which Semi

[splogan]

I want to pick up a semi auto in the next week or so. I sold an AR to fund it. I am trying to stay under $700. I am more looking for social purposes since I hunt with an ithica and my bird setup is a wingmaster. The 11-87's get pricey quick. I like the 930SPX and then there is the Siaga. My question is which would you all recommend from experience.

Cliff Notes:

11-87
930SPX
Siaga 12

Thanks

Matt

[vmtz]

Benelli or a 11-87. All else is second class.

Fr. Vince

[Para Driver]

Benelli.. spend a couple extra bucks, you'll keep it forever

[Outlaw Patriot]

FN SLP. The benelli doesn't seem to do anything the FN doesn't besides cost more.

A saiga would be cool too.

[kayakpirate]

11-87 ,built like a vault.Fun to shoot.Lots of stuff around for it.Might be expensive,but you get what you pay for.

[Forrester]

I shot benneli 20GA's down in Argentina two years ago on a dove hunt and I was absolutely shocked by the volume of ammo that goes through them during their useful life. I was told that they usually do not have to do anything for the first million or two rounds, and then basic maintenance consists of a complete strip and replacement of any worn parts, then good to go till around 4 million rounds when they are retired.

I do not like the rough nature of the plastic stocks, but go and go they will.

[Bryan 45]

If you never intend to hunt with it, I'd go w/ either the FN SLP or M2 Benelli. But, field barrels for both are real expensive, so if you think you may someday get a 26" barrel and go shoot some doves, stick w/ the 1187.

Not all 1187s are expensive. I picked up this 1187 used for $400 from a local shop and put a $60 Nordic extension on it. It's a 21" barrel w/ Remchoke. It had a synthetic stock set, but I found this set of like-new walnut for $50. A used Benelli will run $800 w/out the extension.

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL615/4020916/9005530/352054765.jpg

[splogan]

I stopped at the local fun store and foldled a couple 11-87's, a couple different 930's, an FN SLP, a Benelli M2 and M3. They were out of M4's. The FN and the mossberg were nearly identical except that the FN had slightly tighter tolerances with an extra $400 price tag. The mossberg had a better ghost ring with the fiber optic. The Benelli's were very nice just had the price tag to go with it. the rem was, well a remmy. They had no saigas but I have handled them before. The mossy SPX seemed the best bang for the buck.

[Volksjaeger]

It's not mine and I don't know the seller, but I noticed this Benelli M1 Super 90 on GB...I have one just like it and mine came to America in 1994. Hope this helps....

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143113744

P.S. It'll empty itself quick as a wink (as in all the empty hulls in the air at the same time!) if you do your part, and it's smooth to boot!

[akajun]

Well I can tell you what lasts in the marsh and can be counted on to cycle reliably with all kinds of shells.

Benelli SBE,, top of the heap,but for your price limit, youll have to go used

Beretta AL390, a very underated shotgun, light, action actually cycles faster than a benelli, and good shooting. You get a lot for you money with this gun.

Remington 11-87, workhorse shotgun, heavier, but parts and accessories are very common.

What to stay away from,

mossbergs, never seen one that didnt have problems

Browning gold/winchester sx2,, big heavy, not that reliable

saiga 12.. Very reliable, but for hunting I dont like the fact that you have to adjust the gas plug , gun does not balance well for wingshooting for me, and the lack of screw in chokes available will hamper your hunting loads. Box mag hangs up on my duck calls and will get in the way. Stick with this one for defense.

I have had or used all of these shotguns. I only still have my beretta al390 that I use for hunting, I just cant seem to let it go, and my saiga 12 for defense,.

[rino451]

FN SLP or Beretta A391.

[jeffrey]

Old school Remington m11.

[dirtyrice]

The saiga-12 was my first shotgun. Besides having a good double for skeet the only other shotgun I want is another saiga and maybe an fn slp. My girlfriend has a mossberg 590 and it seems fine to me though.

If you plan to shoot skeet with it a lot you may not want a saiga. You can always buy the 24" version and cut it down to 22"-20" though. I'm sure with practice and a proper choke it would do the job.

Otherwise I say saiga all the way. If it's purely for self defense I think it's top notch. You can go from 8-13 rounds of one kind of ammo to another by just changing mags and racking the charging handle to clear the last round of the previous ammo type. With a pump or normal auto you'd have to rack each round out and then load each one in right? I dunno if there is a special way to unload the tube of a pump or auto shotgun?

Also you can shorten the barrel without sacrificing capacity. I like ak's so I like the saiga. Plus there are tons of u.s. companies making parts and accessories right now and they really listen to the community. If you could care less about capacity and a little bit of added speed then don't get the saiga.

Mine has eaten slugs, multiple kinds of 2 3/4" buckshot, 3" magnum buckshot and tons of birdshot with no problem after a couple 100rds of buckshot. They do have a slight break in period, before that I had a couple times where the hull would get pinched while feeding. The actions feel really smooth out of box though. Dinzag finally came out with an attachment so you can put m9 bayonets on your saiga 12! YES!