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opinions on semi auto s/g


Mossyoak77
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Hello All

 

In the market looking at different semi autos at the moment, Will be used for psg, vermin/pest control and bit of clay practice with,

 

Beretta 1301 comp, Benelli M2, Remington Versamax, Winchester SX3

 

Does anyone here own a 24" s/auto 12 or 20g can you tell difference vs 26/28" barrels, has anyone here got a versamax what are they like ?

 

 

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I have a benelli M2 24" FAC model I bought for PSG. Its a 7+1 and I find the smaller overall length make it a very fast handling gun. Though since I bought it I have not done many events at all. There are plenty of them used for PSG with many modifications available to customise them. Very reliable and solidly built. Prior to this I had the Benelli Vinci in 24 with extended mag and pistol stock which I struggled with due to it shooting high all the time even after shimming it. A lot of length on shotguns (in my experience) benefit swinging and keeping the gun moving which I don't think is as important in PSG as there mainly static targets. Something you can point quickly, is reliable , easy to load and robust in build is key. At the events I have attended the Winchester SX were popular but I did note a lot of reliability issues with cycling different carts.

 

Loading is the challenge in PSG

 

I did shoulder the beretta at the gun show this year. While it is like all beretta's very similar In looks it did feel a bit cheap to me but I am sure given its pedigree it will last many moons.

 

P.S. My gun is up for sale :)

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ive got the 1301 comp. best gun i have ever owned, bar none.

 

had an issue a couple of months ago with a cartridge failure which caused a whole plethora of problems but GMK took it back and fixed it under warranty and its back to its usual self.

 

mines fitted with a nordic +5 tube, barrel clamp and low drag follower. cant really justify getting the lifter welded yet as its never bitten me...

 

with regards to the way the gun handles and shoots, given its light weight the recoil is pretty insignificant but it can suffer a little with muzzle rise. once you get used to it you can easily counteract that.

 

its very quick, i mean lightning quick. i doubt i'll ever outrun it anyway. it has the benefit of having both the ejection port and loading port opened up already, plus the oversized safety and charging handle. i went out on the crows with it on the weekend and its soooooooo easy to use with gloves on!

 

for what it costs, i think you'll struggle to find a better gun for the money.

 

FIL has the M2 on FAC, lovely gun and i cannot fault it, other than the price.

the gun was £1200,

the extension, clamp and follwer was £140,

the charge handle was £45,

enlarged safety was £30

and to get the ports opened/ bevelled professionally would cost about another £200.

so to get the M2 to the same kind of level of spec as the 1301 cost over £1600

 

my 1301 and extension, clamp and follwer cost £1000.

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If your on a budget, get in touch with Bentley at Riflecraft, they may have some Steoger M3000s left, they are a virtual copy of the Benelli M2 but at half the cost.

 

 

The 1301, SX3 & Versamax along with older gas guns like the 11-87 will all need careful cleaning of the gas parts to remain reliable, I have seen all of these guns have problems after poor cleaning.

 

The Benelli isn't perfect despite claims to the contrary but its as close as you will get in my opinion, it will however need some upgrades to certain parts to make it competitive & more user friendly, the carrier will need welding up to prevent trapping your thumb, oversized safety & bolt release buttons will speed up operation & the obligatory nordic magazine extension tube to increase capacity.

 

Don't by the the fixed 7 round model as they are harder to extend.

 

Or you could always buy the Bora magazine fed shotgun which is developing a following in open division. :good:

 

N

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I have the versamax and would recommend it for reliability I have not owned a gun that has matched it , not a single jam to date in a couple of years use and 1000s of cartridges through it .

Is is a little more agricultural thyan the beretta I owned before it and the trigger pull is a tad heavy for my liking but you soon get use to that .

 

It is a very "soft" gun to shoot and is also rated for steel through full choke so no worries if you want to do some fowling

 

Its is a little heavy compared to most autos but balances well .

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If your on a budget, get in touch with Bentley at Riflecraft, they may have some Steoger M3000s left, they are a virtual copy of the Benelli M2 but at half the cost.

 

 

The 1301, SX3 & Versamax along with older gas guns like the 11-87 will all need careful cleaning of the gas parts to remain reliable, I have seen all of these guns have problems after poor cleaning.

 

The Benelli isn't perfect despite claims to the contrary but its as close as you will get in my opinion, it will however need some upgrades to certain parts to make it competitive & more user friendly, the carrier will need welding up to prevent trapping your thumb, oversized safety & bolt release buttons will speed up operation & the obligatory nordic magazine extension tube to increase capacity.

 

Don't by the the fixed 7 round model as they are harder to extend.

 

Or you could always buy the Bora magazine fed shotgun which is developing a following in open division. :good:

 

N

 

good shout there!

 

the M3000 was on my list when i went to look at competition guns. the 1301 just pipped it for me, but that was more my decision rather than anything technical.

 

a good gun at a very good price!

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Mossyoak,

 

All comes down to budget really and how much you want to spend. All are fine guns, and will do you well. The second argument then moves on to Gas vs inertia.

 

I own a Benelli M2 & Mossberg JM Pro in both 24". For your needs I would argue you would want a 24" especially on a semi auto. Its the size you want for the PSG and makes a great hide gun. Nice short barrel to not get caught up in your hide, very fast & quick to point and shoot. Also being a semi makes it easy to reload in a hide without having to break the barrels..... oh and 10 shots is nice :)

 

The Stoeger is yes cheaper than the M2, but doesn't have the comfortech stock, which is in my opinion great to have. Especially when using an inertia system (more recoil). So goes back to budget really...... as already mentioned the M2 isn't perfect. You would want an enlarged bolt release, welded up lifter and tweaks to the shell stop / latch to make perfect. But if I had the budget an M2 24" with all the toys and modded is the way to go.

 

The Mossberg JM Pro I think is an outstanding gun for the money, and in many ways better than the M2...... however its gas. I definitely think you ought to be considering this as an option too. Softer to shoot but like any gas system its a pig to clean properly. Once you've owned a inertia gun its very annoying to have to clean once you know on the other hand you can just give a wipe down and clean the barrel on the M2. The JM Pro is great to reload and unload. Plus if you're a gun tart there is plenty of great kit for the Mossberg 930 range.

 

The beretta looks great, however be aware it has a very short LOP...... are you a tall guy? For me the Mossberg being cheaper made it better than the Beretta.... and certainly shoots just as well.

 

Personally I don't like the Remington..... and I've owned a Browning Maxus (same as SX3 really). Prefer the M2 and JM Pro hands down.

 

 

 

So how much you looking to spend & used or brand new??

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Well Im 5ft 10 ish 24" barrel would come in handy I think, it will probably come down to the stoeger 3000, JM Pro, 1301 as my budgets only going to be able to stretch to £1200 new / used.

 

Would like to get an m2 but dont have the funds to do all the mods to it, I currently shoot with a Baikal MP153 so used to a heavy semi-auto do like the look of the VersaMax

but it only comes with 28" barrels over here theres a dealer nearby to me who has them in new for £825.

 

I've only ever used gas type s/auto shotguns never inertia.

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Inertia guns are a dream to clean, thats for sure. Just a little heavier on recoil but still nowhere near as bad as a o/u or sxs.

 

Just for the record though...

 

Ive put about 3 slabs of carts through my 1301 without even looking at cleaning it and its still running flawlessly... lol.

 

And, the 1301 is 13 inch lop out of the box, but comes with extensions to take it up to 15 inch.

Edited by brett1985
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Thats the good thing about them vs gas operated, do like the sound of the gas system on both 1301 & Versamax

 

Now that is a seller for me :good: I have been on the phone to Steve Pike at Shield regarding the Stoeger 3000 and 1301

 

So can take LOP up, well when my license comes back going to have a look at that & the other 2 S3000, JM Pro

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Not much use if you want a short barrel gun , but the versamax is a doddle to clean , undo 2 hex head nuts and the gas pistons drop out , then a 4.10 cleaning brush fits the pistons chambers perfectly , give the chambers a quick scrub , clean the pistons and thats it , a five minute job at most !

Edited by fenboy
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Barrel length is personal but largely dictated by use..why are you considering a 24"?

 

My Beretta 303 was 26", I replaced it with a Beretta 391 at 28", that works for me...each to their own.

 

I like Berettas, but nothing wrong with anything on your list, and Benelli are very underrated in my opinion.

 

:good:

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Guest cookoff013

Anyone tried a montefeltro by benelli?

 

I'm after an auto. Got the money for maxus but the dealer said he's sent back 5 or 6. Snapped springs. Common with sx3 too.

I thought it was older models too. But he just sent one back made 2014

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Inertia guns are a dream to clean, thats for sure. Just a little heavier on recoil but still nowhere near as bad as a o/u or sxs.

 

From the early 1900s to the early 1950s, before the gas system came onto the scene, ALL semi autos had a recoiling barrel that moved 3.5" to the rear. (Browning and variants, Remington, Franchi, Breda, et al.)

In the early 1950s Winchester came out with an inertia operated semi-auto with a Floating Chamber*. This gun had considerably lower recoil owing to the energy absorbing weight in the stock. Later, a fibre-glass barrelled version emerged and this, even today, was the lightest ever made.

 

They are so simple to clean and have very few moving parts. I am lucky enough to have three of these vintage guns.

 

By the way, ALL Benellis involve the patent on these Winchesters.

 

* invented by 'Carbine' Williams.

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From the early 1900s to the early 1950s, before the gas system came onto the scene, ALL semi autos had a recoiling barrel that moved 3.5" to the rear. (Browning and variants, Remington, Franchi, Breda, et al.)

In the early 1950s Winchester came out with an inertia operated semi-auto with a Floating Chamber*. This gun had considerably lower recoil owing to the energy absorbing weight in the stock. Later, a fibre-glass barrelled version emerged and this, even today, was the lightest ever made.

 

They are so simple to clean and have very few moving parts. I am lucky enough to have three of these vintage guns.

 

By the way, ALL Benellis involve the patent on these Winchesters.

 

* invented by 'Carbine' Williams.

 

im right there with you...

 

currently own a breda and a franchi. sold an A5 last year.

 

lovely guns!

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