Shotgun Forum banner
  • Whether you're a greenhorn or a seasoned veteran, your collection's next piece is at Bass Pro Shops. Shop Now.

    Advertisement
1 - 16 of 16 Posts

marshall18

· Registered
Joined
·
2 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have shot shotguns throughout my life but have always used my dads 1100.

I am more of a pistol rifle kind of guy, but I have started to shoot skeet, and I dove hunt once a year.

I would like to get an autoloader for around or under $1000. I am 5'10" 160lbs.

I have looked at the M2, Versa Max, Fanchi Affinity, 3901/391/390,ect.....

The "buy once, cry once" in me tells me to buy the M2, but then again I hear it has quite a recoil on it, and it is at the absolute peak of my price range.

I found a Versa Max sportsman for $748.00 and free shipping and almost jumped on it.http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/121752

What autoloader (listed here or not) would you recommend.
 
Discussion starter · #2 ·
I have switched gears since I first posted this. I am now looking at the browning silver and the growing maxis, but I am leaning towards the silver.

The M2 seemed like it had too much recoil, the versa max reviews were all over the place and didn't feel right in my hands.

I don't think I can drop the 1000-1200 on the maxis so like I said I am leaning more towards the browning silver.

I would get the Winchester SX3 but I don't want anything that has a Dora coat type finish that will flake.
 
If it was me, I think I'd consider a used 1100 for a starter gun because you're familiar with it already, can be had for $300-400 in very good condition, and can be easily sold at little or no loss. That's in 12 gauge. If you want a 20 gauge, which I'd recommend because you're only hunting once per year for doves, expect to pay somewhat more. (Actually, I'd get a 28, but that's another story.) That strategy would get you shooting and provide some casual time to really think about what you want.

W
 
You are lucking in that you are about the average size a gun is designed for. Parallel or rising comb guns should both be in the ballpark for fitting you. I would look at the sx3 for gas guns. Franchi affinity for inertia.
 
I like the Affinity, M2, & the Browning lineup, Winchester too. How about some details, are you looking at a 12 or 20 ga? I like a 26" barrel for all around hunting, not really big on the 3.5" chamber either, bulk & weight reasons.

The Affinity is a little cheaper than the M2. Keep an eye on Armslist for your area & look for slightly used. Jan-March is a good time to buy.
 
Agree with the 1100 comment...good gun...Not a fan of Browning autos - have owned a few and none, with the exception of a Belgium A-5, were very reliable. Also had a bad experience with Franchi, but it was just one gun. Given what you say you shoot, 20 ga. would be perfect. Also, I think the M2 is available with Comfort Tech stocks. I have a Vinci with Comfort Tech and it's a very soft shooter.
 
Shotguns are like cars , sometimes you get a Lemon , I owned several shotguns in my life and I had bad luck with a few including Beretta, Browning, Merkel, Perazzi and others....
In my opinion the best deal on semi-autos for your money for the moment it's the Browning Silver/Winchester SX3 plus the Beretta A300.
 
marshall18 said:
I have switched gears since I first posted this. I am now looking at the browning silver and the growing maxis, but I am leaning towards the silver.

The M2 seemed like it had too much recoil, the versa max reviews were all over the place and didn't feel right in my hands.

I don't think I can drop the 1000-1200 on the maxis so like I said I am leaning more towards the browning silver.

I would get the Winchester SX3 but I don't want anything that has a Dora coat type finish that will flake.
The finish on my SX3 is just fine, if you are worried about it, get the field model. They are cheaper than the Silver, and have a wood stock.

cdb
 
I'd look for a used 20 Gauge O/U with 28" or 30" barrels.

There's no reason I can imagine to get an auto for Skeet and an occasional dove hunt. An O/U is far more convenient to carry and hold around the Skeet range without pointing it at anyone. Shoot with a large squad and an auto becomes a real PITA if you're used to something you can break open. An O/U requires only occasional cleaning, and that cleaning is easy (easiest if you get a gun that's made to be especially easy to clean, like a Beretta, but not bad regardless, and Beretta 20s are lighter than most people like for Skeet).

$1000 isn't a bad budget to be working with since you have time. Dove season is over, and people will be unloading stuff to pay for Christmas, most likely.
 
The silver is a great gun. If you like it, get it, and don't look back.

If you have 1000 to spend don't waste you're money on an 1100/auto5/sx1 or whatever old gun people on here recommend. These days its pointless to waste your time on an auto that doesn't come with choke tubes, a shim adjustable stock, and is able to shoot any 2.75 or 3inch shell without changing anything. Some people might want to live in the past, but there really is no good reason to do so.
 
"its pointless to waste your time on an auto"

I agree with that part.

"that doesn't come with choke tubes, a shim adjustable stock, and is able to shoot any 2.75 or 3inch shell without changing anything"

That, too, IF you want an auto at all, which again, I would not want and do not use for what you are doing. I use a subgauge O/U because it's a better choice for both. I'd use one my autos if I wanted to.

"Some people might want to live in the past, but there really is no good reason to do so."

Yeah, it's funny. That "past" might not even be very long ago.

For example, people here *****ed and moaned about the 391 and its supposed problems. Meanwhile at any real-world Sporting Clays range, for some reason, 391s were almost the only autos you ever saw anyone serious using. That's not to say that the 391 was perfect, just that the people who actually put a lot of rounds through them, believed they were the best option still.

So Beretta addresses the "issues" of the 391, and comes out with the A400. Then, you start seeing posts about how great the 391 was, and recommending that people buy them now, while they can still find some.

It seems that all a gun company has to do, to get people to start loving the gun they're currently making, is stop making it and come out with a new model.

Lots of silliness all around. :)

The fact is, the current crop of brand-name autos are the best lineup that has ever existed, by a very long shot. You can get a Silver, SX3, A400, A300, Maxus, M2, Montefeltro, Cordoba, or for that matter an M2-like Affinity made in the same plant, as well as a number of others, and you won't go objectively wrong. Personal preference counts for a lot, but you won't get a bad gun.

The only complaint... The things aren't especially cheap. :)
 
marshall18 said:
...I would like to get an autoloader for around or under $1000. I am 5'10" 160lbs.
I have looked at the M2, Versa Max, Fanchi Affinity, 3901/391/390,ect.....
The "buy once, cry once" in me tells me to buy the M2, but then again I hear it has quite a recoil on it, and it is at the absolute peak of my price range. What autoloader (listed here or not) would you recommend.
I have an M2 (20-gauge) and a Cordoba (12-gauge). They do NOT have a lot of recoil. Both of my guns have the Comfortec stock and both are very soft shooters. If you are still considering the Browning line, you can get a Maxus from Northern Firearms (Gunbroker.com) for $1119 delivered. The Maxus has got to be the softest shooting semi-auto I have ever fired, and is a better looking gun than the M2 (Blue/wood vs black/synthetic).
 
Look at and play with as many guns as you can. Shoot all you can, and go with the one that feels good to YOU. Ok kind of a cop out, but you and only you are the one that need to be happy with your purchase.

I have a LH Benelli M1 and I like it and shoot it well. A former boss that I used to hunt with too had a Browning Gold 10 and It was reliable. I don't know how closely the Silver and Gold are internally. (and you could probably make a 10ga auto with a pump and a screen door spring that would cycle, that's a lot of energy).
 
1 - 16 of 16 Posts