Nothing sucks worse than ducks coming at you and your gun jamming after the first shot.

Actually it wouldn't happen, I've own a Beretta 391 Urika and now a Tristar Generation 2 Viper, and let me tell you, the Tristar is the only one of the two that has never jammed, misfired, or actually done anything negative. My Beretta on the other hand jammed like crazy for the longest time. You want to know whats bad is, I know that $248 Tristar will out shoot my $950 Beretta, no doubt. We actually shot 250 rounds through the Tristar today at some clays, not one problem or jam. And when you compare the two up close they are very similar, and the Tristar is lighter too. I thought that would be problem with the kick and all, but it's not. It kicks the same as the Beretta. So don't knock the Tristar, IMO, it is by far the best deal out there!

Thanks for the laugh!

keep telling yourself that. Cant argue with something that is proven.

Tristar still has inconsistent quality control, glad you got a good one. But I wouldnt base my opinion on a gun with only a few hundred rounds in it, especially when there are Beretta 391's with over 200,000rnds that still work fine.

Its also far from the best deal out there. But I guess my opinion of "a good deal" is different.

Its also my experience that most semi-auto problems are operator error. But I am not saying the possibility isnt there for a manufacturer defect, because even the high end guns have them. Beretta 391's are known for having cases of bent carriers from the factory which cause jamming issues. But that number is very small.

Then we can bring up the fact that Tristar is a new company that MAY OR MAY NOT be here 5yrs from now. Whats going to happen if they go out of business and you cant get parts if it breaks? Your going to be paying a lot of money for a gunsmith to make a part and its not worth it in a $248 diposable gun. Beretta...I bet they can make it another 500yrs.

Beretta 390 for the win!

Tristar=disposable

I'll buy you a brand new Tristar for $248 and never fire it and trade you for that 391?

Let me know, I am interested

I'm glad you like the Tristar but not worth the gamble to me.

Not bad Judd...borderline genius.

Congratulations on your gun. Many of my friends have Berettas and shoot them competitively, and none have had the issues that you have. That has got to be fluke.

With all that jamming, did you ever let a gunsmith look at the gun or just pass the gun/problem on to someone else without telling them?

No, I shot it until the problem went away. Which was an unknown amount of rounds, but it was at least a few cases. By then I wasn't as confident in the gun. The manual for the Beretta said the break in was a few thousand rounds. I don't see why they wouldn't break them in for you if it takes that many rounds. And for the comment about. "what if the company "Tristar" goes under" Who cares, I only spent $248, the repairs on a Beretta cost more than that alone. I thought this topic was, best shotgun under $700, I've never seen a new 391 anywhere near $700! Another thing is I said was "Generation 2" which has been proven to be a reliable gun, the Generation 1's had problems, but come one, most things out there that are Generation 1 have problems.

Look for a 3901 Citizen.... Walmart carries them for under 700

OR...what if 5 years from now they are a premiere firearm company like Benelli, and all of yall are paying $1200 bucks for YOUR Tristars?

You guys are right. Tristar is a great gun. Better than Beretta by a long shot. Heck, the tolerances are so loose you dont even have a break in period. That must be a good thing...

Or maybe, just maybe they broke them in for you, like military weapons are broken in before they are sold.

glad you came to your senses.

LOL...You have been fed a lie buddy. You REALLY dont know what you are talking about.

I own both the Beretta Urika and the Tristar Viper. The Tristar should not be overlooked because of it's price, it's a great gun. Talk all the crap you want, but it shoots really well. I even let my Uncle Ed shoot it when he visited, we Won the 62 annual ATA shoot for the Southern zone. He couldn't believe the gun shot like it did. Really, I don't care what y'all buy, I know how both shoot, I like them both, but for the money the Tristar is a much better deal.

5 years as a Gunners mate and Master at Arms US Navy and Task Force 26 gunner for OIF, I know what I'm talking about!

So what is a "military" weapon?

A US contracted and supplied weapon, Colt M-16, M-4, M727, FN's machine guns like the M240, M249. All these weapons are shot many times prior to being sent to installations. I'm just stating that the Tristar appears to be going though a break in at the factory, even through it is in Turkey. I also know that there are some really fine shotguns that come from Turkey, I tryied like crazy to ship one back when I was on the Iraq/Turkey border, but because of the new postal service rules, I couldn't. Their over and unders were amazing.

Go look up the word "tolerances" in a dictionary, then apply it to firearms. Think about the good and bad...

Also, I will one-up Judds offer and trade you two Tristars for your Beretta 391. I'll make sure they are broken in from the factory too.

What does that have to do with it? If the tolerances were off on the Tristar is would not operate correctly, or it could even blow up. Obviously the tolerances must be right on, I've hundreds of rounds down the tube, and not one problem. I'm also not the only one saying their a good gun. Also, you can tell me about tolerances after you have timed a "Ma Deuce"

Tolerances have everything to do with it. Why do you think guns need a break in period? Why do you think engines have a break-in period?

Exactly my point, they are breaking them in prior to shipping them out.

Beretta does not break in their 391, read the manual. They have a long break in period

So lets say you some how happen to buy a New Beretta 391 for under $700, lets say $699.95, well now you may need to shoot 500 - 1000 rounds or more to get it broken in. That will cost $100 to $200 in ammo. Now you should have a field ready gun for $800 to $900. The Tristar was $248.00 and required no break in to be field ready, and all these hundreds of rounds later, it's still field ready.

BTW, The cheapest I can find a new Beretta 391 is $825.00.

Im crying uncle and saying that you beat me with experience...

I've going to go read some books that will better my knowledge on guns, hopefully that coupled with going to gunsmithing school will help me better understand guns. Because right it smells like crap and I cant see anything...

I'm not trying to beat you at this, I just know what I've seen personally between the two guns. If your ever in the Houston area you can come out and shoot the Tristar, you'll be surprised. I actually felt like I ripped the store off after I shot it. That invite goes to anyone else too, just bring some shells.

No need to...I sold dozens of them over the years. I dont need to shoot them to know that you should start playing the lottery if you got a good one.

That may have been the case with the first round, but the Generation 2's are up to par with similar brands. They even have a 5 year warranty.

Dude...seriously, if you believe that we need to make that deal I offered you earlier.

The reason TriStar doesn't have a break in is because they aren't built as tight as any other the premium guns.

Shotguns are one of the things that makes the "you get what you pay for" statements still popular. Now, I ain't saying there aren't good ones and bad ones of every manufacturer.

Seriously, I am glad you are happy with your TriStar but it isn't even in the same league of a 391...it if was they would be asking 4x what they are and you wouldn't hear of half the issues.

Don't you think that since I own both guns and you don't, I would know what league to catagorized the Tristar in? There in the same league when it comes to a Basic Beretta 391 and a Tristar G2 Viper. When broken in, they shoot the same, handle the same, even look the same. The parts are even made almost the same. Definately the same in design. And the "get what you pay for" does not always apply to guns. I shot next to guys with $7,000 over an unders, that couldn't out shoot me with a Rem 870!

So, if I beat a guy with a Perazzi or a K-gun that means my gun is better than his?

wow...Some people just dont get it. You would probably argue with a brain surgeon about brain surgery.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1808

Whoa, whoa! Let's not drag good ole pot into this ugly arguement. SHe didn't do anything wrong here.

Been reading this thread and just want to add a few comments.
Although I've never actually owned a Tri-Star semi, I know I like their side-by-sides.
Take it from a guy who has studied it and is regularly as consideration in my work, close tolerances are NEVER a bad thing. Yes they are little annoying when initially assembling moving parts, but in the long run you always want parts as close to the actual dimension as possible. There is a reason why 1" +/- 0.01" is significantly cheaper than 1" +/- 0.001" when it comes to machining costs.
It is highly unfair to claim that all 391's are crap. I break in rifles and hand guns religiously, but for some reason didn't on my 391. You know what? She shoots like a champ. For no good reason one day, I started shooting a bunch of random shells I found everywhere; some steel, dove loads, 3", shells with rust all over, a bunch of unknowns, etc. She cycled them all.

Well, It is the Indian and not the bow or arrow

This is pretty much like talking to a tree, not a big tree either, a really small tree that hasn't dropped any nuts yet.


and for Korean Redneck: I didn't ever say all 391's are crap, I just stated that mine had a long break in period and that for the money a Tristar is a great gun. I mean really, both of you are all about tolerances this and tolerances that. Do you even know the difference in the tolerances between the two guns, or are you just assuming?

I have held back but I am now going to jump in the fray. I also have a G2 Viper. I got it because my first generation Viper was a complete POS(It was a gift.) You that would espouse tolerances I simply ask, when did you disassemble one of the G2's and what were the tolerances? Uh huh. I have shot countless rounds through my "lowly Tristar" with no issues including this past duck season when the water was frozen over with no jamming, self implosion or the trigger group falling out. Hate all you want but as the old addage goes, don't knock it till you tried it. As for the "I sold them for years" you didn't sell the G2, it wasn't out. Anybody remember a car called the Edsel? Funny, but Ford is still in business. The old Vipers were crap, this one isn't. And the G2 is not $250, those are the old ones.

Yeah what he said. Except $250, I got mine for $248, but I really think Academy had it marked wrong as a G1.

[quote=WestForkGuideServiceDo you even know the difference in the tolerances between the two guns, or are you just assuming? [/quote]

Look here, dude. There is no reason to insult people and talk like your $hit don't stink, ok. I never questioned your credibility and you shouldn't question mine. What I wrote about tolerances is just a personal, not to mention pofessional, opinion on the general topic of. And how they apply to guns and firearms, give me better finer made and better quality controlled products any day of the week over loosely manufactured parts simply to make the over product line work ok. I am not in a combat zone and don't need extra play in my parts to make it forgiving.

You can think all you want about the word and what you believe that I percieve it to mean. But there is a reason why people are willing to pay $2500 for a Wilson Combat when they can purchase a Taurus for 20% of the cost.

I didn't insult you. If your insulted by me talking about the tolerances in a firearm, get over it. I asked if you know the difference in tolerances between the two firearms? Well do you? I'm looking at both guns right now, sitting right next to my safe, the parts are almost identical, even the finish on the G2's barrel is the same. When I take each apart, they are very close in make.

Look, to get back on subject for the sake of the person who started this thread. Go buy two Tristar G2 Vipers, and 4 cases of shells and shoot the hell out of them. With all of that, you will still have spent less than $700 and you have two nice Semi-Auto firearms ready for dove season. You can let Korean Redneck come out and shoot the other one, so he can come back from the field surprised by the quality of a firearm that happends to cost less then the rest.

Buying 2 may prove to be a good idea.........

Lol, ok I'm done for now. This has been fun and entertaining but this thread will go on for days. All I have to say is................................................................................................................ Get a Tristar G2....

Out...

Now, why would I need to do that? My gun works great as is, ad the best part was that it was free.

what do yall think about the mossberg 935?

Your' birthday today, Preston?

Sure is, and I'm stuck at work

Well Happy Birthday, brother!!

i appreciate it man

I could take a micrometer to it and prove it, but then I'd get crap on my hands. Its $248 for a reason... You may be able to shoot them, but you dont get what makes a good gun and a bad gun.

to the OP, I know of a great condition used Beretta 390 for $475, if your interested PM me.

Just go take that micrometer and prove it then, take some pictures and post them. Prove me wrong!

I dont need to, your credibility is already destroyed. Why should I be the one the one to put the nail in the coffin? Im also not going to buy a Tristar just to prove my point, they arent readily available to me in my new location.

Its sad when a micrometer costs more than the gun its measuring.

I though you said you've sold dozens over the years, you should have one in your shop, since your supposely a gun smith, gun dealer, gun expert, and John Moses Browning's right hand man.

Just listen here you Colorado yuppie. You must be as confused in your head as much as you are on this forum thread. My credibility is in no way destroyed, your in a world of your own you disrepectful moron!

Well first off the place I used to work for sold them.

Next im Texas born and raised, but moved to Colorado to start gunsmithing school. Not a Colorado yuppie yet...

Confused I am not.

Try again...

The others credibility has been in qeustion alot lately.....

What mine?

Don't the tri-stars still use an o-ring

No.

You could probably ask some people on here that know me personally and they would say otherwise. Im no angel, I'll mess with you, smartace at times, often times I'll let you know what I think without you asking, Im not bad though.

In the case of this thread im just calling a spade a spade...cut and dry.

just trying to have some fun...I offered a Beretta 390 for $475.

best gun under $700.... my Super X2 im selling for $650. check it out.