Are Pump SG’s the new revolvers ?

[acaligunner]

Just as the revolver ( for SD ) has lost ground to semi auto pistols, is that now the standard for Pump action SG’s ~ when Semi auto Benelli M2 / M4 / 1014 , Beretta a300 / 1301, Mossberg 940 and other semi auto SG’s are as reliable / durable and proven as the old pump guns.

For those that own a Pump SG, have you considered moving to a semi auto SG ?

It seems like every other post / vid is about a sa sg ..

That being said ~ the only pump SG I think about is the Mossberg 590a1, then again, it’s about the same price as a beretta a300 😖

[Capybara]

I have both. In the back of my mind, I am always little reticent that a semi auto is going to jam, FTF or FTE. But my Beretta 1301 Tactical build just chews through anything I feed it and it asks for more. For me, the 1301 and A300 were the turning point, Beretta finally NAILED the semi auto shotgun, so reliable, smooth, pleasant to shoot, versatile, good looking.

If we are talking "affordable" shotguns, like $800 and less, I would still buy a Mossberg pump, I don't trust the reliability of Mossberg's semi autos at all in comparison to the Berettas. If I was between the A300 and a Mossberg pump AT the same price, A300 all day long. You can't imagine how nice they are to shoot until you put one on your shoulder. They are the Lexus of shotguns, relatively affordable but luxury.

[Citadelgrad87]

Personally, I am not an expert in shotgun theory or use. It seems to me the main difference between MOST autos and revolvers is, autos hold more and are quicker to load (St. Miculek, forgive me).

Shotguns basically hold 7-9, whether auto or pump. And both such balls to reload.

I have an old school, HK marked M1S90, and a cheap Winchester Defender that I put a hogue forend and a folder on, just because.

Both are upstairs, both are loaded. Neither is going to get reached for if I need a gun at night. I have taken a couple shotgun classes, and while it is formidable in trained hands, the reload for either one is a deal breaker for me.

[acaligunner]

I have both. In the back of my mind, I am always little reticent that a semi auto is going to jam, FTF or FTE. But my Beretta 1301 Tactical build just chews through anything I feed it and it asks for more. For me, the 1301 and A300 were the turning point, Beretta finally NAILED the semi auto shotgun, so reliable, smooth, pleasant to shoot, versatile, good looking.

If we are talking "affordable" shotguns. like $800 and less, I would still buy a Mossberg pump, I don't trust the reliability of Mossberg's semi autos at all in comparison to the Berettas. If I was between the A300 and a Mossberg pump AT the same price, A300 all day long. You can't imagine how nice they are to shoot until you put one on your shoulder. They are the Lexus of shotguns, relatively affordable but luxury.

I think that a few of us old timers ( no disrespect Capybara ) think of semi auto ( anything ) will at some point “ jam “ .

This was especially true with my thinking ( grew up when 1911’s NEEDED gunsmith to make them reliable ) and mainly why we stuck to Colt / S&W 357 / 38’s. Those was also the reason why I moved to the 1st gen Glocks and H&K’s ( what do you mean they work right out the box 🤔 ).

Today, yes bro the beretta as well as other Mfg’s have proven semi auto SG’s.

The pump has certainly served well, my comparisons ( pump to revolver ) is it seems the pump gun is losing ground to the semi auto.

Pump SG’s are a bit more inexpensive and have the plus of working with light loads - but then again so do most SA’s.

I have a Benelli 1014 and it has gone through a couple of different shells, and is one of the most enjoyable soft shooting SG’s I have ever shot, and it’s built like a Tank.

Good relies 🙂

[acaligunner]

Personally, I am not an expert in shotgun theory or use. It seems to me the main difference between MOST autos and revolvers is, autos hold more and are quicker to load (St. Miculek, forgive me).

Shotguns basically hold 7-9, whether auto or pump. And both such balls to reload.

I have an old school, HK marked M1S90, and a cheap Winchester Defender that I put a hogue forend and a folder on, just because.

Both are upstairs, both are loaded. Neither is going to get reached for if I need a gun at night. I have taken a couple shotgun classes, and while it is formidable in trained hands, the reload for either one is a deal breaker for me.

Very true my friend 🙂. SG’s are very slow to reload, and if things go south, I don’t want to be stuck reloading.

The plus side is that SG’s are damn destructive at close range encounters, and have the power to stop a lot of attacks.

My bro even used an Ithica SG in Viet Nam to retire 2 NVA’s - it was his back up over there.

I like my shotgun, but like you have said, there’s other options as well. Take care

[RayPDA]

IMG_8471.jpg

What do I know, I also love revolvers.


As far as defensive shotguns go - probably, thanks to the 1301, M4 and the like. Turkish clones of the original al2 - 303 gas system and Benelli inertia system, coupled with recent offerings from beretta and Benelli, or the versa max even, have increased their presence in hunting fields even moreso than the 90s I’d say. The clay games I’d opine are (esp. sporting clays) mostly O/Us followed by autos.


I’ve got a handful of Benelli and beretta autos but they’re mainly target and hunting guns.

My defensive choices? A wingmaster and a 590a1. That’s my preference and what I’m most comfortable with and feel trusting of.

[acaligunner]

^
I hear you, I grew up on Mossberg Pump SG’s, and Colt and S&W revolvers. So I can see you’re points 🙂.

Back then Autos were usually regarded as subject to jam.
I myself had to send one of my 1911’s to hoag, so I could then use the Speer 200gr ( flying ashtray) Hollowpoint.

I know how to use a pump sg, but autos ( once you learn them ) are just easier for me to use.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here's my .02. Whatever system you chose you need to get trained with it until you can run the gun with confidence. People talk about how fast a Semi Auto is as opposed to a Pump Gun?

While at the Thunder Stick Summit a few months ago I saw a Woman Instructor hit 4 targets in 1.4 seconds ! With a M500!Then I saw the guy who taught her do it in 1.2 seconds !!! With a similar gun !

The best I have ever done with a Pump on 4 targets was 3.0 seconds and that was after 4 full days of a Front Sight Tactical Shotgun Class. During the class I did 2.0 on 4 targets with my A5. So at my Level the A5 has a distinct advantage and if I practiced more with it, I'm sure I could get that down to < 1.5 seconds. However I don't get to practice that much so I'm stuck with where I'm at normally, which is Around 3 seconds with a Pump, adn maybe 2.5 with the A5. This is coming out Cold with no Warm Up ?

My point being, there is not much difference that I can see for a Regular Shooter other than the price of admission. On another Note: I have less than $350 in each one of my M500's simply because I buy used guns and massage them until I like them , and believe me anyone can do what I do to mine by simply reading the "What I di to my Shotguns" Sticky at the top of this page. It ain't that hard.

The bottom line is that the only way you will get to any level of proficiency with any gun is to shoot it a lot. And you can't buy that from a store, and it matters even less what kind of a gun you chose.

My .02 Randy.

[oddball]

I used to have a Mossberg 590 for HD and in recent years switched from pump to the semi auto Beretta 1301 Mod 2 platform, and I haven't looked back. I also switched from the Mossberg Shockwave to the Aftershock platform as well.

The modern semiauto, the A300s, 1301s, M2, all have shown that they can be reliable, just as Glock showed the pistol world. For HD, the semi auto is better for keeping on target, follow up shots, and maintaining a solid consistent grip.

This video reflects perfectly my view of the modern semi-auto vs pump in HD.

[acaligunner]

^
I agree 🙂.
There are certain advantages that the modern semi auto has over the pump SG.
I grew up Shooting a pump sg, but imo ~ once I learned the SA - I liked the improvements.

[oddball]

^^^^^^^^

And to me, now that I have time with the semi auto platform, it is like comparing a Glock to a Colt SAA revolver.

I love my Colt SAA, but for home defense, I'll take a Glock.

[splithoof]

We keep a stable of older Remington 870P models around, because they always work for us. I’m content with those, and have done considerable training on manipulations, ammunition management, use in several “shoot houses” (day and night), firing from vehicles, etc. While I am all for anyone who wants a semi-auto platform, I personally will save the ca$h because I don’t think I can justify my personal need for one. Pump guns (shotguns and rifles alike) have a different manual of arms, and I have had no trouble learning them, so there is that.
Interestingly, my SPAS-12 does both, but when I was using it on a regular basis, it was mainly in the pump-action mode.
Are they the new revolver?…only if one is considering a Striker or Protecta, both of which are now NFA items (thanks butt licking democrats).

[acaligunner]

^
IMO - semi auto SG’s have served me well.
Yes, I did grow up shooting pump SG’s. I then bought H&K Benelli ( the 1st imported Benelli’s ), Followed by M2, and now I use a Benelli 1014.

Totally different platform ( from a pump SG ) but not something that cannot be learned.

So, I’ve been using a sa SG since about 1988 ? - I find them easier to shoot than a pump, and my Benelli 1014 is one of the softest shooting SG’s I have ever shot buck and slugs out of.

I see no issues with a pump sg, I like all kinds of firearms, but I’m now a Benelli M4 / 1014 man. Thank you.

[W.R.Buchanan]

The one common point all of you make is the same one I made in my post. It's all about the training !!! You can make anything work if you know how to use it. !!!

There was a saying at Front Sight: "Any gun will do if you will do!"

People used Single Action Pistols for Self Defense for a hundred years and they seemed to work pretty well. Then Browning came along and suddenly everything changed? But Cops still carried Revolvers until the mid 80's

I have a M500 next to my bed. I also have a Glock 21 in the head board of my bed which is closer. However the only reason I would go for it would be if I didn't have time to stand up and grab the shotgun which is 3 feet away. Rack the gun and I'm ready to rock. I'd have to rack the pistol as well, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be as accurate with it any farther out than 5 feet at night. Both guns have lights on them and both guns have 11-12 rounds in/on them.

Also the Shotgun can be used as a Club in close quarter encounters, Pistol possible, but not so much.

In an Up Close and Personal Encounter any Shotgun will prevail and there is no advantage to any style as you are only going to fire one shot Center Mass which will end any fight ! If you've practiced enough to automatically Rack the Slide immediately after firing then other targets are just as accessible with a Pump Gun as a Semi Auto, unless it malfunctions. Then you better have your malfunction clearances down Pat.

If you haven't practiced to the tune of 1000 or more rounds thru your gun, it doesn't matter what you are fielding and there is no advantage to either Style Action... In the end it is all about YOU!

My new .02

Randy

[acaligunner]

^
Well, I was raised in a military family, 2 brothers are combat vets, been shooting since I was 8, and lived in a not so nice active area.

Besides all that, I do see the advantages of the semi auto shotgun - as I’ve been shooting one of the 1st Benelli / H&K semi auto, then the Benelli M2, and now the Benelli 1014. So yes there are certain advantages with a semi auto shotgun.

I also see nothing wrong with a pump shotgun as I grew up on mossberg 500’s and occasionally a super nova Benelli.

For me, yes I’ll spend the money on a Benelli 1014, but it’s not as simple as that. It’s taken me decades to learn each system and I’ve learned enough to know for me the semi auto is the way to go; that’s also why I’ve taken advantage of each system ( Benelli HK - Benelli m2, and now Benelli 1014 ), that’s why I’ve spent the money because of my experience with each of those models.
Thanks