Need help picking the perfect semi auto shotgun

Bwillsonhunter4 · September 15, 2016, 08:12 PM

I am looking for a semi auto shotgun that can hunt about everything. Some things I need is the ability to shoot, slugs for deer, steel shot for waterfowl, hold 3" shells for turkeys and geese, and I would also like at least 4+1 capacity. I would like to keep it under $300 used if that's possible all sugustions would be greatly appreciated.

T. O'Heir · September 16, 2016, 12:23 PM

Under $300 used is decidedly limiting. Highly unlikely you'll find a semi with all the extra bits you want for that. Wrong time of year to be shopping for used firearms too. After hunting season is the best time for used stuff.
There, currently, is 1 Rem 1100 on Gunbroker with changeable chokes(very good thing) running $335.90. Rest of 'em are starting at about $800. 11-87's start at about $600.
A rifle sighted barrel runs about that BNIB. There's a rifled barrel on Guns America at $250 though.
However, there are a few off brand/odd brand but serviceable semi's on the assorted auction sites. Issue will be finding barrels and choke tubes. That's something you don't need to do immediately though.
You don't really, absolutely, need a 3" for turkey or geese. 2.75" magnum with a tight choke will do.
If there's a Gander Mountain near you go have a look. Their site shows something called an 'Escort' semi for $299.99. Never heard of the brand myself. Apparently decent kit made in Turkey and imported by Legacy Sports.

kraigwy · September 16, 2016, 02:31 PM

I'm not sure your gonna find a reliable semi shot gun in your price range.

Ever thought about a pump. The Remington 870 is the most popular shot gun in the world for a reason.

You can find one at Cabela's for $349. With a mail in rebate of $50 you can get it to your $300 price range.

Also its 3in, holds 4 in the mag and one in the chamber (4 & 1)

You can get chokes to do anything you want.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/REMIN...70%26CQ_st%3Db

imp · September 16, 2016, 04:05 PM

I see mossberg 930's at wally world for $430. That's probably the best value going, IMO.

Nathan · September 16, 2016, 04:09 PM

IMO, new or used, $400 is about rock bottom price for a semi....am I missing something? That said, the Mossy 930 is not a bad gun.

jmr40 · September 16, 2016, 05:56 PM

You're not going to find a pump at that price that covers that many bases. A semi would be $1,000+ after you factor in a 2nd barrel.

A decent pump action from Remington, Mossberg, or Benelli will start at around $300. You'll need at least 1 extra barrel at $150-$200.

Art Eatman · September 16, 2016, 06:12 PM

Screw-in choke tubes allow for most any style of hunting, from slugs to uber-tight for turkey.

JWT · September 16, 2016, 09:20 PM

If you search you might find a decent used Remington 1100 magnum with choke tribes in the $500 range on Gunbroker. There was on that was listed as 85% and it had choke tubes. Not gonna get much for $300 I'm afraid.

FairWarning · September 17, 2016, 10:30 AM

The CZ 912 offers a lot of value for a semi-auto, although more like in the $400 range...

Scorch · September 19, 2016, 12:26 AM

The perfect semiauto shotgun used to be the Browning Auto-5. Now it's the Benelli SBE II. Not gonna be under $300 used, though. If that's all you want to spend, buy a Mossberg 500 and go hunting.

ZeroJunk · September 19, 2016, 05:58 AM

I know you don't want a pump, you want a semi automatic. But, some of the best wing shooters I have ever seen shot pumps. Fact is, if you learn to shoot a pump you will never kill one of anything with a semi auto that you wouldn't kill with the pump. And , they are cheaper and more reliable.

Mobuck · September 21, 2016, 08:58 AM

About like asking for advice on picking a spouse.

ZeroJunk · September 21, 2016, 06:13 PM

Same thing, best looking one you can afford.

Blindstitch · September 21, 2016, 09:16 PM

Take your $300 and put it in the bank. Add a bit here and there till you find a gun that you like that fits in your budget.

I too had a budget for a new to me shotgun and it took 5 months to get the additional money I needed to pay it off. But it was well worth it to not settle for the first one I found that fit the bill.

My Browning Citori will be doing everything your new to you semi auto will do except slugs but only because I have a rifle for deer.

samsmix · October 3, 2016, 03:43 PM

Tri-star Raptor. $227 at Walmart. This thing will do all of the above

Very similar to Weatherby's SA-08.

September 15, 2016, 08:12 PM	#1
Bwillsonhunter4 Member Join Date: May 30, 2016 Posts: 44	Need help picking the perfect semi auto shotgun I am looking for a semi auto shotgun that can hunt about everything. Some things I need is the ability to shoot, slugs for deer, steel shot for waterfowl, hold 3" shells for turkeys and geese, and I would also like at least 4+1 capacity. I would like to keep it under $300 used if that's possible all sugustions would be greatly appreciated. Last edited by Bwillsonhunter4; September 15, 2016 at 09:01 PM.

September 16, 2016, 12:23 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Under $300 used is decidedly limiting. Highly unlikely you'll find a semi with all the extra bits you want for that. Wrong time of year to be shopping for used firearms too. After hunting season is the best time for used stuff. There, currently, is 1 Rem 1100 on Gunbroker with changeable chokes(very good thing) running $335.90. Rest of 'em are starting at about $800. 11-87's start at about $600. A rifle sighted barrel runs about that BNIB. There's a rifled barrel on Guns America at $250 though. However, there are a few off brand/odd brand but serviceable semi's on the assorted auction sites. Issue will be finding barrels and choke tubes. That's something you don't need to do immediately though. You don't really, absolutely, need a 3" for turkey or geese. 2.75" magnum with a tight choke will do. If there's a Gander Mountain near you go have a look. Their site shows something called an 'Escort' semi for $299.99. Never heard of the brand myself. Apparently decent kit made in Turkey and imported by Legacy Sports. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 16, 2016, 02:31 PM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I'm not sure your gonna find a reliable semi shot gun in your price range. Ever thought about a pump. The Remington 870 is the most popular shot gun in the world for a reason. You can find one at Cabela's for $349. With a mail in rebate of $50 you can get it to your $300 price range. Also its 3in, holds 4 in the mag and one in the chamber (4 & 1) You can get chokes to do anything you want. http://www.cabelas.com/product/REMIN...70%26CQ_st%3Db __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

September 16, 2016, 04:09 PM	#5
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	IMO, new or used, $400 is about rock bottom price for a semi....am I missing something? That said, the Mossy 930 is not a bad gun. Last edited by Nathan; September 18, 2016 at 04:44 AM.

September 17, 2016, 10:30 AM	#9
FairWarning Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 1,149	The CZ 912 offers a lot of value for a semi-auto, although more like in the $400 range... __________________ Mauser Werke, Schmidt-Rubin, Colt, Walther, HK, Weatherby, Sig Sauer, Browning, Ruger, Beretta, etc, etc....a few friends of mine

September 16, 2016, 04:05 PM	#4
imp Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 626	I see mossberg 930's at wally world for $430. That's probably the best value going, IMO.

September 16, 2016, 05:56 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	You're not going to find a pump at that price that covers that many bases. A semi would be $1,000+ after you factor in a 2nd barrel. A decent pump action from Remington, Mossberg, or Benelli will start at around $300. You'll need at least 1 extra barrel at $150-$200.

September 16, 2016, 06:12 PM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Screw-in choke tubes allow for most any style of hunting, from slugs to uber-tight for turkey.

September 16, 2016, 09:20 PM	#8
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	If you search you might find a decent used Remington 1100 magnum with choke tribes in the $500 range on Gunbroker. There was on that was listed as 85% and it had choke tubes. Not gonna get much for $300 I'm afraid.

September 19, 2016, 12:26 AM	#10
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The perfect semiauto shotgun used to be the Browning Auto-5. Now it's the Benelli SBE II. Not gonna be under $300 used, though. If that's all you want to spend, buy a Mossberg 500 and go hunting. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 19, 2016, 05:58 AM	#11
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	I know you don't want a pump, you want a semi automatic. But, some of the best wing shooters I have ever seen shot pumps. Fact is, if you learn to shoot a pump you will never kill one of anything with a semi auto that you wouldn't kill with the pump. And , they are cheaper and more reliable.

September 21, 2016, 08:58 AM	#12
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	About like asking for advice on picking a spouse.

September 21, 2016, 06:13 PM	#13
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	Same thing, best looking one you can afford.

September 21, 2016, 09:16 PM	#14
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	Take your $300 and put it in the bank. Add a bit here and there till you find a gun that you like that fits in your budget. I too had a budget for a new to me shotgun and it took 5 months to get the additional money I needed to pay it off. But it was well worth it to not settle for the first one I found that fit the bill. My Browning Citori will be doing everything your new to you semi auto will do except slugs but only because I have a rifle for deer.

October 3, 2016, 03:43 PM	#15
samsmix Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2006 Location: Montana (Montucky?) Posts: 1,273	Tri-star Raptor. $227 at Walmart. This thing will do all of the above Very similar to Weatherby's SA-08. __________________ You'll probably never NEED a gun. I hope you never do. But IF you do, you will need it worse than anything you've ever needed in your life. IF we're not supposed to eat animals, howcome God made 'em outta meat?