Semi auto shotgun for clays?

[u/MammothBoysenberry33]

I’m currently using a Benelli Nova 3 for casual clay shooting and it’s been a blast so far. Now that I’ve been doing it for a bit I’m looking at upgrading to something a little faster, as trying to hit multiple clays in the air isn’t the easiest with a pump action. Anyone have any recommendations for a good semi auto that’s under $2000? Around $1500 would be ideal. I have no intentions of hunting with it, only busting clays.

[u/BowFella]

Anything italian. Handle some Franchis, benellis, or berettas and see which one swings best for you.

And for the love of god dont get a turknelli

[u/Ok-Turnover4223 → u/BowFella]

Been shooting my Gen 1 Canuck Recon for 4 years for casual clay and static targets... no issues whatsoever. Yeah some of them suck and maybe I got a gem but absolutely no complaints with my Turk.

[u/BowFella → u/Ok-Turnover4223]

You must've gotten really lucky since I've seen some sort of issue with every canuck or turkish shotgun I've seen at the range, even the pump ones. From firing pin malfunctions, bolt hold open not working, burrs on feeding ramps you name it. Most of them only feed reliably with magnum slugs or buckshot. Hell just a few weeks ago I saw the stock falling off of a turkish semi at the range

Last thing you want is to depend on a gun with feeding issues when you have to use target loads.

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/BowFella]

Damn that's rough, my old pump Canuck has been blasting away for half a decade with no issue. Pump is harder to mess up than a semi though 

[u/yolo_swagdaddy → u/BowFella]

Part of me knows they’re often low quality firearms and so have issues. The other part knows the type of person that is buying the cheapest shotgun and ammo, will magdump every round, never maintain it, then come on forums to cry when they inevitably break.

[u/nexthigherassy → u/BowFella]

Came to say Franchi Affinity. Its basically an Italian made stoeger m3k which is basically a Turkish Benelli M2 with the recoil spring wrapped around the magazine tube instead of in the stock.

I used my Franchi for 3gun for years with minor modifications.

The Benelli/Franchi/Stoeger series of shotguns all use the same "inertia drive" bolt and are very light and fast.

[u/rearg1 → u/nexthigherassy]

Just got a franchi affinity consignment for 700$. Great condition too!

[u/Cope180-Enjoyer → u/BowFella]

*TurkSHIT

[u/SKS1953 → u/BowFella]

Don't get turknelli mine exploded during duck season last September. Stoeger M3000

[u/epnk420 → u/BowFella]

Friends don’t let friends buy Turk lol made that mistake once with a huntgroup never again I went to pump mossberg 590

[u/SakanaToDoubutsu]

The A300 Ultima Sporting should fit the bill.

[u/Rough_Following4644 → u/SakanaToDoubutsu]

Sporting is not available in Canada

[u/SakanaToDoubutsu → u/Rough_Following4644]

Hmm, the Beretta Gallery in NYC has them and they have in-house shipping & export. 

[u/Rough_Following4644 → u/SakanaToDoubutsu]

That’s the first time I'm hearing that they can export guns to Canada without a broker. Anyway, the Sporting model costs around $1700 CAD plus shipping; import & brokerage fees will cost at least $300-400 on top. Paying $2000+ for an A300 doesn’t sound like good advice when you can get the regular model for $1400 in Canada.

[u/stubbsie6040]

ive been using a mossberg 940 pro field that i got for under $1000 for shooting clays at the range and im loving it. Looks like its on sale in a few placed for ~$900 now

I have no complaints about the gun, shoots great and never had feed issues with it, super easy to take apart and clean too. comes with all the stuff needed to modify length of pull and cast, different beads and chokes.

[u/Vintage_Pieces_10]

Maybe a crazy suggestion but what about a classic Remington 1100? Intersurplus has some on for like 400-500$, and if it isn’t threaded for chokes, that’s less than a 100$ trip to the gunsmith, so all in you’re at 500-600$. Plenty of cash to spare for extra ammo!

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/Vintage_Pieces_10]

Alternatively, they also sometimes have Beretta a300s for the same rough price 

[u/FenderFanatic]

Benelli Montefeltro should be a consideration.

[u/Radio-Lonely]

I am really thinking of going benelli sbe3 just bc its one of a few left handed ejection and I will never buy a americian firearm since both my winchesters have been complete garbage never get americian anything

[u/Dantheislander → u/Radio-Lonely]

Their Montefeltro avail. As a leftie too and is a beaut.

[u/Radio-Lonely → u/Dantheislander]

Lol the sbe3 is way over whqt I can afford really that ine is like a dream firearm lol

[u/houleskis]

Can't go wrong with an A300. It's the go-to semi at this price-point.

That said, maybe consider a used Franchi Instinct or Browning Citori if you've thought about O/Us.

[u/Whispersfine]

M2 speed just in case you want to do ipsc too

[u/Penguinbotxv]

Mossberg 940

[u/h3IIfir3pho3nix]

Beretta A300 for sure. If you're okay with used keep an eye on the secondary market and you might get lucky and snag an A400, but it's very rare to find them sub-$2000.

[u/Conscious_Bid_8762]

I like my stoegar m 3000 but maybe I got lucky

[u/preferablyoutside]

Most of the Italian guns are built for small men who prance about on a soccer court so if that works for you fill your house slippers.

If you can find a Winchester SX4 or a used Browning A5 they’re both sweethearts to shoot and point like a Dratthaar on a pheasant.

[u/alexorange178]

Franchi makes a beautiful sporting semi for not a lot of money!

[u/syspak]

I picked up a Breda sporting 930i for clays and it's been great so far.

I paid 1100.

Comes with many features and is very adjustable to help with fit.

[u/IndividualCertain358]

Hi friend, i too started on a benelli nova pump for clays! its a wonderful shotgun. i recently got a beretta A400 (with the intent to use it for hunting too) and i love it as well. however, i would advise you getting a semi-auto wont help hit the clays any better (or it hasn't in my case) no real recommendations, but if clay is the only , why not a O/U? then you dont have to worry about cycling issues with light loads.

[u/Longjumping_Deer3006]

Any Browning semi auto.

Especially the OG Auto 5.

[u/LongRoadNorth]

Beretta a300.

Or spend a little more and get the a400. Pretty much the best two bang for the buck Clay semi autos

28" barrel would be best if you can't find 30"

If you look at any Clay based sub the a300 is always the most recommended