Semi Auto Shotgun

[MacFly]

I'm looking to get my first shotgun. I'm looking at the RIA vr80 or the Typhoon Defense F12.

If there's another option, what would you suggest? Budget is 1k.

TIA.

[electric7]

VR80 is definitely cool. I would be hesitant to use it for home defense. Its more of a range toy or 3gun open gun. So, its badass, but there are some drawbacks. One guy claimed that leaving rounds in the magazine would squish the hulls. Not sure how quick this would happen indoors, but it makes sense that over time the hulls would become deformed.

Under 1k - Mossberg 940 JM Pro

But, spend a little more and go for a
FN SLP
Remington Versamax
Benelli M2 Tactical

[deckhandmike]

The guns you mentioned are fun but I wouldn’t bet my life on them. What are you looking to do with it?

Honestly shotgun isn’t the most fun range gun. Lots of places don’t want you shooting them, they chew up the target stands.

[Ross]

I have a Mossberg 930 SPX and has never failed.

Bought a 28" ported barrel and took it dove hunting last September. About 500 shells through it without failure (no cleaning between hunts) and no failures.

The 940 has some mods which are akin to mods found on OR3GUN.COM and to be honest, which I am considering for the 930.

With that, don't let the haters talk you out of a 930 - which are $650 and not the $1,200+ you'll find in this forum market place.

[Imageview]

Assuming you want this for home defense or more tactical shooting? The mossberg 930 seems like a solid solution within your budget, I'm considering one too as a backup/loaner (mostly for hunting in my case). Has shorter barrels for more tactical type usage, and longer barrels for hunting or clays. If just clays and huntint there are a ton more choices in your price range, but based on your examples I'd guess that's not your intended uses.

Or just get a 500/870. Manual action so more reliable and in the hands of someone with lots of practice time only a tiny bit slower.

[BillSmith]

Adding another positive report for the Mossberg 930. Brother has one. Only hiccup was attempting to shoot lesser loads, i.e. reduced feet per second. Won't cycle the loads listed as low recoil.

My fault, as I have 980 fps for the rookies to shoot. it cycled anything over 1300 fps. Not sure what the lowest threshold might be.

[geekeye]

my 930 spx cycles federal reduced recoil tactical loads just fine (1300 fps). the only time i ever had a problem with it returning to battery was my fault (after changing the stock i put the return spring plunger in backwards, causing insufficient spring tension).

[deadcoyote]

I have a stoeger m3000. Runs great but an entirely different design than what you’re looking at.

[k1dude]

The 2 shotguns you mentioned require a locked mag or they need to be converted to single shot repeaters, basically neutering the shotgun.

I would suggest a non-pistol grip, non-detachable mag shotgun.

The problem with 2 of the shotguns mentioned by electric7, is both the FN SLP and the Remington Versamax have either been discontinued or aren't currently being made.

[Sir Toast]

Yes, what are you wanting to do with it? Sporting clays or home defense? Etc.

Benelli and Remington autos are your friend.

[hermosabeach]

Purpose of use is needed?

Clays
Skeet
Trap
Ducks
Turkey
Geese
Deer
2 legged critters
3 gun

2 3/4” shells
3”
3 1/2”

[ScottsBad]

For game, shotguns are very good, I'm not much on Semi-Auto shotguns, or shotguns in general as a home defense implement.

They are terrible for range shooting as many ranges don't allow shotguns because they destroy the target stands.

I like shotguns for shooting game and trap shooting sport. I have eight+ shotguns and I almost never shoot them.

Last, reliability. Semi-auto shotguns CAN be very reliable, but many times they won't reliably shoot a wide range of shot shells without adjustments. Not the best situation when ammo is in short supply and choice is limited.

For home defense, pump shotguns are more reliable IMHO.

[deckhandmike]

I like how people are recommending guns with zero insight with what the OP wants to do with them

[BananaKetchup]

Beretta A300 or for a little more a 1301. I have the newer version of the 1301 Comp and its fun to shoot, no issues even with light loads.

[unusedusername]

Beretta and Benelli go back and forth as to who has the most reliable gas system.

For many years it was the Benelli, now that Beretta has released the a400s and 1301s, Beretta has taken the prize.

As far as which model, that depends on what you plan to do with it. They make sporting, hunting, self defense, and all-around (not great for any, but not terrible) models. Given they are quite expensive, I would go with a model designed for a specific use, as opposed to a generalist. I can get a generalist shotgun from a $400 mossberg pump.

I’m not yet a fan of magazine fed shotguns. I’ll look into them more when the professionals start to use them and training has caught up with best practices and such. The main issue is reliably feeding different lengths of rimmed shotgun shells. To my knowledge, nobody has really figured it out 100% yet.