I'm looking to buy a 12 gauge semi-auto shotgun that will be used by me and my 13 year old son for dove (80%), duck (15%), and skeet (5%).

I'm not a gun snob, just looking for reliable and lasting. We also have a pump 20 gauge and a 12 gauge over/under.

Looked at the store today and narrowed it down to the following options:

New Benelli SuperVinci for $1,600
Used Benelli SuperSport for $1,500 (used by the guys at the shop for busting clays)
New Stoeger semi auto $550

Vinci and Stoeger both shoot 3 1/2, SuperSport does not.

Oh wise outdoors board, what is your thoughts?

A 13 yr-old should never have a $1000 gun. Start him off on a $300-$400 youth model something.

Super sport is balanced more for clays. The Super Vinci, which I have owned for a few years, is built for hunting and working while dirty or wet. It's a great shotgun. Some people complain about the looks though. It's more modern/sports car looking, and some people just prefer the look of a standard shotgun. If you're in that price range, the Beretta A400 is also a great option.

[This message has been edited by TLS11 (edited 7/26/2014 12:21p).]

I started off with an old 12ga Remington 1100, they are great guns and you can get one for less than all those guns.

I agree on the 1100, but the others are more reliable. If you are willing to take care of the gun and keep it in good shape by cleaning it regularly, the 1100 is tough to beat as a smooth shooter. The gas operation can be finicky if not cleaned properly, and it's someone difficult to clean compared to the newer Benelli and Beretta options

[This message has been edited by TLS11 (edited 7/26/2014 12:25p).]

It appears to me that the price point on the nicer 1100 is around $1,100. If that is accurate, it doesn't seem to be significantly cheaper but I'll look at anything.

I'm a fan of Berettas. I would look for a nice used AL391.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/guns/shotguns/semi-autos/2007/09/gun-review-benelli-super-sport

Here's a review on the supersport. It's a sweet shooting gun. If you are shooting 80% dove then this is my vote. Nothing wrong with buying used, just look it over good.

Super Vinci is nice too. Don't make a choice based on 3 1/2's. 3 1/2 inch shells or even 3 inch won't kill you any more ducks than 2 3/4 inch shells.

The Stoeger is essentially the same gun. If you really aren't a gun snob, it's a good choice. The gun snob in me wouldn't let me recommend it.

Look at the Weatherby SA-08, My PA-08 has been nothing short of reliable.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/56980/weatherby_12_gauge_semi_automatic_w26_black_matte_barrelb

Edit for link

[This message has been edited by charliebrown17 (edited 7/26/2014 1:24p).]

I have the stoeger that shots the 3.5". M3500 of I remember correctly. Love it so far. Tad picky about light target loads but handles hunting loads just fine which is my main purpose.

Zero issues last dove and duck seasons. Only con is it's kinda heavy, but overall great gun for the money

Franchi Affinity

I'll second the franchi for an all purpose gun if you want a <800 price

franchi

The Remington 1100 is about $500-$700.
They are very reliable and a classic American gun. They take a little more cleaning than others, but it's no big deal.

I wouldn't buy a youth gun for a 13 year old. He should be shooting full size by that age. Hell, he will be driving in three years.
Youth guns lack the length of pull for most adult shooters

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I'm with the poster above. Remington 1100 at a lower price point than others listed. Classic American shotgun. For me, it's tough to comment on youth stock. Youth would likely allow him to mount better now - unless he's a big kid - but your mount will be affected and his will become affected as he grows. Remember, shotgun shooting is about the mount and focus on the target, and not aiming like tradition rifle shooting, so the stock fit is pretty important. Some of the models you are interested in may have adjustable stocks to allow adjustment of cant and stock length and stock rise. Good luck and welcome aboard!

With the guns you mentioned virtually every gun is in your price range.

I personally prefer a gas operated system. It cycles a broader range of loads with greater regularity. Felt recoil is also significantly less which might be a benefit to a 13 year old.

Beretta(390/391/Urika), Browning (Maxus/Silver), and Remington (1100/11-87) are all good options. I personally don't believe anyone needs 3.5" shell capabilities unless they are regularly hunting late season geese, so I have no interest in owning a 3.5" chambered gun.

If you do choose to go the inertia route, I'd recommend the Benelli Montefeltro.

Agree with above that you don't need to worry about 3.5 inch capability. There's not really any use other than for geese (3 inch are still fine for geese). 3.5s also suck to shoot from a blind when you don't have a good stance and would probably only give your son more awareness of the recoil, potentially messing with his accuracy.

Inertia driven models do have a reputation for struggling with lighter than 1 1/8 ounce loads. I've had flawless success with my super vinci handling as low as 1 ounce loads, but a ton of failure to ejects on 7/8 ounce loads.


[This message has been edited by TLS11 (edited 7/26/2014 4:03p).]

I'd say to look at an 1187 before an 1100 simply because the 1187 doesn't have a rubber o ring. That o ring goes bad and breaks while hunting and you will be pissed

Franchi Affinity

Made in same factory as Benelli

Has 3 year warranty on parts if needed.

Soft recoil.

A few more $$ than a 1100 - but made in the Benelli factory - needn't say more

I'd say go look at the Beretta A300. I believe the street price is about $695, and it's their new low cost auto. A gas gun like this or the 1100/1187 will kick less, and the A300 should have different recoil pads you can buy to adjust the length of pull.

I'd go for one of these A300s over an 1100 or 1187. I owned an 1187 for over 15 years. Nice gun, but I got tired of cleaning it. Mine, bought back in about '95, still had a synthetic rubber O-ring that had to be kept in good shape to cycle the weapon. It wasn't a big deal, you just kept a replacement O-ring in your gun case in case it started acting up. It was also heavy compared to the beretta & benelli.

I now shoot a standard Benelli Vinci. Extremely light, points and shoots very well, and only needs cleaning once a year if you really want to. But the standard Vinci had some ergonomic issues addressed by the Super Vinci. Upon recoil the trigger guard on mine slaps my fingers when they are wrapped around the pistol grip in a natural manner. Also the safety is such a far reach forward that I have to rotate my hand on said pistol grip to reach it, making the finger slapping more prevalent. A lot of people complained and they fixed it on the Super Vinci. I assume they also trickled the changes down to the regular Vinci. These issues are annoying, but not enough to make me take a loss selling it and getting something new. But I am much more aware of the safety reach issue now when I handle new weapons while window shopping. I didn't figure that issue out until I took the gun hunting the first time.

If you go looking for a new Remington you want the 1187. I believe all the new production 1100s are higher end sporting competition guns and have been for a few years.

I have the Stoeger 3". Not a bad gun for the price. I had problems with light loads at the range early on, but after running 8 - 10 boxes of shells thru it, everything has been fine for about 7 yrs now. I wanted an auto that can take abuse, scratches, mud, etc. and the Stoeger fits the bill nicely.

Made in the Benelli factory doesn't make it a Benelli. The barrels are made in Turkey.

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Made in the Benelli factory doesn't make it a Benelli. The barrels are made in Turkey.

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The turks make good shotguns. I think he was going more for it has Benelli QC

If u don't get that SuprSport.

Hook a brother up, and tell me where this is....

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A 13 yr-old should never have a $1000 gun. Start him off on a $300-$400 youth model something.

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I disagree. Got my beretta 391 when I was 14 and I still use itevery season. It's the go to shotgun for me.

I do agree if it is the first shotgun that is technically theirs. I shot a browning "humpback" A5 20 Ga for years until I got that berretta.

I have an 11-87 sportsman. It is a good gun. As previously mentioned here the inertia driven is very finicky and I must use a 1.125 Oz load or it has ejection problems.


I would look at the Browning A5 too. Much lighter than my gun.

[This message has been edited by ragoo (edited 7/27/2014 9:19p).]

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If u don't get that SuprSport.

Hook a brother up, and tell me where this is....

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Will do. I'll probably make a decision this week.

Thanks for all of the input.