Lots of good suggestions here, and a semi-auto is an interesting stop-off on any journey through the world of shooting, but be prepared to expend more cartridges without increasing your bag: the temptation to shoot the third cartridge at a distant bird you have already missed twice is a strong one!
Budget but reliable semi auto shotguns
- Thread starter HotelWhiskey
- Start date
buckfever
Well-Known Member
When I first got a semi auto got told the same but didn't believe it. How wrong was i
Was the beretta run in with heavy carts? Many people don’t do this and it can lead to issues apparently.
Acerforestry
Well-Known Member
Another vote for Win SX3, basically a budget Maxus. Have had a few Benellis too and as said, poor guns are harder to find than good even for a few hundred quid
I've always liked Franchi and Beretta, especially the 391 Urika. Hatsan Escort is a good budget gun.
I’m on my second hatsan. First one I was promised lots of pigeon and an introduction to wildfowling. Was a good gun but needed space in my cabinet as wasn’t getting used so sold it.
This season I joined a wildfowling club and didn’t want to ruin my nice beretta o/u
And got a cheap hatsan and it’s a pile of ****.
Wouldn’t buy one s/h
This season I joined a wildfowling club and didn’t want to ruin my nice beretta o/u
And got a cheap hatsan and it’s a pile of ****.
Wouldn’t buy one s/h
Had one of these from new, it’s 5 years old now and still in excellent condition, bomb proof
sich1
Well-Known Member
if it helps, my franchi came with a big warranty. (which may roll over to new owner, not sure) at least 7 years it may have been 10. and its made in the same factory as the beretta/benelli's
using some of the same parts. it even has the rotating bolt system that some of its more expensives brothers dont have. narrow it down to a few,try em and buy the on that fits best.
good luck. your welcome to try my franchi for size/fit if your near Lincoln.
using some of the same parts. it even has the rotating bolt system that some of its more expensives brothers dont have. narrow it down to a few,try em and buy the on that fits best.
good luck. your welcome to try my franchi for size/fit if your near Lincoln.
Whilst I have little direct experience with the Benelli family of shotguns, I can attest to their reliability, even some of the older guns. I know quite a few shooters who have had the same guns for over 25 years now.
Personally, my budget semi-auto shotguns of choice come from across the pond, with the SX3 and Mossberg 930, both bought used and can be found either under or a hair over your £400 budget. They dont run light clay loads unfortunately, but no issues with any other loads game or clay I have put through, and patterning on the SX3 with steel wildfowl loads has been really good for me as well.
Personally, my budget semi-auto shotguns of choice come from across the pond, with the SX3 and Mossberg 930, both bought used and can be found either under or a hair over your £400 budget. They dont run light clay loads unfortunately, but no issues with any other loads game or clay I have put through, and patterning on the SX3 with steel wildfowl loads has been really good for me as well.
I have had several over the years from a proper Browning Auto 5 Magnum (should have kept that) to an early Beretta A400. All good with one exception, a Browning Gold which had intermittent feeding problems. The importer's "armourer" was not very helpful and I never did solve it, nor did a friend who took it on. I have heard of other people with a similar problem so one to avoid I think.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
What was wrong with it?
buckfever
Well-Known Member
It's more time do with me not keeping on top of the cleaning. The franchi is more forgiven. When kept clean fires anything from 29g to the heaviest. Probably would cycle lighter cartridges but don't use anything lighter than 29g
Have owned one for at least 8 years, can’t remember exactly when I got it. Brilliant pump. Once you get used to it you can cycle it extremely quickly.
I’ve shot a few simulated game days with my A400 with 21g carts and it’s been faultless. But I do keep it clean.
buckfever
Well-Known Member
9 times out of 10 a clean but if I miss an clean i get problems. When cleaned it's spot on. The franchi hardly gets cleaned and get no problems with it
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