Okay lets see....You want cheap but you want perfect reliablity too....don't like Remingtons but admit to an amateur opinion....hummmmm :| .......Maybe you've seen so many Remington autos fail because there are millions of them in use...could be....
Cheap and perfectly reliable but no Rem 1187 sportsman......you are going to be unsatisfied for quite a long search.....IMEO.....Art

 

i would add Winchester Super X2 to your list. There are some great values on them out there. Basically a Browning Gold, i have found them to be very reliable with proper maintenance and the right shells.

 

Wow, first reply twists my words! Like anyone I simply want the most reliability for my $. I have owned 3 semiatuos in the past. 2 were fine, one was a bit of a stinker. Just hoping to draw upon the knowledge base here for some opinions from guys that shoot 1000's of rounds per year.....

 

In my opinion, an older 1187. I do shoot 1000's as does my F-I-L.
Mine wears a target barrel, but his is a standard older 1187.
He even goes 3-4 outing between cleanings. I do not. Around 800 rounds (all cheapo Win. from Walmart) his starts to cycle slower and fails. He has been shooting it for 5 years. One broken link, but it still worked. (Noticed during a cleaning). Used it for two more outings until the part came.
Try it, if you don't like it you can easily get your money back.

 

mossberg 930. go to the mossberg forum for reviews. some have ran 9000 rounds with no trouble.

 

From what you have already mentioned, the Berettas and Franchi are great guns. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot the stoeger. I'd have to go with the 390. The 303 and the AL48 are also great guns.

UMH

 

The biggest problem any name brand recent manufacture autoloader encounters is a defective nut on the back of the stock. I saw the running fencepost technique applied to a Beretta semi the other day at the range. I am not up on all the Beretta variations, but it looked to be a fine gun that has not been maintained much, and that combined with Winchester Universals to equal problems. The bolt wasn't sticking that bad in my opinion, but apparently running the handle into the post is fun in some quarters.

 

radjxf: I don't have 500 posts, but I do have over 40 years shooting shotguns. I've owned several shotguns over the years includng Brownings, Remington's and other imports, pump, over & under and side by side. I recently sold a Fabarms (imported by HK) semi-auto 12 gage because it wouldn't feed lite loads and bought the best semi-auto shogun for under 600.00 you can buy (I.M.O.) - the Beretta 390. I don't beleive they are being made any more, but I know you can still get them (I got mine at Buds Gun Shop) and it is without a doubt the best handling, smoothest, most reliable shogun I have ever owned. The 391 was modified for alleged gas improvement and (again) in my opnion did nothing to improve it and made the end cap much more complicated and difficult to disassemble fior cleaning. I got mine for under $550.00 and I think that was a great deal - it is the synthetic stock, with 28 inch top rib barrel. I usually shoot a 26 inch barrel, but the 28 worked really well for a informal trap shoot event myself and four friends had. I got 23 out of 25 clays thrown using a IC choke on my 28 inch barrel. Get the Beretta, you won't regret it.

 

Mossberg 930!Clean the shipping grease , break in with 100 rounds,and you truly are good to go...Look at a combo,real value there...

 

It'll cost a bit more than your listed price cieling but the browning silver hunter is great. The only thing that makes mine act up is a seriously dirty chamber coupled with light loads. During dove or duck season I just pull a bore snake thru her once a week and she stays good as new. I shoot alot of cheap, dirty shells during crow season so I run the snake thru the bore at the end of each day.

 

I like my Rem 1187. I order it with 30" bbl for trap and never regret. Reliable, even with not too creazy cleaning. I bought a set of parts, like first AID, but never use anything from this kit. I run about 2000 shells thru it. It is under your budget, parts (if needed) are widely available, choke tubes are plenty of any type you may want. Easy to add riffled bbl, HD shorter bbl.
I like it almost as much as Rem 870

 

Wow, first reply twists my words! Like anyone I simply want the most reliability for my $. I have owned 3 semiatuos in the past. 2 were fine, one was a bit of a stinker. Just hoping to draw upon the knowledge base here for some opinions from guys that shoot 1000's of rounds per year.....

Just where did I twist your words? I'd say that isn't anything like what has happened..... I'd say it's quite easy for you to say so though after you've edited your post.....you asked for opinions and I point out that in my opinion you've eliminated your best choice right up front while saying you are no expert.....I'm not about selling a Remington to you.......get whatever gun you want to....keeping it in the shade will prevent the blueing from fadeing......... but saying I have twisted what you have said is not what happened......Art

 

There's no one most reliable auto loader for everyone, everytime. I don't know all of the models you don't like since you edited your post. From some of the replies, I would guess the 11-87 is one of them. Can't say as I blame you as I don't care for this model for several reasons.

From you list I would think the Beretta 390 Wal Mart might be the easiest to find under your budget. If you look around you might be able to come up with a Gold or SX2 that is a left over. Every now and then there are some real good deals on the AL391/Urika 2. A couple of good ones not made any longer would be the Franchi 712 or weatherby SAS. The Dick's Black Diamond is the same as the Franchi 712. They have the Diamond line on sale often so it would be close to your budget.

 

i vote for a mossberg 930, definately fits in your budget and you can probably get two barrels and a case of shells with the money your saving.

 

Saiga 12.

Semi auto, based on the Ak47, super reliable, cheap, and a good all around weapon.

 

There's no one most reliable auto loader for everyone, everytime. I don't know all of the models you don't like since you edited your post. From some of the replies, I would guess the 11-87 is one of them. Can't say as I blame you as I don't care for this model for several reasons.

From you list I would think the Beretta 390 Wal Mart might be the easiest to find under your budget. If you look around you might be able to come up with a Gold or SX2 that is a left over. Every now and then there are some real good deals on the AL391/Urika 2. A couple of good ones not made any longer would be the Franchi 712 or weatherby SAS. The Dick's Black Diamond is the same as the Franchi 712. They have the Diamond line on sale often so it would be close to your budget.

Ah yes, almost forgot about the SX2. Don't see many around, new or used.
As you can tell, I'm leaning towards a Beretta, but even a used one is pushing my budget.
Yes, I edited out my dislike (just my opinion now) of the Remingtons. I've owned several 870's and have been happy with them, but won't buy their autoloaders. I've seen way too many hunting buddies get rid of theirs in disgust from numerous failures. However, they don't maintain their firearms like I do....

 

Saiga 12.

Semi auto, based on the Ak47, super reliable, cheap, and a good all around weapon.

Thank you for the suggestion, but I'm going to stick with a traditional tube-magazine gun.

In the past 30 years I've owned and smithed on many, many pistols and rifles and very much admire the brutal simplicity of the Kalashnikov design. I wish 7.62 were as easy and cheap to come by as 10 years ago............oops, back on topic!

 

Go to Wal-Mart, put down $549 and take home a 12 ga Beretta AL390. End of discussion.

 

Go to Wal-Mart, put down $549 and take home a 12 ga Beretta AL390. End of discussion.

Excellent idea, however they have vanished from all the Wal-Mart stores I frequent. I do see them on the used rack at gun shops for $600+ :roll:

 

Try these:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =147509993

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =147277652

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =146777201

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =147231853

 

Also, if you are near a Dick's Sporting Goods, they are offering the synthetic Remington 11-87 for $499 (after 2 $50 rebates).

 

Mossberg 930

 

Look for a beretta browning gold/or the silver. winchester sx2 or 3. used all are going to be great guns as long as they fit you. I have the stoeger 2000 and it works great for me. not a problem and use it for ducks geese rabbit and deer. sporting clays as well. the stoeger 2000 will be the cleanest shooting gun out of the bunch, all the gas guns will be dirty as heck after a few shots. IN short, All the guns that I see you mention will be good guns for you IF they fit you nice and you like the fit.