That is, I need an intro to semi-auto shotguns, please.

My brother has mentioned setting up a bird hunt for us in the Spring, and I think that sounds like great fun. However, I'm sure my trusty old 870 Express isn't really the right gun for it.

It's almost ridiculous to buy a semi for a single event, but I'm open to stashing away a few dollars here and there between now and then and trying something new. I'm sure I can either borrow a semi from a friend or sell one if I buy and find it's not for me. But I'd rather do some learning between now and then and be able to buy a relatively nice semi before the hunt if I can.

My shotgun experience is pretty limited. I've had a few 870 versions and really liked them. I rented a semi at the Greenbrier's sporting clays range a couple of years ago and liked it, but I don't remember at all what it was.

Lately it seems the SF group has not had much nice to say about Remington. That's discouraging, but I understand. Beretta, Benelli and Browning come to mind quickly, but I think those are way out of my league in terms of budget and "first semi."

So what else is out there? Again, my shotgun knowledge is way limited. Mossberg? I see a Model 930 Field that can be had for roughly $525. Not bad, I suppose. What else should I look at, SF?

As always: thank you.

What kind of bird hunting? And what is your expected budget?

Best new gun for the money right now is probably the Beretta A300 which is around $600 new.

You can get great used guns for $400-500 like Remington 1100, 11-87, Beretta AL390-391, and some Brownings.

Most semi auto guns are gas operated (Remington, Winchester, Browning Gold, Beretta) for the flexibility of light/heavy loads and lesser recoil. Some (Benelli and new Browning A5) are inertia driven which makes them recoil a bit more but increases reliability. Many older guns (most notably the Browning Auto 5) are recoil spring operated.

Again, depending on what kind of hunt, your pump might be just fine.

I have a Beretta A300 that has been flawless and is a pleasure to shoot. It’s the max camo one, but I would have chosen the wood or plain synthetic if I hadn’t won it.

I’ll make it easy for you....Remington V3 26”.

Walnut, Black or Camo. You pick.

You’ll be very happy for a reasonable price. Softest shooting SA out there.
If you shoot your 870 well, then you’ll shoot the V3 well also. Feels just like it on the shoulder. Great trigger. Made in USA.

Don’t buy into all of the negative Remington brand this and that. The V3 is an outstanding shotgun.

Check out Randy Wakeman on YouTube. He’s got more than a few reviews of it.

https://youtu.be/U-NWJTrZnh8

I love mine.

There’s nothing wrong with a used Remington 1100 or 1187. They built over 4 million of them since 1962. There’s plenty of fine older ones out there. One built in the mid to late 80’s is a great period, IMO. They were new enough to have screw in chokes, and Remington’s quality was very high during that time. They’ve only sucked relatively recently.

In fact, I just bough my 11yo a 1989 built 1100 LT-20 last week to get him started with clay sports. It’s a great feeling little gun. Cost $450. I love the small action twenty gauge 1100’s. So light and handy for kids/women. It’s like a mini version of my 12ga 1100.

You can date a Remington (since 1921) using the barrel code, if the barrel is original. There should be two letters on the left side of the barrel near the receiver. This is the month/year of its make. You should note that the year codes repeat every 26 years, so you have to have a basic approximation of the gun’s date of manufacture.

MONTH CODES

B = January
L = February
A = March
C = April
K = May
P = June
O = July
W = August
D = September
E = October
R = November
X = December

YEAR CODES

M - 1921

N - 1922

P - 1923

R - 1924

S - 1925

T - 1926

U - 1927

W - 1928

X - 1929

Y - 1930

Z - 1931

A - 1932

B - 1933

C - 1934

D - 1935

E - 1936

F - 1937

G - 1938

H - 1939

J - 1940

K - 1941

L - 1942

MM - 1943

NN - 1944

PP - 1945

RR - 1946

SS - 1947

TT - 1948

UU - 1949

WW - 1950

XX - 1951

YY - 1952

ZZ - 1953

A - 1954

B - 1955

C - 1956

D - 1957

E - 1958

F - 1959

G - 1960

H - 1961

J - 1962

K - 1963

L - 1964

M - 1965

N - 1966

P - 1967

R - 1968

S - 1969

T - 1970

U - 1971

W - 1972

X - 1973

Y - 1974

Z - 1975

I - 1976

O - 1977

Q - 1978

V - 1979

A - 1980

B - 1981

C - 1982

D - 1983

E - 1984

F - 1985

G - 1986

H - 1987

I - 1988

J - 1989

K - 1990

L - 1991

M - 1992

N - 1993

O - 1994

P - 1995

Q - 1996

R - 1997

S - 1998

T - 1999 (*)

U - 2000 (*)

V - 2001 (*)

W - 2002

X - 2003

Y - 2004

Z - 2005

A - 2006

B - 2007

C - 2008

D - 2009

E - 2010

F - 2011

G - 2012

H - 2013

I - 2014

(*) In August of 1999, Remington stopped stamping the barrels with the date codes. They however continued to mark the date code on the end flap of the shipping box. Remington resumed stamping the date codes on barrels in October 2001

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
What kind of bird hunting? And what is your expected budget?

Best new gun for the money right now is probably the Beretta A300 which is around $600 new.

Quail, I believe, and six Benjamins I could do (though Davidson's is showing $800 right now). Thank you.


Thanks, too, x0225095, for the V3 recommendation. I saw that as I surfed Davidsons, and it's similarly priced.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
There’s nothing wrong with a used Remington 1100 or 1187. They built over 4 million of them since 1962. There’s plenty of fine older ones out there. One built in the mid to late 80’s is a great period, IMO.

Thank you, and for the code list.
I'm thinking it can't be too tough to come up with an 1100 or 1187.


I need to go bother my LGS tomorrow.

If you watch the used racks and online forum markets you can find a used Benelli M1 for about $600.


I found one for a friend for $550 if I recall correctly. I regret letting that one go.

My intro was a Beretta 3901 that I paid $450 in almost unaired condition. It has been 100% reliable on the range and in the woods & marshes. The current A300 is a great gun. Look beyond Davidson’s and you can find them in the $600 range.

Here’s the V3 at Buds online.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/ca...h.php?q=Remington+V3

It starts out at $650 and is eligible for a $100 rebate!

That is a steal of a deal on that gun!

This is what I went with -
Beretta A300 Synthetic 12 gauge 28″ barrel $530.00 + S/H $19.99 + $25 transfer for me.

ps://gunprime.com/product/beretta-a300-synthetic-12-gauge-28-barrel/

Enjoy yourself!

It doesn't sound like you have much experience bird hunting, but you're pretty sure your 870 isn't the right gun for the job? If you just want a new shotgun, that's cool. If you want to kill birds, you may be better-off making sure you have the proper choke tube installed and refining your gun mount with some low-gun skeet or hand-thrown clays.

check to make sure where you are going quail hunting. some of the high end traditional plantations do not allow semi-autos or 12 gauges.

personally, I'd probably just rent an OU or SxS from the plantation. Probably about $50 a day to shoot a very nice gun (Berettas usually.)

people do it, but a 12 ga is simply too much gun for pen-raised quail, imo.

As a couple guys mentioned the Beretta A300 is a pretty nice option, but I gotta agree with x0225095 and say the Remington V3 is the way to go. Very nice handling and soft shooting shotgun for the money. If what YellowJacket says about 12ga is true the Franchi Affinity in 20ga is a really nice handling shotgun for birds and is priced pretty reasonable.

My shooting club / hunting preserve (Selwood Farm) in Alpine, AL allows anything from .410 to 12. 12 is fine. Your basic game/target loads in a 12 aren’t really much more powerful, if at all, than a 20 anyway....Just a thicker pattern. Any bird you’ll over cook with a 12 you can over cook with a 20. I shoot both 20 and 12 there with equal success. My choice just depends on which gun I want to shoot that day. It doesn’t hurt to make sure I suppose but I would be truly shocked if they would prevent their hunters and guests from using the most popular gauge on earth. Check out the website for the preserve. They’ll tell you.

Its most likely fine, but there are some places who frown on it. 12 is a lot of gun for pen raised birds anyways. I suggest 7/8 oz loads through a cyl or skeet choke.

For what you are after the Franchi Affinity 26" barrel in 20ga slightly under 6 pounds unloaded inertia driven. Sportsman's Warehouse has them on sale $200 off right now.

I have my grandfathers Remington 1100 and it is a mighty fine gun.
I am just presuming a 1970s gun but sadly the stamping on the barrel appears to have been done by a 3 year old and is not legible.

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly:
For what you are after the Franchi Affinity 26" barrel in 20ga slightly under 6 pounds unloaded inertia driven. Sportsman's Warehouse has them on sale $200 off right now.

nice shotguns, I have sold a few,


remember , Beretta, Benelli, Franchi and Stoeger are all part of the beretta group

meaning all good shotguns, (well, maybe not all stoegers,,)

and also factor in the tweed hunting jacket


and you know you will need a Browning Superposed, 20 ga lightning to truly be a quail guy

The Franchi Affinity uses an impressive design inertia driven system. I started this Youtube at 4:25 to show people how they work.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
personally, I'd probably just rent an OU or SxS from the plantation. Probably about $50 a day to shoot a very nice gun (Berettas usually.)

I like this plan -- a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy a shotgun I can't soon afford.

New info says it's a pheasant and quail hunt.

Shoot, I don't even know where to start, with respect to gear....