Opinions, please
I have been shooting my share and more (oops) of Mourning Doves for nearly 20 years with the same Browning 20ga Citori o/u choked skeet/skeet. This past season opener our hunting party was plagued with a morning filled with "high flyers" and heavier then normal cross winds. The limits of a 20ga with skeet chokes were exceeded. I have decided to break open the piggy bank and buy a bigger gun, 12ga, with more versatile screw in chokes. Although I love my Browning, I thought an auto-loader would be a nice change of scenery and a money saver over another o/u. My problem is that there are so darn many manufactures out there that I cannot make up my mind as to which one to buy, new or used. I like the reliablity theory of recoil operated guns, but it seems that Benelli is one of two Co's. making them and therefore their prices are premium, are they worth what people ask for them? Beretta offers a recoil gun, ES100, is this made by Benelli for them? It sure looks like it to me. Franchi makes a version of the old Browning recoil design, but I have never heard of a Franchi and am unsure about their quality, especially compared to that of my Browning.After all of that, I see that most auto-loaders in the field are Remington 1100 or 11-87 gas guns. They sure are heavy. Does anyone care to "vent" there opinions on gun quality, gas vs. recoil, and recommended manufactures?
0
-
grantsdad I know what it's like to be flying along, minding my own business, and someone starts shooting at me. Had it happen too many times. Do you mean to tell me that you would shoot a poor innocent dove?
So many guns to buy. So little money.0 -
Normally I down only sick or wounded birds, out of sympathy of course. 0 -
I beleive Franchi is owned by Beretta. You can't go wrong with a Beretta, Benelli or Franchi. All are quality guns. My preference is the the Benelli Super Black eagle in the camo pattern. Its a around $1000 dollars, so its in the higher end of the three. It will chamber 2 3/4, 3, or 3 1/2 inch shells so it can be an everything (hunting) shotgun. Good shooting which ever you choose. RG 0 -
I have always been a Browning O/U fan, particularly the Superposed, and I know what you're talking about.There is an option. The Huglu line of O/U shotguns are made in Turkey. They have exceptional wood and metal work and represent one of the best values on the market today. The U2E is a 12ga O/U with fancy Turkish walnut, sideplates, and hand engraving. Chambers 3" shells, and comes with 5 choke tubes. We sell them new for $799!Check out www.HugluShotgunsUSA.com
We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Ask us about Shepherd Scopes!Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com0 -
i like the rem 11-87 it is a better quality than the franchi,it will also feed 2-3/4 dove loads and OOO buck without changing any settings and without damage to the gun.the franchi has an aluminum receiver which will not last. 0 -
While the Franchi AL48 may have an alloy receiver, all the lockup is steel on steel, just like another firearm with an alloy receiver, the AR15/M16. AL48 shotugns last just fine. Check out a previous thread on the subject, which contains several testimonials by owners who reported great satisfaction and durability over long periods of time and heavy usage.While I have a lot of shotguns, my AL48 20-guage is my favorite. Maybe I am getting too weak and lazy in my old age, but when there is a choice between carrying a 5-pound AL48 or a 7-pound plus something else, I choose the AL48 every time. As far as having to alter the friction rings for different loads, that is true, but normally, one sets up for the day's hunt and leaves it. That concept worked for about ninety years on the Remington M11/Browning A5.If you are comparing short recoil and long recoil operated shotguns, there is not much similarity. If you like one, you may not like the other. The feel (and recoil) is different with the two designs.I suggest you try an AL48. I think you will like it. 0 -
Ditto on what the Judge say's. Alum. is not a problem & will not wear out. RG 0 -
I would suggest a Remington 1100. I have had at least one of these for many years, never had a problem. Gas operated which translates into less recoil and no rings to adjust, ever. You can get a new one with Rem Chokes or find a nice used one, the older ones you have to change the barrel to change the choke. Used $300-$400, the new ones are a bit more, sowhere around $600 I think. Hope it helps. 0 -
grantsdad:Before the captain has Scotty beam a lock on this topic, I thought I would suggest you see the topic on Franchi shotguns, which has now "sunk" down to page 5. It will be the top post of 9/30/2001 column.There is nothing wrong with a Franchi shotgun. Given proper maintance, they will outlast your lifetime and be handed down to family members. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
9 comments