Proven Success or Take a Chance?

[Kvon2]

So I figure I can afford about 2 more guns this year. I've decided I want one of them to be an auto loading shotgun. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Mossberg 930 and the Pointer semi auto.

I am IN LOVE with the Pointer and like everything that comes in the box. My biggest concern is, I can't find any reviews on them and I don't have an LGS that has one on display to get my hands on.

Should I take the risk and get it or should I go with the Mossberg which is known to work? The Mossberg would also save me roughly $200.

Thoughts?

[TXAZ]

Email Pointer and ask them who has done independent reviews.
Otherwise the Mossberg is a pretty solid bet.

[g.willikers]

I've learned the hard way to make sure anything you buy has parts and service support.
And not just from the folks selling them, as they might not be around when needed.

[Kvon2]

Both good points...just emailed pointer.

[rallyhound]

Not sure about Pointer, but I have a Tri Star Viper v2, made in Turkey and can tell you after 1 year of ownership that It is one fabulous shotgun. I have only shot a couple thousand rounds out of it so far but not one problem so far.
It is well built and the wood and finish is beautiful.

In my opinion the Turkish guns are better than Beretta at a lower price.

I also have 4 Mossberg 930's and they have been all perfect as well. Just have to wipe off the gas piston every 1000 or so rounds to keep the cycling nice and smooth. If you let it get too dirty It won't always cycle game or target loads

[FITASC]

In my opinion the Turkish guns are better than Beretta at a lower price.

Based on what criteria?

And where is the Pointer made? Looked on several sites and all were lacking in that regard

[NoSecondBest]

In my opinion the Turkish guns are better than Beretta at a lower price.

Go to any sporting clays range and count the number or Beretta's in the rack and the total number of all other semi autos and it's very soon apparent which ones are the best. I don't think I see one out of a thousand Turkish autos in the rack and probably even less Mossbergs, etc. There's a very good reason for that observation.

[Virginian]

Go to any sporting clays range and count the number or Beretta's in the rack and the total number of all other semi autos and it's very soon apparent which ones are the best.

No, that just tells you what is most popular, is the current "in" choice, or who has the better marketing.

[FITASC]

Those folks who use a semi for competition are not going t waste their money on a gun that wont go the distance. Beretta is far and away the number one in that regard. Fabarm, Benelli, Remington are WAY down the list in second. Now, for grins and giggles and a few shots a year during dove season or similar? If a gun works in that limited regard for 5-10 years, then no big deal; assuming parts are still available.

[Virginian]

A VERY large percentage of those people who shoot in any competition shoot what is most popular. They don't do any analysis, they just want to be sure they fit in, and appear to be in the know.
Then you have the really good folks who are sponsored and could hit them with a Pardner pump if that was where the money was.
Then you have those who shoot a gun that works for them and don't care squat what anyone else thinks.

[BigJimP]

Beretta has proven itself over the last 20 yrs...both in durability and reliability in semi-auto gas guns / followed fairly closely by Browning in my opinion.

While there are a lot of models offered by Beretta - and Browning...they will both give you way more gun for your money than Mossberg.

Shooters that want to shoot a semi-auto in competition will buy what they believe is the best gun on the market / and the gun that fits them the best ... not whats popular. But over unders still far outnumber the semi-autos on all of the clay target competition fields ( maybe 8 to 2 in my area).

[NoSecondBest]

No, that just tells you what is most popular, is the current "in" choice, or who has the better marketing.

Now that's funny. I guess you don't shoot competition....in fact, I know you don't.

[P71pilot]

I would take the Mossberg, being proven and American made, and also cheaper. Mossberg's are cheap guns and can FEEL cheaply made but I have never heard of one breaking.

I have never shot an automatic shotgun before. I just picked up a fairly nice 1954 browning auto 5 12ga with 26" IC barrel. They don't make em like this one anymore. Made from 1902-1999 and being a Browning design, I am convinced it is the finest automatic shotgun in existence e

[Virginian]

I do not shoot in competition anymore. Berettas have had plenty of issues through the years, and their owners give them a total bye. Sort of like Mossberg owners and the plastic safety, or Super X1 lovers and the buffer that doesn't count because you can replace it. I guess it is a trait of gun owners. Beretta marketing is top notch, and they always have something newer and better to appeal to the got to have the latest and greatest crowd. And it works. I am not saying they do not build some good guns, or that they are not the most popular, but just about any name brand semi auto these days would work just as well. Their O/Us and Brownings - ported barrels and all - pretty much dominate in that category, so I suppose they are better than the Perazzis and Krieghoffs too.

[FITASC]

And I DO shoot in competition and I switched from an O/U to a semi...........there was NO question as to the gun.....................Beretta rules the comp scene in semis for one reason - they just work, repeatedly without fail - period. And they have been doing this since the 300 series back 40+ years ago

[Kvon2]

I feel like we're talking a lot about Beretta and they're not really in my price range at the moment

[Blindstitch]

I feel like we're talking a lot about Beretta and they're not really in my price range at the moment

Don't worry i'm sure someone will mention that if a Beretta isn't in your price range you should wait till it is before buying a gun.

Now back to the Mossberg vs. Pointer show. And yes I also want to know the answer but more about the Mossberg side.

[FITASC]

A used one might be in your price range. And back to the OP - No one has yet to answer WHERE the Pointer is made and by whom......

[NoSecondBest]

Look for a good used Beretta and you'll be ahead of the game for years to come. Buying a brand new poor handling, poor quality gun isn't getting ahead in the game. There are lots of used Berettas out there if you just look and many can be had at a very good price. Not too long ago I went with a friend of mine to an estate sale and picked up a like new Beretta 390 sporting model for five hundred. It looked like it had hardly been shot. Got all the tubes, case, etc for that price. If my friend hadn't been the one to need a gun, I'd have bought that one for myself and I didn't even need it. Look around and good luck.

Note: Go to a few local ranges and check the bulletin boards. They are always loaded with guns for sale and you can probably even get to shoot them to try them out.

[eastbank]

i happen to like rem 1100-1187,s and i shoot trap loads out of them and i run them between 500-600 rounds between brake down for cleaning as i carry then in box cases and when i put them in i wipe the magizine tube with break free. yesterday i shot two rounds of sporting clays(100) in the morning with the 1187 and in the afternoon i shot three rounds of trap(75) with it, no ftf-fte. and its a trap model that i bought used with a extra barrel for 650.00 in like new condition. no matter what shotgun you decide on, see if you can try it before buying it. the thing about rem is you can buy every part on the internet except the reciever if you need any parts and you can,t do that with most other shotguns. just some thing to think about over the long haul. eastbank.

[Kvon2]

Pointer is produced by legacy sports international. Same company that produces howa and escort. My understanding is legacy has a pretty solid reputation.

Checking the local club for used postings is actually a pretty good call. I will look in to that also.

[Dreaming100Straight]

What they said about buying the product of a well known company that will be around with available support is important. Take an established used gun over a questionable new model. Does Legacy produce or simply market the Pointer?

[FITASC]

legacy sports international

These folks are importers, not makers; similar to Charles Daly, Weatherby, etc. I suspect maybe Turkey, bit there is China, Brazil, Phillippines, etc to also consider

[Kvon2]

Everything I've heard is Turkey

[FITASC]

If true, then just like here, Spain, Italy and elsewhere - there are good makers and some not so good. AKUS, who makes the Dickinsons for Cabelas (and previously the Elite for S&W and the Valiant for Kimber) makes EXCELLENT SxS guns with true round actions, genuine charcoal case color hardening, machine-turned barrel flats and crisp triggers. Some of the other makers? Not quite there yet. It doesn't mean they CAN'T make a good gun; it means if it is meant to be sold at a cheap price point, then as many corners that can be cut, will be and the quality suffers accordingly. (And this holds true for any gun type)