semi or o/u

[fieldwanderer]

I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a semi-auto 12bore but I've got a couple of questions which may sway me back to over and under;

 

I own a .22 r/f semi auto and it makes quite a bang as it ejects the spent cartridge, does that apply to a 12bore too? if it does, I bet it's really noisy right next to you! lol

 

is having just the one choke a problem? I can't help but think with an o/u or a s/s you generally have a tighter choke in the second barrel, for a slightly further shot?

 

What about snap-caps? can you de-cock a semi or do you just load a snap cap as you would any other cartridge?

 

Any help would be more than appreciated. Rich.

[naddan28]

I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a semi-auto 12bore but I've got a couple of questions which may sway me back to over and under;

 

I own a .22 r/f semi auto and it makes quite a bang as it ejects the spent cartridge, does that apply to a 12bore too? if it does, I bet it's really noisy right next to you! lol

 

is having just the one choke a problem? I can't help but think with an o/u or a s/s you generally have a tighter choke in the second barrel, for a slightly further shot?

 

What about snap-caps? can you de-cock a semi or do you just load a snap cap as you would any other cartridge?

 

Any help would be more than appreciated. Rich.

I would not worry about any noise ejecting cartridges compared to the noise of the bloody 12g going off in the first place, everything within a mile will know your shooting so the sould of the cart ejecting isn't a big worry in my opnion.

[duster]

Regards your question about chokes, many semi-auto's have multichokes, so you can use a variety of chokes in your gun. A lot of o/u guns are multichoke as well.

You can use a snap cap in an automatic, though some auto's will let you drop the hammer with the bolt half-way back. The usefullness of snap caps has been debated a few times on here!

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Cheers

Duster

[fieldwanderer]

ok, cheers for that though you may both have mis-understood a little;

 

R.e. chokes, say a pigeon comes out of the tree in front of you and you miss with the first barrell (s/s or o/u) the pigeon's starting to get further away so most people generaly have a tighter choke in the second barrell to allow for this. You don't have a second barrel as such on a semi so, the choke's the same as the first shot - does that cause much of a problem?

 

As for the noise on ejection, my .22 semi (when I'm not using a moderator) makes nearly as much noise on ejection as you can hear from the muzzle! The thought was, I don't really want the same from a 12bore which is obviously much louder! lol, it'd be like when your mate lets one go (rather thoughtlessly) with the muzzle a couple of feet away from your head (not pointing at it obviously).

 

Anyway, I'm sold so now I've got to find one for a good price, oh and sell a couple to make some space in the cabinet they'll be in the for sale section shortly.

 

I've just been to the gunshop for a look but he only had new ones in and the two within my price range aren't really what I'm looking for (escort and webley). He did hav a franchi but it was $569 I think (new) and I'd've had it if I could afford it (any good??) he did say they often come up within my price range second hand though so, fingers crossed.

 

Please, if you're looking for a cheap 12bore see mine in the sales bit. And if you have any tips on what to look for in a semi (don't worry about teaching me to suck eggs, I'm not very clued up on shotguns) speak up, any advise is always welcome.

[peter-peter]

I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a semi-auto 12bore but I've got a couple of questions which may sway me back to over and under;

 

I own a .22 r/f semi auto and it makes quite a bang as it ejects the spent cartridge, does that apply to a 12bore too? if it does, I bet it's really noisy right next to you! lol

 

is having just the one choke a problem? I can't help but think with an o/u or a s/s you generally have a tighter choke in the second barrel, for a slightly further shot?

 

What about snap-caps? can you de-cock a semi or do you just load a snap cap as you would any other cartridge?

 

Any help would be more than appreciated. Rich.

firstly, forget about changing chokes stick an half in and throw the rest in the bin

PS WHY DO YOU NEED A SECOND SHOT

I can hit skeet with full choke and dtl with 1/4.

but I stick to half all the time.,

as to auto snap caps you don't need em,

pull the cocking lever back about 1 inch and pull the trigger let go of the lever 1 uncocked auto,

but the ante auto brigade poor **** will still moan,

your gun is too loud, your spent cartriges are hitting me,

why don't you buy a proper gun,

etc etc etc.

My advise is buy yourself a good auto like a beretta. stick in a half choke tell the antes to ****k of and enjoy your shooting

[fieldwanderer]

I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a semi-auto 12bore but I've got a couple of questions which may sway me back to over and under;

 

I own a .22 r/f semi auto and it makes quite a bang as it ejects the spent cartridge, does that apply to a 12bore too? if it does, I bet it's really noisy right next to you! lol

 

is having just the one choke a problem? I can't help but think with an o/u or a s/s you generally have a tighter choke in the second barrel, for a slightly further shot?

 

What about snap-caps? can you de-cock a semi or do you just load a snap cap as you would any other cartridge?

 

Any help would be more than appreciated. Rich.

firstly, forget about changing chokes stick an half in and throw the rest in the bin

PS WHY DO YOU NEED A SECOND SHOT

I can hit skeet with full choke and dtl with 1/4.

but I stick to half all the time.,

as to auto snap caps you don't need em,

pull the cocking lever back about 1 inch and pull the trigger let go of the lever 1 uncocked auto,

but the ante auto brigade poor **** will still moan,

your gun is too loud, your spent cartriges are hitting me,

why don't you buy a proper gun,

etc etc etc.

My advise is buy yourself a good auto like a beretta. stick in a half choke tell the antes to ****k of and enjoy your shooting

 

 

Some good points there. For the record though I'm strictly a rough shooter and generaly alone.

 

Yeah, that's more what I'm looking at doing - a secondhand auto from one of the better known makes (simply because parts and accessories are easier to get hold of and, in theory, they're more reliable). Among others though, I had franchi (spelling) down as one of the "better" makers??

 

Second shots, well, I'm hopeless with a shotgun and the first to admit it. I've competed at international level shooting target rifles but I couldn't hit a barn door with a 12bore most of the time. I've been clay shooting once but, at the moment, it's far too expensive for me. I do feel a few really good days decoying would be of great benefit to me though, especially in the company of an experienced shot.

 

Tell you what, you've answered my questions about semi autos so now I'll start a new thread to see what I can learn about how to hit woodies and any other tips.

[the last engineer]

I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a semi-auto 12bore but I've got a couple of questions which may sway me back to over and under;

 

I own a .22 r/f semi auto and it makes quite a bang as it ejects the spent cartridge, does that apply to a 12bore too? if it does, I bet it's really noisy right next to you! lol

 

is having just the one choke a problem? I can't help but think with an o/u or a s/s you generally have a tighter choke in the second barrel, for a slightly further shot?

 

What about snap-caps? can you de-cock a semi or do you just load a snap cap as you would any other cartridge?

 

Any help would be more than appreciated. Rich.

firstly, forget about changing chokes stick an half in and throw the rest in the bin

PS WHY DO YOU NEED A SECOND SHOT

I can hit skeet with full choke and dtl with 1/4.

but I stick to half all the time.,

as to auto snap caps you don't need em,

pull the cocking lever back about 1 inch and pull the trigger let go of the lever 1 uncocked auto,

but the ante auto brigade poor **** will still moan,

your gun is too loud, your spent cartriges are hitting me,

why don't you buy a proper gun,

etc etc etc.

My advise is buy yourself a good auto like a beretta. stick in a half choke tell the antes to ****k of and enjoy your shooting

 

 

as devils advocate on peters note advise.

 

dont forget about chokes, they were made for a reason, you've no need for 10 3 will do nicely, a skeet for general purpose, a light mod for mid distance, and a full if your knocking down 747"s.

 

why do you need a secondshot,,,,probably because were no super stars like digweed and peter

if thats the case get a single barrel biakel.

 

the snap caps, perfect throw them away, why decock it anyway, it should be breech open other than when its loaded, keep it that way and make more friends.

 

if its too loud peter, move away,

if the shells annoy you, see above ,

 

a proper gun is one that works, a good semi, like a Berreta will suit you down to the ground, as will a good o/u, get what suits your needs, talk to some friends about what you see your goals are, even the local shop should help, if not the service guys the customers will.

 

good luck and enjoy

 

Martin

[hellier0437]

 

why do you need a secondshot,,,,

 

so that you can hit the second of a pair, (or third of a trio with a semi)!

 

i would recomend a berretta A303, great gun, not cartridge fussy, reliable, easy to shoot, and low on recoil

[Pointer]

Hey Fieldwanderer, just thought I'd add my 10 pence worth. I love shooting Semi's for pigeon and rarely go above a 1/4 choke. If you get the birds coming into your pattern correctly your Kill Zone should be no more than 35 yds (IMO) so if you do miss with the first shot the bird will still be in range for the second and possibly third. I use to own a couple of Beretta Semi's and loved them, but I purchased an Escort some while ago to see what all the fuss was about, and I have to admit that I adore it. I know their are shooters out there who despise them and I respect that, but I must have got a good-un. Apart from being cheap, it has never let me down and it will eat whatever you feed it. I don't care if it gets knocked about, but it always gets a good clean after each session. But above all else I rarely miss a bird with it. I have many guns in my cabinet and I must admit that the Escort sees the most daylight.....Please don't rule it out of the equation as it would fit your budget nicely.

 

Rgds

[dusk2dawn]

Hey Fieldwanderer, just thought I'd add my 10 pence worth. I love shooting Semi's for pigeon and rarely go above a 1/4 choke. If you get the birds coming into your pattern correctly your Kill Zone should be no more than 35 yds (IMO) so if you do miss with the first shot the bird will still be in range for the second and possibly third. I use to own a couple of Beretta Semi's and loved them, but I purchased an Escort some while ago to see what all the fuss was about, and I have to admit that I adore it. I know their are shooters out there who despise them and I respect that, but I must have got a good-un. Apart from being cheap, it has never let me down and it will eat whatever you feed it. I don't care if it gets knocked about, but it always gets a good clean after each session. But above all else I rarely miss a bird with it. I have many guns in my cabinet and I must admit that the Escort sees the most daylight.....Please don't rule it out of the equation as it would fit your budget nicely.

 

Rgds

 

 

"IT WILL EAT WHATEVER YOU FEED IT" not strictly true my Franchi (still 5 shot uncastrated) will not run on light loads or maybe its because they are own brand cheapo pigeon carts, they didnt have enough gas to operate the eject.

It has a C-LECT twist multichoke which I have found to be very usefull, I have often had several birds dead in the air out of a flock of woodies. I would recommend the Franchi as a good all rounder, easy to take down in seconds and relatively lightweight.

 

D2D

[fieldwanderer]

hey, thanks all for your advise. I'm not the sort of person who insists on spending a fortune on say a berretta or a miroku thinking it'll improve my shooting but, having seen the escort earlier, I'm just not keen that's all there is to it (no offence to anyone, I just don't like it) the franchi on the other hand I could've ran out of the shop with I was that gutted I couldn't afford it! lol

 

Anyway, as much as anything else, it depends what comes up, when and how much for but I've decided synthetic stocks aren't for me I'm affraid.

 

Off to another gun shop tomorow, a mate of mine knows the owner and may be able to get me all sorted within my price range pretty easily so, hopefuly I'll be looking for some pigeons tomorow evening with a new toy!

 

What about the noise from the ejector etc though, is it bad?

[luckytrigger]

I get a slightly metallic 'ting' from shells ejecting from my urika sounds kinda cool and doesnt bother me. Ive only ever owned semi's and love em. Mine cycles no problems with 28 and 32g carts. never shot clays with it though so dont no how well light clay carts cycle throught it.

[peter-peter]

I get a slightly metallic 'ting' from shells ejecting from my urika sounds kinda cool and doesnt bother me. Ive only ever owned semi's and love em. Mine cycles no problems with 28 and 32g carts. never shot clays with it though so dont no how well light clay carts cycle throught it.

it should recycle 24 grams ok my teknys has no problems with them.

[the last engineer]

I get a slightly metallic 'ting' from shells ejecting from my urika sounds kinda cool and doesnt bother me. Ive only ever owned semi's and love em. Mine cycles no problems with 28 and 32g carts. never shot clays with it though so dont no how well light clay carts cycle throught it.

 

its a semi, what do you expect it to sound like, its just the springs on full retract of the bolt assembly, as peter says it should cylcle anything you throw in it, my 390 + 391's do all the time, low recoil loads of 7/8oz around 1050 fps real soft for newcomers, up to the hot loads of 1oz at 1550 fps they run it all.

 

Martin

[luckytrigger]

I get a slightly metallic 'ting' from shells ejecting from my urika sounds kinda cool and doesnt bother me. Ive only ever owned semi's and love em. Mine cycles no problems with 28 and 32g carts. never shot clays with it though so dont no how well light clay carts cycle throught it.

 

its a semi, what do you expect it to sound like, its just the springs on full retract of the bolt assembly, as peter says it should cylcle anything you throw in it, my 390 + 391's do all the time, low recoil loads of 7/8oz around 1050 fps real soft for newcomers, up to the hot loads of 1oz at 1550 fps they run it all.

 

Martin

 

I wasnt complaining about the noise its nothing. I realise semi's make some noise from the working parts cycling back and forth. Just like the military kit ive used in the past.

[fieldwanderer]

Right guys, looks like my cash prob's gonna be sorted within about a week so now I'm after some advise on choosing a gun please.

 

I know it needs to "feel" right and fit well, but they all seem good to me!! What am I looking for?

 

Other than that, I can now afford the brand new franchi I saw the other day (£570 I think) Would you do that (asuming it fits properly) or go for a second hand beretta (302 I think) I saw last night for £475? Or any other suggestions?

 

Any advise on choosing a gun would be more than welcome, including opinions on the franchi

 

One other question though, if I got it put on my f.a.c, can I just buy a longer "magasine" as it were to take more catridges? and is it possible to get a different barrell for a semi so you can use magnum carts (just a straight swap).

 

Thanks for all your help so far