Oldgun Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Looking to buy a budget semi (not pump action) max about £600-ish ATA, Franchi, Armsan etc never had one before so advice would help,steel shot proof and 3 or 3.5" chambers so OK for duck or pigeon,any experienced views please. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 one of the most reliable.............is an Beretta A303.................either 26" (like hens teeth) or 28" multi choke.............. a bit long in the tooth now ...almost a "classic gun" now......some of the new guns are awsome...but a used 303 in good nick is still a good buy.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I had a 303 in 26", traded it for my 391 a good 15 years ago, perhaps I should have held on to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Had a 303 traded it in and got a franchi raptor 712 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I have a mint condition 303 with 28" m/c barrel, it gets an occasional airing on clays and the odd bit of pigeon shooting. I cover the woodwork with neoprene sleeves for pigeon shooting, to keep it looking like new. A Beretta gel pad off a field model gun, screws straight onto the 303 sporter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Another for the A303, I've a 30" sporter, tad on the heavier side but spot on for the hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I have a mint 302, similar to the 303 i believe?. It's a lovely gun. Can't see me ever selling it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 For your budget a Franchi Affinity One, great semi with 7 year warranty. Get a handle of one, you wont be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotgcoalman Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 For your budget you can get 2 decent 303's 😎 Oldest auto in my cabinets and the one that has the least problems. 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Swapped my 303 for a franchi affinity because I needed Steel proof to shoot ducks, also 3" chamber. I know beretta did a 3" but quite rare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Used Beretta 391 teknys stonecoat 3” chamber Used Beretta Urika 2 31/2” chamber Used Browning Maxus 31/2” chamber. Used Franchi Affinity 3” chamber any of the above will serve you well and parts are plentiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 Another vote for the A303 series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 I have owned most makes apart from any of the 'Turkish' brands and have to say that the 303 is the quickest and easiest to clean. Mine will cycle down to 24 grams, except Hull Comp X and never lets me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 My 390 has been faultless. You have change for a few slabs of carts as well. Well worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 23, 2018 Report Share Posted October 23, 2018 40 minutes ago, Westley said: I have owned most makes apart from any of the 'Turkish' brands and have to say that the 303 is the quickest and easiest to clean. Mine will cycle down to 24 grams, except Hull Comp X and never lets me down. thats EXCACTLY the same for me...........the hull comp X always get stuck halfway out..........apart from that i9 am pushed to remember the last time i had a foul ejection...............maybe 6-7 years ago on billy bellys skeet emporium at gapton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 7 hours ago, ditchman said: thats EXCACTLY the same for me...........the hull comp X always get stuck halfway out..........apart from that i9 am pushed to remember the last time i had a foul ejection...............maybe 6-7 years ago on billy bellys skeet emporium at gapton I stuck some of my missus comp x once and it didn't even consider ejecting it 😂 normally use 26g hyper velocity but any 24g goes through fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Farmboy91 said: I stuck some of my missus comp x once and it didn't even consider ejecting it 😂 normally use 26g hyper velocity but any 24g goes through fine. i was quite surprised that they wouldnt eject properly....as i had used them in the sxs aqnd they felt quite "pokey"....all the other stuff 24 and 26gm...no problem...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 1 minute ago, ditchman said: i was quite surprised that they wouldnt eject properly....as i had used them in the sxs aqnd they felt quite "pokey"....all the other stuff 24 and 26gm...no problem...... Only 65mm cases on them tho, think that's what done it. Up until about 2 weeks ago I was using a ATA 30" sporter for clays and being so heavy I found there was minimal kick on anything under say 32g. Was using the hyperfast with half choke last time I took the A303 out sporting and managed to smoke a fair few, never done it with the o/u. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportsbob Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 Case length is often a problem with ejection because a 65mm cartridge generally produces less pressure and a gas operated semi needs higher pressure to work. The reason for 65 mm cartridges producing less pressure is they are manufactured to typically be used in older guns with 65mm chambers which are commonly lightweight side by sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 2 hours ago, sportsbob said: Case length is often a problem with ejection because a 65mm cartridge generally produces less pressure and a gas operated semi needs higher pressure to work. The reason for 65 mm cartridges producing less pressure is they are manufactured to typically be used in older guns with 65mm chambers which are commonly lightweight side by sides. To be honest I buy them for the missus because her franchi is pretty light and as she only shoots clays 21g is more than enough, just thought I put one in to see if it would cycle. When I'm shooting o/u I've got no problem with them or fiocchi tt1 21g, both good carts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 10 hours ago, Farmboy91 said: Only 65mm cases on them tho, think that's what done it. Up until about 2 weeks ago I was using a ATA 30" sporter for clays and being so heavy I found there was minimal kick on anything under say 32g. Was using the hyperfast with half choke last time I took the A303 out sporting and managed to smoke a fair few, never done it with the o/u. Stick 1/4 choke in and break a few more ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 37 minutes ago, Westley said: Stick 1/4 choke in and break a few more ! It did come with 1/4 extended teague but I forgot to take it lol To be honest I don't like using it for clays with the hassle of trying to gather the carts up afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 When I use mine for clays, I do not attempt to collect my empties from outside the cage, BUT I try to make amends by picking up all of the O/U and S x S users empties, from INSIDE the cage ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 27 minutes ago, Westley said: When I use mine for clays, I do not attempt to collect my empties from outside the cage, BUT I try to make amends by picking up all of the O/U and S x S users empties, from INSIDE the cage ! Yep that bugs me too. Funny how people can hit that small disc flying through the air but are unable to eject two cartridges into that *****y great bin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 26, 2018 Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 If you don’t want to be cleaning your gun all the time go for recoil operated like the Benelli or Franchi Affinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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