shotgun advise?? Saiga, benelli, other??

[seanc]

All need a bit of help on this one.
Starting to look for a new (to me) shotgun. I have a skeet and trap covered. So, this would be primarily a range gun. Possible HD application and for tacticool/ zombies.

The budget is $700 (max).
So far possible candidates are:
Saiga 12
Benelli.. if I could find an M1S90, possibly a supernova.
FN??

Doing research the Saiga, gets a lot of mixed reviews and appears to be a project gun that out of the box is not known to be 100% reliable. And in mass, it can't be put into the uber tacticool config..

The M1S90s are great, but finding one im my price range may be difficult.

Super nova, gets great reviews, but they seem to be not common any more.

FN.. seems out of my range..

Any ideas, thoughts?

 

[ChevyGuy91]

I know everyone craps on Mossberg, but I have a Mossberg 930SPX that I picked up super cheap at Dicks last year. It works very well, does not recoil to hard, and cycles everything I have fed it from 3" 000 buck and slugs to cheap #8 trap loads. It came with a LPA ghost ring sight from the factory, a +2 extension and you can ghost load an extra round (not that I think it is useful, it seems to be something that people geek over on the internet). There is also a growing aftermarket for it if you want to hang all kinds of tactical crap off it.

Here is a thread that this guy has been updating over the last 3 years.
http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?167-Mossberg-930-SPX-Review&p=25138#post25138

I am currently working on turning it into a USPSA/3gun shotgun as I don't feel an autoloader fits my HD situation, how ever it is a very cool gun.

 

[lupis42]

All need a bit of help on this one.

I can't speak to the FNs, but as far as the Subernova and Saiga, both are awesome guns, depending on what you want. The reason that Supernova Tacticals are hard to find at the moment is called MassMark, and can be found in the Benelli group buy thread. (Well, ok, maybe some other people took advantage of the rebate too. But without MassMark, there would be around 50 fewer brand new SNTs slowly making their way towards NES members). If you can find one, or don't mind waiting, they're really nice pump guns, they have a supermagnum chamber, they come with good irons, you can add an extended tube, and with some stuff from Mesa Tactical, you can pimp it out beyond your wildest dreams.

The saiga, on the other hand, is hit or miss. Many of them work fine from the factory, but some (including mine) need gas ports drilled, or the gas block moved slightly. Mine also required some fitting to accept magazines other than the one it came with. The trigger (pre-conversion) is long and heavy. If you want the gunsmithing practice though, it's all fixable. And you'll never have to hear some idiot tell you to rack it because the sound will make an intruder defacate. And, (at least for me), there's just something about rapid-fire of magnum slugs...

 

[magoo]

Buy a saigi 12 A fun gun to shoot. I like my a lot of stuff you can add to them. Shop around for a good price. Try looking at youtube. I just sent my out for a trigger job and bolt work. My shot good out of the box. It's a ak . Paid $530.00 for my. They don't like win from wallmart.You can buy gas plugs to give it more gas. Just put a nice choke on mine.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

The Remington 1100/1187 is the 1911 of shotguns.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

And you'll never have to hear some idiot tell you to rack it because the sound will make an intruder defacate.

 

[crazymjb]

I like my 870 with Knoxx stock. I've seen/used some converted Saiga 12s, they are pretty sweet, but not "AWB" compliant.

Mike

 

[MARINE96]

I would look for a used Ithaca 37 Browning BPS. Both are soild pump guns that many over look.

 

[seanc]

I would look for a used Ithaca 37 Browning BPS. Both are soild pump guns that many over look.

I actually have an AOW mod 37. And a USAS12 (for full disclosure). But as both of these are NFA, I tend to not take them out much.

 

[Madball13]

The Remington 1100/1187 is the 1911 of shotguns.

This.

I have my 11-87 for 4 years now and i shoot some trap with it but mostly hunt, easily 500 rounds a year of bird and magnum hunting loads and i clean it once each year and have never changed the o-ring.

11-87 can be had for $400 and you can outfit it easily for $700. an 1100 can be had cheaper but it will only shoot 2-3/4. I would find a nice older model, pre plastic trigger guards and buy w/o worry.

Guy at my club has a converted Saiga and i have never seen it shoot w/o issue, not something i would HD with.

 

[Madball13]

I would look for a used Ithaca 37 Browning BPS. Both are soild pump guns that many over look.

A fast re-laod on a BPS is near impossible, really somthing to be said for a side loader like the remingtons or a benelli.

 

[massaiga]

If you decide to buy a Saiga there is a simple test to determine how it will run. Bring a flash light, pull off the gas plug and inspect how many gas ports it has. If it has two do not buy the gun. If it has three it will be a fine gun for buck shot or slugs but be aware that it may be finicky with bird shot. In particular Winchester bulk packs from wally world will be a problem. If it has four gas ports it will eat anything out of the box. A three port gun can be smoothed out with some tuning and some tinkering. A two port gun is not worth the trouble.

If you buy it new they will stand buy their product and make it right with factory warranty service. Just make sure you send it in for service in the first year and before you do any mods to it. Most mods void the warranty. "Factory service" in the US is provided by a well known Saiga gunsmith and customizer. Many people report that the gun runs like butter when it comes back with obvious extra work done like a bolt polish job etc.

If you already have skeet/trap guns and are looking for a range/HD gun then the Saiga is the clear choice in my opinion. I get a sh*t eating grin every time I bring mine to the range. Very fun to shoot and there is a huge after market for it. Just beware what it may do to your pocket book. I have probably spent twice the money on mags, rails, free float tubes, sights, chokes, etc. then I did on the gun its self... but that was kind of the point for me - I like to tinker. Many of the mods and upgrades are very nice but none of them are strictly necessary.

-MS

 

[seanc]

If you decide to buy a Saiga there is a simple test to determine how it will run. Bring a flash light, pull off the gas plug and inspect how many gas ports it has.

-MS

the gas plug is on the end of the gas tube?? this has nothing to do with the holes drilled into to the barrel from the gas system, right?

 

[MARINE96]

A fast re-laod on a BPS is near impossible, really somthing to be said for a side loader like the remingtons or a benelli.

When 9 rounds of 12ga dont stop the threat in my house I'm up the creek with out paddles.

 

[Madball13]

When 9 rounds of 12ga dont stop the threat in my house I'm up the creek with out paddles.

true dat, i had one and really wanted to like it but i had a hard time, and i'm a lefty, thought it would solve all my problems.

 

[magoo]

The 1st time shooting my saiga. I was useing wallmart win and fed. The win would jam. I sent bolt group gas plug and trigger group out for some work. It should feed a lot better and guy doing the work says you can load a mag with the bolt close a lot easer. He working on trigger group, hammer, benching bolt working on plug. I should get it back next week. He doing it for $75.00 + shipping.

 

[lupis42]

Guy at my club has a converted Saiga and i have never seen it shoot w/o issue, not something i would HD with.

Did he hack it up himself? Is he firing light trap loads? My Saiga was a two-port vodka special, but it's never failed to feed or fire buckshot. I'm having it worked on because I wanted to tart it up a bit, and see if I could get it to run trap loads.

the gas plug is on the end of the gas tube?? this has nothing to do with the holes drilled into to the barrel from the gas system, right?

If I understand you correctly, yes. The gas plug is the screw in piece that closes off the muzzle end of the gas tube. By removing it, you can see the gas ports.

 

[magoo]

There's two setting for gas plug. There's a new plug out thats spring loaded. You can shot anything with out moveing the setting. Gas plug comes off. And you can take puck out and check holes with a paper clip. I also greese rails and bolt. I will let you know how it shoots when I get my parts back.

 

[atmay]

The Remington 1100/1187 is the 1911 of shotguns.

Looks nice, is too expensive, and won't feed anything reliably but hardball?


Personally, I'd by an 870 and a SureFire LED foreend.

 

[SKS Ray]

Get a new Saiga for $499 shipped to a MA FFL.

Walmart bulk packs of slugs/00-buck are still about $8 per 15, and extra 5 round factory mags can be found for about $35 each.

You can convert it and use a thumbhole stock or just go with a traditional Saiga thumbhole stock for non converted. There are quite a few mods you can do to it yourself with zero experience and no danger of screwing up the gun, and even more with a little basic tinkering knowledge.

Look up Saiga 12 on youtube for a lot of tutorials.

Buying a Saiga shotgun is like buying a Ruger 10/22. You can have plenty of fun with it right out of the box on a budget and always add accessories later.

 

[Supermoto]

I would go with a Saiga, Get a 4 holer and it will run

 

[ChevyGuy91]

How's the PA dot holding up?

 

[Supermoto]

How's the PA dot holding up?

so far I have been impressed. No issues on the shotgun, although it was only 100 rounds. The green dot was plenty bright in the sun with snow glare. For $80 it a winner, I might pick up another one

 

[ChevyGuy91]

Looks as though I am missing out on that aimpoint sale, I think I have one of those PA's in my near future.

 

[Supermoto]

If you want to try a PA Micro (aimpoint clone) not the one in the video. I'll send you mine to try out. I jumped on the Aimpoint deal