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Which do you prefer, a pump action shotgun or an auto-loading one?
It seems like auto loading is the wave of the future. Italian gunmakers Beretta, Franchi, and Benelli dont even make pump anymore if they ever have. Major USA companies are making more autoloading.
Is one better for tactical, and one for sporting/hunting? The US Marine corp uses an auto-loading shotgun now too. What is pros and cons of each?
Benneli makes the Nova and Supernova pump guns. Since Beretta owns Benelli and Franchi I guess there is no reason for them to offer a pump across those business lines.
I don’t know squat about ‘modern tactical’ shotguns so I can’t offer an opinion. However I own 3 semi-autos, 3 O/U’s and a few single shots. For waterfowl I absolutely prefer an autoloader and for upland I prefer an O/U.
I have owned a pump and if I could only own ONE gun- it would be a Mossy, Rem or Winchester pump with a field barrel, slug barrel and an 18” defense barrel.
Pro for pump is almost failure free operation. Con is greater recoil.
Pro for auto is faster cycling for most and in some models less recoil. Con for autos is more likely to have failures to feed after your first shot.
Which do you prefer, a pump action shotgun or an auto-loading one?
It seems like auto loading is the wave of the future. Italian gunmakers Beretta, Franchi, and Benelli dont even make pump anymore if they ever have. Major USA companies are making more autoloading.
Is one better for tactical, and one for sporting/hunting? The US Marine corp uses an auto-loading shotgun now too. What is pros and cons of each?
If there are any clubs that have 3 gun, or tactical shotgun matches near you, go and watch, and see what guns are being used. Here’s my prediction: you’ll mainly see autoloaders, and when the guns are properly maintained and fed the correct ammunition, they are extremely reliable. Pumps are prone to short-stroking. This can generally be mitigated with training and practice, but it IS an issue, especially with the speed and adrenaline of a competition. Autos are faster, and easier to run. It’s unlikely that you will see someone win if they’re running a pump.
I shoot SxS for upland, and autos for waterfowl (no 3” or steel shot in my classic SxS guns). Clay games are all break open guns, either single barrel or O/U, depending on the game.
I’ve had a Mossberg 500 nearly continuously since my eighteenth birthday, it’s the first firearm I ever bought. But with all of the other shotguns I have, it’s mainly an additional home defense gun, and I use it for testing slug and buckshot reloads (relatively cheap gun, in case I blow it up. ).
For the ne plus ultra of tactical shotguns, check out the Beretta 1301, customized with parts from Aridus industries. It’s a bit spendy, but amazing. I love mine.
Semiauto can definitely be more finicky about what load you use. Although a quality gun should handle most loads reliably save for very low power loads or those mini shells (which can cause issues in pumps too). With pumps if you're not well practiced and/or under duress there's the possibility of short stroking it. In that case the semiauto could potentially be more reliable (less chance of user error).
I just picked up a Beretta 1301 Tactical and it is a slick gun. Had been looking at semiautos for awhile, was pretty well set on Benelli M4 but after trying out my friends 1301 decided to go for that. As Threerun mentioned Beretta owns Benelli and I think quality wise they are both top notch.
I have to say, ripping off 7 rounds of 00 buck as fast as you can pull the trigger is a blast. Can definitely tell a difference in recoil impulse versus my pump 12GA.
Semiauto can definitely be more finicky about what load you use. Although a quality gun should handle most loads reliably save for very low power loads or those mini shells (which can cause issues in pumps too). With pumps if you're not well practiced and/or under duress there's the possibility of short stroking it. In that case the semiauto could potentially be more reliable (less chance of user error).
I just picked up a Beretta 1301 Tactical and it is a slick gun. Had been looking at semiautos for awhile, was pretty well set on Benelli M4 but after trying out my friends 1301 decided to go for that. As Threerun mentioned Beretta owns Benelli and I think quality wise they are both top notch.
I have to say, ripping off 7 rounds of 00 buck as fast as you can pull the trigger is a blast. Can definitely tell a difference in recoil impulse versus my pump 12GA.
Aridus industries has some fantastic parts for the 1301. Check it out, I think you’ll be impressed.
I am afraid I can't offer much of informed opinion here. I only have a mossberg 500 pump. When I was shopping for one, I considered seriously on getting a semiauto instead but the cycling reliability issue stopped me. After I got the 500, I took a 2-day shotgun class and I am very glad I did. I learned how to clear a jam during fight in addition to how to shoot & reload. With practice, I think one can cycle it "fast enough ", not sure about matching the semiauto cycling rate.
One thing I like about Mossberg is available parts everywhere. I can pick up a long barrel for bird hunting or a slug barrel for deer hunting.
Well, selecting either a pump action or semi-auto shotgun, IMHO, should be based on your firearms skill level.
If you’re just buying a shotgun for home defense and not going to really practice much with it, I’d say stick with a pump action like a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 590.
I own a Remington 870, Mossberg 590, an AK type and two Benelli shotguns, but I’ve been shooting all my teen/adult life. A semi auto is much faster, but can be very ammo picky and in a bad situation, that not a good thing.
Honestly, in a gunfight, I’d pick my Remington 870 since she will go BANG when needed to.
For geese I use a Browning Silver in 12ga. For ducks I use a Browning BPS in 16ga. Turkey and deer are a BPS in 12ga. Rabbits and squirrel are .410 BPS.
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