Semi Auto Tactical Shotguns

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union

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Given our current law situation,I'm looking to purchase one of these soon. Like before Nov soon. So I have a little time but I'm looking for opinions and suggestions.

My knowledge base is pretty low. I've been able to rule out anything with a detachable magazine (well our AG did that for me). I'm not looking to break the bank but I'm also not afraid to spend money on quality. I just like to know why I'm spending more money on a similar item.

The two I'm considering are the Remington Versa Max and the Benelli M4. Right now the versa max has the edge but it's just from reading the spec pages. I haven't held or fired either. Don't know if I'll be able to do that before I purchase.

I'm also open to other options.

Just to toss this out there. I'm also left handed. I don't mind the shells coming across my face, I've grown used to it but stuff like a bullpup design which appears to eject out the back of the gun is probably no good for me. Not interested in ejecting shells into my body.
 
Versa Max Tactical fits & points very well for me, out of the box. I've only run a few hundred rounds through it, but not a single hiccup with anything from target loads to 3" magnums, without adjusting a thing. Very pleased with it.

Here's a write-up which spells out a few details about it:

http://www.gunblast.com/Remington-VMT.htm
 
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I'll offer an opinion, which is of course worth as much as you are paying for it. Remington's quality has been way down for several years, pretty much since the Freedom group bought them.

I would not recommend any new Remington product. I have heard that their quality is improving in some of their newly opened plants. But I am planning to wait a year or two to see if the quality is really improved. I do not consider myself a hater, but it takes a while to convince me.

Benelli has a strong reputation. They would certainly be on my list to consider.
 
I have a Benelli M1 Super 90. I bought it in the 90's. It's an absolutely great shotgun. At 50 yards, using black iron sights, slug holes touch each other. It has never malfunctioned and it cycles faster than I can keep up with when trying. It hunts deer very well and when I switch to the bird barrel It brings home the geese. It loves to ride in a 4x4 and never gives me a hard time. Sure wish that it could cook. Oh, and it's pre ban so 8+1 is legal in Ma..
 
I've no experience w anything benelli. They look awesome but a bit out of my price range for a shotgun. My experience w the FN SLP has been nothing short of awesome.

 
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beretta 1301LE.
reversable safety, easy bolt release. peep sight/ with picitinny rail system for optic. adjustable cheek rest. cycles faster then the benelli. and it will be anywhere from 400$ to 600 $ cheaper than the benelli
 
I went to Pullman arms today. Talked with Rick for a while. Showed me the Benelli M4 and M2 as well as a few other semi auto shotguns. Took his time and explained the differences to me which is key since I don't know much about shotguns. I did let him know I wasn't ready to buy today but before Nov at the latest.

After our discussion I walked out the door with some more knowledge about shotguns and with a potential new gun. He contacted his Benelli rep to see is he could get me a M4 in left hand because I'm good like that. No reply yet but he said he could probably get it and it would take about 6 weeks which is good with my time frame.

If he can't get a left handed version I will probably go with the right handed version. I've grown used to cartridges coming across my face. The important part to me was the sling mount on the buttstock is on both sides.
 
union said:
I went to Pullman arms today. Talked with Rick for a while. Showed me the Benelli M4 and M2 as well as a few other semi auto shotguns. Took his time and explained the differences to me which is key since I don't know much about shotguns. I did let him know I wasn't ready to buy today but before Nov at the latest.

After our discussion I walked out the door with some more knowledge about shotguns and with a potential new gun. He contacted his Benelli rep to see is he could get me a M4 in left hand because I'm good like that. No reply yet but he said he could probably get it and it would take about 6 weeks which is good with my time frame.

If he can't get a left handed version I will probably go with the right handed version. I've grown used to cartridges coming across my face. The important part to me was the sling mount on the buttstock is on both sides.
Click to expand...
Why M4 versus M2 from your experience going over both?
 
TLB said:
Why M4 versus M2 from your experience going over both?
Click to expand...

I guess there is no practical reason for one over the other in my case. Especially since I know the M2 can be ordered with the pistol grip.

Having held both the M4 with the pistol grip felt better. The extra weight wasn't really noticeable to me. I don't plan on playing Rambo with it anyway. If things really get ugly to the point where MA laws don't matter I think its easier to modify the M4 to accept more shells. The picatinny rail is also a nice feature. And probably the worst reason I think the M4 looks better.

With that said nothing is final yet. Haven't paid for or ordered anything yet. It's just the lead dog right now.
 
Have an M4 and would buy again. Price is the only thing that sucks about it but like stated before, buy once cry once. The value on them doesn't seem to decrease.
 
bigben111435 said:
beretta 1301LE.
reversable safety, easy bolt release. peep sight/ with picitinny rail system for optic. adjustable cheek rest. cycles faster then the benelli. and it will be anywhere from 400$ to 600 $ cheaper than the benelli
Click to expand...

Who told you the Beretta cycles faster than the Benelli ? Inquiring minds want to know since Benelli claims that theirs is the fastest cycling shotgun in the world. Someones got to be giving out bogus info.
 
i got to play around with the beretta 1301 tactical and it was sort of too light. the recoil was stout especially for a semi auto. it is a quirky little shotgun. i liked it more before I got to play with it. and this business about being which ones cycle fastest, at least for me a few thousandths of a second are irrelevant since the rate limiting factor for any shotgun is me.

the benelli's are the obvious winner for a tactical shotgun. not only are they built incredibly well but they have a track record in shotgun world that is simply unmatched. however i'm a fan of the FL SLP because it feels and runs like a top end shotgun at ~half the price of a benelli.

Rileys in Hooksett tends to stock the FN SLP at decent prices.
 
Squib308 said:
FN SLP
Click to expand...
bigben111435 said:
beretta 1301LE.
reversable safety, easy bolt release. peep sight/ with picitinny rail system for optic. adjustable cheek rest. cycles faster then the benelli. and it will be anywhere from 400$ to 600 $ cheaper than the benelli
Click to expand...
I wanted one of either of these something fierce earlier this year. Then like usual, last minute issues cut my budget to an FNH P12. Oh man if the SLP is just as solid a gun I know I would love it.
That said I am a wicked Beretta fan boy and got the chance to hold a 1301 this week up at Northeast Arms in Peabody... Man that thing is LIGHT.
 
M60 said:
Who told you the Beretta cycles faster than the Benelli ? Inquiring minds want to know since Benelli claims that theirs is the fastest cycling shotgun in the world. Someones got to be giving out bogus info.
Click to expand...
Told me? It is their own claim!
36% faster than any shotgun on the market according to Beretta website. http://www.beretta.com/en-us/1301-tactical/
 
DarthRevan said:
I wanted one of either of these something fierce earlier this year. Then like usual, last minute issues cut my budget to an FNH P12. Oh man if the SLP is just as solid a gun I know I would love it.
That said I am a wicked Beretta fan boy and got the chance to hold a 1301 this week up at Northeast Arms in Peabody... Man that thing is LIGHT.
Click to expand...

I've thought about the FN P12 myself, I don't really need a semi auto shotgun, pumps are damn reliable.
 
bigben111435 said:
Told me? It is their own claim!
36% faster than any shotgun on the market according to Beretta website. http://www.beretta.com/en-us/1301-tactical/
Click to expand...

Interesting, since Benelli claims to be the fastest cycling shotgun. More interesting is that they are both owned by Beretta. I have a Beretta ,Police auto shotgun, that came out the Detroit PD and Benelli, M1Super90. I have been told that many of the internal parts are interchangeable on both. In use, the Benelli feels to be the faster of the two.
 

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