New (to me) semi auto choice

Nekarsulm

If I can throw this out for your opinions, please.
Strongly considering buying a semi-auto 12 G Shotgun.
In a choice between an old Beretta 302 or 303, and an almost new Stoeger M3000, what would you go for?

Beretta is a very well proved design, and the Stoeger is based on a Benelli design of action, and is now a Beretta subsidery. Made in Turkey.

Redneck22

I've had a beretta 391 which is a newer version or the 303 , beautiful gun to shoot, I also had a beretta es100 which was basically a benelli action gun made by beretta, of the two i preferred the es100 mainly because it was recoil operated as opposed to gas operated like the 391, it made cleaning so much easier

ezra_

Redneck22 wrote: »

I've had a beretta 391 which is a newer version or the 303 , beautiful gun to shoot, I also had a beretta es100 which was basically a benelli action gun made by beretta, of the two i preferred the es100 mainly because it was recoil operated as opposed to gas operated like the 391, it made cleaning so much easier

Does that mean you need to use 'punchy' cartridges (30g + etc), compared to a gas operated system?

cavan shooter

gunny123 wrote:

I could only imagine trying to get a dealers licence for a shop in Finglas would not be for the faint hearted.

I've a 391 and owned a Benelli Super 90. Never had issues with any. Benelli easier to clean. You can't go wrong with a 303. I know many lads shooting them. Watch the vomit button for the magazine 😆.....

turismo2142

ezra_ wrote: »

Does that mean you need to use 'punchy' cartridges (30g + etc), compared to a gas operated system?

Inertia driven action of the Benellis will happily cycle 28g trap loads. Might struggle with 24g though, for example.

Vegeta

turismo2142 wrote: »

Inertia driven action of the Benellis will happily cycle 28g trap loads. Might struggle with 24g though, for example.

I had a SBE II and it was completely unreliable with 28g trap loads. My brother had an original SBE and it was the same.

My advice to anyone thinking of buying a Benelli is to take it clay shooting first if at all possible

turismo2142

Funny,

Threw a box of them at my M2 and it was fine.

Different guns I suppose.

Grizzly 45

Fact. Take a SA out for a shoot before you buy it,and a good trick is take a box of utterly mixed shotshells with you.Everything from ultra light to 3inch maggies if the gun will handle them[Read the barrel for advice on this] and belt them thru.if the gun hiccups on any of the loads,you will know straight away what it doesnt like.

turismo2142

Sound advice Grizz. Throw mixed magazines through it. You'll need to put at least 20 28g loads through it to satisfy yourself of reliability.

But if you're doing clays a gas operated gun prob is more reliable. I had a beretta A400 unico which ate absolutely everthing from 24g to 3 1/2 supermags (ouch). If you can stretch to one of these I'd highly recommend them. Should pick up one 2nd hand for about €1,100 or less of you're lucky.

Grizzly 45

That's why I got the Benelli M3..Pump/Semi auto..if it chokes on a load in semi,just switch to pump and continue.:) Now if I could just get a 24in deer barrel for it.I'd be happy out.

Vegeta

I now own a Beretta Xtrema 2 and unfortunately that was not flawless either but touch wood is running perfectly now. Took about 100 cartridges in quick succession and a dose of frog lube to cure it.

The Benelli was always breaking my heart, I treated it so well and it would still jam very regularly with 28 gram cartridges and frequently enough with 32 gram + carts. The damn thing was such a nice gun, fit like a glove and was way better balanced than my current Xtrema.

Some of the browning semi-autos look nice anyone every own one of them?

Nekarsulm

So, just an update.
Bought a nice Beretta 391 Urika today, synthetic stock. Older but in great condition.
Throwing in the paperwork tomorrow, and hopefully the wait will be a short one!

He had a Turkish semi-auto called a Kral Queen, which fitted me perfectly as well and felt really well balanced, but went for the Beretta in the end.

cavan shooter

Nekarsulm wrote:

He had a Turkish semi-auto called a Kral Queen, which fitted me perfectly as well and felt really well balanced, but went for the Beretta in the end.

Kral......walk away.

Nekarsulm

cavan shooter wrote: »

Kral......walk away.

Ah, I did!

For the small price difference, the Beretta was the only choice. He even had a couple of 302's and a 303 for the same money as the Kral.

I'd say if anything broke on a Kral, you'd be making the part yourself.

650gs

The 302 and 303 are two amazing shot guns

photosmart

Nekarsulm wrote: »

So, just an update.
Bought a nice Beretta 391 Urika today, synthetic stock. Older but in great condition.
Throwing in the paperwork tomorrow, and hopefully the wait will be a short one!

He had a Turkish semi-auto called a Kral Queen, which fitted me perfectly as well and felt really well balanced, but went for the Beretta in the end.

Hi there

Im in the market for a semi auto myself and was thinking along the same lines as you. Ccan I ask where you got the shotgun and ballpark what the asking price on the different ones was?

Nekarsulm

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007533612902

This guy.
If you scroll down to the 24th March post, you'll see the one I've bought.

Keep scrolling down to 1st Feb, he has a nice Beretta A303 for 360 euro. Or at least, he still had it ten days ago.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1809857805941989&set=a.1404021749858932.1073741828.100007533612902&type=3&theater

photosmart

thanks for that

photosmart

ps

well wear on the gun - looks like a beauty