kobidog Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 At the moment the only gun I have is a 20 bore, berreta silver pigeon and I am looking for something that would be more practical for pigeon shooting and general vermin control etc. However have no idea what semi auto to get as there are just so many different types!! It would mainly be used for pigeon decoying and squirrel shooting but I would also want it to be proofed for steel and be able to take heavy loads for foxes which I think most semi autos are... My budget is about £700 max, I have looked at hatsan escorts which seem like nice guns and they are cheap, however my mate had one and it jammed alot..browning maxus also seems like a nice gun, does anyone have any recommendations??? I dont want one that will jam on me with light pigeon loads Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangey Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 maxus or sx3,both good guns but on the top end of your budget.better to buy the best gun you can first time sooner than buying something that is cheaper and then deciding you wont to upgrade.you really need to pick a few up and try them before buying,everyone will give you a different opinion on whats best,but if it doesnt fit you well its not the gun for you.... At the moment the only gun I have is a 20 bore, berreta silver pigeon and I am looking for something that would be more practical for pigeon shooting and general vermin control etc. However have no idea what semi auto to get as there are just so many different types!! It would mainly be used for pigeon decoying and squirrel shooting but I would also want it to be proofed for steel and be able to take heavy loads for foxes which I think most semi autos are... My budget is about £700 max, I have looked at hatsan escorts which seem like nice guns and they are cheap, however my mate had one and it jammed alot..browning maxus also seems like a nice gun, does anyone have any recommendations??? I dont want one that will jam on me with light pigeon loads Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 I use a browning maxus for pigeons, 3 1/2" chamber, it's proofed for steel and will take the heavy loads that you require safely, its multi choke and comes with a full set, and the speed load feature is great when in the hide. i have read of people who have put a thousand shells through them without cleaning, but i'm not going to try that with mine. So far i can describe the maxus as faultless. I use 30 or 32g loads in mine. regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 For £700 i would go for a Beretta 391 Urika 1 or 2 good reliable semi which will do all that you want and hold its value, i have had the 391 and only sold it as i wanted a beretta extrema 2 as it has the 3 1/2" chamber, cost was £850 s/h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OvEr_KiLL Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 new beretta outlander for a little bit more.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 I ve just bought my first semi and after trying a few including maxis 391 bennillis I went for an old remi 1100 felt most comfortable to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBW Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON A HATSAN ESCORT! I had one and it was **** at cycling any sort of cartridge even from new, and over time it just fell to bits - I have a remmy 1100 and a Winchester SX3 and my mates got a Benelli m1 a second hand Benelli will be on about your price range a Remington in well worth a look but my favourite is the SX3 I used mine as a working gun and it took some abuse when I was a hill keeper and never had any sort of problem whatsoever with it, unsure of the price of them now but I got mine about five years ago for eight hundred notes however the browning maxus is basically an sx3 with the browning logo on it Other folks might have had escorts and like them but from my point of view and three other lads that had them they're rubbish The sx3 is steel shot proof and will cycle anything you put through it it's really easy to maintain and for three years full time keepering I cleaned it twice and it never jammed I have run mine over with a quad bike, bumped it on all sorts of surfaces, had it totally soaked in heavy rain and out in freezing temperatures with not a single problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 My advice would be to make best use of your budget and go quality second hand rather than new. Lots of choices out there. Have a close look at a browning gold if you find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON A HATSAN ESCORT! I had one and it was **** at cycling any sort of cartridge even from new, and over time it just fell to bits - I have a remmy 1100 and a Winchester SX3 and my mates got a Benelli m1 a second hand Benelli will be on about your price range a Remington in well worth a look but my favourite is the SX3 I used mine as a working gun and it took some abuse when I was a hill keeper and never had any sort of problem whatsoever with it, unsure of the price of them now but I got mine about five years ago for eight hundred notes however the browning maxus is basically an sx3 with the browning logo on it Other folks might have had escorts and like them but from my point of view and three other lads that had them they're rubbish The sx3 is steel shot proof and will cycle anything you put through it it's really easy to maintain and for three years full time keepering I cleaned it twice and it never jammed I have run mine over with a quad bike, bumped it on all sorts of surfaces, had it totally soaked in heavy rain and out in freezing temperatures with not a single problem Buy a Hatsan Escort all of mine are great! Keep an Escort reasonably maintained and it will work well for you. Edited March 30, 2013 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON A HATSAN ESCORT! I had one and it was **** at cycling any sort of cartridge even from new, and over time it just fell to bits - I have a remmy 1100 and a Winchester SX3 and my mates got a Benelli m1 a second hand Benelli will be on about your price range a Remington in well worth a look but my favourite is the SX3 I used mine as a working gun and it took some abuse when I was a hill keeper and never had any sort of problem whatsoever with it, unsure of the price of them now but I got mine about five years ago for eight hundred notes however the browning maxus is basically an sx3 with the browning logo on it Other folks might have had escorts and like them but from my point of view and three other lads that had them they're rubbish The sx3 is steel shot proof and will cycle anything you put through it it's really easy to maintain and for three years full time keepering I cleaned it twice and it never jammed I have run mine over with a quad bike, bumped it on all sorts of surfaces, had it totally soaked in heavy rain and out in freezing temperatures with not a single problem It's only your sixth post pal - don't go upsetting happy Escort owners - well at least not this early on Buy a Hatsan Escort all of mine are great! Keep an Escort reasonably maintained and it will work well for you. I'm with you on this Tightchoke - mine has never skipped a beat - just keep it clean / maintained and put it back together correctly ! ATB Edited March 30, 2013 by station Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Ive got the Winchester SX3 Camo in 3.5" chamber.This particular gun is Steel proofed and is a good reliable Semi IMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 +1 for hatsan ,cleaned after every shoot never missed a beat cheap as chips . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 I would never buy an escort.sorry guys but they are mass produced ****. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Buy a Hatsan Escort all of mine are great! Keep an Escort reasonably maintained and it will work well for you. Is the Escort Steel Proofed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 what do mean you only have a 20g sil pig?my favorite gun is a 20g medalist,despite have having a lanber o/u 12g and a beretta a300 12g.i use it on alsorts decoying pigeons,pheasants,duck flighting,dont under estimate how good a 20g is.however if u need an sa 12g,a300 outlander mine is very good,no issues no jam ups and dont use anything over 32 gram carts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OvEr_KiLL Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) i first started to learn to shoot with an escort on clays, it was the older model with the release button on the back and i was always scared to load it myself so my friend always loaded it for me and it kept jamming all the time which put me off semi's all together then later on after having a couple of o/u and realising i couldnt hit sporting clays with my trap gun (the beretta down bellow) and started to get into pigeon shooting i wasnt going to take my beretta in the field as its too heavy and i didnt want the wood marked i decided i would buy a cheap semi, which was the escort, its only a few months old and they told me in the shop it wouldnt jam if i just kept it clean and used the right carts (70mm and 28g+) which i didnt believe them. i tried it out yesterday on the clays and was worried about it jamming, i can safely say it did not jam once after having 60 carts through it (28g 7.5) we all know its the cheapest semi you can buy new and its made in turkey blabla..., but what more do you want when you are out in the field with it, its nice and light not very much recoil and it doesnt matter if it gets knocked around a bit! all you have to do with them is keep them clean and they will work fine and use 70mm carts and nothing lower than 28g ...remember im talking about the newer models with the smart valve Edited March 30, 2013 by OvEr_KiLL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 I treated myself to a new Beretta Outlander today. I part exed my Hatson Escort in. I only fired 32g and 50g cartridges through it but started jamming so it had to go. The Beretta has a much better feel to it, more refined so i will put it through its paces on Mon and Tues. It will be used solely for Cormorants. (I am on license to shoot them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchill Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 i first started to learn to shoot with an escort on clays, it was the older model with the release button on the back and i was always scared to load it myself so my friend always loaded it for me and it kept jamming all the time which put me off semi's all together then later on after having a couple of o/u and realising i couldnt hit sporting clays with my trap gun (the beretta down bellow) and started to get into pigeon shooting i wasnt going to take my beretta in the field as its too heavy and i didnt want the wood marked i decided i would buy a cheap semi, which was the escort, its only a few months old and they told me in the shop it wouldnt jam if i just kept it clean and used the right carts (70mm and 28g+) which i didnt believe them. i tried it out yesterday on the clays and was worried about it jamming, i can safely say it did not jam once after having 60 carts through it (28g 7.5) we all know its the cheapest semi you can buy new and its made in turkey blabla..., but what more do you want when you are out in the field with it, its nice and light not very much recoil and it doesnt matter if it gets knocked around a bit! all you have to do with them is keep them clean and they will work fine and use 70mm carts and nothing lower than 28g ...remember im talking about the newer models with the smart valve I have to agree there, I've never been a fan of semi's for 20 years until i started pigeon shooting, my Beretta 687 does get a little heavy when out in the field, and i get bored on clay grounds stood around waiting for people with semi's having problem after problem with them. I'm using a Browning Maxus in the field with 70mm 30 or 32g loads, and all i can say about the Maxus is so far its been 100% faultless, but it gets a thorough clean at the end of the day when I've used it. I just wonder if some of the so called rubbish semi's out there that people slate would work better if they were fed the appropriate ammunition and given a good clean. I don't care how good a gun is or how good the reviews are if you neglect it then it will start to develop problems. Semi's are not like O/U's as they will take any old cart you choose to use and as long as you can slam it shut they just seem to work. This is just my opinion on some of the problems with semi's, i'm sure there are people out there who do keep them clean and use appropriate ammunition and still have problems, so have one of the "rubbish" semi's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) Hatsan worked fine for me when i had 1, just run a pipe cleaner through holes in barell and clean carbon deposits off mag tube..no problems. Beretta 303 (301 and 302 aswel) great guns, great rep and can be picked up at a good price I now use Webley and Scott 812, seems to be doing the job (touch wood). Whatever you get...look after it, a quick strip and clean takes only a few mins and not only keeps gun from jamming, it will prolong the life of it so you get yours money's worth. Also...check manufacturer recommendation..if it says use 70mm minimum then do it, too many complain and say gun is rubbish when they feed it cartridges that it isn't designed to be fed. Edited March 30, 2013 by TJ91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 I had 3 hatsans they were all ****, jamomatics. Put over 10k shells thru my Urika without a problem. Buy a Beretta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OvEr_KiLL Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) I had 3 hatsans they were all ****, jamomatics. Put over 10k shells thru my Urika without a problem. Buy a Beretta maybe you were doing something wrong as said above, wrong carts, not keeping it clean etc. Edited March 30, 2013 by OvEr_KiLL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 maybe you were doing something wrong as said above, wrong carts, not keeping it clean etc. No, even from new out of the box they were trouble. I persevered because I liked them and shot well with them but ultimately it wasn't worth the frustration. Another thing to remember with hatstands is that they change spec regularly and spares become unavailable very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kxkirk Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I have a browning pheonix camo 3 1/2 and i love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Look for a slightly second hand sx3 or a browning fusion. It will be great on price and perfect for pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solz Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 second hand beretta, bowning or benelli, or new sx3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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