Considering a SemiAuto - what gun?

[mat777]

Evening all,

I'm a purely clay shooter and I've owned an O/U Baikal for 2 years now, having been shooting various club gun O/Us for 8-9 years prior. 
I've realised that as an adult, not only can I eat ice cream for breakfast, but I can also treat myself to a second gun should I want to. Wanting a bit of variety, I was looking at the idea of a semi-auto in the £200-300 range that isnt completely pants. I'm aware that a S/A carries more responsibility for etiquette and "it's clearly empty" safe practice at the range and I'm totally fine with that. I'm a left handed shooter and whilst I've been told that a right-ejecting gun should be fine given the distance from my face, if I had the option I'd still choose a left-eject.

I've seen 2 guns local to me (Cheshire) that caught my attention. Both in good condition with chokes, case etc.

In the red, white and green corner: A Fabarm H368 for £290.
Pros - it's left handed, it has nice wood. Reviews lead me to believe the mechanism auto-adjusts for cartridge weights/lengths?
Cons - It's more expensive

In the purely red corner, a Baikal MP153 for £200
Pros - It's cheap, and as the owner of a Baikal O/U I'm aware how tough they are.
Cons - All over black finish, and reviews say they are weighted weirdly from the factory. Mechanism is manual adjust.

(Wildcard idea - I was also considering a cheap SxS, but i'm not a fan of twin triggers and single triggers are all out of my price range)

What does the the PW hivemind think? Any particular good or bad stories about the quality of both contenders? Thanks in advance!
 

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Go get a self-loader, try whatever you can get hold of. There are good and bad and cheap and expensive.

I wouldn't bother with a SxS.

 

I have had Remington 1100's, virtually bullet proof, but heavy to carry. Still have one in the cabinet.

I currently have a couple of Hatsan Escorts as hide guns, cheap and cheerful and parts are available.

I use Beretta O/U's for clays, a Beretta O/U for game and I have a couple of SxS's which come out occasionally.

The Beretta Self loaders are particularly good from the 301 onwards.

 

If you look around while saving your money and can travel to some shooting grounds with a gunshop you may well find something that you like at a price you are happy with.

[vmaxphil]

In your price range Look for a good beretta 303 you won't go wrong 👍

[Scully]

Bucket loads of cheap autos on the shelves. 
The Berettas, Winchester, Remington and Breda have a long history of quality and longevity. 

There is an MP153 for sale on the forum also. 

[Ultrastu]

Take a look also at the armsan a612 and a 620   cheap and better built than an escort . My a 620 has been perfect for years  .

[chesterse]

1 hour ago, vmaxphil said:

In your price range Look for a good beretta 303 you won't go wrong 👍

For that kind of money vmaxphil is right, you can’t beat those old Berettas 300 series, 28” and you have a great all round gun.

[TOPGUN749]

A Remington 1100 gets my vote, the barrels are interchangeable and not expensive.

[Newbie to this]

4 hours ago, vmaxphil said:

In your price range Look for a good beretta 303 you won't go wrong 👍

 

3 hours ago, chesterse said:

For that kind of money vmaxphil is right, you can’t beat those old Berettas 300 series, 28” and you have a great all round gun.

This,

I recently bought one (A303) from a member on here, it is now my go to clay gun.

There was one in the for sale section on here, bundled in with many others in the ad.

Edit - There's an 1100 in there as well

https://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/440256-shotgun-clear-out-v-low-prices/

Edited December 2, 2023 by Newbie to this

[Gordon R]

The Remington 1100 is near to the OP and dirt cheap. Looks a bargain.

[udderlyoffroad]

I’d sound a note of caution re cheaper end of the market semis and clay loads. They can be cartridge fussy, though my 3rd gen Hatsan will cycle 24g as long as its gas port is scrupulously clean.

As the OP is a clay shooter only, I’d also suggest an older beretta. If necessary, the main spring can be cheaply replaced. Or a Benelli/Franchi inertia action, they’ll cycle everything.

[Westley]

Having owned both Remington and Beretta semi auto guns, the only one I STILL have is an old, but immaculate Beretta 303. The Remmie can be a bit ammunition fussy, but my Beretta will cycle down to 24 gram, as long as the cartridges are 70mm chamber length. I won't part with my 303 and it is my 'go to' gun if my neck/shoulder problems arise. All I would add, is, IF you can find a left handed auto, so much the better. My Grandson has just moved onto an O/U from a Beretta 300 auto, I was always concerned when he was using a right handed auto off the left shoulder.  Bits of powder could blow back into his face and eyes when shooting, as the ejection port is directly in front of his face and not on the opposite side of the gun. I speak from experience,  having had a flake of gunpowder blow back and enter my right eye, even with safety glasses on, as I was Instructing. I can vouch for the fact that it HURTS  !

[adzyvilla]

I'm with ultrastu on this one, my armsan a612 has been brilliant in 6 years of heavy use, the only negative being the rubberised plastic stock is peeling in several places, but that doesn't bother me. Never put anything smaller than 28g through it but its not been fussy no matter what I've put through it.

[Gerry78]

For that price point try and get yourself a beretta 302-03 there brilliant guns for the money very well made 

[retromlc]

A franchi raptor, I think mine was called, very well made, benilli stamped in the barrel, they can be had for very little money as they're not a "big" name, personally stretch a bit and buy a good clean Beretta A303. I think the best value autos are the fabarms 

[gmm243]

Have always had remington semi autos. Started with an 1100 all the way through to my current sporting clays 1187 with a brief spell of an 870 pump somewhere in the middle.

I really like the remington and the 1100 I had I shot very well with but no matter what we did she was fussy with ammo. Realistically you'd want 32 or 36gm shells in that particular gun to be sure she would cycle. In the end that is why I changed her to an 1187. 

The 1187 I have now will cycle 28gm shells all day long with no issues. I have never used 24gm in any gun so can't say how it would get on with them.

[Westley]

1 hour ago, gmm243 said:

Have always had remington semi autos. Started with an 1100 all the way through to my current sporting clays 1187 with a brief spell of an 870 pump somewhere in the middle.

I really like the remington and the 1100 I had I shot very well with but no matter what we did she was fussy with ammo. Realistically you'd want 32 or 36gm shells in that particular gun to be sure she would cycle. In the end that is why I changed her to an 1187. 

The 1187 I have now will cycle 28gm shells all day long with no issues. I have never used 24gm in any gun so can't say how it would get on with them.

Was it a 3" chamber  ?  The 'Magnum' models would only cycle 32 grams upwards.

[gmm243]

No, all my remington shotguns (except the 870) have had 2 3/4" chambers

[Scully]

Have just got back from Westlands; they have a very nice 11-87 in the racks and a very very nice 20 bore Wingmaster. 

[Wylye]

A Beretta AL390 is a really good auto, better than the 391 and subsequent models. They didn’t improve on them until the 400Excel in my opinion. They can be had for reasonable money now and if you can find a low mileage one for less than £500 it would be a good buy.

[Squirel1973]

All these suggestions are spot on and you wouldn't go wrong with any of them to be honest, personally I use an Armsan 612 and a 620 both with a teague half choke which I find excellent for most situations,had a 303 which was very good but certainly a bit heavier with the wooden stock compared to the Armsan. 

[Mr.C]

Years ago, when the Armsans 612s came in, I went with the intention of buying one. I came away with a 2nd hand Beretta 390. Not because I was talked into it but because of the quality. I also tried a mates Franchi AL48 but really didn't get on with it. Nicknamed "Satan's Pogo Stick" it would take some getting used to. 

Bottom line

2nd quality over new.

Try before you buy. 

Ok two lines 

[dessyb]

with the proposed  price hike in certs there may be some bargains to be had if you are in no hurry for a s/a

[HantsRob]

The A303 is amazing, and i love it.

That said I own an A612 and it's cheap, reliable, and there's one being sold for £110 on the forum currently (I have no association with it!)

Both are gas guns so need a bit more cleaning.

I haven't shot the Escort but as TC said it's a great gun also.

 

Find what you like, shoot it where you can if possible, and enjoy a fun gun

[Scully]

Here you go. They don’t come much better than this, nor at this price!

 

[Little Chopper]

Cheers Scully. I’m sad to sell but it needs to go.

Best Wishes. Chop😎👍