Best one is the Winchester Super X Model 1. Get one with a Mod choked barrel. They do have an o-ring, but are all steel and walnut.

 

My guess is Browning A5.

 

I used to use a Savage 726 in 16 gauge. It was pretty reliable. Stovepiped occasionally, but I've never shot a semi-auto that didn't do that once in a while.

 

Not sure what the aversion to O rings is, since they're cheap and easy.

The Rem 1100 (close enough in the 11-87) is a very proven target cruncher. Very well suited to the job, but since you already have one, and don't care for it, best of luck in your search.

 

I'll run my Auto-5 with anyone, and she'll run rings around them.

She's broken precisely one part since the late 1960's, a cross-drilled factory hammer (oddly, they stopped cross-drilling them,,,, why?). She's over 100,000 rounds by now, no idea of a real count, I estimated 70,000 when that hammer broke, 3 decades ago.

I've never run her beyond 500 rounds or so at a single sitting, without oiling or cleaning, but by then either I'm out of ammo or everyone else is tired of shooting.
The barrel gets impressively warm after the 5th or 6th back to back Trap round, don't grab it.

She gets new recoil springs about every 15 yrs or so, because they get tired and need replaced, it's a maintenance item like changing oil in your car.

My Model 11 is her only equal in the reliability department, but she's an 11R Riotgun so doesn't get shot as much. None of the rest of the self-loaders in the safe will run with them. One gas-boosted inertial starts choking after only half a box of my 1 3/8 ounce Blue Dot late-season Pheasant Grenades.
Ole Browning snorts them by the box and asks for more.

 

On the Browning A5 design you also have the Franchi AL 48, and the similar SKB/Ithaca long recoil shotguns. The Ithaca/SKB's can be really inexpensive, since they're all 2 3/4" fixed choke, probably not steel shot friendly guns; but they're nice Walnut, blued steel, cut checkering guns.

 

IMHO , hard to beat the A-5 for reliability but the 1100 is right there. One plus for the 1100 is , you can take the forend nut off , shake the gun three times and its disassembled . I'd have to go with one of my Auto fives though, they're Hard core. Good luck to you ,I like the way you think regarding the older iron {hs#

 

Best one is the Winchester Super X Model 1. Get one with a Mod choked barrel. They do have an o-ring, but are all steel and walnut.

+1. For a game like sporting clays the a Super X1 is your best bet. The A5 is a wonderful shotgun but is not a clay target gun. The Super X1 was designed as a target gun. It's weight and balance will serve you well if you get serious about sporting. It's what I shoot as a back up to my Perazzi.
winmod21

 

I'd like to venture into a vintage semi auto. I'm looking for the most reliable auto loader out there, and one that still has parts available should I need them.

It's the Browning Automatic-Five, easily.

 

Thanks for the replies all. The more I thought about it, the more I admit I have always been drawn to the humpbacks. It is tough to find a reasonable Auto 5 in my area. I *might* have a line on a light 12 locally. I'd prefer a standard weight but if it will run well I can deal with it. I can find a way to add weight to smooth out the swing. For me, the heavier the better.

 

Thanks for the replies all. The more I thought about it, the more I admit I have always been drawn to the humpbacks. It is tough to find a reasonable Auto 5 in my area. I *might* have a line on a light 12 locally. I'd prefer a standard weight but if it will run well I can deal with it. I can find a way to add weight to smooth out the swing. For me, the heavier the better.

You will likely have to watch the classifies here and on other shotgun sites or look to gunbroker or gunsinternational. I've bought several guns through all of these sources with no issue.

 

If you happen to find an older A-5 with a POLYCHOKE, it will be less expensive, and well suited to Sporting Clays.

 

A-5 with Poly Choke? Yep, that would do it all, and will outlast anyone with reasonable maintenance and a spring or two replacement on rare occasions. If you can find one with the standard VS the ventilated poly choke; they are much less of an eye sore IMO. They are also not as loud to be near when being shot. Good luck!

 

For a competition gun the choice is the Winchester Super X Model 1.
They were built and designed as a competition gun. They are completely made of chrome molly steel and the only thing they would need is to install a modern recoil buffer.

I shot one in skeet for 20 years and over 20,000 rounds and only had 1 malfunction, which was caused by a bad shell.
When not shooting my O/U, I use one of my Super X-1s in sporting clays with excellent performance. A couple of friends say they think I shoot the SX-1 better than my O/U.

Parts are still available from two major sources: Nu-Line Guns and Mid West Guns. Both are Winchester service centers.

Aside from their excellent design and performance they are also a very good looking gun.
I get compliments on mine all the time.

CT

 

The original poster said he's not much in favor of aluminum or plastic on guns. I have Winchester SuperX-1's and they are my very favorite to shoot clay bird games or to hunt with.

However, they have an aluminum return spring housing and an aluminum return spring follower. And, of course, the o-ring in the gas system.

The trigger on the Stage III Trigger (not the Stage I or II Triggers) is also aluminum. Not the entire trigger group.....only the part the trigger finger rests on.

But....you can replace the return spring housing and the follower with stainless steel ones from Wright's. The O-ring, well, those are easily replaced when worn out.

Parts for the SX-1 are readily available from NuLine Guns or Midwest Gun Parts.

Harry Dinwiddie

 

Any of the older long recoil action such as the A5 clones, Franchi 48 and the SKB 900 are ultra-reliable. Not much can go wrong with them and very easy to clean.

 

the model 50 was sold as a skeet gun for well about 25 years I think it would hold up fine.
heavy, but solid.
I traded mine off after shooting it for almost 10 years for everything from Duck hunting to clay targets.
no idea about parts availability for any older gun from minute to minute.

 

It is tough to find a reasonable Auto 5 in my area. I *might* have a line on a light 12 locally. I'd prefer a standard weight but if it will run well I can deal with it. I can find a way to add weight to smooth out the swing. For me, the heavier the better.

There isn't much light about a Light Twelve. :lol: The Miroku-made "Light Twelve" models are heavy enough to please essentially everyone.

My 28 inch 1987 "Ducks Unlimited" 50 Year Anniversary edition Light Twelve: 8-3/4 lbs.

 

Replacing an O ring every few decades isn't any issue at all for any shotgunner I know. But, if that keeps the 1100/1187 price down for my benefit, then damn those pesky things.

 

A no brainer..........The Browning Auto-5

 

My vote, the Browning Auto-5, a many lifetime gun.

 

If you have the right handful of field-replaceable spare parts a Remington 1100 will seldom leave you stranded. But, as far as I know, the 1956 Sweet 16 given to me by my great uncle has never needed fixing.

 

I'm a reasonably competent shade tree gunsmith, but I don't disassemble my Auto 5s apart very far.

 

Good afternoon,

Today I shot my very first round of Sporting Clays. Before then I shot trap and skeet regularly, with a little bit of five stand mixed into the bunch. Needless to say, I didn't do too well with my 1897. That said, I had a heck of a lot of fun and will be doing it again.

I grew up with nothing but old guns. Plastic and aluminum do not interest me in the slightest.

I'd like to venture into a vintage semi auto. I'm looking for the most reliable auto loader out there, and one that still has parts available should I need them.

It depends what you mean by vintage. Designed starting in 1898, patented starting in 1900, and in production from 1902 - 1998, no shotgun on this planet (or any other) rationally compares to the A-5. During its long reign, it was used successful for just about anything a shotgun could be used for, serving in world wars and continuing as a service shotgun for about 70 years. As a licensed design, the Remington Model 11 itself was in production for over 40 years.

By comparison, the Super-X Model 1 was a new-fangled contraptionary device that design work was just started on in the late 1960s, before its 1974 launch. The Remington 1100 was an eleven year resoundingly successful veteran by the time the first SX-1 was ever sold.

At the 1982 World Championships in Caracas, Dan Carlisle broke 199 / 200 to win International Skeet with a Remington 1100.

 

It would be one heck of an MSRP if they were building it today.