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Posted: 2/9/2010 7:45:03 PM EDT
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Alright, I am looking for the most reliable and best shooting auto loader 12 ga shotgun suggestions. I am gonna be shooting clays, duck, and pheasant with the gun. I will not consider a Saiga or a mossberg as a viable option.
I have looked at some of the benelli's, remington 1100, 11-87, and the Winchester X2. What do you guys suggest? |
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Browning A5. It kicks like a mule, but is durable as hell. I bought a used one in 1985. I have killed deer, wild hogs, dove, quail, pheasant, ducks, geese, squirrels and rabbits with it. On one occasion while duck hunting, there was a freezing mist. When I fired I was engulfed in a cloud of ice crystals, but it continued to function.
I have had two failures to cycle, both in 1985. I was using some of the plastic hulled shells (plastic base instead of brass). I gave those shells away and have never had another problem. Yes, it is old school, but, it was designed by one of the greatest American inventors – John M. Browning. A5 shotgun, got one; M1911 pistol, got one; M1892 rifle, got one; Ma Duce, need one. Or for you ex-military; Browning Machine Gun, 50. Caliber, M2, Heavy Barrel, Flex Mount. |
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Quoted: Have not been a fan of their durability for years. I have been a duck hunter for a long time, and I always see pump action mossbergs that are broken. So, Rem 1100. Which is better the 1100 or 11-87? I have three 1100s, so I might be a bit bias. If you want to shoot 3" loads (for ducks and/or geese) you'll have to go with the 11-87. |
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The Benelli Vinci also has me interested. Its expensive, but I may just do it. Do you plan on just using it for bird hunting and sporting clays? I love Benelli shotguns but the new Vinci leaves me a little 
IMO the Benelli M2 is a fantastic shotgun. The M2 is tough, lightweight, fast and most importantly reliable. The new Vinci is very light, but it feels too much like the Benelli R1 rifle, I want a shotgun to point like a shotgun, not point like a rifle. But if the Vinci feels the best for you that is what is important. |
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Quoted:
Browning A5. It kicks like a mule, but is durable as hell. I bought a used one in 1985. I have killed deer, wild hogs, dove, quail, pheasant, ducks, geese, squirrels and rabbits with it. On one occasion while duck hunting, there was a freezing mist. When I fired I was engulfed in a cloud of ice crystals, but it continued to function. I have had two failures to cycle, both in 1985. I was using some of the plastic hulled shells (plastic base instead of brass). I gave those shells away and have never had another problem. Yes, it is old school, but, it was designed by one of the greatest American inventors – John M. Browning. A5 shotgun, got one; M1911 pistol, got one; M1892 rifle, got one; Ma Duce, need one. Or for you ex-military; Browning Machine Gun, 50. Caliber, M2, Heavy Barrel, Flex Mount. +1 Mine is OLD FN made - still works as well as the day it was made'...John Moses KNEW what he was doing IF I was to choose a new auto though - it'd either be a Rem 11-87 (had a 1100 & loved it - but the 11-87 is the beefed up model) OR if I could raise funds, the Benelli M1014 civvi equivalent If you get the Re, add the DMW easy loader fingers to it - makes reloads MUCH FASTER |
| How difficult is it to disassemble the Browning Auto 5 for maintenance? And are replacement parts still readily available? I've seen lots of praise for their reliability and cycling speed, but I read somewhere that they use a series of friction rings that's adjustable for different loads. Is this correct? And do the rings wear, and if so are replacements easy to find? Thanks in advance! |
| The Browning A5 is easy to disassemble. Parts are available over the internet, but not at most gun stores. They have one set of friction rings. You install then one way for heavy loads and flip them over for lighter loads. I suppose they wear, but I’m still using the original ones in my A5. Also, removing/installing the plug takes about 30 seconds and no tools (after the first time). 3 shells for the field and 5 for the house |
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The Browning A5 is easy to disassemble. Parts are available over the internet, but not at most gun stores. They have one set of friction rings. You install then one way for heavy loads and flip them over for lighter loads. I suppose they wear, but I’m still using the original ones in my A5. Also, removing/installing the plug takes about 30 seconds and no tools (after the first time). 3 shells for the field and 5 for the house +1 The Auto 5 was the FIRST semi automatic shotgun. It's still in use, and can still compete against the latest and greatest. |
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Browning Auto 5
Best damn bird gun out there..... If you have cash, Benelli. Winchester SX2 / Browning Gold. I have the FN marked version (tactical). The Browning and Winchester marked guns are bird guns. But if you can get a nice condition Browning Auto 5. go for it.... good gun. I love my 1952 Belgium made 20 Gauge. |
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So far my gun guy cant find a single camo 11-87 from any of his distributors. 1187 Super Mag Special Purpose camo - $550 used That's about all I turned up. |
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Quoted:
Alright, I am looking for the most reliable and best shooting auto loader 12 ga shotgun suggestions. I am gonna be shooting clays, duck, and pheasant with the gun. I will not consider a Saiga or a mossberg as a viable option. I have looked at some of the benelli's, remington 1100, 11-87, and the Winchester X2. What do you guys suggest? I have a Remington/Baikal SPR453 that has been trouble free for 4 years. Looking to get a 11-87 or even a Beretta to back it up, parts seem to be iffy at best. Typical for Russian made guns, it's a bit ugly, but it does the job. I've killed a lot of birds with it, and shot my best ever score on clays with it. Only issue I've had is that the receiver finish wears fast. It seems to be a paint instead of anodizing, and has become a dark charcoal gray instead of black. Hoping to have the ambition to camo it this spring. |
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