tx4cabbie Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Have long wanted a plastic stocked semi auto for those horrible wet days when I don't want to take the wood and blued beretta out in the rain, then be stuck in the house whilst it dries before I can put it in the cabinet. Not a big deal, but it's a good excuse to get another gun. Took a benelli supersport for the wkd on John forsey's try-before-you-buy scheme, and loved it, and on finding out they don't make a lefty, tried the raffaello crio comfort in the shop, and it could have been tailored for me, felt perfect, light and fitted well. The M2 also felt great. They are pricey though, about 1200 for the M2 and 1550 for the crio, though second hand brings that down to 800-1000. They're available on finance, a little down and a small enough payment per month that it wouldn't hurt. Lots of folk on here swear by the armsan 612, it's supposed to be a good gun, comes in a true left hand flavour, and is cheap, 450 new and I saw one for 330 on the trade forum. Is the benelli really between 3 and 4 times better than the armsan? I know it's got the comfortech stock, which looks the business, but the recoil I'll get off the loads I mostly use won't bother me even out of an inertia action, and the armsan is a gas op, which will reduce kick anyway. Cleaning a gas gun is more of a pain than cleaning an inertia gun, but not enough to add over a grand to the bill. Lovely wife is being incredibly cool about this, and pretty much giving me free rein, what would you do? Could really use the extra grand elsewhere, but on tick I'll not notice the difference really, and love those benelli shotguns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 I'd have a look at the Baikel MP 153 before making a final decision. There's some good footage of them on YouTube also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 got two gas guns only takes an extra ten minutes to clean so save yourself some money m p 153 are good plenty out there don't rush it have a mooch good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyTed Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 OP is looking for a left hander; don't think Baikal is available LH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted November 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Got to rush a little bit - in the run up to Xmas the taxi trade is a good thing to be involved in, but once January is here no ****** wants a cab for about 3 months and I'll not be able to justify the expense! Hadn't considered the baikal, though I do rate the brand, can't fault a gun you can knock fenceposts in with then use without problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewluke Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 try the Franchi affinity in camo,made by benelli,i have one and can't fault it(£600 new) http://www.franchi.com/en/products/semiauto/affinity-max5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyTed Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 try the Franchi affinity in camo,made by benelli,i have one and can't fault it(£600 new) http://www.franchi.com/en/products/semiauto/affinity-max5 Good idea and it's available left hand if you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportsbob Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 (edited) With all honesty the A612 is the best semi I have ever owned. In the past I have had two Remy 1100`s two Mosberg 9200`s a Beretta AL391 and two Hatsan Escorts. The A612 is the most reliable of them all with over 1500 jam free rounds to date, it`s a doddle to clean I simply strip it then spray the receiver and piston with GT85 and wipe them clean, the barrel gets a quick bronze brush followed by a couple of patches all in all easyer than my o/u. Edited November 9, 2015 by sportsbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewh100 Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 I've just purchased the benelli supper sport carbon looked at the a 400 and the sx3 no doubt if money not a problem this is the gun easy cleaning brill auto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malmick Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Remington Versa Max Sportsman is what I went for after trying a few out, including the M2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Friends have the Armsan A612 and it's literally a Beretta rip off with a few differences, you would think the parts would interchange when you see them. Very good value for money second hand and new. The Baikal MP153 is another very reliable gun that can withstand some silly amounts of abuse, but I find them short in the stock and front heavy. Try them if you can before making a choice, if you have another gun you use and the semi is only for bad weather I wouldn't be buying a big brand if buget was an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted November 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 That, figgy, is a great point - I've a 682 gold e for clays and it's a great gun - i don't need a similar quality gun to sit in the safe til it rains. I only WANT one..... And lovely wife wants me to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 The Baikal MP153 is another very reliable gun that can withstand some silly amounts of abuse, but I find them short in the stock and front heavy. Easy enough to fix both in one go - add a stock extension with a bit of ballast added. Might be a bit heavy for the more delicately-built amongst us, especially with the extra, but mine balances on the loading port, and weighs in at just under 9 lbs. Suppresses recoil brilliantly, plus reliable as a very reliable thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyTed Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Easy enough to fix both in one go - add a stock extension with a bit of ballast added. Might be a bit heavy for the more delicately-built amongst us, especially with the extra, but mine balances on the loading port, and weighs in at just under 9 lbs. Suppresses recoil brilliantly, plus reliable as a very reliable thing! Delicately built - that sums up the OP! Hope to see you Sunday week, Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exudate Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 If you like the Benelli M2, look at the M2 Essential model, which brings the price down to around £950 new. I love mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I've had my Benelli comfort sport for about a year now.Got it from John forseys.Great gun,never let me down.very easy to clean and maintain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I've had my Benelli comfort sport for about a year now.Got it from John forseys.Great gun,never let me down.very easy to clean and maintain. Me too ! It's a solid gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clanchief Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 I'm a bit biased this year as I have bought two new Beretta semis, one an Xplor for every day stuff and the Xtrema for the rain, well I am in the west where it rains nearly every day. The shims can make them left handed though there is one is a true left hand ejector, though to be honest as they as so fast at cycling you won't notice. My housekeeper is so understanding she let me spend all my back pay on a DT 11 and trade in my 682 Gold E, just last month. I would give the beretta a look, I paid £1630 for the Xtrema, new Optifade version, call for best cash prices and get a deal. Tried a couple of hundred 28g clay shells through the 3 1/2" chambered Optifade with no problems straight out the box after a box of 34g run in shells, at my clay ground, I can honestly say it's very good. Chiefy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted November 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2015 Thanks for all the replies, I'm desperately trying not to look at benelli comforts, especially not the new one, or the newish beretta that comes in true left hand flavour, as both are pretty pricey, and a much loved 612 will be affordable and still let me replace a blown worktop in the kitchen where the tap leaked. If my numbers come up tonight, things might be different, but had a long hard look at the list of stuff to fix/replace/decorate before we can think about the adoption process, and a shiny new gun will take funds from the "give us a kid,our house is safe " kitty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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