Cheap semi auto 12

[fenix]

Hi all, after a bit of advice.

I usually shoot a rather old Spanish SbS with quiet a bit of choke, but have recently picked up a bit of ground where we get passing duck and geese. Being a good chap I cant use lead on them, and I dont fancy putting steel through my current guns. So I could do with getting something thats steel proofed, and I had some success with a semi a few years ago. Budget is around £300, prefer multichoke, 3" magnum, got to be steel proofed. New (pondering Hatsan), or used (at least I could get my money back), what should I be lloking for? I am based in Kent and probably heading to John forseys at some point over the next few days, just wondered what should be on the look for list.

 

Cheers

 

Jon

[Clamps]

I have one of these - got it a few years back at the CLA games fair - £320 - i think they are more now, but cheap and good gun - one i don't mind lying on the ground.

 

http://www.webley.co.uk/index.php?option=c...2&Itemid=30

[foxbuster]

Yep-the webleys are good guns for the money. I've got the 12 bore 810 semi, bought it £400 new about 4 years ago. Have put thousands of carts through it-28grms to 50grms, never once had a jam. They're steel proofed too. You'll probably pick a second hand one up for £250-£300. I personally reckon they're cracking guns for the money.

[spiceychilli57]

If i was in the market for a cheap semi i wouldnt look any further than a beretta 303 great guns and rock solid if you can find one as they get snapped up pretty quick wouldnt hesitate

 

never used a webley but was pointed away from them when i was looking for a semi, something about not being made very well but had no real experience of them

 

Beretta all the way

 

Spicer

[Dekers]

Without doubt you will be best advised to buy a decent used gun rather than a nasty new gun.

 

ATB!

[fenix]

have heard good things about the A303, would an older one be likely to have steel proofing? I sort of lost track of whats to be avoided when it comes to steel

[spiceychilli57]

im not sure should be fine... best thing would be to ask the gun shop to proof test it to the pressure of steel, normally only a problem with older english guns where the metal is wearing a bit thin, and thats with more than 1/2 choke

 

and another thing with the 303 is when you come to sell it again you wouldnt loose as much than if you bought a webley or alot of other guns for that matter, very well respected semi

Edited November 3, 2010 by spiceychilli57

[EMcC]

John Forsey will fix you up, he has a lot of Hatsan semi's and they are good.

If you want cheap get the 'plastic' stock, I went 'posh' and got the Turkish Walnut, it doesn't shoot any better but it looks good.

[fenix]

Visited Forseys yesterday, his advice was get a Hatsan for wildfowling. Have to say i was actually impressed with feal and build quality of the plastic one. It actually mounted very well and felt reasuringly solid. I am very temped with the asking price of £370, and hes resonably close so getting any problems sorted shouldnt be a problem.

[Explorer]

You can get Baikal MP 153 with 3" chamber and as synthetic if you like, rock solid gun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--GbVKwDfNU

 

I'm very happy with mine

Edited November 5, 2010 by Explorer

[Dekers]

Visited Forseys yesterday, his advice was get a Hatsan for wildfowling. Have to say i was actually impressed with feal and build quality of the plastic one. It actually mounted very well and felt reasuringly solid. I am very temped with the asking price of £370, and hes resonably close so getting any problems sorted shouldnt be a problem.

 

Wait till you try and use it!

 

I'm not trying to be funny and my view of the Hatsans is well known (I understand there have been some improvements over the last year or two) just look back on the history of this site or the web generally and see how many problems the Hatsan has had, and I challenge you to compare that with ANY other shotgun!

 

ATB

[motty]

I'd also steer clear of webley. I had a brand new 810 wildfowler. It was on it's second outing before it broke. Couldn't get it repaired or replaced two years ago. Traded it back to gun shop for 2nd hand xtrema - good decision, quality gun.

[Lez325]

I have 2 semi autos- co's Im greedy

 

1. Hatsan PS Marine- plastic stocked with a nickel action and barrel- steel proofed and a nice Pigeon gun

 

2. Beretta AL391 Urika Field- also steel proofed- also a NICE Pigeon gun and much nicer than the PS Marine

 

The Beretta has a much nicer action and feel to it- yet they both Kill Pigeons- I use the PS Marine when ots all wet and windy lol

 

my advice is buy the best ypou can afford at the time

 

Les

[welsh1]

I have the hatsan escort,there may have been problems with older models,but mine has been flawless,cycles effortlesley and feels a good solid gun.

I use it for decoying,rough shooting and wild fowling,My old sxs has hardly been looked at since i got the hatsan.

I recommend them.

[ossie1968]

I have a W&S 812, had it for 6 months, never missed a beat.

[dmason24]

I have the hatsan escort,there may have been problems with older models,but mine has been flawless,cycles effortlesley and feels a good solid gun.

I use it for decoying,rough shooting and wild fowling,My old sxs has hardly been looked at since i got the hatsan.

I recommend them. <img src="http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="good.gif" />

 

Mines back in the gunshop, proabably a rogue gun, misfired and wouldnt even cycle 28 loads properly. Now gettin a Benelli Sod the expense eh!!!

[fenix]

Is yours the 3" or 3 1/2" magnum?

 

Have done a bit more research into using steel if I am reading BASCs guidance correctly I can use steel (not high performance) in any semi as long as less than 1/2 choke abd the obvious chamber limitations. Soo looking at more 2nd hand options in 3" magnum with multichoke. Read you comments in the other thread, where did you see the Beretta AL390 in Kent?

Edited November 9, 2010 by fenix