Pump action or semi-auto?

[henryjackson]

Hi all,

Hope this is the right place on the forum to ask (admin please tell me if not!). I am looking at getting one of these shotguns, in 12 bore I'm pretty sure, for pigeons etc. It will be FAC as I have an open slot on my FAC for one, and am thinking about 7+1 I think. However, I am struggling to decide between either pump or semi. I would be looking at the cheap end of the market. I am quite tempted by a pump as it will cycle any shells, and tend to be cheaper. I am also thinking in the future of getting a moderator (Atec or Hushpower) which I am fairly sure will be better on a pump. Slight side note but if anyone has bought subsonic factory 12ga shells are they very expensive/ hard to get? Are they much quieter?

However I know semi-auto are more common, and I just want to know why really and if I would be making a mistake getting a pump.

Any advice / experiences of using one vs another would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[scrumbag]

I quite like pump actions.

They are less sensitive to ammo type so will probably work well with a moderator and subs I'd have thought. Pumps are not totally insensitive to ammo though, some don't like the very short, usually 24gr "economical" clay loads.

I personally like pump actions and have 1 FAC (Benelli Supernova) and 2 S2 pumps. Where are you? Once this lockdown stuff ends you'd be welcome to come and try mine at some clays if not to far away?

@Kalahari has got several semi-autos and pumps, he could probably advise you better than I on the pros and cons.

Scrummy

 

[wabbit warren]

id say semi auto but thats only personal choice a nice sx3 7+1 would do the job
what ever you get make sure you take plenty of cartridges with you because you tend to play catch up on pigeons
and three or four shots later you think omg did i just do that
also you tend to loose count of how many rounds youve got left in the gun

 

[Heym SR20]

Have had and used both. Unless you really need it forget the 7+1 as they ruin the handling. A good pump works well, and I think the Browning BPS or old remington 870s are really nice.

Semi-autos are typically twice the price of a pump and the one big downside is they throw empties all over the place. With a pump, if you open slowly the empty just pops out.

Benelli Novas are good tough guns, had one for a while, liked it, but struggled to hit with it due to it not fitting me.

Now have the Franchi Affinity in left hand. Its basically a half price Benelli M2 with the same Inertia Bolt locking system. Think Skoda vs VW. Its nice and light, yet with 3” full throttle steel loads very little recoil. It doesn’t cycle 24gm clay loads, but given recoil reduction 28gm loads work very well. Mine has black foreend and stock - yes feels a bit plasticky compared to Benelli - there are aftermarket stocks available, but its my Wildfowling gun so why bother as it works really well.

 

[scrumbag]

Have had and used both. Unless you really need it forget the 7+1 as they ruin the handling. A good pump works well, and I think the Browning BPS or old remington 870s are really nice.

Semi-autos are typically twice the price of a pump and the one big downside is they throw empties all over the place. With a pump, if you open slowly the empty just pops out.

Benelli Novas are good tough guns, had one for a while, liked it, but struggled to hit with it due to it not fitting me.

Now have the Franchi Affinity in left hand. Its basically a half price Benelli M2 with the same Inertia Bolt locking system. Think Skoda vs VW. Its nice and light, yet with 3” full throttle steel loads very little recoil. It doesn’t cycle 24gm clay loads, but given recoil reduction 28gm loads work very well. Mine has black foreend and stock - yes feels a bit plasticky compared to Benelli - there are aftermarket stocks available, but its my Wildfowling gun so why bother as it works really well.

The Supernova's fit problem has largely been solved by the Supernova having a shim kit which helps a lot

With a BPS they also drop the shells at your feet which is nice for a hide.

7+1 is cool but a regular tube of 4+1 or 5+1 will handle better.

Also get used to topping off the magazine as you shoot

I use the below for turing targets and slugs. From a full tube to an empty one you notice the balance changing.

Scrummy

 

[StephenToast]

Remington 870 Wingmaster.

I need say no more.

 

[Pedro]

Generally, semi autos are the new technology compared to the pump action. Although there are some advantages to a pump action, I would in most circumstances go for a semi without some compelling reason to do otherwise. You are just slowing down the rate that you can take that subsequent shot.

 

[Kalahari]

I like my BPS as it is completely ambidextrous and I shoot shotguns as a leftie I also like the tang safety. It is nice wood and blue and doesn't go on the marsh. I use a plastic fantastic wildfowling auto which is very reliable but does throw cases all over the show which is a disadvantage. Unless you shoot competitions I am not sure of any advantage in a big magazine capacity. They are heavy and change balance as the magazine empties. It is very easy to just keep topping up the magazine as you go along keeping one in the chamber and two in the magazine. Magazines on both pumps and autos can be topped up without any fuss unlike most rifles.

I hope this helps.

David.

 

[Long drag]

Have a Benelli, great work horse, but if it was me, I'd go for Over and under, or a Side by side, reason much safer to handle, you'd get one a good price, you do not need all the extra ammo that comes with a auto.

 

[Tazz]

If it’s mainly for Pigeons then get a semi auto, much faster second and third shot with you just concentrating on taking the shot not operating the action. Yes they are a bit more money, used to have a couple of gas operated moved to a Benelli inertia, I think they are excellent and bomb proof actions that don’t need even moderate levels of maintenance. Other opinions will be forthcoming

 

[bfltd0]

I too would advise a reliable semi if you are going to do a lot of pigeons. Pumps are great fun but not really serious contenders for rapid follow-up shots, unless you have really practiced a lot. There are a number of quality semis around in "standard" 4+1 shot format - get around once the shops open and see what fits you best. If you are really fixated on the higher capacity, there are a few tactical models that come with a long mag tube. The Benelli M2 has a decent reputation.

I used to run a Remington 1100 with a 26" barrel that had a mag tube that stuck out 2" beyond the muzzle. Great fun emptying it, not as much fun loading it!

You mention fitting a moderator. The Hushpower looks like a good option but it does look like it extends the tube somewhat, so the trade-off might be a reduction in handling.

 

[Ajax]

Got both, M2 semi and a cheap and cheerful Escort pump both non FAC, and i reach for the pump eveytime.
Had a FAC semi and as already said you can feel the the handling change imo!

 

[henryjackson]

Thanks all for the responses. I guess the higher capacity I was thinking would just be nice to have, don't always have to load it to max though.

Has anyone used subsonic ammo in a semi auto? Been reading that it's more than likely won't cycle properly, so if / when I do get a moderator for it apparently subsonic ammo is the stuff to use to actually make a difference.

As for over under/ sxs, I've got both of them but both are a bit nice for a bash about work gun on the farm...

I'm guessing that pumps will not soak up any recoil (so be just like o/us or sxs in that respect) unlike semi auto?

 

[henryjackson]

Got both, M2 semi and a cheap and cheerful Escort pump both non FAC, and i reach for the pump eveytime.
Had a FAC semi and as already said you can feel the the handling change imo!

How come you reach for the pump everytime?

 

[scrumbag]

Thanks all for the responses. I guess the higher capacity I was thinking would just be nice to have, don't always have to load it to max though.

Has anyone used subsonic ammo in a semi auto? Been reading that it's more than likely won't cycle properly, so if / when I do get a moderator for it apparently subsonic ammo is the stuff to use to actually make a difference.

As for over under/ sxs, I've got both of them but both are a bit nice for a bash about work gun on the farm...

I'm guessing that pumps will not soak up any recoil (so be just like o/us or sxs in that respect) unlike semi auto?

Yes, you are right pumps don't soak up the recoil. Shouldn't be an issue with most "pigeon" loads but if you want to use 3.5" steel for something you might notice. Softest shooting is a gas operated semi auto, then an inertia, then a pump.

(Having said that, I borrow Kalahari's spare Mossberg 535 to shoot geese with and when you're under a flight you don't notice)

Scrummy

 

[Ajax]

Honestly, it cost peanuts and its home is by my side in the gator and is prone to knocks and scrapes the M2 is brilliant but no place for it bouncing x country

 

[henryjackson]

Yes, you are right pumps don't soak up the recoil. Shouldn't be an issue with most "pigeon" loads but if you want to use 3.5" steel for something you might notice. Softest shooting is a gas operated semi auto, then an inertia, then a pump.

(Having said that, I borrow Kalahari's spare Mossberg 535 to shoot geese with and when you're under a flight you don't notice)

Scrummy

Yeah thought so. Personally not too bothered by recoil, I've got a couple SIM days booked (fingers crossed for covid restrictions allowing this) and was talking to my mate with a semi who said he would only use it on those days because of the recoil. If I get a pump guess I'll just have to man up!

 

[bfltd0]

Yeah thought so. Personally not too bothered by recoil, I've got a couple SIM days booked (fingers crossed for covid restrictions allowing this) and was talking to my mate with a semi who said he would only use it on those days because of the recoil. If I get a pump guess I'll just have to man up!

Take an over and under for the sim day - not a non-ejector! And take 21 gram cartridges, they're only clays..............

By the time you've clocked up 400 cartridges in short order, you'll have tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome if you take the pump, plus one of your thumbs will be shorter than the other through stuffing the cartridges in!

 

[Kalahari]

Yes, you are right pumps don't soak up the recoil. Shouldn't be an issue with most "pigeon" loads but if you want to use 3.5" steel for something you might notice. Softest shooting is a gas operated semi auto, then an inertia, then a pump.

(Having said that, I borrow Kalahari's spare Mossberg 535 to shoot geese with and when you're under a flight you don't notice)

Scrummy

Those 31/2" High speed Remingtons are terribly soft shooting!

David.

 

[Gamekeeperwill]

Get a benelli m2. Cycles anything, use it most days, and you can get a mod for it