Best budget semi-auto

joma352 · Sep 22, 2021

Before you say "Use the search button" for some reason my phone will not allow me to use it. Every time I click it the page crashes.

So my question is what is the best budget semi auto out there? Looking for something for the occasional water fowl hunting I do. I've never been one for "name brands", as long as it goes boom everytime I pull the trigger I don't care what name is on the gun. Open to brand new or used. Trying to keep it under $1k, would be happier in the $700 range.

Thanks ahead of time,
Joe

Biggfoot44 · Sep 22, 2021

Stoeger M3000 . Made in Turkey exact clone of the Benelli . If they didn't have the same corporate parent , Benelli would have sued .

Darnold86 · Sep 22, 2021

Second vote for stoeger m3000. Picked mine up at Dicks sporting goods after watching some reviews on it.

JB62 · Sep 22, 2021

Third, I have the M3500. Bought it as was getting semi serious about hunting and did not want to spend fortune. Been uber reliable and will happily cycle light loads for clays.

camo556 · Sep 22, 2021

Stoeger m3000.

it took about 2 boxes before mine reliably cycled light clays ( the manual says 100- 200)

good after market support for mods. I think there is even a way to put a magpul stock on it lol.

ppl use these for everything from dove to 3 gun.

these go for around $400-600. not a whole lot of value getting a used one, the used ones go for the same price because these don't really wear out.

also shop around. during the pandemic last year shotguns like this were going for absurd prices. the prices for guns are back to normal but apparently some LGS are still trying to rape ppl.

DutchV · Sep 22, 2021

Beretta just discontinued the A300 Outlander - the synthetic models at least. You might look for one of those on closeout.

camo556 · Sep 22, 2021

Just want to add, other options at this price level is a mossburg 930. Its a good gun. IMO the stoeger is a little more reliable, but its a close call.

If you go to the top of your price range you may be able to squeeze into a Beretta A300, a used A400, a used Browning , or a used Benelli. The fit, finish, and balance on these will be night and day vs the M3000.

What I would avoid is a Remington. POS

benton0311 · Sep 22, 2021

Biggfoot44 said:
Stoeger M3000 . Made in Turkey exact clone of the Benelli . If they didn't have the same corporate parent , Benelli would have sued .

This is from memory so take it with a grain of salt: Beretta (Benelli's parent) was planning to sue Stoeger but, in a stroke of brilliance, saw an excellent business opportunity with an undervalued company that they could buy on the cheap. They realized they'd make a killing selling quality knockoffs of their own shotgun under a different, lower-tiered label at much higher volumes so they just bought Stoeger outright.

Pale Ryder · Sep 22, 2021

Benelli Montefeltro is $999. at Bass Pro if you want to go that high. Otherwise the Stoeger. Might want to check the Winchester SX4 too.

Medusa Joe · Sep 22, 2021

we have a lightly used 12ga mossberg 930. 28" vented rib barrel. comes with MOD & FULL chokes. takes 2-3/4" & 3" shells. $475 OTD.
i know its a bit of a drive, but you just might fall in love with it and stay well under $700.

camo556 · Sep 22, 2021

benton0311 said:
This is from memory so take it with a grain of salt: Beretta (Benelli's parent) was planning to sue Stoeger but, in a stroke of brilliance, saw an excellent business opportunity with an undervalued company that they could buy on the cheap. They realized they'd make a killing selling quality knockoffs of their own shotgun under a different, lower-tiered label at much higher volumes so they just bought Stoeger outright.

^ this.

M3000 is not a true clone, there are some differences like where the recoil spring is. The fit and finish is not as good either.

Biggfoot44 · Sep 22, 2021

True . But OP put priority on price point and reliability , not finish and nice wood .

wilcam47 · Sep 22, 2021

Biggfoot44 said:
Stoeger M3000 . Made in Turkey exact clone of the Benelli . If they didn't have the same corporate parent , Benelli would have sued .

Stoeger

Pale Ryder · Sep 22, 2021

Get the camo Stoeger then you won’t see to much finish errors.

jr88 · Sep 22, 2021

Medusa Joe said:
we have a lightly used 12ga mossberg 930. 28" vented rib barrel. comes with MOD & FULL chokes. takes 2-3/4" & 3" shells. $475 OTD.
i know its a bit of a drive, but you just might fall in love with it and stay well under $700.

Was going to suggest 930, but here you go. Great auto for under &1K.

biermkr · Sep 22, 2021

Beretta A300 Outlander. All black synthetic at Cabelas/Basspro is $679.00. why settle for the imitation when the price differential is minimal. Also the A300 is made in the U.S in TN. I have one and have never had a hiccup or a break-in period.

possumman · Sep 22, 2021

Mossberg 930--great gun--check out Oregon3gun for mods

alucard0822 · Sep 22, 2021

camo556 said:
Just want to add, other options at this price level is a mossburg 930. Its a good gun. IMO the stoeger is a little more reliable, but its a close call.

If you go to the top of your price range you may be able to squeeze into a Beretta A300, a used A400, a used Browning , or a used Benelli. The fit, finish, and balance on these will be night and day vs the M3000.

What I would avoid is a Remington. POS

agreed. I have a JM pro 930 for 3 gun, took a little work to run 100%, but it's an inexpensive and soft shooting gun once the bugs are worked out. It's a little bulky for clays, but that makes it nice and controllable for shooting ground targets fast. For clays I have a Beretta AL391, and have used the A300 and A400s, they are the best for the money IMO. It's soft recoiling, extremely reliable, and about as light and sleek as a gas gun gets. The lower end Benellis are sleek and fast, but the recoil is a little sharper than gas guns, and they seem to take a little more time to break in, and have seen a buddies choke with some lighter loads that run fine in my Beretta. The Stoeger is a less refined, less expensive Benelli, but otherwise good for the money. I would try them both, I personally like gas guns far better than inertia, but others like the opposite.

jcutonilli · Sep 22, 2021

I seen some people recommend the Black Aces Tactical pro line as a good budget level semi auto shotgun.

camo556 · Sep 22, 2021

jcutonilli said:
I seen some people recommend the Black Aces Tactical pro line as a good budget level semi auto shotgun.

if they do they are wrong.

500 rounds for an M3000, Beretta, Bellini is just getting started.

Best budget semi-auto

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