The best semi-auto for self defense

[Dirtlaw]

What is your first choice for a semi-auto for the purpose of self defense?


What attributes lead you to make that decision?

[ken5714]

Start here with the "Sticky" at the top, "What I Did With My Shotgun". There is a lot of great previous posts regarding this topic. Good Luck...

[L84CABO]

1) Benelli m4...or m2

2) Beretta 1301

But there are no bad choices here if you prefer one over the others. Quality, reliability, proven.

[tomrkba]

I'd probably go with a Beretta over a Benelli, but the real answer would be what was available at my LGS. I already have a pump action, so a semiauto would just be nice to have.

[JagerDog]

I can only say I'd trust my Browning B-80 (re-badged beretta 303) with my life. 40 years and many thousands of rounds it's only had one FTE and that was due to ammo. Though it's not in HD mode, I did pick up a short cyl barrel for it.

None of my shotguns (auto, O/U) are fond of reloaded Federal steel based hulls. Gun clubs (rem) run just fine.

[deadcoyote]

I’ve used a stoeger M3K in 3 gun. It’s a licensed copy of a benelli M2. It has been 100 percent reliable thus far in several years and about 1500 rounds. I do clean it after every use, which I will admit I don’t do with a pump shotgun.

[L-2]

Here's what I did in 2005 and don't recommend now.
I bought a Remington 11-87P w/ghost ring sights.
At the time, it's controls and feel were already similar to my Remington 870P.
The brand reputation was good and it initially worked fine.
Later, a shell latch broke and needed replacement. Also, upon racking back the bolt, the initial round coming out of the mag tube would no longer automatically trip the bolt release as it used to do. Instead, I now had depress the bolt release (bottom switch) to send the bolt back forward, although once firing, the fresh rounds did trip bolt release; therefore, not a big deal to me.

Now, parts and future repairs will be difficult to get done with Remington becoming Remarms. Remarms has zero plans to support the old Remington products.

Today, I'd be looking at Benelli M4 (although more expensive and probably needing a shorter or shortened stock.

Or a Beretta 1301, but still needing a shorter stock.

More likely, a Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol, with lower pricing and furniture which probably doesn't need replacing right from the start.

Mossberg 940 Tactical, is only a maybe.

I've not handled any of these four current possibilities as my three pump shotguns do me fine and a semiauto SG isn't a priority right now. I've even considered getting a 4th pump gun vs one of these semiauto SGs, but it'll depend on my mood at the moment.

OP, let us know what you decide.

[sigstroker]

I wouldn't use a shotgun for defense, but if I did, and if it hadn't been stolen, my Remington 1100. Very low recoil and lightweight.

I have a turkish M4 clone, but I haven't shot it enough to know if it's reliable.

[boltstop]

I have a Benelli M2 that I’ve had for years. Probably thousands of rounds through it by now with no problems at all.

Any of the major brands should be fine however - go see what stores in your area carry.

[k1dude]

FN SLP or the Remington V3 Tactical.

Simply because I don't like euro shell trips. I prefer the American manual of arms over the euro manual of arms. It's easier and more intuitive to me.

[newbutold]

Beretta, Benelli, and Winchester have proven themselves to be 100% reliable over many years.

[smittty]

20 ga stoeger m3020 defense if you like inertia system, or mossberg sa20 turkey model if you like the beretta gas guns.

[theLBC]

whatever i have

[JagerDog]

20 ga stoeger m3020 defense if you like inertia system, or mossberg sa20 turkey model if you like the beretta gas guns.

Both are ?value propositions?. OP did ask for best.

[DoNotReply]

Benelli or Beretta.