help recomend me a semi-auto shotgun

[masterB]

I would look at a Reminton 11-87.

+1!

[ar15barrels]

Mossberg 930 cut down and choke tubed if you want to really shoot fast, or an SPX if you just want it to look cool...

[Fuzzy5]

+1 on the Mossy 930. I'm looking for an SPX if anyone's selling.

Another one I like, though overpriced these days, is the FN SLP. I can't believe no one's mentioned the Benellis. There seem to be a decent number of used M1s coming up now and then.

[Suvorov]

I would look at a Reminton 11-87.

+2

I have had my 11-87P for 10 years now and it has proven to be totally reliable. I purchased rifled sights and then later installed tritium sights and a surfire forend. By swapping out the barrel and magazine tube, I can have it converted to a typical synthetic duck gun in about 5 minutes. The gas system does wonders to reduce the recoil and one can shoot target loads all day without any bruising on the shoulder.

It may not be the latest Tacticool shotgun on the market, but it certainly is Louis Awerbuck approved.

http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/1187.htm

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110895783

[JeffM]

Yep, the M11 really is one of the best values that can be found in a shotgun... I really should keep my mouth shut and just buy em when they show up cheap so the prices I have to pay stay low.... but I like them so much I can't stay quiet.

Oh, just for the record, I have an S-12 saiga as well and I've played with a benelli, and they are tacticool and neat... but the Remmy 11 is more fun to shoot.

I had a locating pin fall off one time when I was adjusting the friction ring on the Remmy 11 and without me noticing it fell into the action of the gun. I put 100 or so rounds through it with the pin floating around inside the action without it missing a beat. (didn't find the pin untill I dissasembled it for cleaning when I got home)

Browning guns are designed to last foreaver if properly maintained.

+1

Recently got a good deal on a Remington 1148 - same lines as the 1100, but the same long action of a Model 11 or A5. And uses a lots of the same small parts as the 870.

It's a beautiful gun, with matching # original barrel, dated to 1955. I was going to cut the barrel to 18.25" and add a magazine extension, but it's in too good of shape for that

Now I'm looking for a spare barrel to cut down when I have some cash.

My inspiration: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=135335

[apbrian112]

i love my M1S90... it's been worked over by rob melhorn and is sweet as all get out.

[JeffM]

Also, whats the maximum amound of rounds that a shotgun is legally able to accept? And what is the shortest legnth that it can be? Barrel and OAL?

Forgot to add some answers here:

Max rounds is 10, like any other magazine in CA (except .22 tube feds). There may be 922r issues with imports. IIRC there was someone making custom US parts for one of the Benellis (M4?) to be able to extent the mag capacity.

Minimum barrel length is 18"

Minimum OAL: I don't recall if there was a limit.

[randy]

I don't believe his budget is there for a Benelli.

My second choice for a semi would be the Mossberg. Cheaper than a Remington, and I'll give it the nod for reliabilty. Make a few modifications to it and it could be a really good shotgun.

[AJAX22]

minimum OAL is 26 inches (federal law)

Here are some $200 or so C&R M11's

I haven't looked at auto 5's but... you should be able to find those

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=110837668 (this is the one I'd buy)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=111026713

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110795879

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=111175061 no reserve curently at $50 bucks but will go up before it ends.


If you want to build an exact replica of bonnie parkers whippet gun, here is a 20 gauge

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=111112530

[AJAX22]

Dirt cheap browning auto 5 with one day left and no reserve ($100)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110725358

another no reserve gun at $116 with six days left

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=111172644

[Baron]

I'd say look for a Mossberg 930 combo.
I see them all the time on gunbroker they usually come with a 18.5" barrel and a 28" vent rib barrel....

Sounds great for SHTF to me. 18.5 for defense and 28" to get food or clays

I'm hoping this will be my next shotgun

[ar15barrels]

I can't believe no one's mentioned the Benellis. There seem to be a decent number of used M1s coming up now and then.

The op basically excluded them when he said this:

So can someone recomend me a cheaper semi auto shotgun?

[E. Fudd]

Well i've got the hankering for a semi auto shotgun to add to my earthquake preparedness kit aka shtf set. I feel a semi shotgun will be most effective and i'd like to somewhat tactical it out, pistol grip and forward light. I would love a saiga 12 but we all know how expensive those things are. So can someone recomend me a cheaper semi auto shotgun?

Also, whats the maximum amound of rounds that a shotgun is legally able to accept? And what is the shortest legnth that it can be? Barrel and OAL?

Please forgive my noobishness, i've only shot a shotgun once but i am fairly competent with ak building and AR's aswell with pistols of the like.

1. Rem. M-11: I find them slower to reload under stress than the 1100/11-87/870. As I recall, one has to press a button to release the lifter thingie to load into the mag tube. Accessories like extended mag tubes, pistol grip stocks, and white lights may be more difficult to find than for the newer models.

2. As you probably know, there are some semi auto shotguns that will cycle either heavy, full-loads or light target loads, but some have problems cycling both reliably. So keep that in mind (what ammo you plan to load primarily, what ammo would you be most likely be able to scrounge up in a worse case SHTF scenario).

3. For max capacity, 10 rd. is for detachable magazine fed semi-auto shotguns. As far as I know, there is know limit on mag tube fed shotguns, but I could be wrong...

4. For SHTF scenarios I'd prefer a rifle, higher capacity, faster reloads, even your basic 10 round mag setup. Longer range, as well.

5. Consider a pump action shotgun. Generally less expensive. You can spend the difference on accessories or ammo. Over the last 20 years shooting 3-gun, I've seen just about every make of semi's have cycling problems. Not all, but a few here and there: Benelli's, Remingtons (the dominent SA's) with major cycling issues, or problems causing DNF's.

6. If you must have a shotgun in the inventory, I'd suggest a high quality pump action like a Rem. 870P with rifle sights or ghost aperature rear sights. Plenty of accessories available. A tad better reliability. Ability to feed and shoot the heavy loads as well as the lightest target loads reliably. With rear sights, one can use it as an effective short range rifle shooting slugs.

[SuperSet]

I'd say look for a Mossberg 930 combo.
I see them all the time on gunbroker they usually come with a 18.5" barrel and a 28" vent rib barrel....

Sounds great for SHTF to me. 18.5 for defense and 28" to get food or clays

I'm hoping this will be my next shotgun

I've been looking for the Mossberg 930s also but have only found the 930 Turkey (85235) model so far. It seems like it'd be a good starting shotgun.
Choate makes magazine extensions for the 930 now so getting up to 8+1 isn't a problem.

How much does it usually cost in gunsmithing fees to chop a 28" barrel down to 18.5" and subsequently, re-thread for chokes?

[ar15barrels]

How much does it usually cost in gunsmithing fees to chop a 28" barrel down to 18.5" and subsequently, re-thread for chokes?

I would cut it to about 21" or so to match up with that 8 round magazine tube.
18" matches up with a 7 round tube.

$100ish to shorten/thread for choke tubes plus your choice of choke tube.
I am all setup for the thinwall tru-chokes.