Best value semi-auto 12ga?

[Nephrology]

So, I am considering replacing my aged 870 Wingmaster home defense shotgun for a semi auto (no, I won't sell it, don't worry - just want to buy something that I have less sentiment for to fill the role of HD shotgun). I've looked at the Mossberg 930 SPX, FN SLP, and the various Benellis out there.

The Benellis are a little rich for my blood, but I've also heard several less than flattering things about the 930 family of shotguns. What is the consensus on this? I am willing to spend what it takes to buy a nice shotgun (I am in no rush to make this purchase at all), but I also don't want to blow huge amounts of money on a gun if I can get one that functions just as well for less. What is the Glock of semi-auto scatterguns?

Only requirements are that it have bead sights or fiber optics (just no rifle sights), the ability to accept a weaponlight, and reasonable ergos. Thoughts?

[part-time shooter]

http://www.mossberg.com/product/930-spx-8-shot-85360/

the mossberg is the best for the money. It meets your criteria except it doesn't have a bead sight, it's a ghost ring rear fiber front. You can find them for $750ish if you are patient and look around for sales. I bought a Benelli and probably spent $700 more than I should have for a good semi shotgun. I'd have been better off spending that $700 on ammo and more range time.

[UNK]

I picked up a police trade in 870 for 150 and a police trade 1100 for 300-350

[Luke]

Stay away from the 930! For the money you absolutely can't beat the stoeger M3000. You can even get the M3k with oversized bolt handle and mag release. We use one is multigun matches and it eats everything. Brian enos has like a 100 page thread on them, all good.

[pdb]

I bought a 930 JM Pro 22" and am reasonably happy with it. It's got some rough fit and finish but it cycles faster than a Beretta 1201 and hits softer than an 1100. I've put about 1000 rounds through it and it hasn't malfed yet.

I recognize that other people have had issues with theirs, I can't recommend it unhesitatingly. I believe the 930 JM series is given additional QC attention out of the factory than the normal 930s, but I think it's a solid shotgun if you get a good one.

One thing the 930 has over the 1100 series and some of the Beretta/Benelli pattern guns is that loading from a full magazine tube is a one step procedure. Instead of advancing a shell from the tube and then running the bolt (Beretta 1201) or pulling the bolt back and then hitting the bolt release (1100), pulling the 930's bolt back will advance a shell onto the lifter and chamber it. This means you have to do some trickery to do the load slug drill if that's important to you. (Hold elevator up with left hand, rack bolt with right hand and hold to the rear, fetch slug and chamber).

YMMV, etc.

[Irelander]

Stay away from the 930! For the money you absolutely can't beat the stoeger M3000. You can even get the M3k with oversized bolt handle and mag release. We use one is multigun matches and it eats everything. Brian enos has like a 100 page thread on them, all good.

Can you get a shorter barrel for the M3000? A 24" barrel is a little long for HD work....at least that's my opinion.

[GJM]

Buy once, cry once. A used Benelli M1/2, or for less, a used 11-87.

[Beat Trash]

To me, the reliability has to factor into the "value" of the gun. Especially for a defensive firearm.

If I were in the market for a semi-auto shotgun for defensive usage, I'd buy one of the Beretta 1301 shotguns. Most likely the 1301 Tactical model. (And not because it has the word, "Tactical" in the description.) As GJM said, "Buy one, cry once".

[Nephrology]

To me, the reliability has to factor into the "value" of the gun. Especially for a defensive firearm.

If I were in the market for a semi-auto shotgun for defensive usage, I'd buy one of the Beretta 1301 shotguns. Most likely the 1301 Tactical model. (And not because it has the word, "Tactical" in the description.) As GJM said, "Buy one, cry once".

Reliability is definitely my top concern.

[LSP972]

I thought that somebody here (Jody, maybe, or GJM?) discovered a fatal flaw in the 1301; to wit, if the gun is fully loaded/safety on, bumping the release button dumps another shell onto the lifter, which totally ties the gun up? Not sure about this, but I AM sure about the AL390 I use for an HD shotgun… it can get all gooned up while fumbling to reload it under stress, if you don't follow the exact sequence necessary, and you can leave a thumbnail in the loading port very easily if you aren't careful. If I ever really need it, once its empty it will be dropped in place and I'll be looking for my pistol.

But for those four rounds… the only "tactical" shotgun I've handled that shoots faster is the Benelli M1. Too bad that worthy kills on one end and wounds on the other…

.

[GJM]

1301 is a no go for me now, pending a Beretta fix to the problem Jody identified.

[UNK]

What kind of prices are we talking on theses guns new/used?

[Luke]

What kind of prices are we talking on theses guns new/used?

Stoeger M3000 = 499
Stoeger M3K = 599
I think all the others don't fit under the "budget" semi auto category.

[UNK]

Is there a reason no one one likes the 1100?

[Malamute]

Is there a reason no one one likes the 1100?

I was just thinking Remington model 11.

Not what most are looking for these days though.

[UNK]

Here is a great article by a guy who is a member here. He turned an 1100 into a home defense/competition gun. I like them. Soft Shooting reliable and a darn good looking shotgun. I really like that they aren't tacti cool

[WDW]

I'd find a used 1100...I just snagged one for $200...& have the barrel chopped

[UNK]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=309034


Here is a great article by a guy who is a member here. He turned an 1100 into a home defense/competition gun. I like them. Soft Shooting reliable and a darn good looking shotgun. I really like that they aren't tacti cool

[UNK]

I don't need one but if I found one at that price I would buy it.
\
I'd find a used 1100...I just snagged one for $200...& have the barrel chopped

[WDW]

2 3/4" fixed choke 1100's can be had for very cheap off gun store used racks. Those guns are viewed as having very limited applications these days & gun shops let them go very cheaply more often than not.

[UNK]

what model? The one I bought had monte carlo stock and ventilated rib.

2 3/4" fixed choke 1100's can be had for very cheap off gun store used racks. Those guns are viewed as having very limited applications these days & gun shops let them go very cheaply more often than not.

[UNK]

Can you replace my shotgun world link with your link?


He posted about it here in the Why a shotgun? (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?13486-Why-a-shotgun) thread too:

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?13486-Why-a-shotgun&p=254826&viewfull=1#post254826

[P.E. Kelley]

Best of the breed. M2
Best value M3000
Stay away from 1100 made after about 1980. Low mileage pre 80 ok, but not a 1st choice.
1301. Not enough personal experience for me to judge.
Versa Max. Spin the dial. All lack QC. Some run some are a pain. All have substandard parts.
FN SLP. Good stuff for the most part.

I only offer from personal knowledge. Most of you don't have a clue about me so even that may be suspect.
I do not have a "blood and guts" pedigree.

[Failure2Stop]

Best of the breed. M2
Best value M3000
Stay away from 1100 made after about 1980. Low mileage pre 80 ok, but not a 1st choice.
1301. Not enough personal experience for me to judge.
Versa Max. Spin the dial. All lack QC. Some run some are a pain. All have substandard parts.
FN SLP. Good stuff for the most part.

I only offer from personal knowledge. Most of you don't have a clue about me so even that may be suspect.
I do not have a "blood and guts" pedigree.
I have both an SLP and M3k.
I discuss shotguns regularly with 3 gun folks, much less frequently with any other demographic.

I agree, at face value, with the above.

From Tapatalk:
Jack Leuba
Knight's Armament Company: Military/Govt Product Liaison
F2S Consulting: Director of Shooting Stuff

[Beat Trash]

I thought that somebody here (Jody, maybe, or GJM?) discovered a fatal flaw in the 1301; to wit, if the gun is fully loaded/safety on, bumping the release button dumps another shell onto the lifter, which totally ties the gun up? Not sure about this, but I AM sure about the AL390 I use for an HD shotgun… it can get all gooned up while fumbling to reload it under stress, if you don't follow the exact sequence necessary, and you can leave a thumbnail in the loading port very easily if you aren't careful. If I ever really need it, once its empty it will be dropped in place and I'll be looking for my pistol.

But for those four rounds… the only "tactical" shotgun I've handled that shoots faster is the Benelli M1. Too bad that worthy kills on one end and wounds on the other…

.

I was not aware of issues with the 1301. Thanks, as I was half heartedly looking for a way to talk myself into buying one. That's now on hold...

[HCM]

I was just thinking Remington model 11.

Not what most are looking for these days though.

Are you going to tie a white handkerchief to the muzzle as a night site?

[EM_]

I only offer from personal knowledge. Most of you don't have a clue about me so even that may be suspect.
I do not have a "blood and guts" pedigree.

I think your "pedigree" holds up quite well, here. :)

[HCM]

It seems the Stoeger M 3000/M3K is basically a Benelli M-1. I'm guessing Beretta (which owns Benelli) sold the M1 tooling to Turkey when they sold them the tooling for the cougar pistol.

Does anyone know how much interchangeability there is, if any between the Bonelli M1/M2 and the Stoeger?

[Paul]

If you're thinking about chopping the barrel on an 1100, it's better to find one with two gas ports drilled in the barrel. It's much easier to get the double ports reamed out and running reliably with a short barrel than the single port.

[MGW]

Is there a reason no one one likes the 1100?

They tend to be heavier than what's available now. Not a problem if you're not planning on lugging it around in the field all day.

[ranger]

I like the Stoeger M3000 also - I have the 24 inch model. The Brian Enos 3 gun section has a very extensive discussion of the M3000 - http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173219

[P.E. Kelley]

http://www.multigunmedia.com/m30003gun.pdf

Above is the article that started the M3000 wave.

[idahojess]

Resurrecting this thread for advice: I'm a lefty, and I generally don't like crossbolt safeties. The Mossberg 930 looks attractive to me because of its tang safety. I understand that it has been problematic, at least reading posts here and on the internet.

Which of the recommended semis have a relatively easy to switch safety (ie righty to lefty). Benellis? I recall that their monfeltros actually included instructions on how to switch right to left in the manual. They appear to have taken that out of the manual, though.

[SMD]

The Remington 1100 (and the 870, 11/87, etc) does have a crossbolt safety but there are kits to convert it to a lefty-friendly arrangement. I know this because a used 1100 I bought was so converted and, as a righty, I had to switch it back. One example:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/463939/fortmanns-left-hand-safety-conversion-remington-552-740-760-870-1100-11-87

[scott]

Benelli is easily switchable as well, as is the 1301 (not sure about other Berettas. Anyone know?)

[Matt O]

Resurrecting this thread for advice: I'm a lefty, and I generally don't like crossbolt safeties. The Mossberg 930 looks attractive to me because of its tang safety. I understand that it has been problematic, at least reading posts here and on the internet.

Which of the recommended semis have a relatively easy to switch safety (ie righty to lefty). Benellis? I recall that their monfeltros actually included instructions on how to switch right to left in the manual. They appear to have taken that out of the manual, though.

I shoot long guns lefty and switched my 1301 cross-bolt safety over for LH use. No issues with it thus far.

[That Guy]

Does the 1301 need aftermarket parts, or is the stock safety switchable to a left-handed configuration?

[Trukinjp13]

My next purchase is going to be a semi-auto. But I really would like a 20" or under barrel with removable choke. Beretta 1301 comp is appealing because of factory capacity. I need something that is legally able to hunt in Michigan. But be able to throw a mag extension on when needed. The 1301 comp. is appealing. Barrel is not much longer.


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