manthing Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 Hi chaps and chapesses... Looking at getting a semi auto mainly because I sometimes suffer with a dodgy shoulder and was thinking it might be a bit better. Been looking at Franchi Affinity, the 7 year warranty is impressive, they must expect it to last that long. Probably looking at a £700ish budget new, and I'm looking at new really, if there's anything else I should consider. Prefer timber to tickytackle but not set in stone. I know I could get a new Hatstand for a lot less but I just don't get a good vibe from the ones I've come across... Tia for your considered answers. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 Whichever manufacturer you choose it may well be worthwhile considering the barrel length, I like a 24" barrelled Semi-Auto for the hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 hello, there is a Franchi semi for sale just been put on here or try Gun Watch, the Armsan is another good make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 Remington 11-87 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted March 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 48 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Whichever manufacturer you choose it may well be worthwhile considering the barrel length, I like a 24" barrelled Semi-Auto for the hide. My mates just bought a 30" and it won't go in his cabinet assembled. 😲😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 (edited) If you have a dodgy shoulder a gas operated semi automatic gun will be much softer recoiling. Inertia guns like the affinity and the Benelli, require a certain amount of punch into your shoulder to cycle. A Browning Maxus or Winchester SX3 make good hide guns and are soft on the shoulder. Both can be had with 26" barrels. Edited March 27, 2019 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted March 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 25 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, there is a Franchi semi for sale just been put on here or try Gun Watch, the Armsan is another good make Think it's a south paw. Have looked at the Armsans, the pepper is nice. 7 minutes ago, Lloyd90 said: Remington 11-87 👍🏻 Will have a look. 👍 1 minute ago, figgy said: If you have a dodgy shoulder a gas operated semi automatic gun will be much softer recoiling. Inertia guns like the affinity and the Benelli, require a certain amount of punch into your shoulder to cycle. A Browning Maxus or Winchester SX3 make good hide guns and are soft on the shoulder. Both can be had with 26" barrels. And this is why I asked, cheers. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 If you can get a ex demo Armsan A612 they make a good buy as they have a three year warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted March 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 Think the maxus might be pushing it. Is there much between the sx3 and sx4? Just looking at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabel25 Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 i'am with figgy on here i have both the Browning maxus and the SX3 Both good guns and have been around for a while my SX3 is fac 8 shot which the SX4 does not do I looked into SX4 and reviews and they were found to be forward heavy But it's all about gun fit and what suits you But most come with shims and spacers that allows for adjustment a mate has just bought a new Mossburg as he likes the tank safety position being a left winger but it Weighs in at 8lb plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 got a Hatsan escourt ps12 £260 new 3 yr warranty with trio pad system soft as anything on the shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid .25 Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 7 hours ago, figgy said: If you can get a ex demo Armsan A612 they make a good buy as they have a three year warranty. +1, the Armsan A612 will cover all your requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 The good thing with the Armsan being cheap. You really can buy twice for your budget if wanted to or needed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 Have found an excellent example of just what you need, but am keeping it to myself! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 My experience of the budget guns was a bad one. I had bought a Hatsan Escort new, still under warranty I had a number of issues, sent it back twice and still no resolve. I asked a similar question on here and the advice was.to try a second hand beretta al391 which i did and it had been faultless. Cost around £500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 I have a Franchi Affinity and have yet to here a bad thing about them. I have heard of a few issues with Hatsan and Armsans but at a lower price I would expect more issues, however new they all come with a warranty which is your guarantee to either get your gun working as it should or your money back. I know cheaper new guns depreciate more but I bought my Franchi on the basis that it is guaranteed to work without issue for 7 years regardless of how many cartridges put through it, now I know I could have bought a "quality" gun for similar money or less but will it work for 7 years without me having to put more money into it? Regardless of what you pay for what just make sure it fits and works for you, as to barrel length I went for a 30" as I found the extra length kept me swinging as I did with my 27" barrelled O/U. Oh and yes I do have to put my gun in the cabinet at an angle to make it fit.😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 Dasher if you read a bit more you will find issues with some of the affinity guns needing g upgraded parts fitting Don't think there is a gun that's fully faultless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 2 hours ago, figgy said: Dasher if you read a bit more you will find issues with some of the affinity guns needing g upgraded parts fitting Don't think there is a gun that's fully faultless. I completely agree that no model of gun is fully faultless but in general you get what you pay for..... but a warranty should cover all of the time period guaranteed regardless of price thus purchasing an older so called better quality gun second hand for the price of a new gun with many years guarantee could be questionable so long as the gun fits and works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 True Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 (edited) 17 hours ago, manthing said: Hi chaps and chapesses... Looking at getting a semi auto mainly because I sometimes suffer with a dodgy shoulder and was thinking it might be a bit better. Been looking at Franchi Affinity, the 7 year warranty is impressive, they must expect it to last that long. Probably looking at a £700ish budget new, and I'm looking at new really, if there's anything else I should consider. Prefer timber to tickytackle but not set in stone. I know I could get a new Hatstand for a lot less but I just don't get a good vibe from the ones I've come across... Tia for your considered answers. 👍 HATSTANDS are not the garbage many claim they are as with many semi autos cheap or otherwise they need cleaning and to some degree or other need a little more consideration to the ammo you feed them to function perfectly. Lets take benellis the opposite end of the spectrum to Hatsans yet as well made as they are they can if you do not maintain them or use them properly be big TROUBLE. So price alone is no real guarantee of anything once your just considering Form and function. They all look similar and they all work. The biggest failing in semi auto shotguns regardless of price point is the OWNER / OPERATOR, service and feed a semi auto the way it needs to be and they do if they have no mechanical failings, work with ammo in the spectrum they were designed to use. Zero new out of the box initial cleaning / Lubrication is often where new semi autos start to give trouble, they are new tight on tolerances not yet fully bedded in and sometimes coated in storage grease if this is not fully cleaned and gun lubricated its a recipe for issues right from the get go!. New guns should be cleaned and inspected prior to sale from new but its a fact some are not. So they all work what do you buy. ? Anything takes your fancy if you like the Mentioned affinity buy it, its warranty is good you say and that’s a positive but in reality semi autos all last well over 7 years if looked after. I have had a lot of semi autos over the years and the Best semi auto ever made in my opinion is the original and the very first FN Browning Auto 5. once you know your way around them they will run on most ammo with adjustment / lubrication, they last well some are over 100 years old now and still working hard for a living. Others like Browning 2000 Beretta 301/302/ 303 and the subsequent models in this range are well liked and work faultlessly for years. The 1100/ 1187 Remingtons are excellent guns the longest running semi auto shotgun of all time fit is perfect for most average proportioned people and they are reliable and soft shooting(felt recoil) . Remington versa max and V3 are other excellent guns from Remington super reliable versa port gas system which is unique in a civilian shotgun is designed to function with little maintenance for thousands of rounds. Another gun i like and own is the BAIKAL MP153, these are strong and reliable parts are hit and miss importers come and go but you can get parts online from Russia but it can be difficult some times. But apart from parts i can not fault my mp153 and i have had it well over 15 years and its been impeccable in every way. Benellis i don’t have one anymore but i will say these guns are right up there very well made and reliable , but the inertia system they use does have a little more felt recoil than a similar weight and proportioned gas auto, but it is so negligible i dont think its an aspect you should dwell on myself. My pick of the bunch would be a vinchi no question about that, but M2s are good as are SBEs out of those two i would go for M2 or the New SBE 3 its got the newer action type forget the name they give it but it stops AFAIK the notorious BENELLI CLICK just google it for an explanation . Browning / winchester. SX2 .sx3.sx4. browning gold maxus fussion gold all these models are similar in gas system and these guns are good reliably shotguns and again well worth considering. Berettas are brilliant but will be used in your price range Extrema 1s and 2s are my favourate but thats just me many like the A400s and i imagine they will be a good sound buy if you can push your budget that bit further. Fabarm these are in your price range and though not as well known Fabarms are a well made shotgun and the tri bore barrel boring is interesting, they all seem so innovative do the Fabarm, and the XL5 if you can find a version in your budget will do you fine. Another of the less well known semi autos Mossberg they are reasonably priced and the 930 model gets good reviews in the states and could be worth considering, the 935 is 3.5 inch and the barrel is .775 ten bore in size rather like a chamber less 12 semi auto shotgun. ( google Chamberless shotgunsfor explanation). the 935 is more aimed at wildfowlers and serrious Predator shotgunners in the states so the 930 is probably the best allrounder they offer. And back round to hatsans they along with some other Turkish semi autos are and have been for some years now a well made reliable if some what basic semi auto shotgun, that despite the name calling and hair pulling in the playground in the real world this kid has a real jobb to do can take the rough and tumble and for what you pay is a brilliant workhorse that can hold its own on reliability with guns costing much more. Its rather like the old SKODA jokes they dont hold a lot of credibility these days the word is out on Hatstands and those who own and use them know they are worth considering. Edited March 28, 2019 by lancer425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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