Mini Magnum Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 What would people recommend for rough and pigeon shooting, I was tempted to go for a Browning 725 OU gun, but I already have an OU, if I go for a semi auto, whats good, reliable, shoots well out of the newer models of semi autos, theres that many to choose from and they seem to change every week with newer models.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry136 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Go for a Browning or a Beretta, although if you want a cheap gun that you dont mind getting knocked about, go for a Hatsan! Nice and cheap and reasonably reliable as long as you only use 70mm cartridges- buy new as the older models were terrible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I went for a new Franchi Affinity which is made in the Benelli factory and costs about £550 new with 7 years warranty . I have run several hundred shells though it and now prefer it to my OU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycho Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Get a Beretta a400 xplor,they are superb I have a b725 and had I bought my a400 prior to the browning I would never have got it,it is lighter,fires 50g cartridge's with no noticeable recoil and you get 3 shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Must admit I got an Armsan 612 recently and am very impressed over 500 cartridges through without a jam running 28g 70mms. I got the camo version for pigeon bashing and its been spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Winchester sx3 fantastic gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 If your talking brand new guns and only rough and pigeon shooting, i would get a Brand New remington 1100 G3 or 1187 synthetic if money was a bit tighter. Been around over 53 years now detail changes only still ticks all the boxes for a perfect rough and pigeon semi auto, Millions of pigeons been killed with these things worldwide over the past half century still one of the nicest handling out of the box one size fits most semi autos ever made, and the oldest semi auto still in production today. Remington got it right and its still just as right as it ever was, its American made and a Clasic a Real classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Winchester sx3 fantastic gun For the money they are superb. Had mine 2 years now and love it... Especially for crow control... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I had a thread about this recently: http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/339418-i-want-a-beretta-a300-xtrema/ After reading every review online, talking to people and handling the guns I could get my hands on, the shortlist: - Browning Maxus (ordered, in the post!) - Winchester SX3 - Remington Versa Max Sportsman Plus, if I had the budget Beretta, A400. Plus, if I could actually see them in the flesh, Baikal and Hatsan. All I can say is that the Maxus felt right to me, so that swung it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krugerandsmith Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 What would people recommend for rough and pigeon shooting, I was tempted to go for a Browning 725 OU gun, but I already have an OU, if I go for a semi auto, whats good, reliable, shoots well out of the newer models of semi autos, theres that many to choose from and they seem to change every week with newer models.. Armsan 612s .... better trigger than my Benelli super sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 It somewhat depends on your budget. I went the Hatsan route and I`m perfectly happy with it. Cheap and cheerful but it shoots where I point it and if it happens to take a knock I`m not going to be too upset. Yes some of the better known models will hold their value better but at under £300 it`s not something that`s really worth worrying about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andra Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) I went for a new Franchi Affinity which is made in the Benelli factory and costs about £550 new with 7 years warranty . I have run several hundred shells though it and now prefer it to my OU I can vouch that these are very good guns for the money been out a few times with mine now. One thing I would say though think carefully about the fact that the shells that get expelled are sometimes hard to find which personally annoys me!! As such mine will only be out in some situations with the O&U out when I don't want that hassle :-( Edited July 24, 2016 by Andra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 I had a thread about this recently: http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/339418-i-want-a-beretta-a300-xtrema/ After reading every review online, talking to people and handling the guns I could get my hands on, the shortlist: - Browning Maxus (ordered, in the post!) - Winchester SX3 - Remington Versa Max Sportsman Plus, if I had the budget Beretta, A400. Plus, if I could actually see them in the flesh, Baikal and Hatsan. All I can say is that the Maxus felt right to me, so that swung it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 My friend has a maxus in carbon fibre look nice gun still shoot better with my sx3 fits me better all a was after when I got a semi was sum thing reliable under a grand and fits well realy pleased with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) You can see from the replies the recommendations stretch from one end of the spectrum to another, so a little more info from you will start to narrow it down closer to something which fits your needs. Budget Wood or synthetic Weight She'll sizes if any extremes are a factor looking at the replies also indicates that the majority of modern Guns are pretty reliable. Everyone above has bought theirs based on their need or circumstances, my advise would be to put some of those details here to help you. Edited July 24, 2016 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted July 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 You can see from the replies the recommendations stretch from one end of the spectrum to another, so a little more info from you will start to narrow it down closer to something which fits your needs. Budget Wood or synthetic Weight She'll sizes if any extremes are a factor looking at the replies also indicates that the majority of modern Guns are pretty reliable. Everyone above has bought theirs based on their need or circumstances, my advise would be to put some of those details here to help you. Budget -Anything upto £2k Synthetic. Weight - Not an Issue Shells Mainly - 6's 32g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B25Modelman Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Browning A5 (camo, one composite) Benelli (M2 camo, comfortech, raffaello cordoba, vinci black) All within budget, synthetic, inertia for easy cleaning, good with heavy loads and if bought new, long warranties 5 to 7 years. Alternatively Edited July 25, 2016 by B25Modelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycho Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 One thing I would say though think carefully about the fact that the shells that get expelled are sometimes hard to find which personally annoys me!! As such mine will only be out in some situations with the O&U out when I don't want that hassle :-( Why Dont you buy a shell catcher you tube it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Budget -Anything upto £2k Synthetic. Weight - Not an Issue Shells Mainly - 6's 32g So your budget means there isn't much you couldn't buy when it comes to Semi auto's. My criteria was very similar to yours when I was looking for one and after much research I narrowed it down to 4 guns. I was looking at the Maxus carbon fibre, the Winchester SX3, Beretta A400 Xtreme and the Remington 100 Competition. Having done all the research, I was pretty sure these were all good guns so it was down to how they felt in my hands and of course aesthetics. I waited until the gun show came up where I knew I could look at all the guns side by side and as soon as I started to handle them I made my mind up pretty much straight away. To be fair, a friend lent me his SX3 and I shot pretty well with it, but my only criticism of the gun was that it is rather slender, almost felt toy like. When I looked at the Maxus and the Remington, they were all really slim guns. For me the A400 Xtreme was the one; To be fair it is the heaviest out of the 4 but that wasn't an issue for me, it just felt so well built and oozed quality. Unfortunately it was also the most expensive, but again, I'd made my mind up and that's what I ended up with. Two years later and a fair few cartridges through it, I have no regrets. It doesn't jam, I can't say it's fussy with cartridges, though I haven't tried anything below 24g. The recoil is very light, and if you try 29g 6's, it's pretty non existent. It's a breeze to clean and you can strip it right down including the trigger mechanism out in about a minute. I like the matt finish on the barrel, so there is no glare when the sun is shining. I think Beretta were a little tight in supplying what is a relatively expensive gun with just three chokes if I'm honest, but other than that I'm really pleased with it. Good luck with your quest, keep us posted.... Edited July 25, 2016 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B25Modelman Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Why Dont you buy a shell catcher you tube it When I looked at those they catch the first cartridge case which is a bit of a burger if you fire two or three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throdgrain Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 If your talking brand new guns and only rough and pigeon shooting, i would get a Brand New remington 1100 G3 or 1187 synthetic if money was a bit tighter. Been around over 53 years now detail changes only still ticks all the boxes for a perfect rough and pigeon semi auto, Millions of pigeons been killed with these things worldwide over the past half century still one of the nicest handling out of the box one size fits most semi autos ever made, and the oldest semi auto still in production today. Remington got it right and its still just as right as it ever was, its American made and a Clasic a Real classic. Absolutely agree 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycho Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 When I looked at those they catch the first cartridge case which is a bit of a burger if you fire two or three. The multi ones catch all 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bansk65 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 I went for a new Franchi Affinity which is made in the Benelli factory and costs about £550 new with 7 years warranty . I have run several hundred shells though it and now prefer it to my OU +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraivi Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Franchi Affinity, alot of gun for the money, well made under Benelli and a 7 year warranty. As for ejected casings, if you're shooting from a hide, they are not far & all in pretty much one area, get a telescopic magnetic pick up stick, for reaching into hedges etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPCarter Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 A semi is nice to use if you're shooting from a hide and you get that extra shot. I got a lovely used Maxus Premium Grade 3 for £800 and very happy with it. Love the speed load feature and magazine cut off on it. I don't know if some other models have this but it makes it really easy to use. Came in a case with extra chokes and barrel extension etc. Takes 3" magnums which are all you need. With the nice wood it doesn't look out of place anywhere so it's a real multi use gun. Never had a jam but I only use 28g+ cartridges and see no reason to use anything less on game, though it's great for littering clay grounds too! I was originally looking at new Winchesters, Hatsan and old Beretta's but this looks in a different league for the price. I guess it depends if you want to keep your current O/U or upgrade it as there's not a huge difference in use really. I just like having both types of gun to play with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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