shotgun selection

[triQshot]

Originally Posted by craigepo

Benelli.
Benelli.
Benelli.

I also own a Franchi autoloader. The Benelli outshoots all of them. Amazingly so. The semi-auto benelli action is the best shotgun action I have ever seen.

graigepo, are your Franchi SGs the old 48 L model or the newer I-7 models? Reason I ask, most people have the reaction of "WTF" is that when, I break it out on dove shoots or skeet shooting. All my Franchi's are over 30 years old, and all are 48 L style.

Do you perfer the I-7 system or the 48 L?

Benelli is a great gun, as well.....I own a couple Nova's, but I'll take the old Franchi any day. Deer, Dove, Quail, Duck, Skeet...works like a champ.

I'd say go with either Benelli or Franchi. Can't go wrong with either pick.

Sorry for the highjacking of the thread.

[craigepo]

My franchi is a 612. I have a friend that hunts with an old franchi; they were great when they were made, but the new technology is better.

For clarification, my benelli is an autoloader, not a pump. I've never shot a benelli pump. My point was that the action found in the benelli super 90, super black eagle, and others is the best shotgun action I have ever seen.

[Longstreet]

Now I am curious as well. Maybe I need to get my 870 with the Vang Comped barrel out and see what the pattern is with birdshot at skeet ranges.

Sir, if you ever do get a chance to do this, please post the results. Although I am new to shotguns and in particular the Express 870, I would - as well as others I am sure - be interested to know your results.

jaYson

[BigJimCalhoun]

I own a Saiga-12 with a 19 inch barrel. The most I have ever hit in 5 stand is 8 out of 25. I am a beginner. The Saiga does not come with a choke but there are aftermarket chokes available.

In this video, some guys are using modified Saigas for competition.
http://www.randrtargets.com/. They are shooting ground targets mixed with flying targets.

I have a stock model and do not plan on modifying it.

[alright4u]

Originally Posted by craigepo

Benelli.
Benelli.
Benelli.

I also own a Franchi autoloader, Remington 870, Ithaca 87, some relic Winchester pumps, and once owned a Mossberg. The Benelli outshoots all of them. Amazingly so. The semi-auto benelli action is the best shotgun action I have ever seen.

The new recoil system in the stock of the super black eagle II further helps dampen recoil. The result is extremely manageable recoil, which when paired with the lightning-fast action, allows you to unload, on target, "wow" fast.

Pheasant hunting in Kansas this year, a friend and I jumped two rooster pheasants in a pretty secluded spot. He got off the first shot with his Ithaca pump, a clean miss. I killed both birds, three shots(no I didn't miss, pheasants are freaking tough), with 3 inch #5s, before he was able to fire a second shot.

I traded a beretta autoloader for the benelli. It (beretta) was a good gun, but almost the same price as the benelli, and not near as good as shotgun.

If you can't afford a Benelli, the 870 is a good gun. They are very dependable. I have killed a lot of stuff with my 870. 99% of all my misfires with this shotgun have been bad ammo.

I purchased my Ithaca in 1991. I had a problem with a weld, the one which holds the barrel onto the end of the magazine(when it broke, my barrel fell off. The failure was not caused by abuse). Ithaca overnighted me a new barrel, no problems with the gun since. However, I just don't trust the gun like I do my 870. I have heard that Ithaca's production quality is now back to what it once was, but have no 1st-hand knowledge.

I owned a Mossberg pump once. It failed me, more than once. It is gone, and I sha'nt buy another. No disrespect to Mossberg fans.

If you are going to use the shotgun for anything other than blasting paper/intruders, GET A GUN WITH SCREW-IN CHOKES!!! Also, my experience is that, when talking pattern(i.e. turkey hunting), barrel length is much less important than having a good choke. I shoot an Indian Creek full choke tube in my benelli(the factory choke wasn't very tight). That combo will outshoot my 870 with the 30' full choke barrel on. I shoot a modified for pheasants, improved cylinder for quail, skeet choke for skeet. Having the ability to screw-in a different choke will allow you to enjoy the gun for a lot of different stuff.

The new factory gun paint/coverings are very handy. Rust and scratches are virtually nil, and the camo patterns are very good. A parkerized-type finish would be my second choice, but again it matters what you are going to do with the gun.

Next, get a 12 gauge(easier to get ammo, more lead to shoot) with the biggest chamber possible. 3-inch shells don't eject well from a 2 3/4 inch gun(meaning at all), and there are times when you will want to load 3 inch shells.

A couple other points: Ghost ring sights are ok for stationary targets. I prefer the old-fashioned slick barrel with a bead for moving targets. Also, if you will ever carry the gun afield, be wary of tricking your gun out with lots of heavy, cool-guy stuff. With a full magazine, carrying that gun can become a chore. Finally, if you buy an extended magazine, remember that most states only allow you to hunt with three rounds in the gun, and the gun MUST be plugged. So, you might end up making a very long plug for your gun to make it hunting-legal.

In 70-72 I had two other SF pals going to UNO Omaha. We all went pheasant hunting as Nebraska is loaded with ringnecks. Hell, I would get maple syrup from upstate, NY, give it to a farmer, and; he's let us hunt before the corn was harvested. Yes, we used #5's.

[craigepo]

Nebraska pheasant hunting can be COOOOLD! Lots of pheasants though.