Semi-auto Options

teej89

teej89

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Hey guys, me again lol so I dragged it out of the gf that she'd be good with a semi, in a 20/12ga mostly just looking for a lighter gun. Now I'm looking in the $450-$600 range and she thinks shes buying it so I'm going to tell her on her birthday I was willing to pay up to $350 and she'll just cover the difference.

I've looked at the Remington 11-87 Compact and the Mossberg SA-20 Bantam, both in a 20ga. They're right around the 5.5-6.5# range we're looking for, hoping to get more towards 5.5-6#.

For that price range are there any other shotguns you guys would recommend? It would have to come in an option of a 13" length of pull, which is typically a compact/youth/bantam model.
 
Save up a bit more and get a Benelli Montefeltro, or look for a used one. They are nice guns!
 
The mossberg sa-20 is great value - my son has used one for years and I have one as a knock-around up at the cabin - much better than the rem in my experience. But like NDGuy said, it is well worth the extra dollars to move up to the montefeltro - one of the most reliable and long-lasting semi-autos on the planet. I had one, but moved up to an M2 and a SBE, but really $$ for $$ the montefeltro was the better value -- and the SA-20 is a great value if you can't make the step up to monte.
 
Man that's a nice gun! Now I want it lol! But definitely a hair out of our price range, especially for her first gun.

That's good to hear about the SA-20, I think she'll really like it, now I just gotta find people with it in stock for her to shoulder.
 
The mossberg is a good little gun. I've heard good things (and some bad) about the Weatherby SA-08s. My gf held one in Cabelas a couple years ago and loved it, but chose to keep shooting my old 12 H&R single shot.

Another I would look at is spending a bit more $$ and getting a Beretta A-300 Outlander. Cabelas has the black synthetic model for $680, but you should be able to find a better deal either used or at literally any other gunshop in your area. It's basically their updated version of the 390/3901 series guns that were known for going bang every time that you could abuse as bad as a benelli nova.

Plus it has an adjustable LOP on the stock, so she can fit the gun to her instead of the other way around
 
WalkingBird said:
The mossberg is a good little gun. I've heard good things (and some bad) about the Weatherby SA-08s. My gf held one in Cabelas a couple years ago and loved it, but chose to keep shooting my old 12 H&R single shot.

Another I would look at is spending a bit more $$ and getting a Beretta A-300 Outlander. Cabelas has the black synthetic model for $680, but you should be able to find a better deal either used or at literally any other gunshop in your area. It's basically their updated version of the 390/3901 series guns that were known for going bang every time that you could abuse as bad as a benelli nova.

Plus it has an adjustable LOP on the stock, so she can fit the gun to her instead of the other way around
Click to expand...

I'll add the weatherby to the list, thanks!

The A-300 is a little out of her weight range at 7.25# but thanks for the info!
 
IIRC the Weatherby and Mossberg are nearly the same gun. Made in the same factory. FWIW.

The Stoeger M3020 has much the same technology and parts of a Benelli. Benelli, Franchi, and Stoeger are all owned by the same company. The compact 20ga may be a very good choice!
https://www.stoegerindustries.com/m3020-shotgun#specifications-section
They can be found online for about $500.

Though I've heard mostly solid reports, some folks don't recommend them, but Tristar has some offerings that might fit your bill.

http://www.tristararms.com/products/semi-automatic-shotguns/viper-g2-series/viper-g2-youth/

Same with the Escort shotguns (imported by Legacy Sports which is a sponsor of Big Fin).
https://www.legacysports.com/catalog/escort/
 
Last edited:
teej89 said:
I'll add the weatherby to the list, thanks!
Click to expand...

When looking to find a SA-20 for my son I found a weatherby Sa-08 first and bought it. It was a nightmare - it had major cycling issues with all but the stoutest shells (and that was with the light ring). Dumped it as soon as we found a SA-20 to replace it. They should be very similar guns but in fact were very different - ironically the Mossberg was cheaper.
 
VikingsGuy said:
When looking to find a SA-20 for my son I found a weatherby Sa-08 first and bought it. It was a nightmare - it had major cycling issues with all but the stoutest shells (and that was with the light ring). Dumped it as soon as we found a SA-20 to replace it. They should be very similar guns but in fact were very different - ironically the Mossberg was cheaper.
Click to expand...

How old/big is your son? She's about 5'4 and 130#, i'm thinking the full size w/ a 14" LOP will be too long. However I can't find any SA-20 bantams for her to shoulder within 2hrs of me... I was thinking letting her shoulder a 500 bantam which is 13" LOP which is the same as the SA-20 bantam and if that fits her then get the SA-20
 
teej89 said:
How old/big is your son? She's about 5'4 and 130#, i'm thinking the full size w/ a 14" LOP will be too long. However I can't find any SA-20 bantams for her to shoulder within 2hrs of me... I was thinking letting her shoulder a 500 bantam which is 13" LOP which is the same as the SA-20 bantam and if that fits her then get the SA-20
Click to expand...

He got the weatherby in compact/bantam. He was probably about 5’3” and 130# at that time. A year later after tiring of the weatherby he was 5’8” 155 so got him full sized Mossberg . He is only 14 now and still growing.
 
VikingsGuy said:
He got the weatherby in compact/bantam. He was probably about 5’3” and 130# at that time. A year later after tiring of the weatherby he was 5’8” 155 so got him full sized Mossberg . He is only 14 now and still growing.
Click to expand...

Awesome so that's reassuring that the bantam/compact is going to be the best size for her. The full size looks like shes holding a cannon lol!
 
teej89 said:
Awesome so that's reassuring that the bantam/compact is going to be the best size for her. The full size looks like shes holding a cannon lol!
Click to expand...

FWIW - The 24” barrel on the bantam made a bigger difference in balance for him than stock length when he was that size.
 
I'd rather have an 11-87, personally. If I wanted to go light, I'd go with an 870 Compact or Youth.
 
Take a look at the Franchi 48al. They are kind of secretly famous amongst the hardcore grouse hunters in the northern midwest, and probably New England.....

They have a recoiling barrel, like a Browning A5, so the recoil is pretty soft, and you can carry a sub 5.5lb gun all day long. Only drawback is they are discontinued, so you will have to check out gunbroker or the like.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/769313545
 
I have had a Franchi 48al for years and my grandsons are drooling over it. I am not ready to pass it down yet. You have to keep it clean but I love it in 20 gauge.
 
NDGuy said:
Save up a bit more and get a Benelli Montefeltro, or look for a used one. They are nice guns!
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly with this. It’ll sting, but they sure are sweet little guns.
 
Another option is finding a used Beretta AL 391 in a 20.

For the stock issue, it really isn’t that hard to shorten the LOP. Take your time .
 
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