As of late, I'm seeing a lot of new semi-auto shotguns pop on sites like Classic Firearms.
Anyone have experience with these "off-brand" semis like TR Imports, EAA and Tristar (ok, I know those, but NOT for shotguns), and the likes of Yildiz?
I'm fairly brutal on shotguns in terms of just wanting something to knock about and plink, not caring to beat it up or longingly admiring the depth of the finish on its fine walnutty stock and what-not.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
2Have you considered getting a pump shotgun.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.-Huxley
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." ~ Louis Brandeis,
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." ~ Louis Brandeis,
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
5I’ve shot the Stoeger M3000, but some of these others are going for at least $200 less.
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
6Stoeger M3K. Mine has been 100% reliable in competition, where it gets run pretty hard.
It has also attained a critical mass of competition users so that a lot of upgrade options are available. If you're not planning to compete with it, that last part doesn't matter, and you could take a chance on one of the cheaper options.
It has also attained a critical mass of competition users so that a lot of upgrade options are available. If you're not planning to compete with it, that last part doesn't matter, and you could take a chance on one of the cheaper options.
"To initiate a war of aggression...is the supreme international crime" - Nuremberg prosecutor Robert Jackson, 1946
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
7I had a good conversation just the other day about the same question. I was considering a 20 semi for my stepdaughter. She really enjoys skeet. We talked about the Tri-star Viper series. The conversation came down to parts. These lesser known/popular brands are hard to get parts for. The advise I got was to go to Academy and get a Yildiz. Although it is an import, Academy has a great warranty program. Now, I ignored all of that when I found a great deal on a Mossberg Silver Reserve II O/U. Never looked back. Great shotgun for the money. They fixed all that was wrong with the first series.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
Never confuse knowledge with intelligence.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
8I've had a couple of Stoeger M3000s and despite my best amateur gun smithing efforts, I have yet to screw one up. I use mine for 3gun, high round count and plenty of abuse, but they're rock solid. I also occasionally shoot skeet and 5 stand with it, but I remove the extended mag tube.
I've also had a Tristar Raptor ATAC, which ran just with 3" or 2 3/4" shells with 3.5 dram. Anything less would result in an FTE, despite running a bunch of 3" shells to 'break' it in. Not a fun gun to shoot, but it has a ghost ring sight that I really like when shooting slugs.
Another inexpensive shotgun is the ATI TAC SX2. Not sure if they're still in production, but it's a dependable shotgun and I got it for under $200.
I've also had a Tristar Raptor ATAC, which ran just with 3" or 2 3/4" shells with 3.5 dram. Anything less would result in an FTE, despite running a bunch of 3" shells to 'break' it in. Not a fun gun to shoot, but it has a ghost ring sight that I really like when shooting slugs.
Another inexpensive shotgun is the ATI TAC SX2. Not sure if they're still in production, but it's a dependable shotgun and I got it for under $200.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
9I’ve been saving for an over/under, but you guys are making a good argument for the m3000...
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
10Not really an over-under fan. The experience is..underwhelming. My shoulder will hate me, but I'd rather stick with my 870.Maccabee wrote: Tue Mar 06, 2018 2:17 pm I’ve been saving for an over/under, but you guys are making a good argument for the m3000...
Last edited by atxgunguy on Tue Mar 06, 2018 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
11I don’t honestly have a lot of experience with shotguns, but the few times I’ve done sporting clays I used an over/under and enjoyed it. Shot pretty well with them too. They seem to be favored often in that particular sport.atxgunguy wrote:Not really and over-under fan. The experience is..underwhelming. My shoulder will hate me, but I'd rather stick with my 870.Maccabee wrote: Tue Mar 06, 2018 2:17 pm I’ve been saving for an over/under, but you guys are making a good argument for the m3000...
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
12These days, even the cheap semi-auto's work pretty well. Most are a copy of the Breda semi-auto which is a very solid design. So now it's down to fit, which is important.
“I think there’s a right-wing conspiracy to promote the idea of a left-wing conspiracy”
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
13Yeah, for semi's I'm still on the Stoeger bandwagon as well- one thing that hasn't been mentioned in thread yet is the fact that it's an inertia driven semi rather than a gas system driven- same system that runs Benelli's (owned by them in fact) for quite a bit lower of a price. One less thing to worry about cleaning and maintaining, and it is rock solid reliable. And as others have noted, due to availability and popularity, parts/upgrades are easily accessible.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
14I've shot the M3000 on a few occasions. It seems like the best mix of affordable and reliable. I also don't see many used ones, so that means people usually keep them rather than trade-up.shinzen wrote: Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:40 am Yeah, for semi's I'm still on the Stoeger bandwagon as well- one thing that hasn't been mentioned in thread yet is the fact that it's an inertia driven semi rather than a gas system driven- same system that runs Benelli's (owned by them in fact) for quite a bit lower of a price. One less thing to worry about cleaning and maintaining, and it is rock solid reliable. And as others have noted, due to availability and popularity, parts/upgrades are easily accessible.
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
15Two brands that I see locally are Pointer and Escort, both made in Turkey. I kick myself I didn't buy a Stoeger M3000 that was on closeout. I still see Stoeger side X sides. Stoeger is part of Benelli and Benelli is part of Beretta, small world.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
16FYI, Stoeger M3000 - $424.15 shipped + $25 gift card
https://gun.deals/product/stoeger-m3000 ... upon-4hunt
https://gun.deals/product/stoeger-m3000 ... upon-4hunt
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
17Thanks - good pricespara wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:38 am FYI, Stoeger M3000 - $424.15 shipped + $25 gift card
https://gun.deals/product/stoeger-m3000 ... upon-4hunt
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
18Ah yes, I'm unfortunately at the convergence of great prices and no money.highdesert wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:46 amThanks - good pricespara wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:38 am FYI, Stoeger M3000 - $424.15 shipped + $25 gift card
https://gun.deals/product/stoeger-m3000 ... upon-4hunt
Thanks.
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
19Just discovered the ATA Arms Neo line of semi-autos. From what I have read and seen, these appear to be near-exact copies of the Beretta A400 but a steeply-reduced priced. I'm seeing them as low as $300 on GalleryofGuns and only slightly more from places like Academy Sports.
http://ataarms.com/en/neo.php?modelID=17
http://ataarms.com/en/neo.php?modelID=17
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
20I’m no means an expert but I’m pretty sure the A400 is a gas operated gun. The ATA Neo line appears to be inertia operated.atxgunguy wrote:Just discovered the ATA Arms Neo line of semi-autos. From what I have read and seen, these appear to be near-exact copies of the Beretta A400 but a steeply-reduced priced. I'm seeing them as low as $300 on GalleryofGuns and only slightly more from places like Academy Sports.
http://ataarms.com/en/neo.php?modelID=17
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
21Yes, that is true. They operate differently but look almost identical otherwise.Maccabee wrote:I’m no means an expert but I’m pretty sure the A400 is a gas operated gun. The ATA Neo line appears to be inertia operated.atxgunguy wrote:Just discovered the ATA Arms Neo line of semi-autos. From what I have read and seen, these appear to be near-exact copies of the Beretta A400 but a steeply-reduced priced. I'm seeing them as low as $300 on GalleryofGuns and only slightly more from places like Academy Sports.
http://ataarms.com/en/neo.php?modelID=17
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
22Can you define "affordable" please.
Pompous, with a touch of elitism.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
23The max price is $700. That gets you a Jerry Miculek Mossberg 930. As I'm not competing for anything more than bragging rights and shoot shotguns maybe half a dozen times a year, I'd like to spend less than that.Nato wrote:Can you define "affordable" please.
LGC Texas - Vice President
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
24I picked up a 20 gauge 1100 for $400. The last couple inches of the barrel were pitted. Cut it down to 19 inches and solved that problem. A few dollars on new gas rings and some elbow grease and it's a nice gun for hallways.atxgunguy wrote: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:38 pmThe max price is $700. That gets you a Jerry Miculek Mossberg 930. As I'm not competing for anything more than bragging rights and shoot shotguns maybe half a dozen times a year, I'd like to spend less than that.Nato wrote:Can you define "affordable" please.
Re: Affordable Semi-auto shotguns
25FWIW, I used a JM 930 for my first action shotgun class- it had some feeding issues, between and Spara's advice is why I picked up the Stoeger, which was less money but has proven to be completely reliable.