Semi-autos unreliable? Really?

[Erion929]

Picking up my Beretta 1301 Tactical today. I bought some birdshot and 00 buck, so I'll let you know how that one goes, ASAP

[Horrendo Revolver]

Semi's today are very reliable. I prefer the reduced felt recoil of gas guns but do have two inertia guns that I've kept because I shoot them so well. I have a tendency to short stroke pumps and the actual act of pumping the forend is distracting to me.

[calif 15-22]

I have a Remy 870 Tactical and a Remy Versamax Tactical. If I had to grab one and take it for Self Defense or on the road it would be the Versamax.

From targets to Clay Shooting I've got ~1000 rounds through it and have not cleaned it yet.

[deckhandmike]

A good semi isn't cheap. There are smoking deals on used pumps from all the mall ninjas that build tacticool shotguns and then realize they don't like the recoil after firing it once. Since you mentioned money is tight I'd go used pump and put aside your savings for more guns.

Your HD is most likely the gun you will never need. A 200$ pump will work just fine, if not better. No need to spend 1000$ on something that just gathers dust in the corner.

[RNE228]

I shoot clays with a Rem-1100. I got it used, cleaned it, and have put ~1500 rounds or so thru it and has been flawless. Most of those were Win AA.

The 870 and Mossy 835 I use for hunting have always worked too; mostly Win XX 3" #2 steel.

[donnrcp]

I have an 870 and a 930 SPX. I reload slugs and have found that the 930 is not as forgiving as the 870 is on less than perfect reloads.

[dwalker]

I am a fan of Mossberg pump guns, less a fan of thier semis. If your looking in that price range get a Stoeger M3000 and call it a day. The Winchester semis are ok, but I have stuck with the Remingtons. I have an 1100 that runs exceedingly well and a Versa Max that is super reliable as well. IMHO:

Budget gun, say under $500, Tri-Star Turkish made guns are surprisingly reliable, which actually should not be surprising since it is a Benelli clone. I have one that once it was broken in has not has a single malfunction.

Medium budget, say $500 to $1000- Stoeger M3000 all day. You just cant go wrong with it. Some of them needs broken in with a few heavy loads but once done they run flawlfessly. I use mine in 3-gun and as long as I do my job it runs great. It is a very close copy of the Benelli inertia drive system, which should not be surprising since Benelli/Beretta owns Stoeger.

You can also find Rem 1100s in that price range, and they are excellent shotguns. As long as you keep it reasonably clean and check the gas o-ring every so often its a superb shotgun to shoot.

Bigger budget- say $1000 and up, just get a VersaMax and call it a day. It is a surprisingly soft gun to shoot.

Obviously if there is no real budget, get a Benelli M2. Yes, I have seen them have issues, but by and large they just work.

[pterrell]

It's like a car. Is a standard transmission technically more reliable than an automatic? Yes. The failure rate is so low that it isn't really even worth noting (unless we're talking about DCJ vehicles and their trans)

[crono35]

My home defense setup is a 18.5" mossberg 500 with hogue 12" LOP stock and a limbsaver. great all around.

[boludo12]

If you buy a quality semi auto you'll, most likely, not have any issues. I had an 11-87 that my dad bought me back in late 80s. I shot it and put it away dirty for 10 years. never had an issue with it. Wish I would have never sold it.

[pterrell]

If you buy a quality semi auto you'll, most likely, not have any issues. I had an 11-87 that my dad bought me back in late 80s. I shot it and put it away dirty for 10 years. never had an issue with it. Wish I would have never sold it.

Beyond never sell your guns, especially never sell your dad's guns! I found out recently that my dad has his dad's M1 Carbine from Vietnam. It will one day go to either me or my brother, although that day is a ways off I'm sure.

[Fergie]

Wow as always CalGunners are a wealth of advice. I think I will get the Mossberg 590A1 and learn it well. Then save up for a semi-shotgun in the $1500 range down the road. Better quality may leads to less problems with malfunctions.

One reason that occurred to me was practicing with dummy rounds (remember I am a shotty beginner) so I will be able to practice loading, dry firing, cycling and unloading without going to the range. It will feel more natural than manually ejecting a semi.

Then when I have the pump action platform down to a smooth performance I will look at getting the semi-auto which will be more shooting focused in terms of learning from the beginning.

Thanks for all the brand of model suggestions. I think I will check out the Remington Vera Max tactical (and many others of course)! Preferences will change a thousand times between now and purchase time when I have the money saved.

Don't worry, just because it is home defense does not mean it gathers any dust in my home. The only thing that puts dust on my guns is the price of ammo.

Since I can buy #8 birdshot to practice with for pretty cheap, I am excited to hit the range! Then I plan to only use 00 buck or slugs at home.

Thanks again!

[ElvenSoul]

My Side by Side 12ga has never jammed. It's over 75yrs old.

[CandG]

Wow as always CalGunners are a wealth of advice. I think I will get the Mossberg 590A1 and learn it well. Then save up for a semi-shotgun in the $1500 range down the road. Better quality may leads to less problems with malfunctions.

One reason that occurred to me was practicing with dummy rounds (remember I am a shotty beginner) so I will be able to practice loading, dry firing, cycling and unloading without going to the range. It will feel more natural than manually ejecting a semi.

Then when I have the pump action platform down to a smooth performance I will look at getting the semi-auto which will be more shooting focused in terms of learning from the beginning.

Thanks for all the brand of model suggestions. I think I will check out the Remington Vera Max tactical (and many others of course)! Preferences will change a thousand times between now and purchase time when I have the money saved.

Don't worry, just because it is home defense does not mean it gathers any dust in my home. The only thing that puts dust on my guns is the price of ammo.

Since I can buy #8 birdshot to practice with for pretty cheap, I am excited to hit the range! Then I plan to only use 00 buck or slugs at home.

Thanks again!

You made a good choice. Heck, you might even like the 590 so much that you won't feel the need to buy a semi-auto in the future. Who knows.

I went a different route for my first - I waited (10 years!) until I had enough money to buy my dream shotgun, an M4. It wasn't a bad choice to do that either, but now I also kind of want a cheaper pump to go with it, so I'm going to end up buying one of those as well. If I had done it in the oppositre order, like you, the net result would have been the same, but I would've had at least 1 shotgun much, MUCH earlier. So, in hindsight, your way is better

Anyways, can't go wrong with a 590, it's a fine choice. As would be a 500 or a Rem 870 or a Benelli SuperNova or an Ithaca 37 or a Marlin 55 or a...

I always say, people shouldn't stress about what their first gun of a given type should be. As long as it gets you shooting, you'll quickly learn what you like and don't like, and will be able to make a very informed decision about your next purchase. Because, believe me, there will be a next purchase.

[deckhandmike]

Good choice on saving a few bucks. Something to consider is that often your HD gun doesn't live in a safe and it's much cheaper to replace a pump.